The past few days have been some of the busiest, most exhausting days of my life. They have both physically and emotional drained me. It was a couple of days before it really hit me that I was in Thailand. I have yet to get a full night's sleep in since I've been here, but my time here has been fantastic.
Thailand is different from what I expected. It was overwhelming at first. It's not just the beautiful pictures on Google. It's poor. It's startlingly different from the United States. Toilets are often squatty potties. The shower in my hotel is the bathroom. Everything is dirtier. The majority of the vehicles on the road would be illegal in the US. The smells seem to be stronger, whether it's of chili pepper, exhaust fumes, or a stinky squatty potty. The language is different and the food is heavenly. It doesn't matter if it's a full meal, or simply snacks from the market. I love it all. Though one of my favorite snacks is mango and sticky rice.
The Thai language is difficult and so unfamiliar. My goal is to learn basic phrases so that I can order food, bargain in markets, give directions to taxi drivers, and ask where the bathroom is. This is a doable endeavor, I hope.
Already, I've been to markets, rode an elephants, rafted, hiked to a waterfall, learned some Thai phrases, ate so much delicious food, visited a Buddhist temple, and moved into my dorm.
Classes haven't even started yet and I have trips planned with my friends to go to the beaches, Chiang Mai, and spend the night with elephants. This semester has started with a bang and I only hope that it continues. Every day is a new journey and there are new things to explore. I am learning so much about the Thai language and culture.
I have met some wonderful people and made new friends. My goal now is to blog at least every other day, if not every day. I am beginning a routine and am no longer living out of a suitcase so I'm making sure that blogging is a part of that routine.
Now it's time for my first good night of sleep! More soon.
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