Re-entry

Some reflections that might prove useful to anyone venturing that way---

When I first arrived in Bangkok, I met a guy from Dallas who informed me that my system will "feel a little off the entire time" I'll be in Thailand. Boy was that true. Always just a little queasy, a little sluggish, a little run down.

Of everything I brought with me, my allergy spray was the most valued. Flo-Nase. Thank God for it. If you have allergies, don't think that you are fine because you're aware of your surroundings at home. Thailand has a whole new set of stuff to bug your system out. I ran around Phi Phi for 2 days with orchids in my hair and around my neck, sick as a dog with what I thought was just a bad cold before I realized I was allergic to the flowers. Dork. It almost kept me from diving!

Be prepared to go through withdrawals when you get home. I've had a horrible time, missing the kids, missing the landscape, the culture. --The weather! Holy cripe! When I got back to Chicago it was 80 degrees, which was a welcome cool-off from the Thai heat, but then it immediately dropped back down to the 40 degrees I had experienced for months before leaving. Drag.

I've been home for 2 weeks and I'm ready to go back. No hopes for that until at least January as I've tapped out my vacation time for the year. But as of 2006 I get another week off!

If this were strictly a recreational trip, I would have spent much more time in Phi Phi and less in Bangkok. Krabi would have been worth a short visit, but Ao Nang would have been both a more beautiful home base as well as more convenient to the camp, but probably a bit more expensive.

This has had a profound effect on what I think I want out of my life. I know that my career goals have changed. I believe I'd like to go into teaching. I know I want to do more volunteer work locally and internationally.

I've been feeling these pangs of guilt and shame over our "consume it all" society. I can't believe this is me having these ideas. There goes my shoe-buying career. Damn we waste so much crap!

So many other thoughts--- Thailand has been on my mind most of the time since I've returned. It was a wonderful experience. I'd do it again in a second.