(Before you continue... I have no idea why the blog keeps changing and alternating between different fonts, but think of it as a way to stay alert as you read through such a long post!)
Though living in a busy Thai city is overwhelming and the pollution is assaulting my lungs, I am feeling at home much more quickly than anticipated because of the incredibly welcoming community here. Last weekend, two days after I touched down, a huge group of us went to Crazy Horse for a long day of fantastic climbing followed by a BBQ.
Since then, I started taking an intensive Thai course (including reading and writing... AH!) at a local university, began work at The Life Skills Development Foundation, and have spent much of my free time at the end of the day trying to find a place to live.
Before I get too into Chiang Mai though, I have some non- chronological catching up to do... a post about my vacation time at home in the US, and then a few about wanderings in Asia.
Unfortunately, my camera was under repair for most of my time in the USA, so I haven't many pictures, but I have a few of Wilson's pictures from Colorado and some from my last week spent in Seattle.
Some of the immediate differences of being home: huge refrigerators; flushing toilet paper; cold, dry air; snow on mountains; the fragrance of Douglas fir trees; wearing wool socks, sweaters, and scarves; unlimited selection at grocery stores; sofas; good beer; good cheese; good bread; ovens; ability to eaves drop; driving a car; driving on the right-hand side of the road.
Family, friends, and good food (that was not Thai...) dominated my time in the States, along with the requisite dentist and doctors appointments. For those of you I was fortunate enough to spend time with while home, thank you. It was a delight to catch up on the exciting changes of the past year, as well as muse about what the immediate and distant future might hold... from the trials of middle school, finding employment, moving to unfamiliar places, and working in new fields, to the adventures of starting businesses, traveling the world, enrolling in graduate and medical programs, and jet setting to meet lovers. Its a joy to know so many fun and amazing people!
After two rejuvenating weeks in Seattle filled with family, several Lacrosse games for my brother Mac, and a quick trip to UPS (which, for all the familiarity and comfort it holds from 4 years of college, felt somewhat like an alternate universe!), I visited Colorado for a week in May and was treated to some unseasonable SNOW! I spent most of my time in Colorado with Wilson, traipsing around the lovely locales of Fort Collins and Boulder. If you're ever in Fort Collins, the New Belgium Brewery tour is fantastic!
Wilson, Noah (Wilson's brother), and I went out for a cold, but awesome day of climbing in Boulder Canyon.
A week in Iowa visiting family, was next on my agenda. It was very pleasant time spent at baseball games and field day events for my brothers Connor, Colton, and Dylan, fishing at the local pond, looking for new kittens, picking strawberries and asparagus, and a double feature at the drive-in movie.
My final week in Seattle was more adventurous than my first two, as I was no longer adjusting to the time change.
The most memorable was a muddy mountain bike ride with my mom and step-father through the beginnings of the Cascade mountains along a converted rail line.
There was also a family evening spent on the beach overlooking the Puget Sound and Olympic mountains, and a happy reunion with Emily and several other friends from college who were visiting or returning from from time spent in all parts of the world.
And on my final day in the US, during an evening walk with the dog, I was treated to a sunset that rivaled even those of Bangsak beach.
Bags finally packed, I had a more difficultly saying goodbye on this leave than I did in June 2009... but nonetheless, it's time, once again, for more amusing mishaps and interesting explorations in Asia.
