MicahJohn

This past weekend I had a great time visiting some of my very first friends in Thailand. In 2006 I came to Thailand for six weeks. Four of those six weeks were spent in Baan Noon, Roi Et. This past two days I paid Baan Noon a visit. It was really good to see the place where I had stayed, to take a cold shower where I had taken so many cold showers, to eat somtam again in the same place where I first ate somtam. Best of all, it was great to hang out with old friends. I felt very much at home.

I have now purchased a ticket to the States. I will be leaving Bangkok the morning of the 29th of March. Thanks to the way time zones sit, I will be arriving that same evening in Harrisburg.

I had a glorious return to the kids area of the local park tonight. I hadn’t been there for six months. The American kids I’d gone there with had been back in the States for a while. A 26 year old white male terrorizing Thai children is, well, a terror. However, a big brother chasing around some little brothers and sisters soon results in joyful chaos on all sides.

The next two houses on the street where I now live house relatives of my new housemate. Last night I had the privilege of joining in the joyful chaos of a family dinner. I think my Isaan may improve in the next three months.

As an aside, we ate broccoli and sprouts wrapped in bacon and topped with mayonnaise.

I’ve moved in with a friend from work. I’m looking forward to not living alone. I’m looking forward to increased Thai exposure (my friend is Thai).

I’ve realized that living alone for the past two years I have forgotten some of what it means to share a space. Differerent people have different expectations about cleanliness, about what constitutes “late” and “early,” about entertainment, about food.