It's interesting. At first, I was concerned I would never consider Bangkok as my home. I needn't have worried. Sure enough, Bangkok became my home. My home is full of awesome friends that became like family to me. I will always love Thailand. Thailand will always bring a smile to my face. Whenever I eat Thai food, whenever I meet a Thai person, I will feel a warmth :o) I can relate to them! I can understand what they love about their country. I miss it. I miss the smells(surprisingly!), I miss the food, I miss my students immensely, the walking, but most of all, I miss the simplicity of life there. I have noticed since being home that I don't like stress. Stress is not welcome in my life. I don't like having to deal with it, and this has been the biggest struggle in my life adjusting to the US. At least to me, it's 10x more stressful here than it is in Thailand. Bills, school, driving, making money, worrying about not having enough money, buying clothes, worrying about having the latest things(which I'm already guilty of) and the list goes on. I hate it. I loathe it. Stress=ICK. I would rather live in some remote hut in the middle of nowhere simply because the biggest stress in life would be where to find a clean water source. I will adjust completely, I suppose. I want to, but in a way, I don't. Why should I have to get used to being stressed all the time? Why should I have to develop coping mechanisms to stressors in my life? Ugh.
Overall, though, I'm enjoying the US. The US houses my dog, Cujo. I missed him so much, and we are both loving being with one another. He missed me too, and wouldn't let me out of his sight for a week straight when I got home.
I'm currently in Harriman, TN visiting my Father and his parents and my Aunt and Uncle. Cujo and I are having a ball visiting with them. It's so nice to be here. They live in the woods and I love being here, away from the busy suburban life.
Well, I suppose this will be the last. Interesting - I feel a little choked up. This, in a way, seals the deal. My time in Thailand is officially over. I don't know if I will ever go back. How sad. It's alright. I promised my students I'd see them at the Tree of Life in Heaven if we didn't meet again on this earth. How wonderful to be able to look forward to that and know that it is truth.
