27-1-2015: The New Year

Nimaan Road Market Expo

Hello there,
If this is your first visit, welcome! Wilkommen! ยินดีต้อนรับ! ("Yin-Dee-Dohn-rahb. If this isn't, well, hello again.)

Being away from something, it seems, can be both a relief and a reason to feel guilty. It's a relief because it lightens the (self-created) load, but it brings on the guilt because there is that nagging thought in your mind: "You should've been able to keep up, why didn't you?"

Again, I've been away from this, not sharing all of the adventures I've had, but at the same time, I've been trying to make adventures happen. So far, I have had a few, and I have made an agenda to have even more. This year, I will do way too much in too little time, wearing a smile-grimace, haHA! It's one thing to talk about the goals I have and the things I want to do, but it's a totally different ballpark when I actually make the motions towards doing those things. It may be a hit, it may be a miss, but at least it's something and I can say I did it without a tinge of remorse for lying. (Not that I would lie about the place I have or have not been to before...)
As a way to try to improve myself, I decided to take action on a few things.

1. I signed up for an online course in Financial Literacy
2. I started a 30-Day Yoga Challenge
3. I have set plans for at least one exciting/big event for each month until June
4. I picked up a class to start learning German (Yes, I'm still trying to learn Swedish and Russian, but I'm taking a few steps back from them in order to try focusing on only one language at a time)

Looking at this, I am starting to recognize the Mind-Body-Spirit connection in which I had been slacking on. I was consuming myself with work, and losing the joy and motivation in doing it, as well as feeling a little out of place, falling into more and more slumps. There was always an excuse to not go out, and by the time going out actually happened (which took an immense amount time's notice to plan said outing), it would be a major disappointment. The joy of going out became null, the joy of working was wearing down, and I was losing overall energy to do anything. Obviously, this was doing no good for anyone: me, my work, or my friends. I knew this wasn't depression, but I was letting my environment affect me negatively, and that was something I could control. The choice was mine to whether I would keep letting it do that to me, or not.

Now, looking back on the past few months. If one were to ask me about how I celebrated the holidays, they would need to remember that 1) I wasn't in the US and 2) many of the people are Buddhist. You would be surprised to how many people asked me if people in Thailand celebrated Thanksgiving (*cough* AMERICAN HOLIDAY). Honestly, that's like asking someone from the United States celebrated Songkran (the Thai New Year) or the French Independence Day. Most people in Thailand don't even know what Thanksgiving is. Well, actually, a few do, and what they know is that a lot of food is eaten.... because that's what a lot of their teachers inform them (many teachers are not from the US, and they teach what they know about the US culture, which is really funny, and somewhat true).

So, back to the topic of celebrating the holidays, I didn't really celebrate them in any big way because there aren't many people to celebrate them with, that understand the importance of the holiday, per se. That is, until recently. I didn't celebrate Thanksgiving, but I did celebrate Christmas and the New Year in a quiet manner. About two months ago, I met some long-term foreigners, and although as a traveler, we must expand our horizons, we do take comfort in some of the familiarity, particularly then someone speaks your language, or the shared feeling of humorous discomfort when you are lost and have no idea how to explain yourself, or what you want, through the exchange of personal anecdotes. "hashtag" #beentheredonethat.

It's funny how foreigners often flock together, but at the same time, it makes sense to be attracted to something that brings you comfort. For example, I have a tendency to eat chocolate. Not every day, but it does occur every month. I'm sure that, when I'm back in the United States, I will be drawn into any place that sells pizza or pasta. It doesn't help that I haven't had a good serving of either of these dishes for quite some time. Just a few of the minor things I miss.
Speaking of things I miss, Tex-Mex is totally one of those, but I encountered some on one of my trips. On seeing this, I couldn't help myself but say: "WE ARE GOING THERE." It may have been a little dramatic, but a girl's gotta get what a girl's gotta get: her tacos and burritos!

On our way!

Now, let's talk about the travels of late. I finally experienced Chiang Mai, and it did not disappoint. Based on all the talk of "cold weather" by the Thai people, I expected it to be in the 60s (Fahrenheit). It wasn't. It was more like the high 70's-85 degree weather.  The trip itself was exhilarating and busy! I attended my first Thai wedding, the after party, a temple in the mountains, ate lunch at a reservoir (that involved eating live shrimp), got a great city view while eating dinner with friends, and visited the infamous Sunday night Walking street (a long road that becomes crowded with many markets and people every Sunday). Pictures should say a thousand words, so let's see how many words and describe these:

View from the Temple

Butterfly Pea Sweet Milk

I should mention that coffee in this area (Chiang Mai) reminded me much of home, in the presentation and the concept of getting fancy. Espresso art unforgotten.

Historical Wall around the city

We visited a gorgeous hotel, Dhara Dhevi, which my friend used to work at and it was a trip on its own. This included gorging on desserts from a pastry shop, which appeared to be run by a French pastry chef.

Pastries

TukTuk

Rainbows

Now that the New year has passed, I shall update everyone of the fate of my future here in Thailand. As of December of 2014, I have been informed that my contract at my current workplace has been extended. This means that I will remain in Thailand for another year (until February 2016). I am more than excited to continue my journey here; I look forward to the next few years learning, and finding new adventures abroad and new friends all over the world.

Until next time (whenever that shall be),
K.