I Miss Home...

Yesterday was the last day of orientation. As it is to be expected Olivia and I were late for breakfast and orientation (we had to pack all of our belongings and bring them to the front desk). When we got to orientation we all went to our usual training room where we learned about living and traveling in Thailand. We went to lunch where once again I tried some new food, and surprisingly enough I liked most of it. We then took some more Thai lessons. I can now say a few words here and there (Sawaadeh Kah= Hello, Kapun Kah= Thank you, Mai Ben lai = Your welcome, let it be, sort of “hannukah matata”).

Throughout orientation I was somewhat home sick. Let me explain, today we all leave each other and Bangkok to go to our villages. I just got to a whole new country where I don’t know the language, the food, the people, etc.; and when I finally start getting used to it I get thrown back into the mix. I guess I am getting what I bargained for; I wanted to get out of my element and live, learn, and grow, and that is exactly what I am doing.

After orientation, our school coordinators were waiting for us. We met them grabbed our bags and left for the school. My orientation and the teachers who picked me up are incredibly sweet and nice. They ALWAYS smile and like to touch my arms and hands.

We got into the school van and drove two hours south to my small village, Wangchan, in the province of Rayong. Personally, I think being in an elevator is one of the most awkward situations ever; if you do to imagine it times a million! I sat in a van with 6 people who kept talking and laughing in Thai while I could not communicate with anyone. I just had to keep smiling and trying to make the best out of the situation.

The drive was beautiful!!! So much nature; beautiful hills and trees EVERYWHERE! It was amazing. When we finally got to my town it was exactly what I expected, yet I still was in shock. For those of you who have been to a third world country, imagine that, for those of you who haven’t, imagine the ghetto areas of Oakland or somewhere else in the US, completely run down but no factories.

The school is a big and pretty school. It is gated and I live inside it, in the teacher housing. It is very minimal living to say the least. I will post pictures because there is no way I can describe this. The English teacher home is still being worked on (they are adding a bedroom for me), so I am staying in a little shack by myself. I have a little room and a squat bathroom, and no sink, and… oh man I don’t even know how to write about this; I guess I will just post pictures.

I had a breakdown; I just don’t know if I can do this. I am pushing myself above and beyond my limits; but thanks to my parents, Allan, and John I was reminded of why I am here. I am here to help people, to humble myself, to live, learn, and grow. To spend time alone and figure out who I am, what I need to fix, and to accept those things that I can’t; and that is exactly what I will do.

Oh ps. There are dogs EVERYWHERE! There are the two cutest little puppies that live on the street right by new home. They can never replace my Izzy and Leila but I they will somehow make me feel more at home.