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(sawng  haa  haa  sam)

2553

I arrived in Thailand 11 months and 3 days ago according to the Buddhist Calender year 2553. 

 It was quite the year

I explored 10 countries

Wandered around and experienced the culture of 35 new cities

I went on scuba excursions in the Southern Thailand Islands

Motor biking in the Northern Mountains of Pai and Chang Mai

I rode elephants strapped into a highchair and bareback

There were times where I was absolutely positive I just stepped into a picture perfect postcard

There were times I thought hell would be a better place to be

I had love affairs with koala yummys, toasties, and strawberry pockys

Come to me for a tasty Sang Som and Soda

Assumption University Dorm>ABAC> King David> Rice Patty Jail> RPJ> no matter what I call it I will never forget the breathtaking sunsets, watching storms roll in, balcony sessions with the girls, nail nights, skype dates, water heater cooking, giant double beds, the cleaning ladies and front desk girls,shaving cream pranks, CNN/BBC/ Star Movies, sleepovers, making a perfect hangover den, tram drivers, pancake breakfasts, kicking boxing with X, group movie nights on mini computer screens

I sat on the stairs of the Taj

Danced under the Petronas Towers 

Had photo shoots at Angkor Wat

Had communion in Calcutta 

Flew a kite over the Ganges

Stood where Gandhi was assassinated  

Got ran off the road by more then one cow

One morning last semester I called Erin in tears telling her I thought I was dying. I had been up all night with a fever and horrible twisting, pitching, ache in my stomach. A fever. I put my desk chair in the shower because I could not stand. THE TROLLS. I hope they never come back and I would never wish them upon anyone else.

I have squatted over so many fricking holes it is not funny.

I peed more then once on my feet

Learned the hard way to ALWAYs carry toilet paper

Had to crack and use, what I call..the ass hose

I have missed 

family weddings

friends weddings

babies being born

I was not there when my nearest and dearest needed someone. 

Or at least a drinking buddy or a Starbucks date

I lost weight

Gained weight

cried to my mom over skype in Cambodia and hid from cameras

I went to the gym, ran, walked, biked, kick boxed, swam, did push ups and bicycle crunches

Ate veggies, fruit, tuna and cut back on the beer

I fit back into my jeans right in time for Bondi

I met amazing people and built life lasting friendships

I started a journal it is full and I need to buy a new one ASAP

I disliked the food

but now I order my papaya salad extra spicy, Thai spicy

I'm not grossed out by fish heads served for dinner 

but I still have to plug my nose walking though the raw meat/dead animal market stalls

I would not brush my teeth with the water..I have not washed one apple all week, the lady dunked it for me a few times in sink water, it's clean

Street food will always be the way to go, it is cheaper, tastes better..more bang for your baht 

Wished I would have put more of an effort in learning Thai

Hello. goodbye. turn left. turn right. excuse me. sorry. how are you? No sugar. thank you,.what the !@#$%, how much? To expensive! Check please. water? 

I have been down shady Bangkok alleys

lady bars

jazz clubs

A Thai Beatles cover band concert

Swanky rooftop bars

seen and walked markets for my markets

Took a 27 hour bus ride LAOS > VIETNAM

I can't even count how many bus rides, tuk tuk adventures, or train times I have had

We hitch hiked in LAOS, MALAYSIA, and every so often in THAILAND

I can side saddle a motor bike dipping though BKK traffic

Christmas I skyped my family on their Christmas Eve and COULD NOT stop the tears no matter how hard I tried so I went and drank mimosas and ended up in a plastic ball pit

I had a real turkey on thanksgiving with my ABAC family

Was a Chicago Bears player for Halloween 

Spent the day in The Delhi Airport with Danielle watching her eat chocolate donuts on Easter

Stranded with lack of warm clothes, an abundance of cheap wine, creppy cats, better company, snow flurries and Celine Dion's greatest hits on repeat on St. Patrick's Day in Northern Vietnam

Rachel Schrader came to play for 3 weeks and her timing was impeccable. If it was not for her I would not be able to say HONG KONG is my favorite city. I would not have worn a fur coat in an ice box taking shots of flavored vodka or ever met a girl who could do a really good naughty, boy, alligator voice.  I would have not slept in a room with hundreds of Classic Coke cans or hiked up to a giant Buddha.

We polished off wine bottles with sunsets 

had hard conversations

Honest advice 

and

 what if conversations

THANK YOU RACHEL

I am addicted to Thai Massages

I always run out of Baht on my phone

I miss the family plan

I was blessed with a wonderful teaching experience

good classes

a bad bunch here and there

funny groups

thoughtful and even some sassy kids

I will always wonder why this week when during finals someone kept passing gas...LOUD on PLAsTIC chairs...no student in the room looked up or even around...or cracked a smile or snickered! But heaven forbid the teacher (that's me) in the SAME class sneezed 4 times in a row they all looked up and laughed like I was an actor at Second City.

Bless the girls that wear the platform shoes and mini skirts to class 

Watch over the Male Ajahns so they stay out of trouble

May Hello Kitty always decorate sides of coach buses, insides of cabs, pimp out blackberry phones and accessorize the girls  

I will not miss the Thai shuffle

I will miss the Thai smile

Friday morning skypes turned to daily dates

A g chat here and there turned into long emails

flights were booked a house rented in Bali

meet me there?

You are coming to Bangkok! 

2 beers and 2 shots of espresso 

You sure you want a roommate....so your sayin you want a live in girlfriend? 

Can I bring my rubber duck hair clip that I named Lloyd? 

See ya September 25th. Summer in Sydney with someone I am in like with

I won't say if it is typing problem or spelling issue 

babe became babu

I have been a tour guide in a Vietnam museum

Been lost in the rain and shine

Lost 3 pairs of shoes

proud to say I never got bed bugs or lice when I was on the road

Got hustled in pool and had the night of my life with complete strangers and all I have is a fancy bracelet to remember the evening we found on a cheesy club floor.   


My ankles are scared from skeeter bites
My hair is really thin
Thailand you sure have done a number on my body


No matter where we were Erin was always getting attacked by ants
Danielle could find french fries at the drop of a Baht 
Emma is the best at describing food, talking about cheese and should be a professional sandwich maker
Eleanor can relate anything that happens to you or anyone you know in life to a book or movie and will loan you money so she can watch you get a tattoo
Brian is pretty much 1/2 of my soul and Zach holds a very, very small piece of my pinkie toe
Mike I promise to keep the powerkick alive
Bridget sorry I ate all your m&m's and I can't believe you have 12 siblings thanks for sharing your nail polish and thread.  
Ellen and Barry you are cool cats, laid back, chill peeps
Annie I miss you and can't wait to see you in America...I have never seen a white girl pop it like you do
Ted and Heather the party planners
Anna, just a down ass chick
Ben keep tweeting and being the gentleman
Stacey and Anna Thailand is was it is because the things you showed me, taught me...mostly thanks for showing us how to sneak into hotel pools and introducing us to RCA
Matt and Al I really don't think I have words..I guess I will miss watching weird youtube clips or walk in on you perusing adult websites.
Oh man there are so many others...Brian Smith, Danimal, Rich, Will we miss you, Spencer sorry I stole all your sunglasses, Joey, Teresa, Em, SOmyyyyyy, Chelsea, Benji, Griffin....


You were all wonderful and added a little something something to my year.


In the words of Danielle
"woke up still drunk...with a tattoo. it was inevitable"

The Tattoo is Thai numbers 
The year we got here
A year to remember


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