I'd like to preface this entry by saying thank you, Corinne. You truly are a geisha goddess for creating such a lovely blog for me to compile my updates. This one will be lengthy as I have a lot to catch up on.
As I sit in this non-airconditioned room and attempt to gather my thousands of thoughts, one thing jumpts to mind first: why oh why did I not begin this blog at the beginning of my stay in Chiang Rai? It would surely help me in attempting to compile the stories and adventures that have blessed me, surprised me, and challenged me this past week and a half. However, here I am, sweaty, covered in bug bites, and excited to disclose what this experience has taught me thus far.
For those who don't know, last Saturday, the 13th, I nervously jumped onto a plane to head off into what I knew would be one of the greatest adventures of my life. Thankfully Corinne joined me a few days earlier to help me keep my head on straight and grasp what was actually about to happen as I could not seem to understand it myself. I was heading to my new home in Chiang Rai, Thailand where I am currently located and will be teaching English for the next eight weeks. Once my time here is done, I will be travelling through some other parts of Southeast Asia as well as Australia (if time allows) for a few additional months. Leaving my friends and loved ones behind has been the most challenging part of this undertaking, but my experiences have completely dominated any homesick feelings that fleetingly cross my mind. All it takes is a glance into the beautiful green hills that surround me to remember how truly lucky I am.
Currently, I am located at a small village named the Mirror Foundation which lies just outside of Chiang Rai. Located deep into the hills, the fact that I occasionally get wifi is nothing short of a miracle. I am not kidding, open up a page of any National Geographic magazine and you can maybe get a glimpse into the life that I am currently living. My body is absolutely covered in mosquito bites ("mossies" as my Australian and British friends call them), I gather my own fruit most mornings, I have recognized shoes as unnecessary, I see toilet paper as a luxury, and remember hot water for showering as only a distant, far off memory. But do not let these statements fool you: I am loving every single solitary thing. Each discomfort has challenged me to not only adapt, but to relish in the fact that although I did not see it, I have led a luxurious and regal life thus far. Without the comforts of home surrounding me, people as well as posessions, I have already learned to rely on myself more than I ever have.
That goes for meeting people as well- being thrown into a situation where you know not a single person really makes you evaluate not only the person you portray yourself as, but the person that you aspire to be. For the past week and a half I have been surrounded by people of all kinds, and yet none of them truly know me. How could they? In such a short time we have only just begun to disclose even the slightest bits of intimate details, and I quickly recognized the fact that these people do not know my quirks. They do not know my fears, my past, my ticklish spots, or my list of favorites. Only I know myself, and that has really been one of the most eye-opening parts of this experience. I can sit aside and surrender to shyness, or march up to each person individually and introduce myself. I choose the latter.
With that said, these people are absolutely beautiful. Both the people that I volunteer with as well as the people of this country are simply remarkable. The volunteers come from all over the world; we laugh about the funny ways we say things, the differences in our hometowns, and our stories of far off places. These people have some of the most beautiful stories, goals, and dreams that I have ever heard, and they have all given their time, just as I have, to make a difference. As for the Thais...my God. They were not exaggerating when they said that this is the land of smiles. I have seen countless orphans play with a single toy for hours straight, laughing incessantly and never losing a smile. And by toy...I mean a straw. They can make games out of everything and anything and they are absolutely fearless. I small girl saw that I was sad that I had left my book next to a swarm of bees so she instantly ran to go grab it for me. My heart about stopped, but it really showed me that, even as children, they are completely selfless.
My days have been composed of teaching children, teaching monks, arts and craftsing with ill children in hospitals, and playing with children at the orphanages. The smiles around me have never stopped, and I am both amazed and inspired. Everyone is so thankful for the opportunity to learn and recieve the help that they need and absoutely nothing seems to be taken for granted. In days like today and yesterday, where the homesickness creeps in, it's easy to remember that this opportunity is the biggest blessing that I have had thus far- I am the one who will be taking nothing for granted.
I could go on for days as to what I have seen in this past week and a half, but I am sure that this is long enough for my first post. I will be in touch...so long as someone doesn't sneeze and make us lose wifi for a week.
Thinking of you all on the other side of the world. :)
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