Tried and Proven Worthy

Today was a day that I don't think I will ever forget. Each teacher for TTC teacher was tried and proven worthy. I want to preface this post with everyone is fine and this was an unusual occurrence. I was woken up at 3:30 this morning by my roommate. Sirens were going off outside and another TTC teacher was banging on our door yelling for us to get out, there was a fire. When my roommate and I opened the door we knew how serious it was. Smoke was covering the top quarter of the hallway and we were on the eighth floor. We all began running down the stairs in various stages of undress and barefoot. The smoke was thicker as we went down and the lights were out on the floors below us. I cannot see in the dark very well and my fellow teachers helped me down and out of the building.
Once outside, every teacher was checking on every other teacher. We kept counting over and over to make sure everyone was out. One teacher had an asthma attack and had to go to the hospital, though she was released this afternoon. No less than three people offered to go with her to the hospital. While we were waiting outside, each person was helping another. Ladies were giving half naked guys their tops shirts if they had on multiple layers and boys were giving barefoot women their extra shoes out of the bags they brought. We managed to locate a functional phone in the group and began notifying our TTC staff. We found out that the fire was in the kitchen on the second floor. Apparently kitchens are on the second floor here because if the building catches fire, the first floor will still be left. (The building did not burn down, they just told us this fact). All of us were encouraging each other, sharing limited water and bug spray. After four hours the fire trucks left and we were allowed to grab our things. We have moved to a new hotel now.
A number of teachers were greatly shaken by these events and there was mention of quitting and going home. I was concerned about the way certain things were handled and was almost mad enough to do something stupid that would get me sent home. At the point where I was ready to blow my fuse, we visited one of the schools and that was when we remembered why we came here. The students were absolutely adorable and so very happy we were there. They asked us questions and tried out their English. At the school we went to they are taught Thai, English and Chinese. The entire school was mainly open, with outdoor walkways and numerous windows. Their gym was a painted floor covered by a decorative roof. The school was beautiful.  One thing we noticed was that there are very few trash cans but numerous recycle bins. Most of what they use here can be recycled instead of thrown away. As we went from room to room, from the sleepy kindergarteners to the senior girls, each of remembered that the kids are what we were here for. Not one teacher is leaving. Tonight was supposed to be visiting a night market but most of us forfeited that experience for sleep. I think everyone was made a stronger person today.