Chasing the Sun

I know I’ve been lagging on my blog (what’s new?) but! I do have a legit excuse: My first week in Thailand was busy—getting to know the culture, language classes, teacher training classes, and getting to know the other 79 teachers with the program. Also, I haven’t really had access to the internet. But I’m finally situated at my school and now I have plenty of time to get down and dirty.

Who knew sitting could be so exhausting? Divide eighteen and a half hours by four in-flight movies, three meals, seven pages of writing, attempting to sleep, and staring into space and you get a painfully tired Kristin. I felt like a zombie and probably smelled like one too, maybe not so much like a decaying corpse but you get the picture—tired & stanky. Not a good combo.

First thing’s first, I woke up feeling great. I slept well, woke up on time, and did all the things I needed to do before I left—took out my trash, cleaned the room a little, made copies of my passport and visa, fed my dog, etc. It was a very productive morning. I said bye to pops, kissed him, hugged him, and told him I’d miss him and Mom took me to the LAX. Twice. We were 5 minutes from the airport when I realized I left my passport in the printer. Yes. I left my passport (the most important document when leaving the country) at home. Why was I not surprised? And why, when I told my sister and Danny, did they reply, “Of course, you did”? Oh yes, it’s because I am the manifestation of forgetful. I may even say that’s an understatement. I would say looking for my keys, wallet, and cell phone are hobbies of mine because I do it so often. Mom was pretty upset and lectured me for a little bit but I would have been more surprised if I didn’t forget anything.

We called Dad and luckily he was able to meet us at a gas station on Pico and La Brea to drop it off. Let me explain to you how this went down. And honestly, if I wasn’t apart of this whole situation, but saw it happen, it would seem pretty damn shady. We pull into a gas station and wait for a few minutes. I hop out of the car make a quick call and wait on the curb. A car pulls up and he hands me a yellow envelope and small plastic case (bobby pins) and drives off. I run back to the car and we drive away. The only way it could have been any shadier is if we were driving black SUVs with tinted windows and I whipped out my sawed off shot gun.

On the drive to the airport, I was freaking out—“What are you doing? What are you doing? What. The. Heck. Are. You. Doing?!” I felt nervous, so nervous that I was nauseous. It reminded me of pre-skydiving jitters—anxiety and uncertainty. Mom said it was probably because I was texting in car; I’d say she’s 25% right. 75% goes to finally leaving the country and being placed in a completely different environment. I was uneasy and queasy but I think that’s normal. I took it for what it was and realized that this feeling is what I’ve been searching for. The uncertainty and discomfort is what I want to feel, what I need to feel, and for me, becoming a tourist is the way to do it.

I was in line for the security checkpoint, I looked around, and I was in the middle of a sea of Asian. The real kind, the ones that speak their native language. I knew that if I didn’t speak, I’d fit in. I was standing behind an elderly Japanese couple, the wife went through the metal detector, and the husbands turns to me and asks something in Japanese. I apologized and said I didn’t understand. He walked away. Sorry, Bro.

Between the two flights, I was in the air about 19 hours. My first flight (13 hours) to Seoul went by like a blur. Sitting for such a long period of time should be considered torture. I was a little antsy and, at one point, felt like doing laps around the plan. A young American couple sat in the two remaining seat next to; I was relieved. They were traveling to Thailand for two weeks to celebrate their two-year anniversary. Congrats, Amanda & Jordan! And I’m pretty sure there was an Asian men’s basketball team on my flight—they were tall, built, and some were good looking (SOME)—I know basketball players when I see them. Yummmm.

I was fortunate enough to get a window seat; I like being able to peak through the window every now and then. Traveling westward is like chasing the sun. I saw daylight for about 18 straight hours. I woke up at 7:30am and the sun didn't set until 6:00pm in Korea. My plane took off at 12:30pm and I took pictures at:

2:14pm

6:14pm

10:14pm--keep in mind this all in Los Angeles time.

These pictures were taken in four hour increments, but it looks like they could have been taken at the same time. The only difference is in the clouds. I don't know...it kinda just blew mind. The second flight from Seoul to Bangkok wasn't too bad. I was tired though. But I was fighting the urge to sleep because I figured that I'd be able to sleep well when I got to Thailand.

no sleep = decreased chance of jet lag.

Not sleeping totally bit me in the ass. On the plan, I sat next to this one guy from Pakistan. He didn't creep me out, his friend did. His friend didn't really speak English but kept asking me questions. Maybe it was because his English was limited that his questions came out weird? Probably. But this is how his questions progressed:

Where you come from?
-America
You look like Asian.

-Yes, I'm Filipino.

You look like Thai people.

-(I smiled)
Who you travel with?
-My friends.
Are they here?
-I will meet them at the airport.
Are you married?
-Yes.
No ring?

-I lost it.

He walked away after that and that was my cue to go to sleep. I arrived in Bangkok around 11:30pm. Now begins the adventure. I got off the plane and mostly everything was in Thai. YIkes. I went through immigration and just an FYI it takes way longer in real life than it does in movies. I waited for like 15 minutes just to get to the desk. I grabbed my bag and followed the signs to catch a taxi.

I stepped outside and it was like walking into a brick wall. The heat and humidty caused instant beads of sweat to seep through my pours in the 2 seconds I was outside. Just kidding, it wasn’t that dramatic. But, dude, it was freaking hot. I wasn’t sweating but I sure was sticky.

As I was walking, I was trying to remember all the dos and don’ts. I got off the escalator and cab drivers kept repeating, “Taxi. Taxi. Where you going?” First rule of thumb: Only take official metered taxis; they are on the first floor and usually set up with podiums. At the airport, if a man comes up to you asking if you need a taxi, do not take it; chances are they're going to rip you off.

Second rule of thumb: to avoid being over charged, decide on or get an

estimate of how much your cab ride will be. I asked the woman at the podium how much it would be to get from the airport to Louis’ Tavern on Soi 64 right off Vibhavadi Rangsit Road. She said about 450 baht and I said okay. She handed me a piece of paper (written in Thai) and I got into the cab. Then it hit me:

They could have said 800 baht and I probably would have said okay.

How would I know if they're overcharging me? I wouldn't. But let’s talk about the driving in Thailand. It’s insane! You know those lines in the street? The lines that divide our streets into lanes and the lanes we drive to avoid accidents? Thailand has those lines and those same exact lanes but they don’t use it. Lanes

are but mere suggestions. My cabbie was straddling the line for a good portion of the highway. In the rain. With mopeds weaving in and out of traffic. With 2 other cars next to him (also straddling lines). I will give it up to them though. These dudes definitely know their car.

I got to the hotel around 12:30am and met my roomie at the time but now good friend, Danielle. We chatted for a bit and went to bed. In the morning we met Mike and Erin. Meet the core group of peeps.

(Above Left to Right: Mike, Erin, and Danielle)

Orientation October 14-October 19

Picture this: a group of 80 travel hungry Americans, who just graduated from college within the last 2 or 3 years, with an average age of about 22 or 23, in a completely new country. Sounds like a great time, huh? It was awesomeeee. It was like spring break. Like a vacation before the vacation. Language and cultural students by day, kids at play by night. We hit up a few bars, definitely took over the fifth floor one of the nights we were there (as seen above), and explored Bangkok. Guests of honor: Chang, Leo, and Singha.

The Grand Palace

Can you say BEAUTIFUL?! The architecture was amazing, not that I'm a connoisseur of Asian architecture but, DUDE, you really don't need to touch the fire to know it's hot. Everything was so ornate. You can see the labor put into each structure. You feel the importance of their heritage, religion, and traditions. The prominence of Thai culture makes me wonder about American culture. Where is it?

Muay Thai @ Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok

Muay Thai is so ridiculously insane. There were nine matches and the fighters could have been any older than 18. The main event was match 7 and boy o boy was it the main event. I really don't understand how your body can take a beating like that. Their kicks and punches were so fast and so hard that I was standing up for most the time and every now and then I couldn't help but scream out "Ohhhh!".

Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi is a town a few hours (by bus) outside of Bangkok. It's best known for The Tiger Temple and Erawan Waterfalls. Although we did not do either, this trip was probably the highlight of orientation. We went the Bridge Over the River Kwae, bamboo rafting, swimming in the river, and rode freaking elephants. ELEPHANTS! They’re just amazing creatures and not to mention HUGGGGGE! Geez. I rode with Erin and we just couldn’t stop giggling; we could not get over the fact that we were sitting on the neck of an elephant—feet behind the ears and hands resting on its head. Crazy. The elephants were trained so that when you rub their head, they bring their trunk over their head to get a treat. When they didn't get their treat, they would blow their hot elephant breath into your face through. It was the worst smell ever. I felt my face turn green.

One downer to this trip was that my camera fell. From on top of the elephant. From on top of the elephant. From on top of the elephant. ahhh. It hurt my heart just thinking about it. But it's just a material possession, easily replaceable. Luckily I brought my iphone, which does take quality pictures.

The Bridge over the River Kwae

I love bridges, especially ones with so much history. If you didn't know, the Bridge over the River Kwae (or Kwai, but pronounced Kware) is a World War II monument, also known as the Death Railway. This railway was constructed under Japanese rule to connect Burma (Myanmar) to Siam (Thailand) to quickly move men and supplies for Japanese troops. Prisoners of war built the railway under unbearable working conditions, many of who died during the construction. It's so sad.

On a brighter note, our hotel was unbelievable. Two swimming pools, beer, ping-pong table, and a

club/pub room that smelled like it hasn’t been used in years. We checked into our rooms and automatically raided the hotel for beer, beer, and more beer. That night was probably one of the better nights because everyone was hanging out! I mean we all did our own thing but eventually came back to the game room/pub/club thing and had a fantabulous time. I went swimming for a bit and got out of the pool with five huge mosquito bites on my forehead. They were ginormous and they hurt. Thank goodness for bangs.

Welp, I think that just about sums up my first week in Thailand. There are plenty more pictures and so many other things I've done, but it would be impossible to blog about every single thing. I'll post more pictures. When I can. Just know that Thailand has been amazing so far and I can't wait to see what's in store for these next couple months. I'm already working on my next blog. Hopefully it won't take me forever. :) but no promises.

I miss you guys back home. Especially Mom, Dad, Jeeks, Jan, Ken, and Kumbeezy. I think about you guys a lot, you know when I'm not really doing anything cool. hahaha love you!!!

MONDAY! MONDAY! MONDAY!

This is it, kids. The home stretch. My Thailand puzzle was finally completed last Monday; my Thai single entry non-immigrant B visa is sitting on my desk waiting to be put to good use. Two days. Two days. TWO DAYS! And I'm on my way to Thailand. This time next week, I will be somewhere in THAILAND. IN FREAKING THAILAND! As in across the Pacific Ocean. About 30% of the Earth’s surface. That’s almost ONE THIRD of the world. Insane.

This trip is coming and it’s coming fast; I wouldn't have it any other way. LA was fun while it lasted, but nothing was able to compete with just the thought (JUST THE THOUGHT!) of the endless possibilities, personal growth, and experiences I will encounter abroad. Distractions got the best of me at certain points of my stay; I'm back in control now. Eyes on the prize. No distractions. Just ME and Thailand. Oh mannnnnn! One freaking third. Trips me out.

I’m nervous, excited, intimidated, happy, scared, anxious…you name it, I’m probably feeling it. I’ve never been out of the country before and to do it alone? Well, it’s definitely going to be an adventure. Ups and downs, highs and lows, homesick, not-so-homesick; I’m expecting to go through it all (especially because I’ll be there for all major U.S. holidays, including my birthday!). But! No matter how rough it may get out there, I won’t let it consume me. Keeping busy with lesson plans, traveling, cooking lessons, Muay Thai (going to matches, not actually partaking in the ass kicking), and becoming apart of the Thai culture, will help ease being away from home. I look forward to meeting new people and celebrating new holidays in a new environment. All this newness is awesome.

I really can’t wait until Monday. Crap! It’s almost Monday.

Word Problem:

My plane takes off on October 11, at 12:30pm. After about 12 hours and 20 minutes of flying west (NOT EAST), I arrive in Seoul, Korea on October 12, around 5:45pm. Seoul, Korea is 16 hours ahead of the United States. How many hours will I be transported into the future?

Let’s look at this again. I leave on 10/11/10 at 12:30 in the afternoon and arrive the next day, 10/12/10, at 5:45 in the evening. Sounds crazy, huh? That’s 29 hours and 15 minutes of flying? Not really. The flight only takes about 12½ hours. Answer: When you figure in the time zone difference, I’m traveling 12 hours and 20 minute to be 16 hours into the future. Duh.

But that’s not all, I still need to get to Bangkok, which is another 5½ hour flight and in yet another time zone. Thailand is 14 hours ahead of the US, which is 2 hours closer than Seoul. At 7:30pm, I leave for Bangkok and arrive at 11pm. So I’m traveling another 5½ to gain back 2 of the 16 hours I lost when flying to Korea. So I travel for about 17½ hours to hang with Marty McFly 14 hours into the future (all coming from the Los Angeles time zone point of view, of course). Interesting? Kinda. One thing’s for sure, my brain was hurting for a while. I thought I needed to do some crazy mathematical equation to figure out the time I would lose when flying westward, but no. It took me about 2 hours to figure that I didn’t need to spend 2 hours to find the answer. The answer is in the time zones. Doh!

It’s literally going to be a full day of travel. There is one thing I find it odd: my flight leaves at 12:30 in the afternoon. I always thought international flights left at night so passengers arrive at their destination during the day? I guess I was wrong. Whatever. Doesn’t matter now.

Besides banging my head against the wall over something not worth banging my head

over, I’ve been slowly cleaning out my room and packing. I went through all my clothes and donated an extra large garbage bag and box full of clothes plus another box of shoes and bags. I tried taking a box to the local thrift shop, but I only made $6.30 off a pair of jeans; it didn’t even cover the cost of a beer from last night’s outing. Money is money though.

Packing was somewhat easy and I think it’s because I’m so set on bringing as little as possible. So this, up here, is what I’ll be taking with me. Underpants, some tanks, work clothes, shoes, flip-flops, hydration pack, and a few other essentials.

I did a little test run to make sure everything fit and it did, with space to spare too! Once my teaching term is up, I plan to either ship back or donate (it will probably be the latter) all my work clothes, which will make even more space in my pack.

Packing is done.

Documents are in.

And I am ready to GO!

Monday, October 11, 2010, at 12:30pm

I'm leaving, on the next plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me, like you know I'll never go
Even though you know I will
I'm a travelling [wo]man moving through places, space, and time got a lot of things I got to do but God willing I'm coming back to you, my baby-boo.
I'm a travelling [wo]man

-Mos Def, Travelin' Man

Question: Is it crazy to feel a connection with a place I've only known through pictures on the internet, Americanized (and apparently A LOT milder) renditions of Thai cuisine, and whatever I may have learned in school?

At 12:30pm on October 11, 2010, (in less than a month from now) I will be sitting on a plane, flying into the future to Bangkok and will arrive at 11:30pm on October 12. Weird, yet exciting. I can't believe it's almost here. Holy GEEEZ! I can't beeelieeeeeve it!

Ok anyway, the five months that follow October 11, will be dedicated to teaching English to nursing students in Muang, Phetchaburi, and traveling on the weekends. The month and a half following those five months will be dedicated to exploration-whatever I want to do and whenever I want to do it. The entire 6 and a half month journey will be dedicated to ME.

Let me explain.

Whenever I tell people about my decision to live, teach, and travel, they usually respond by asking "Why Thailand? Why don't you go to Korea, China, or someplace in South America?"I never knew how to answer these questions and I thought I needed some profound romanticized explanation as to why I chose to go to Thailand to teach English. I mean, I wish I could tell you that this trip is the beginning of my life long mission to eradicate sex trafficking or to end violence against women; but it's not. Nor will I tell you that this is the journey where I will discover my spiritual self through hours and hours of meditation. Really, I do wish I had the answer to resolving those issues and I'm sure there will be a lot of self discovery in the next 7 months; but I don't have a long spiel to impress you. What I can share with you are two of the most honest and simplest answers: I chose to go to Thailand because 1) I want to and 2) because I can.

I've been fixated on Going to Thailand for as long as I can remember; I'm not entirely sure why though. Maybe it's because I love Thai food? If I could only tell you how many times I've eaten and how much money I've spent at Krua Thai (Monterey, CA), Sanam (Hollywood, CA), and Thai Patio (Hollywood, CA). It's like the saying goes, "the way to my heart is through my stomach," there's definitely some truth to that. (Random Fact: if I could only eat one type of food for the rest of my life, it would definitely be Thai). Or maybe because I live right in the heart of Thai Town? Living here for so long, it only makes sense to see the real deal. Or maybe it's a combination of both. I don't know.

What I do know is that this is perfect time for me to go. I've been saving for about a year and a half. No responsibilities. No debt. No commitments. Just me, my dreams, and I--perfect. These 7 months are going to be about me, what I want to do, and what I want to see. Life, thus far, has been so comfortable and structured, therefore, limiting. I want to feel uncomfortable and get lost somewhere. I want to be alone and try to figure how to get from point A to point B.

So, question: Is it crazy to feel a connection with a place I've only known through pictures on the internet, Americanized (and apparently A LOT milder) renditions of Thai cuisine, and whatever I may have learned in school?

Answer: It doesn't matter. I connect, therefore I will go.

Remember, y'all:
If you can dream it, you can do it.

Updates:

So right now, I'm waiting on a few documents so I can apply for my Multiple-Entry, Non-Immigrant ‘B’ visa for Thailand. This visa allows me to work in Thailand; I think it's every 90 days that I'll have to leave the country and renew it? Not sure, but I'll figure it out.

I'm arriving a day early in Thailand, which will give me some time to explore the area before the week long orientation begins. woo hoo!

I've been frequenting REIs around LA and just bought a day pack for the trip (thanks to Toddeezy & Dano the Mano); it's pretty sweet. I'm planning to take as little as possible; anything I can do without, I'm leaving behind. Oh! I was also able to fit into and buy 2 pairs of kids pants for the price of one pair of adults pants. AWESOMEEE! :)

I'll be up north in Monterey, San Francisco, and the East Bay from September 26-October 3. If you're up there, save a day for me! I'd love to see you before I journey off to the other side of the world. :)

Again, I'm leaving on October 11. Let's make a play date!

I came. I saw. I conquered.

Runyon Canyon, Los Angeles, CA - August 19, 2010

Zuma Beach, CA - August 2010

Laguna Beach, CA - August 2010

Some Random Beach, CA - June 2010

Monterey, CA - May 2010

View of the Monterey Bay - May 2010

Panoramics of Thailand Coming soon...

What did the 5 fingers say to the face?

7:53 am, Wednesday, August 4, 2010.

It started off like any other morning. Woke up about 15 minutes before my alarm, groggy, rolled around a bit trying to find the cool spots in bed, then reached over to grab my phone sitting atop my makeshift nightstand, consisting of two plastic file boxes stacked one on top of the other. I check my phone in this order: missed calls or texts (by default), fb, then email...technology = amazing. No calls, No texts, and No fb notifications...no surprise. Bring on the emails! I know I have at least one; my daily sports center update never fails to come through. To my surprise, the lonesome number "1" that usually accompanies the email icon on this handy dandy iphone was replaced by a "2". I opened my emails and at that second in time ESPN did not matter. Blasphemous, i know; but the second email was bigger, badder, and 32,398,237,498,325,208 times better than the first.

The subject line read: Congrats--Placement for Kristin De Jesus.

What did five fingers say to the face?
SLAPPPP!

Instant pick me up. Heart pounding out of my chest, sounding like those Jumanji drums. Mind overflowing with endless possibilities. One pretty hard kick of energy. It was like injecting adrenaline into my system (but without actually injecting adrenaline into my system). Before i knew it, I was on my bed reenacting a scene from Flashdance (only not as provocative and minus the water).

Soooo, that's right, ladies and gentlemen, I have been placed! It is the real deal! Thailand, here I commme! I knew I was going to receive word on my placement sooner or later but It didn't feel real until that exact moment. I can't believe it's actually happening...but most of all I can't believe that I MADE THIS HAPPEN.

Light. Airy. Easy breezy. High (natural, of course). I started feeling something new, something I've never really experienced as an adult...EXCITEMENT!

Then it hit me. Epiphany!

Pre-Thailand email, I was going through life like clock work, just going through the motions. High school. College. Work. Blah. Everything that was expected of me. Don't get me wrong, I met plenty of wonderful people and learned many many many things I'll never forget (academically, emotionally, and spiritually), but I realized I never had the zing that added more flavor, more spice...more life. Thailand, and more specifically, actually knowing where I will be living and working in Thailand added the extra essence I needed to change all that.

Fast forward to today, Friday, August 13, 2010. I've witnessed the trickle down effect in action. Everything post Thailand email feels amazing...even work. Days are brighter, colors are more vibrant, and a smile is plastered on my face. I feel great--more relaxed, much happier, and, above all, positive. Things I would normally find irritating seem so trivial now. Work is easy and my days are awesome. I got me some of that good juju, positive energy, and good vibrations and I want to share it with everyone!

Moral of the story...

Life is meant to be fulfilling, fun, and hard (at times), but none the less, it is meant to be LIVED! Thailand and LA have revamped my inner go getter spirit and it feels grrrrrreat! No more treading, just floating. The day you don't feel excited to wake up in the morning, is the day you should realize that something is wrong.

Life is just good. Done and done.

I hope you find the spark that makes your life just as exciting. If you have found it, hold onto it, feel it, and just be. Remember that WE direct the way our life is headed; what we choose to do (or not to do) is completely up to us. We just can't be mad if the end result is NOT in our favor, do like Aaliyah and dust yourself off and try again.

But for real, y'all, if you take one thing from this blog, take this:

Cheers to making life worth living. It's in your hands.

Thailand specifics...

I'm getting shipped out to Muang, Phetchaburi to teach English at the Prachomklao School of Nursing. I'll be teaching 16-17 hours a week but on duty at the school for 8 hrs a day, Monday-Friday. I'm working with students close to my age and living in a dorm type setting 5 minutes from campus with computer access and a fitness facility.

Jealous yet? No?

Well, have I mentioned that Phetchaburi is about two an a half hours away from Bangkok, close to the border of Myanmar (Burma), and located near plenty of beaches? Heck mother effin yeaaa it is! :) Orientation starts on October 14, 2010, and I'm expected to arrive on the 13th.

I'm currently looking for flights online and need to get my transcripts and a letter from CSUMB's registrar to prove I actually went college.

Time to pack! Woop! Woop!

See you in about 2 months, Thailand!

Honey, I am home...

LA, where everybody is a "somebody", traffic is a day long event, and the most physical activity people get in a day comes from working their thumbs on their not-so-dumb cellular. Everything is so Hollywood-glam-d-list-famous. This is VERY different from what I am used to and not in a good way. BUT! (and this is a huge BUT) There is one thing that keeps me coming back for more; my people. (And for the record, this goes out to my Monterey folks, "my people" does not only refer to the substantial increase of Filipinos/Asians/Pacific Islanders...ya jerks!) My people are those I've rolled with for some time now, those I don't have to REconnect with because that connection was never lost, those I didn't see or speak with for months at a time but since coming back, it's as though those five years were just five minutes. They got me, like I got them.

So check this out, it was hard to let go of what I had in Monterey-a good boyfriend, great friends, and a beautiful environment. Moving back wasn't even my first choice. I was an emotional mess the few weeks leading up to the big move and my first week an a half in LA; it was a tough transition. Waking up in the back unit of my parents' house took some getting used to. No more Monterey. No more Wilson Court. How do you even begin to let go of someone, people, and a place, you don't want to get over? Ah. It WAS hard. BUT! (yes, there's that but again) what's the perfect cure to any hardship and guaranteed to fix any issue? FRIENDS & FAMILY!

It's been so long since I've been able to kick it in LA with homies...(like reallllllly kick it) kickin it like conversing over bossa novas, pick up ball at Brace, coffee table beer pong, wine night, and shot gunning bud lights with my girls (hahaha!), and just chilling...with people who just get me and where I am in life. Honey, I am home. You guys are exactly what the doctor ordered. Because of you, I am happy; I have let go of Monterey and all that it came with.

For real, the friends I've made over the years in MB are incredibly-over-the-top-shoot-for-the-moon-amazing and a piece of me still wants to be up there with them...but I know I made the right decision. Five years on the good 'ol Ord was enough for me. On to another challenge waiting to be conquered...after a quick stop in LA.

To my people in Monterey, distance means nothing. I know next time we meet we will hang like we used to, laugh like we used to, and party like we used to. I miss you guys. A lot. A lot.

To my people in LA, you keep me grounded. You keep things interesting and me on my toes. You are my best friends (in Janette's case, you are my partna in crime!). We have until October to do it up right...

I love you all, whether you are in LA or Monterey or somewhere in between. I got you.

-kj

Thailand Update

Dude, I don't know if I can get use to this whole blogging thing (as you can tell by the month of inactivity). I mean, it took some effort to sit and write this bad boy. But anyway, here's a quick update on Thailand:

Medical clearance. check.
Police clearance. check.
Personal statement. check.
Updated resume. check.
Final recommendation. check.

My part is done. All the needed documents were sent in and now all I have to do is sit, wait, and dream (yes, dream) about where I will be placed in Thailand. Ohhh imagine the possibilities!!! wanna know what I think about that? WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Holy geez, I, kj de jesus, will be going to Thailand to teach English for 5 months! How insane is that?! I made this happen! And I am not average! Ahhhhh.... Blogging does this feeling inside me no justice. Like at all.

Think of the feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you're walking towards the airplane door right before jumping out--you know it's the "holy-schnikes-what-the-eff-am-I-doing" type feeling. Then think of that feeling you get from hanging out with someone you're diggin' like the squishy feeling that makes you randomly smile. Then think of the feeling you get from getting an A in a class you worked your ass off. So mix all that craziness together and you can start to understand a little bit of how I'm feeling.

Bottom line: I feel pretty freaking amazing.

With all this waiting though, i feel like I'm going crazy. You know when you have an energy overload and just need to work out? Or when you're riding in a car that's going too slow and you just want to jump out and start running because you feel like you can run faster than the car? Yea, it's suffocating to be so close to Thailand and still have to wait.

Time to start thinking about what I'm going to bring and how I'm going to fit it all in a large sized day pack...hmmm...