Thank You for Hosting Me

In my Asia travels, I learned not to rely on internet, as I frequently had to go without it. I had a few friends who never used data or internet in their travels. They are examplars of great planners! If I hadn’t planned ahead at all, I would be wishing to come back as soon as possible! A case in point was my first trip to Erawan Falls  when I forgot to bring a swimsuit. I still played in the water in my clothes since this is how locals come to swimming spots; but the sticky wetness all the way home was not fun to del with! My forgetfulness first time around meant that I had to make a return trip to the falls -- this time with my swinsuit! So I was able to practice planning for trips a lot while I was here, and I was able to learn so much about my surroundings in Asia because of my organization.

Being in Thailand also led me to value my new friends much more highly, especially the friends that have been here longer or spoke and lived as a Thai. I eventually became more Thai myself, familiarizing myself with culture, food and the best ways of getting around. Now, I am able to give advice to people visiting or coming to Thailand for the first time. I feel empathetic towards newly arrived travelers, as I experienced their arduous arrival and know what they are thinking and feeling. There’s also this big initial shock you might feel when you realize you forgot what little language you studied and that the culture is much different than at home. These new realities can be a bit tiring at first, so I like to help newcomers adjust, even if it’s just to recommend to them a good restaurant or to answer questions about places I have been.

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