2009 LIST-OF-THANKS...

I would like to do my list-of-thanks in two parts this year:  part-narrative and part-list...

PART 1:

The theme this year has been "I do what I want"...and how THANKFUL I am to be able to follow these words...  From a trip to Russia with my best friend (first one in 17 years!)...a trip to Rome via work (how lucky I am to even HAVE work!)...a trip to Newport Beach for the 4th of July...a LONG overdue visit to my grandmother in Norway...a trip to Denmark...and now...I write from a small village in northern Thailand...  

Friends...I am TRULY blessed...

But my drive and dream actualization only account for about 30% of my thankfulness this year...I would NOT be able to enjoy ANY of my trips, if I did not know that there were people back at home that love and MISS me.  This realization was NEW this year...  I have always known that there were people that care for me...and like my company...but to know that someone REALLY DOES miss me...in feeling...not just in words...that is reason alone to be eternally thankful...

I have also made GREAT strides with my family relationship this year.  Especially with my mother...for this I am EXTREMELY thankful as this has always been an area of angst for me...  The family dynamic has become more stable...and while there will always be in-congruencies...I know that they think of me...miss me...and want to see me as often as they can...

It also brings me great pleasure to see my brother flourish.  He is a BRILLIANT young man that will go very far in life...which direction, is yet to be uncovered...but with his mind and passion - options abound.  There is ALWAYS room for progress...for everyone...I hope this does not overshadow his light...  He always tells me he loves me when we speak...i appreciate that about him...

My friends...I could get into specifics here - but I would hit a character limit and be left with pages yet that I had not touched upon...  But I will say that with every year that goes by...my friends IMPRESS me.  They impress me with how they handle situations...their OPENNESS with me that is so key to a progressive relationship and their SUPPORT no matter what I decide to pursue...

I think almost everyone is thankful for an income this year...I am no different...  But I would like to add that I am incredible thankful for the PLEASURE my job brings.  The people are UNBELIEVABLE...and ALL of them, I call my good friends...

I am extremely thankful for the constant introspection and re-calibration that is a daily part of life for me...  Thankful for my intuition...it has sharpened with work...and has been a successful guide this year...  

Thank you to all of you...YOU ARE A PART OF ME...  YOU are responsible for my growth.  If I did not feel loved, I would not have the impetus to go and soak up the wisdom of the world...

PART 2:

I am thankful for/to:

1. Jeff and his girlfriend for watching Sasha for me whenever I'm away - not only do they do this out of the goodness of their heart...but Sasha absolutely LOVES them...
2. My Platinum status with AA because I get miles a lot faster  :)
3. My health.
4. My home.
5. My love for beautiful things.
6. My understanding and acceptance of a very wide variety of people.
7. The opportunities presented to me and ALWAYS HAVING A CHOICE whether to pursue them or not...FREE WILL
8. Being able to give love freely...
9. My motherly side...the caretaker...I like that about myself.
10. My passion that drives me to start and pursue many things....but not always finish them...  :)
11. Being an American citizen that (as of right now) allows me to travel where ever I like...
12. The story of my past...the story of my family's past...
13. Having met...friended...and dated some of the most AMAZING people on the planet...
14. Being able to be "attractive" when I want to be attractive...
15. My BlackBerry!  My laptop!
16. My way with words...it comes and goes...but when it's there...it's amazing...
17. My thoughtful nature...I think constantly about those that I love...buying them things...writing...
18. For Jane and Mae...my host student and her grandmother...I have never experienced such level of care from someone...
19. For having a palette that LOVES all food (this is also a curse...)
20. For being able to see...and be mesmerized by the beauty in ALL things...  The sun...the trees...

I could go on...there is much on my list...  But overall...I am thankful to be living my DREAM...  

Sure...I want some things that I do not have...but maybe if I had those things, I would not be able to pursue some of my other loves...?  Maybe I need to make a few more check-marks on the list before I receive the other things that i desire...

Time will tell...until then...

One piece of advice to all:       Friends...don't censor yourselves...  If you feel something and want to share it...DO IT.  Don't pollute your mind with the 'What If...' virus...

Thank you for giving...

Thanksgiving.

Playboy Paparazzi...

I don't know what it is about Playboy in rural Thailand but it's HUGE in the 10-20 year-old market! Girls and boys alike sport the brand like it's NIKE... (that and the marijuana leaf...)

I can guarantee you they have no idea of the association...

Take a look at the local paparazzi...I think they get paid for taking pictures of me via some kind of a strange thai-texting ring...

Cute boys though... :)

(...as in 'pinch-the-cheek' cute...not...ya know...)
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Wow...this made my month...

NOTE: This was a note I received a few days before my departure from the school. It was from a group of three girls that I had spoken to only 2-3 times and spoke only a few words of English...how they pulled off this letter, I do not know...but it TOUCHED ME SO MUCH...I had tears (and I NEVER get teary!)... I can count moments like this on one hand... 

TRANSCRIBED IN ORIGINAL GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION (girls are 15)
to teacher

Teacher, We want the teacher is here for a long time don't want a teacher gets back to. A teacher is lovely person and kindhearted. Althought, We will speak not excellent but we want to speak with a teacher.

Teacher has gone to already us atmay think of bad teacher.

If there is the free time, don'ts to forget to visit us? Please yes.

Althought, differ the language but, our heart may not differently us loves a teacher and hope that.

A teacher may love and thing of us alike are lucky please yes.

from students
24/November/2009


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Side Trip...

I will be stopping by Mexico en-route back to the states...SO...

FINAL TOUCHDOWN DAY:  Monday, December 7th.  

Unfortunately...I will not be accepting guests until Wedneday, December 9th...

This will ensure I am well rested and able to devote full energy to my loved ones...

(Annie...you are an exception...must see you ASAP!)

love and thankfulness...

THE EAR.

what a strange structure...
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Baby when the lights go out...

...make pictures!

The electricity went out this morning so it's dark-ola at the casa... After the computer died and the sunset, I ran out of things to do and was resurecting my mosquito net...when...I was handed a flashlight!

This is the result...

Names of the photos from top to bottom:

1. Sinusitis
2. Blind Repentance
3. Jawbreaker
4. Pupil
5. Collagen

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Oh no...

I AM my father... It's SICK how much pleasure I derived from making this outline for my activities next week... Funny thing being...I knew this schedule...and will never look at this piece of paper again...

I am ARK NICHOLS! Ahhh!
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Thai Royalty and the Four Seasons...

Oh gosh...such developments...

I was invited to stay at the Four Seasons next week and attend a Christmas party there at which the Thai Princess will be in attendance... Oh my goodness! Certainly an opportunity not to be missed and I am so looking forward to the "semi-formal" (!!!) event...

I'm having panic attacks today over what I am going to wear... Keep in mind...the ONLY shoes I have with me are plastic flip-flops, running shoes and flat loafers! Nothing to worry about if your shoe size ISN'T double-the-norm! If it's impossible to find shoes in the states...I'm a dead woman here... I wish I could FedEx!

Right now my plan is to find an extremely loooong skirt... NOT likely at 5'11"...albeit likelier than the shoes...

Don't even want to start on the complete lack of make-up, jewelry and purse... I haven't worn make-up in 6 weeks! Wow!

So I don't know what's going to happen...I just know I have to be in top form...top shape...top of my game... And it will be so...

TODAY: spent the whole day the English competition...some impressive students...some not-so-much... Met a foreign man named Jarred who was such a typical sleezeball...35...married to a Thai woman...but just got such a sleezy vibe from him... He wanted me to come teach for his organization... And after he made three comments about my chest, that was simply laughable...

TOMORROW: more english competition...then we're going to go to a silk village to see if we can buy me something to wear for the event...

THURSDAY: school then my going away party... I told them all I wanted was drinking yoghurt and grilled sticky rice... We'll see what happens...

FRIDAY: last day of class and parting dinner with Janejei and her GM... this will be very sad... I have decided I am going to make her a card with a letter (in english)...whether she has it translated correctly or not...I feel the spirit of my words will still be there....

SATURDAY: Pee Puey is taking me to some village at three AM for a festival taking place there on Saturday... Supposedly..."I will like"... Then an evening bus to my beloved BKK!

SUNDAY: morning to be spent at the market looking for the unattainable shoes and purple swimsuit... The rest of the day on business...

MONDAY: americano in the AM...nail salon...then to the Four Seasons for a light lunch and a whole afternoon of sunning myself amongst the lilly ponds and palm trees at their stunning pools... Then up to the room to attempt my "semi-formal" transformation... Princess starts the lights ceremony after dusk...

TUESDAY: will lounge at the hotel and pool all day...maybe stroll to Lumphini park (like central park in nyc)...

So good days ahead...

Plastic surgery is top notch here...and cheap! rhynoplasty is $500-1000! It has been taunting me daily while here...

I had two dinners tonight...NOT a good start to bikini body for the weekend activities...

I'm tired.

I wonder if people miss me as much as I miss them...

I feel bloated. noodles are officially banned from my body.

I love you all.

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Talented Kids!

Wow...look at this magnificent art project! Oh My!
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My flock...

My pretty girls...
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Thai dancers...

No teaching classes today because of dancing competition! Yay!
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The kids hard at work...

...signing my goodbye-book!
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Wonderful weekend at the park...

Well…I’m about to have my last ‘start of the week’ and last ‘Monday’ in Nanungthumwithaya…  It’s sad actually because it’s the kids that make up 90% of the ‘Nanungthum’ experience…and one can’t help but look at them in a lovable light…(maybe not 100% of the time…but enough…)

 

But before I get to any kind of parting thoughts (and I will have ALL week to write about this…), I want to write about my weekend…

 

It was absolutely AMAZING.  BEST weekend in Thailand, thus far…different in many ways from my other weekends which were also amazing…but all things pegged to their appropriate scales…it ranks the highest…

 

Thursday, during the English competition (that I previously wrote about)…I was introduced to another volunteer named Tobi from Sweden.  He arrived two weeks ago and will be teaching until March (patience of steel!)…  Very sweet man…21…university student…  I invited him to our Khao Yai Park weekend…thus making our final count of six nature-lovin’ souls…

 

Tobi and I left on Friday morning…bus to bus…and arrived at our destination around 5 PM.  Bus trips are just full of fun stories…we passed a VERY poorly translated sign that translated SOME kind of road violation warning as:

 

 

“Satan may pass-out if you drive out of discipline…” 

 

FANTASTIC!  I racked my brain for an hour trying to figure out what this sign could be referencing!

 

I also discovered, that Thai busses just don’t do the whole ‘working speedometer’ thing…none of their gages are operational!  Can’t get a ticket if you’re not consciously ‘speeding’…right?

 

Mary Lou was already at the resort when we arrived…WHICH, by the way…was a darling place!  I had been worried for a week about finding the perfect place…NOT an easy tasks given the non-communicative ways of the Thais…as well as poor information, in general…keeping people’s fiscal preferences and entertainment preferences added to the challenge…

 

Anyway…I was so happy to see her!  I absolutely LOVE that woman and know that she will be someone I stay in touch with for a very long time…I am SO happy she lives in Chicago!  The three of us waited on the remainder of the crew (three boys)…who arrived in waves…the last being circa midnight…  Since we had been waiting since 5…and at a consistent one beer/hour…  I was going on beer #7!  Oh my!

 

We had a FANTASTIC night catching up on teaching stories...and life in a rural village in general.  Probably the best night I’ve had in Thailand…  We drank much too much…laughed even more…there may or may not have been a VERY late night trip to a local 711…and some negotiations…  J

 

We had to get up early on Saturday to go on our 9 hour hiking tour of the park…TOUGH on such little sleep…but we were troupers and I pumped enough vitamins into my system to flush out ANY trace of alcohol from the past year…  It was an UNBELIEVABLE trek…we talked to monkeys (well…okay…I talked to monkeys…), saw beautiful waterfalls, and in general…every step I took, I was enchanted by the beauty we are blessed with in this world…and the ability to APPRECIATE IT!  I was in absolute love with nature…  Each picture I would frame with my tiny BlackBerry camera made me smile…  I thought about all of my amazing friends and family that could have been there… 

 

We got back to the resort around 6…a shower…some dinner…and a night of playing JENGA!  Goodness…I haven’t played that game in a decade!  Bed around midnight and slept like a baby!  Got up this morning…had a great breakfast/lunch with the gang…and was on my way back…to my village…to start my last week of Thai memories…

 

It will be an emotional week, I think…but ultimately driven by joy…  I miss the amazing people in my life…the ones that make me value LOVE so much…  I miss speaking English.  I miss the gym (wow…can’t believe I wrote that!)…

 

I can’t wait to land on that run way…call Annie…call Dan…call Marci…  Get a coffee…get on the train and smile at the familiar sights that I see… 

 

Booked a ticket to go see my parents for Christmas (Dec. 21^st-25^th)…I’m VERY excited to see them!  Birthday week before that…!

 

You know what I want?  I want cards this year…or letters…  Just some words from the heart…and maybe a glass of wine shared over those common threads that make up our relationship…

 

Just 10 more days… 

Khao Yai in pictures...

The pictures from the trip... Entry on trip details to come shortly...

SOME NOTES ON THE IMAGES:

- not only do they have over-the-counter birth control but the US brand name version is 2000% more expensive then the generic! 24B (as in 75 cents/month) vs 500B! Holy Smokes!

- also a photo of the ever-present, non-working speedometers on busses...
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