there's no place like home

I am loving every minute at home. It still feels a bit surreal that I've finally made it back. Three months felt so short, yet so long.
The flight was long, the only time I really got any sleep was on the floor of the Singapore airport, but now I'm happily writing from the comforts of my own bed. Granted it's 7 in the morning and I've already been awake for a few hours (thanks jet lag), despite my nyquil efforts last night... I've developed a cold of sorts, I think my throats not used to the dry airplane air and AC. Anyway, these are just minor details. I am home and it feels great.
My mom, sister, and 2 month old niece greeted me at LAX, and I think I was too in shock to be home to cry. I have just been so happy and felt so lucky. My life is truly blessed, how can I complain.. especially with all the excess comforts I have here in America and at my home.
I see through a new lens now, or at the very least, it has been altered by my experience this summer. I'm not even quite sure I can put it into words. This has been one of the most difficult experiences, but oh so rewarding.
Many people regard travel as something glamorous, with beautiful pictures of beaches, temples, mosques, cities... new places to set our sights on. Granted, it is wonderful to experience a new place, travel is anything but glamorous. Unless you have the dough, but then you are isolated at a resort and are too comfortable to immerse yourself in the culture.
If you have the chance, travel. Do it. You will NOT regret it. It will be absolutely nothing how you expect, but so much more. You will be pushed to your breaking point, and then beyond. You will learn so much about yourself, and surprise yourself. It's beyond me how else to describe this sensation. Perhaps "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times". Mostly, the best though.
As much as I love travel, there truly is no place quite like home. I am so happy to be reunited with my family, to spend my sleepless mornings with my smiley niece, and to soon see many dear friends.
God bless America.

the summer of all summers

I'm almost done packing, and tomorrow afternoon I leave Chiang Mai. Seems unreal, to be honest. It probably won't hit me that I've left until after I'm home. I've never felt such an intense mix of emotions - grateful for the incredible people I've met, the experiences I've had, torn that I have to leave, yet I'm still getting excited to see my family and friends back in the states.

I will certainly miss my dear city, Chiang Mai. Although tomorrow I leave for the southern beaches of Thailand (and I know it will be a blast), it still stings to leave. My very first day here I was extremely homesick, culture shock hit hard. I figured I'd learn to really enjoy it here, but I did not expect to love it this much. I am forever grateful for every single experience out here, and the internship as a whole. I have learned so much more than I could have in a classroom, in my blessed air conditioned home, my comfort zone. If you are debating doing anything that scares you a little, I say DO IT. You will be rewarded with so much more than you could ever imagine. Get out of your comfort zone, that's where living truly begins.

Well, I'll keep this short and include a few pictures from my last few days in my beloved city.

Meditation

Went on a 24 hour meditation retreat this week.. I had no idea what to expect so I went with an open mind and I really enjoyed the experience.
First of all, meditation is HARD. I have never tried it before, the closest I get is doing yoga, but I like to be moving. I still am not quite sure how to even explain it, and I am by all means no expert, but once you start to get the hang of it a little, it's pretty cool. I finally reached a point the second day where I sat cross legged, closing my eyes, counting my buddhist prayer beads, and didn't realize til I was done that 30 minutes had gone by. Now, if you're just sitting there doing nothing, 30 minutes can feel like forever. It was really neat to experience just a glimpse of meditation is, and nonetheless, from a buddhist monk, which by the way, he was way awesome.
There were 20 or so of us, most people I did not know, but it was great to get to know them and have fun, when we didn't have to be silent in the meditating and eating room. Or when we weren't dead tired from waking up at 5 am.. to meditate.. aka I chose the lying down position and slept for a bit (yes there is a lying down meditation position, also sitting, standing, and walking).
It was a fulfilling experience that I would recommend to anyone. I have always had an appreciation for religions and other ways to practice or live our lives, but I now look at Buddhism and monks in a new way - more respectful due to my first hand experience into a tiny glimpse of their humble lives.

Lamyai

I love meeting people out here, especially local Thai's. Today, on my rot kio ride home from the city, I had my weekend backpack with me, my purse, and then a bag full of a local fruit, lamyai, on my lap. This small old man sat across from me and noted that I had this fruit with me, seemingly surprised that a farang would buy it from the local market - I had never heard of or seen this fruit until I came here. I told him back in what little Thai I know that yes, it is Lamyai, and I think it's very delicious (something like, 'chai, aroy mak mak'). He, and the others on the truck got a kick out of my attempt to speak Thai, which of course was followed by many other Thai phrases quickly being said, I hardly caught any of it.
He spoke a tiny bit of English, so we tried (and mostly struggled) to communicate, but it was a lot of fun. He was so thrilled that I was even trying to speak Thai, and everytime I said a phrase in response to him he would reach over and shake my hand in delight, beaming from ear to ear with what few teeth he has left. The rest of the ride was spent laughing in our attempts to communicate, but enjoying it nonetheless.
I wish I were more eloquent with my words and in describing this small, seemingly insignificant event, but I just had to share this example of the kindness of Thais. They are so open and happy, and I will probably forget many details of little random moments like this that happen each day, but never how they made me felt. It just made my day to meet this kind, frail stranger who had such an enthusiasm for life, and for no other reason than the fact that he is a farmer!
I don't want to lose my passion for what life has to offer when I return to mundane tasks back at school.. luckily I will have so many great people to remember and learn from.

Pai

Some of the Lisu women's handicrafts

Jenna and I with Olay, Nute, Umpah, and little Catoon from where we work

This past week Jenna and I went with the ladies we work with up north to the province of Pai. An Australian family that owns an NGO in their hometown sells handicrafts made from local peoples all over the world, and the center I work at, Rainbow Tree, is one of them. So, Wednesday we went up with the Aussies to Pai to a Lisu village they work with.

After an early morning wake up call before sunrise, and a long windy drive up a mountain, we made it to beautiful Pai. I had never heard of it until this little trip but it’s just north of Chiang Rai, and apparently a popular backpackers destination. This village is also where my host dad, Manop, works at. It was really neat to see where he works and what he does, and to meet these lovely ladies that make the most beautiful handicrafts. After being here for 2 months, you grow accustomed to the usual crafts being sold in the markets, and they are certainly all gorgeous, but this experience opened my eyes.

Seeing where these ladies live and make their handicrafts, getting to know them personally, really touched me. This is what they do for a living, all day, everyday. They have no business or market to sell at, so thankfully this kind Aussie family buys from them, sells it in the Aussie store, and keeps no profit for themselves - it all goes back to the villagers and community. For one, it was a great learning experience for me to witness first hand just how an NGO can work. Something I hope to apply in my future career if I still plan on taking this path.

I also felt of the love of God for each of these women. At the end of our visit, after they graciously served us some lunch, and gave us little gifts, and using Manop as a translator, they told us how grateful they were for the Aussies and their service to help them make a living. These women, along with countless other Thai’s, are such examples to me in living their simple, humble lives much more graciously than I am living mine. I seem to always need these reminders to bring me back to the basics in life.

Anyway, it was a great day and I’m glad I got to meet these women in Pai. Meeting new people in many different countries and cultures really opens my eyes. There is so much more to life than our own backyards (although, there is no place quite like home..). In every town I visit, I tell myself I will come back to visit these people again, and boy, I really do hope so. My love for international work only continues to grow, and I will do all I can to make that life a reality.

Laos love

Wow. Laos was incredible. A fun, relaxing week spent on the Mekong River, then 3 nights in Luang Prabrang. I cannot quite explain it, but I honestly was in awe the entire time. The most beautiful, clear blue waterfalls, walking under a canopy of trees, and when the butterflies passed me by I had to honestly consider if I had died and gone to heaven.

Laos had formerly been colonized by the French, so we munched on countless baguettes while watching the local Laotians ride their bikes with parasols in one hand. It looked quite like France and Thailand had a love child. Too funny.

It was also a great week spending time with the girls in our group, having impromptu dance parties in Pak Beng, making up the craziest scenarios, almost dying of heat stroke during the blackout one afternoon, the list goes on.

It was interesting to me to recognize my reaction when we flew back into Chiang Mai yesterday. I had a great time in Laos, but was excited to get back home and see my host family again. I had arrived in the very same airport just 2 months before and it was all so foreign to me, I was pretty nervous. But this time around, I was beaming to be back home (or, we'll say second home, California always has my heart). I hope I have similar feelings when I get back to the states in a month. I cannot believe I have such little time left, and no doubt it will be difficult to leave this place I have called home for some time, and even harder to leave so many people I have grown to love. But I still am excited to reunite with family and friends, granted it will take some adjusting, and I know that I am not coming back home the same person as I was when I left.

My dad mentioned during one of our skype calls that this is the happiest he has ever seen me. I love that he recognized that. I am incredibly happy out here. Granted there are difficult times and the heat can be uncomfortable, especially when sick, but the experiences I am having are irreplaceable. I am learning so much about myself. He also asked if I will get bored back home and at school, doing the usual mundane tasks that life consists of... I did not hesitate when I said YES. But now that I think about it, I will do my best to keep life exciting back there and learn new things, not just in school, but more so about life and myself. I am yearning to explore. The world, especially. But once I return I know I will be more limited, but still I am excited to explore Utah more... camping, particularly. It will keep me sane out there.

I just died and went to heaven aka Laos

Laos is already easily one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to (it rivals with Yosemite, but they are beautiful in different ways). It is similar to Thailand but much more raw and inhabited, the city of Luang Prabang is much smaller than Chiang Mai and has a great small town feel. We're staying at a place overlooking the Mekong River, and I swear I'm living in a fairy tale right now. Perfect vacation.
The boat ride here took two days and I still don't believe we did that. It was incredible. Most of the time I sat at the front of the boat on the bow or whatever it's called and just dangled my feet off the edge, no railings or anything to hold you back of course.. Welcome to Asia.
Anyway I'll eventually post more pics about the trip next week when I get back to Chiang Mai, I'm going to be sad to leave.