back.
September 22, 2007
That was several weeks ago – that I arrived “back”! It’s been close to a month of being here!!!… and an absolutely ridiculously, out-of-control month it will have been!
Oh my goodness… where to begin? Maybe I won’t even begin… because then I would have to finish, and I don’t have time for that. Like my last post, “I’ll be back and finish writing this”… it never happens, so I’ll just sum it up!
August 29th – landed around noon, and hit the ground running! Running fast! I drop my bags off at a completely NEW place – my own place! Finally. And it needs paint. It needs a lot. Sarah’s getting married. I have a lot to do. Shower invites. Moving in. Catching up with friends. I started work that Monday – Labor day. I am asked to work more. Perfect. Really, that’s fine, but a lot for just getting back. So five days a week, 10 hours a day, give or take… but mostly give, and actually, there isn’t any taking! Annual camping trip! Fun!Work. More painting, unpacking, getting things in order (trying to, at least), wedding and pre-date events prep. I’m staying up late, and getting up early. I LOVE living right beside Ben and the other guys. It’s fun. A nice change. This list could go on…
But aside from the busyness, and the Becky-needing-to-catch-her-breath-ness, I do have some returning home thoughts. Thailand almost feels unreal, like it didn’t happen. I lived and had a life there for a good two-and-a-half months. Coming back is weird. It was just a short while, and I didn’t really believe it when I heard people talking about culture shock in reverse, and with less than three months, I knew I wouldn’t deal with that, but I was wrong… And while I was gone, my little life in the NW/surroundings/the people in it changed, and again, in less than three months, I didn’t expect to notice anything. But I did. It all just kept going while I was away, and now I am back – getting used to it all… getting re-adjusted to all I used to only know? Things make more sense though (in a blatent-awakening kind of way). What’s important and what’s not. What and who you need, and what you don’t. Time. Money. What you invest yourself in – and where you should be investing! I have a poster on the fridge in my kitchen. It’s decorated with colorful paper sqares, glitter, and covered in pictures of the kids I spent my days with in Chiang Mai. I see it everyday, just as I think of all those faces everyday. I pray that I will never forget them. I pray that I will never forget Thailand, what I saw, explored, learned, was exposed to. It was so good! It was one of those things that you don’t know just how good it is until it’s over and you’re out of it. And then there’s the lingering taste that you want to keep in your mouth forever.
