Goodbye Thailand.

I am so unbelievably and extremely sad right now. This sadness can not be explained with words. I am at a complete loss to try to explain how utterly depressed I am at the moment. I just can't believe that I am leaving Thailand. The last year and a half of my life has been so wonderful...why would one want to leave a place that brings them complete, all encompassing, fulfilling joy and happiness? How or where do I even begin to explain what Thailand has shown me, taught me, given me, provided me? I can't. It's damn near impossible. Simply put is that Thailand was the best decision I have ever made. Now I know there are great things ahead for me in my life but I just want to grieve for a moment or two or five.
It feels like yesterday I was packing up my personal belongings and moving to the other side of the world. As I sit here crying I am flooded with lessons learned, opportunities and experiences I have had in Thailand. I am confident to say one lesson learned while living here was patience. Dealing with a culture very unfamiliar to my own and not speaking the language requires a great deal of patience. Dealing with various offices within ABAC involves a lot of patience. Traveling throughout Thailand calls for patience. I have had hundreds of opportunities here...traveling has been a big one. Living here I was able to travel to some AMAZING countries...Japan, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and I am leaving tonight for Hong Kong, then China, and South Korea. As for experiences...thousands upon thousands. I...I...I...need a minute. Okay okay...I am okay. So while living in Thailand I had a plethora of visitors. I am so happy that so many people were able to come and experience a little bit of Thailand with me. I will cherish those moments.
And the people I have met here. The friendships I have made. Some I will be leaving here in Thailand, some I will be going to visit in a few short weeks, some will be scattered around the USA and thankfully some will be returning to Chicago as well. There have been a lot of people (fellow teachers) that without them here my experience would not be the same... Shannon, Jenn, Ladky, Marani, Jorge, and Brenda...to name a few. Together we have laughed, we have grown, we have traveled, we have comforted, we have danced, we have lived. Thank you all for the best time of my life. You have challenged me, made me think, aided me in re-evaluating things in my life, listened to me, and been there for me. And for this I thank you. I am glad you are a part of my life. And of course I can't forget Em, Nui, Ae, New, and Boom my lovely lovely friends that I have made in Thailand...I truly wish I could fit you in my backpack and take you home with me. I will miss the times we have shared. Please come to Chicago soon! I feel so lucky to have lived here in this beautiful country. I am so thankful I took that giant leap and completely went outside my comfort zone. I will always have fond memories of my time here. I love you Thailand.

What will and won't be missed...

Here's a short short list of what I'll miss:
The Thai people, the culture, the ruins, street food everywhere, the respect for the King, the smiles, the genuineness, the islands, chang beer, motorbike taxis, songtails, the klong, the 20baht earrings, the language barrier, fresh fruit, Ekamaii, monks, somtom, sticky rice, the warm weather all year round, the cost of living, Red Fan, Grandma's, Jim Jum, Tuk Tuks, Buddhism, Wats, massages, tom yum, the rural landscape, chai nom yen.

What I won't miss:
The Thai brooms, lesson planning, the pollution, the language barrier, my clothes smelling like fried chicken, always sweating, firing range across the street, BangNa, the horrible plywood mattresses, cold showers, the monsoon rain, the shameless public nose picking, cockroaches, rancid smells, dried squid, squatter toilets, having to carry toilet paper all the time.

Oh Thailand. What a great ride its been.

Farewell my Koh Samet

Brenda, Jorge, Shannon and myself headed for our final weekend getaway to the beloved Koh Samet. We arrived Friday and didn't even make it to the beach before stopping for sum tom, sticky rice, and some beer. One beer turned into 12 beers which turned into a fun and fabulous night of awesomeness. First bingo, then random bottle games including a game of ring toss, and finally a sing along song...good times...and the fun had only just begun. The next two days, lets just say, were well spent resting on the beach. Fast forward to Sunday afternoon...having to say goodbye to Koh Samet (literally my 2nd home in Thailand) was quite difficult. More so than I had anticipated. A tear here a tear there. My heart is sad. I can't believe I am leaving. Where did the time go?

Sukhothai

Earlier in the week I ventured north to Sukhothai...which literally translates to 'Dawn of Happiness' and had a wonderful time. I took a morning train (for 6 hours) to Phitsanulok where I wandered around aimlessly for a few hours not knowing where I was or what I was doing before jumping on a motorbike taxi to the bus station and catching an early evening bus to Sukhothai. Here I found the cutest little family run guesthouse, had some delicious dinner then went for an evening stroll around town.
In the morning I headed to Old Sukhothai Historical Park. A brief history lesson for you... Sukhothai was established as Thailand's capital from 1238-1448. After this time the capital was moved to Ayutthaya until 1767 when it fell to the Burmese. Then moved for 15 years to Thonburi and then Bangkok, the current capital. The Sukhothai Historical Park covers the ruins of the ancient glorious Sukhothai Kingdom. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in December 1991. Here I rented a bicycle and went exploring. It sure was a hot day but still I managed to bike around for about 4 hours. As I rode around I was all smiles. I was quite content biking through all the ruins. Such a lovely place. Wish I had more time there. But alas I had to head back to Bangkok on an overnight train to finish up some loose ends before I start my traveling.

2010 Visitors: Final Round

My last crew of visitors came and went. Paige, Joe, and Diana were here for the last 10 days and it was all sorts of silliness. First night we chilled at an outdoor "bar" and had ourselves a few Chang beers. Day two was filled with wats, temples, the heat, Khao San Road, pad thai, eating grasshoppers, fish massages, and video interviews for the Thailand Tourism Website (link to my awkward, fidgety, repeating self interview video at the end of this blog post).
After Bangkok for a few days we jumped on an overnight train and headed south to Suart Thani where we then grabbed a bus to take us further south to Krabi. Total travel time: 17 hours...yeah wont be doing that again...oh wait I am...I will...two more times...in China. Ha. Anyways Krabi...AKA Beautifulness. 6 days of beach, beach, and more beach. Joe and Diana went rock climbing, Paige and Diana rode elephants, and we all hiked up to this amazing viewpoint. Paige, Diana and I celebrated St. Paddy's day at the beach drinking Changs and playing drinking games. Needless to say, day drinking at the beach makes an early night in but entirely worth it. What a great day!
After the beach we flew back to Bangkok and went shopping at Suan Luam Night Bazaar. Afterwards, Paige, Diana, and myself met up with some of my friends here at an outdoor club and had a night full of deep down belly laughs.
And finally their last day in Thailand...we found ourselves in the middle of a Red Shirt March down Ramkhamhaeng Road. "Since the 2006 ousting of Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand's former prime minister, the country has been gripped by waves of political protest. Ten of thousands of opposition supporters paraded across Bangkok in an attempt to encourage the city's residents to support their calls for the government to step down. They moved across Bangkok in an 13km-long convoy of motorcycles and pickup trucks" (taken from a news source online). It sure was a wild sight to see. Afterwards, we had a packing party trying to stuff suitcases full of Thailand goodies. And finally off the airport to say our goodbyes...however it was more like c-ya laters as I will be seeing them and you in 6 weeks when I arrive back to Chitown!!!
Thailand Tourism video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ns8GeAy7kI&feature=player_embedded

Round 2 of 2010 visitors...

Another visitor has come and gone...Suzanne spent 8 days here in wonderful Thailand. As with all my visitors, we had a lot on our plate. First up, we headed over to the Bangkok Art and Culture Center to see a few exhibits and one in particular I had been wanting to see (Wall Art)...which was awesome. We also headed to Khao San Road (backpackers central) and met up with a few friends. Here we were invited to temple with Nui for the following day for Macha Bucha Day (a Buddhist holy day, marking a point in history when 1,250 of Buddha's followers gathered to hear his sermon. It's a day when worshippers walk three times around temples in a bid to make merit). So the next day we spent touristing it up...Grand Palace, Wat Arun, and Wat Pho.
Then rushed home to change into our all white attire to head to temple with Nui, his family, and Shannon.*Sidenote...Several months ago I headed to this same temple to watch Nui become a monk (absolutely one of the most beautiful, magnificent, touching, and astonishing things I have ever witnessed in my life). When we arrived to this complex, I saw just what we were in for...another amazing experience! Amongst the sea of white were monks in a sea of orange all sitting around the gigantic gold temple. And there were a million or so (okay not really) 4 feet lanterns placed in the ground with a person sitting behind each one. To start the festivities was an hour of meditation...Nui gave us the play by play, step by step instructions on how to meditate and to concentrate to find a crystal ball in the center of our stomach...needless to say, I couldn't see it, but for that hour I was in a world all of my own...listening contently to the thousands of Thai Buddhists around me chanting and meditating...a smile was firmly planted on my face and in my heart the entire time. Simply a joyous occasion. The next day we headed north to Ayutthaya to see some ruins. Then off to Ko Chang island for a few days of sun, sea, beach, and tattoo. Yup, I got a new tattoo. สุขใจ = Suk Jai...means 'happy heart, mind, and spirit'. I love love love it. After 4 glorious days at the beach we were back in BKK. We met up with friends and danced the night away at Ekamaii and had ridiculous amounts of fun. And finally Suzanne's last day...we went to JJ market to buy lots of souvenirs and goodies. And so last night I took her to the airport and today I was back running around the city preparing things for the next set of visitors that get here on Thursday! And I just spent the last 6 hours finishing all my grading to turn in tomorrow morning. Finally, at 12:30am I have finished grading! Woosh. Only a few more requirements (proctoring) and I am done done done!

Adjarn Heidi over and out

Today was my last and final day playing teacher in Thailand. I am mixed with sadness, fear, excitement and happiness...what a combination! I am sad that my time in Thailand is ending, fear of the unknown, excited about my visitors from home and to start traveling again, and happy cause I am happy! Today my students had to present posters they created about what they learned in my English I Conversation classes. Not only were some of these posters amazing...the speeches they gave were so genuine, heartfelt, and adorable. Who knew I taught them anything besides how to play games like Cheers Governor, Jeopardy, and the Telephone game???

I also had a group of students present me with two Thai Flower Garlands ("Phuang Malai" in Thai). These are skillfully hand-woven fresh flower garlands. They are traditionally hung in front of Buddha statues, pictures of monks, on spirit houses, and on the rear view mirror in cars. Garlands are presented at many festive and happy occasions, such as graduations, birthdays and weddings, for good luck. Thais use them for virtually every occasion – to say everything from “I'm sorry” to “Thank you”. Typically they are made from jasmine flowers and have the most intoxicating smell. Currently, I am basking in the lovely aroma that has filled my room...what a heavenly smell.
I can't believe that I am done....yahooooooo....no more lesson planning EVER, thank God. No more dictation, no more pronunciation, no more grammar, no more telling my students to PLEASE SPEAK ENGLISH!!! No more grading, oh wait...finals...I still have to do that. Oh and I still have to proctor 7 exams over the next 3 weeks...okay okay THEN I am done for good! Wooooohoooo!
Below are some pictures of my classes and some of the posters they created.