Passion to Purpose: My Journey : 2013

Monday, September 9, 2013

Life here in Thailand! sorry its been so long!

I should not be allowed to type these words anymore especially since I say it every time I blog but here it goes: “ Sorry it has been so long since my last post” haha. I know, I know, I must do better and will try AGAIN this month. In other news, I have successfully completed over ¼ of my service. Time is certainly flying!

I am sure all of you are wondering what I have been up to since I wrote last, actually not much has changed. We had about 3 weeks from site where we reconnected with all of the PCV’s, which was much needed, missed them quite a bit. I then went to Bangkok for PSN training, which is a support network for all volunteers here in Thailand and that is made up of 7 other volunteers as well. Following training, I had a beach itch lol and had to go, so my friend Mayumi and I decided to go to Koh Samed. We decided to call that weekend our “Jai Yen Yen Retreat”(ref. jai yen yen in previous post). It was filled with lesson after lesson of jai yen yen as if I still needed practice. Although this is true, it was definitely a great weekend filled with laughter! After only living in Nong Phai for what is now 5 months, I was missing my home, my family and my community. When I returned it was as if I had been gone for months maybe even years. I was welcomed with smiles, lots of questions, and even HUGS (hugs are typically reserved for family, husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends or those much younger in age, says a coworker). It was great! This is my home and it feels like it! Now I am here, continuing with my language learning, jai yen yening and living day by day. Oh my pulled groin muscle is healing but Ive now had ecoli from pad thai( but was sick before that so immune system was down), an interesting trip to the dentist for a temporary cap on my tooth lol and tendonitis in my right hand ( which i still dont know why or how lol ).

Although I am enjoying this time here in Thailand, I recently had my first moment of homesickness due to sad news from home. These times are so hard especially when you are so use to being right there whenever anyone needs you or when you are typically the family social worker (haha). At this time, I was at a loss because there was nothing I could do all the way from Thailand. This has definitely been a test of faith. My family is most definitely my backbone and when one of them is sad or hurting, it hurts me more than anyone could possible imagine. Anyone can say, write or do anything to me and I would brush it off I’m sure. When it has to do with family that’s when it gets to me. With that said had a rough week that ended with some great laughs with my awesome Thailand family, the PCVs. If they only knew just how much this weekend helped soothe me! Thanks guys I LOVE U GUYS!
Also talking with my family often and seeing their strength is simply amazing. I say if they are trucking along, I have no reason to be dragging. It will be hard but I’m channel all of my loves from my siblings to each of the laughs I got this weekend to keep me smiling this week. Also, today I was searching my room for my brown glasses and instead stumbled upon what can only be referred to as a forgotten treasure. My old HTC EVO but it wasn’t the phone that excited me most, it was what was inside of the phone... about 50 forgotten videos that seriously made my day! Videos from about 2 years ago up to right before I left! This was beautiful! Seeing all those smiling faces and crazies right here with me in Thailand was truly a gift from God. The importance of friends being silly or siblings rapping on your phone is never known until a day like this! I can’t stop watching =). This could not have been found at a more opportune time! Today’s blog is simply to catch all of you up on Sasha’s life.
I also want to thank those who support me, call me, send me packages (which are always welcome lol) write me and pray for me on this journey. I have already learned so much in my short time here, cant wait to see what the Lord has in store for these two years! With every disappointment comes a blessing…. (A quote I will never forget that my father texted me when I was in undergrad and the first time I made a D on anything in my life. I was surely sad about that D haha maybe a bit dramatic.) Although the news hurt, I’m sure we will get through this as we have done everything else in our lives’.

Lastly, FEELING ABSOLUTELY BLESSED not only due to my own blessings but also by the blessings all around me!!! FOR EXAMPLE: Tuttie Ross is returning from NY shortly after showing at NY fashion week! And she did great! Ohh and My Charlene is going to send me something GREAT =)!

Signing out… May your troubles be less and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door. Have a great week (stolen from IG haha)

Chok Dee Na Ka!(good luck) Jer Gon Mai Na Ka ( See you)!

And now for the pictures!

Went to Suphan to visit my first family

first host mom

First football( soccer) game

Crazy and crazier ( Nay and Mimi)

In our hotel room bored! and i ask her to see if she can fit and she does it lol! the friendships i create smh and then we proceed to prank away! lol

We won the community photo project

haha Cailyn Sandwich!

MEXICAN!!!!

My message to the family! I love and miss u Udom 500

Fire show

Me and Mayumi snorkeling

Visiting the elderly in my community! checking bp

Teaching!

Trying to work and this happens lol

English Camp!

I want one!!! hes soo cute

The nayok(mayor) asked me to braid her hair and I just learned how like 2 months ago lol

At a English teacher training even though i am not a teacher! haha since i spoke English they made me work

Me and my PHETCHABUN twin! Brandon!!! ( We both live in Phetchabun)

Me at teacher training

Learning how to do my hair by myself lol! still going back to Stacy when i return! lol Cant wait for my products coming in the mail!!! =) I DEFINITELY NEED THEM! LOL

CLICK THIS LINK CUTE 2 sec video that made me smile lol

My message from my lil! made me smile at the end of his show! =)

Friday, May 31, 2013

Jai Yen Yen-ing it! ;)

Hello againnnn! Well where do I start! OH! MY! GOODNESS! Time is flying! I know I said I would write more often but time honestly has not allowed for updates as often as I wished!

This journey has already been quite amazing. I am learning so much not only about Thai culture and language but also about myself. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a super busy body and generally I am working on or involved in about 10 things at one time. When I arrived in Thailand and learned about the culture but most importantly my target group, I was ecstatic. I would be working with the youth in my new home of Nong Phai doing almost what I have been doing for years now! Are you as excited yet?! Of course, I have this long list of ideas, activities , programs and functions instantly flying through my head. The only problem with that is, they are my ideas and what I think my community needs which will not work. Years and years of social work classes hearing this same sentiment and I forgot in an instance. The golden rule of entering into a new culture and community: Do not impose your ideas and ideals onto the community without investigating what they need or want. I cannot stress the importance of this. Originally I came in ready and rearing to go. I had the fix it itch what ever IT was. Everyday I came to work and planned another activity or rode around and integrated into my community by meeting people and allowing everyone to know that I am here to help and to contribute. It didn’t take long for me to learn that the latter of the two would be vitally more important in this culture than trying to come in as misses fix it/ world changer. There is a saying in Thai culture that I’ve had to embrace “jai yen yen” it’s the way the Thai people roll and after accepting it and taking a pill of patience, it’s not a bad thing at all. ( Jai yen yen translates as cool hearted but is a very common Thai mindset of being cool in the face of adversity or not allowing things to stress you out.) the moment I slowed down and stopped rushing this journey, I began to appreciate it that much more.
I recently sat down in Bangkok with a friend over some delicious ice cream filled with tons of wonderful surprises and all we could do was laugh every time we discovered a new one. We just smiled at the idea that we are sitting in Bangkok eating ice cream, and we actually live and work here. It still feels so unreal at times. This time last year I just graduated with my MSW and knew that I wanted to work with the youth clinically but wasn’t sure what exactly that meant. A year later, I am in Thailand working with the youth not yet clinically but its coming haha. The way these things work is pretty amazing! I am always preaching to my pretty amazing friends and family ( who will be running the US when I return... I have a friend in just about every field so I’m sure ill be set …that was not an accident ;) ) that they need to appreciate their accomplishments no matter how small they think they are ( which it is never really small in fact they are amazing I cant get over it ) and enjoy them while they can but I never really took my own advice (example: when I first arrived here I was definitely looking into possibilities for the future and I haven’t even started here haha around this time I took a chill pill Yess I said chill pill sounds like I’m 48 instead of 26 huh ) Now taking my own advice everything has started smoothing out for me…I'm getting a little routine going. ( although my bike rides have halted due to pulling my groin muscle…trying prepare for my first 5k). Being thankful for every moment… whether something like biking to the dam( me and my bike are now one) , being able to converse with yii’s and they understand me, eating rat( haha) or having a little beetle looking creature land on my arm and not flinch lol simply picked it up and toss it away, will make this experience even more unforgettable.

SIDENOTE: I realized I laugh quite a bit after rereading this but I feel as though every Bhahaha and hahah is necessary haha

Its been so long don’t want to inundate you all with pics BUT hey why not lol (don’t worry I’m playing just a few)

Being blessed at Song Kran festival ( Thai New Year)

Song Kran

Prepping for Song Kran Printing shirts haha for EVERYONE 0_0

Big Song Kran festival! Me and My Nayok and her kids

Wishing good health and strong life to the elders

Song Kran part of the Thai New Years where you use water to bless family and friends but has become exaggerated due to the heat around this time. Now everywhere you go for three day of Song Kran you will be soaked hahah unless you stay in the house! only ones who are safe are yiis( elders/ grandma's)