Goodbye Thailand

It is our last day in Thailand. We have filled it with packing and cleaning - and of course one last massage before the 30 hour journey home. We have had quite the adventure over the past 6 months and we would not trade it for anything! It was a great experience and we defiantly learned a lot! Thailand will always hold a special place in our hearts and memories.

We have been reflecting over the past few days, reminiscing our initial reactions to Thailand, the weather, our little apartment, the language, the food, and our school - oh how we have grown! We have learned to really appreciate and enjoy each aspect so much. With this in mind we do look forward to coming home - people to see and things to do!

Living in Thailand for 7 months we have learned to better appreciate things back home. Things we are looking forward to:

• Hot water and a long shower. In Thailand, our water supply is in a tank on the roof warmed by the sun each day. After a few morning showers in freezing water, Beth took advantage of the warm water in the afternoon.
• Soft Seats. In our apartment, we have no soft cushy surfaces to sit or lay on.
• A bed that is not hard enough to bounce a basketball on.
• Beef - really do not have a good supply in Thailand.
• Cooking. Beth cooked everyday at home, it has been 7 months! After our cooking class, Beth is really excited to try some Thai dishes at home!

Pad Thai!

Massaman Curry

• Having more than 250sq. feet of living space.
• A clothes dryer. We hang dry our laundry on our little patio, it quick in this heat, but clothes are pretty wrinkly! We have come accustomed to it now – maybe we will try it at home...
• The choice of wearing pants to work – this one is Beths’. She has grown used to only wearing dresses and skirts, and does not mind it. She wears lots of sweaters because women have to cover their shoulders here – but it gets hot!
• Knowing what we are eating at all times...
• Having a dry public bathroom. The bum gun is used as the main cleaning tool, if you want toilet paper you bring it. A downfall of the wonderful tool is the toilet and floor are often wet. We have tried the bum gun and it sure leaves you feeling clean and refreshed!
• Reliable internet.
• A good homemade cup of coffee. All coffee here is instant – it just does not taste the same. We have found some that we do like, but nothing like a coffee at home.

Living in Thailand for 7 months we have also learned appreciate life in another culture. Things we will miss:

• Cheap Street Food! We eat for about $2-4 combined, with filling portions and drinks. Our new splurging meal is $10-15, but we do not do this too often.
• Cheap Delicious Fresh Fruit! Beth got a bag of fruit everyday at school for under a dollar.
• Thai Food. Khao Pad, Pad Thai, BaMeGeOw, Rotti, Sam Tom and the delicious drinks and snacks! Many drinks here have little jellies in them – Beth has really learned to love them!!
•  Mai Bhen Rai. It is a way of life here. Meaning: Do not worry, it will be okay, no problem. We have learned to take things as they come and to not worry, it will be fine.
• Students beginning and ending of each lesson. “Good Morning Teacher!” “Thank you Teacher!”
• Songthaews!-pictured below

• Cheap transportation anywhere around the country. We feel very lucky to have traveled fairly extensively while in Thailand. It was wonderful to see all the different personalities of Thailand!
• Markets with tons of cheap clothing and accessories.
• Wai. The traditional greeting of folding your hands in front of you and bowing each to each other.
• The heat – just kidding! But we think our bodies have adjusted to this climate of 80-90 degrees F – 70 is cold for us!!
• The shoes. It is cultural custom to remove your shoes before entering someone’s house and in many times a business as well. Example, whenever we go to the coffee shop we remove our shoes before going inside. 
• The Thai people in our neighborhood and school – we have really grown to like our small community and the people around us. They all know who were are and us them. Even though it is difficult to communicate we still have a connection to many of them in a small way.
• All the fun festivals and celebrations! 

Home - here we come! Unless something profound pops into our minds - this will be our last blog. Thanks for following our adventure!