... that it's been over 2 months since my last blog post. Again, I am so sorry. This semester has been crazy because my boss fired two teachers and Janet and I had to cover all of the classes until the vacancies were filled. Also, being that I have adjusted to this as my day to day life, things no longer seem exciting enough to share with you. So, my apologies all. For this entry I am going to write about something I have been thinking about a lot. Exactly one month from today I will be leaving Thailand, and there will be things I miss a lot, and things I don't miss at all.
The Top 10 Things I Will NOT Miss About Thailand
* Thai drivers. No joke, the average Thai driver is worse than the worst American driver. I am often scared for my life. I have seen many accidents.
* Being called "Farang" (or foreigner) by many people... who also think they have the right to laugh at me, point at me, touch me, etc. because I am so different.
* Thai bluntness - being called fat, or being laughed at when I want to try on clothes and being told they don't have "big size".
* Being 99.99% illiterate. It's really frustrating to not know what any signs, magazines, newspapers, or storefronts say.
* Never being anonymous. I always stick out, no matter what.
* Mosquito bites. My legs look like they probably did during the summers when I was a little kid. The things are vicious. I'mma be scarred for life. By them and by the god damn ants.
* Not being able to flush toilet paper down the toilet, and having to put it into a trash can. 'Nuff said.
* A bathroom that has no shower stall - just a shower head that pours out onto the floor so that you're showering next to the sink and the toilet. America has the one up on bathroom set up. Although the drain on the floor does make it really easy to clean the bathroom.
* Thai fashion. Fugly. I mean, there are a few cute things here and there, but overall it's just ghastly. Yet somehow Thai women can make it look cute. What's with that, anyway? There are so many Asian women who can put on the ugliest thing in the whole world and look effin' adorable. Even sexy. If I put on the same thing you'd laugh at me and ask me if I'm crazy. It's just not fair.
* Being lonely. Yes, I have made wonderful life long friends here. But I really miss my boyfriend, my friends, and my family. It's not easy to be away for so long. I have a new found respect for immigrants, I don't know how they do it. I just want to go home. I just want to hug my mom.
The Top Ten Things I WILL Miss About Thailand
* Thai food. Oh my god food here is soooooo good. It's ridiculous. I am going to have some serious withdrawal.
* Thai prices. Everything is so cheap here, and in comparison to my paycheck the cost of living is beyond affordable. I live the life here, guys, the life.
* Thai children. They're cuter than American children, by a LOT. I don't know how they grow 'em so darned adorable, but they do.
* Thai students. Let's just say they're the exact opposite in the area of respect in comparison to (most of) the students I had in Philly. They stand up when I walk in the room and say "Good Morning Teacher." They don't sit down until I tell them they can. They are sweet, they do their work, they want to learn (for the most part) and they never ever talk back. Also, best part: as soon as I arrive at school, it's like I'm everyone's favorite pop star. Kids start screaming "JESSICA!!!!!!" and giving me high fives and hugs. They love me as much as I love them. It's amazing.
* No winter: It has been really nice to skip winter and snow all together. It's awesome
* Proximity to tropical beaches: within 3 hours I can be on a secluded tropical beach at a hotel that only costs me $10 a night. Can't beat that for a long weekend.
* Being immersed in a different culture and language. Don't get me wrong, my Thai is still pathetic, but immersion is definitely the way to learn a language. It's amazing what you can learn when you don't really have a choice.
* All of the Thai and Farang friends I have made here. Such awesome people, and I am going to miss them a lot.
* Riding a motorbike. Ahem, sorry, a scooter. Driving in Thailand is terrifying, but driving a scooter is ridiculously fun. It's easier than driving a car. And just more fun. It's so much fun.
* The general landscape. I look out my window and I see palm trees, banana trees, just green everywhere. Just a thriving jungle of plant and animal life. It's beautiful. I'm going to miss it a lot.
In addition to these things, I have been thinking about actually coming back to America.
The Top Seven Things I Am The Most Scared About
* Number one is definitely getting a job. I am so scared about this. What if I can't get a job? What if I can't even get a job at McDonald's? There are so many jobs here, and so few at home. I am really scared about this.
* Getting really fat. There's such a long list of food that I miss and want to binge on immediately that I'm pretty convinced I might gain 20 pounds.
* Being really depressed at the attitude of American students - if I manage to even get a job teaching them. Knowing that there's a place in the world where students don't curse me out is going to be really hard.
* Readjusting. I read online once that when you go home you have culture shock all over again. That actually being able to understand everyone around you is in fact really distracting and annoying.
* That I might spend all my money at Starbucks, TJMaxx, the mall, or any of the other consumer conglomerates that I miss so dearly. I am afraid of American materialism and spending. Because I love both of those things, a lot.
* Winter. Ahhh! And being cold in general. I might just wrap myself in a blanket cocoon and not come out 'til Spring.
* WOW. I can't think of any more things I'm scared of. That's awesome. I'm a little scared that I'm not scared of anything else. Is that bad?!
The Top Ten Things I Am The Most Excited About
* Seeing my handsome boyfriend for the first time. And then moving into our new apartment!
* Seeing my family and friends for the first time. Yay Mom! Yay Dad! Yay Broseph and Sarah and Danny and Bujak and Ben and Mal and Ancharski and Chasan and Downs and Adams and BClark and EVERYONE!!!!!!!! When are we hangin' out, y'all?
* Being able to read everything around me.
* Being able to understand people completely when they talk to me.
* American food. Mmmmmm. And good cheese and wine and bread. And the supermarket.
* Being able to get places easily because I can read and understand people... oh, and public transportation. I even miss SEPTA, and they're a hot mess.
* Spinning class and American yoga. My yoga teacher here (who I love) is perpetually confused as to why I'm not as bendy as her and does really dangerous things like push my knees down to the ground.
* American communication - cell phones that have voice mail, if I'm going to get specific. I'm still not sure if Thailand just doesn't have voice mail or if the directions are all in Thai and no Farang has figured it out yet.
* HOLIDAYS! Halloween! Thanksgiving! Christmas! YAY!
* American restaurants, cafes, museums, movies... everything, everywhere. I used to think that America was totally devoid of any culture, but now I know that's not true. I want to go to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and then eat at Honey's. I want to go to the Boston Museum of Science and then walk around the North End and eat dinner.
So, that's all for now. I will try my best not to make this the very last entry of my time here. And I know I probably forgot a lot of things in my lists, and that I will want to amend them at some point. Like, things I am excited about... BAKING AND COOKING! Oh god, I can't wait to bake some cookies. Also, I forgot how much I will not miss Thai music. And how much I do miss American music. And TV. So, if I forgot anything or anyone important, please don't be offended. I love you.
