Passion to Purpose: My Journey : May 2013

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)