Thinking about home, thinking about Thailand

"I call this turn 'n' turf. It's a 16 oz. T-bone and a 24 oz. porterhouse. Also, whisky and a cigar. I am going to consume all this at the same time because I am a free American."

- Ron Swanson, Parks and Rec

Well guys, I’ve hit 11 months away from the US. Wow! It’s been a blast but I’m starting to feel the need for the next step. Also, it’s been 11 months without a few things. Here’s what I’m most looking forward to back in America.

A real gym

Call me a tool. I don’t care. For the last year I’ve been doing prison workouts in my room with my bodyweight and water jugs. It’ been fun, but I’m looking forward to a real gym with workouts that don’t include push-ups. I might cry when I see a bench press.

Food and Drink

Bills. Chipotle. Sarkis. Peanut Butter. Taco Bell. Sam Adams Octoberfest. Steak. Five Guys. Scrambled Eggs. Maple-syrup Salmon. Mayonnaise. Pita and Hummus. Miller Lite. Pumpkin Spice Lattes.

That’s the running list of food and drinks I’m going to devour when I get home. It will hopefully put back on the 15 pounds I’ve lost living here. JK on the Pumpkin Spice Lattes though, I ain’t that basic.

Talking to strangers easily

This one I actually don’t notice that much anymore. I’ve gotten pretty used to communicating using a few basic Thai phrases mixed with English, or Tinglish. Still, it’ll be nice to have conversations without a language barrier when trying to order food.

Friends and family

 I would live in Thailand longer if I wasn’t so far away from everyone back home. Technology has made it so easy to communicate with people anywhere in the world. But there reaches a point when a skype call just isn’t the same as actually seeing someone. I need some quality time with my peeps. I’m ready for ya America.

Honorable mentions: Driving a car, drip coffee, Netflix, enforced traffic laws.

On the flip side, there is SO MUCH that I will miss about Thailand. The Land of Smiles now has a firm place in my heart. This place has greatly impacted my life and I definitely want to come back as often as I can. So in no particular order, here's some stuff I'll be hurting for when I'm home.

The people

I’ve met so many amazing people here. From the welcoming foreign and Thai teachers at my school, the expat friends I’ve made, and even the cooks at the food stands, it’s going to be hard to leave the people I’ve been around for the last year. I’ve learned so much from them and experienced such genuine kindness. But again, technology yo.

Food

Thai Food is the best. There’s so much flavor and it’s so cheap. I get my daily plate of rice and garlic chicken for under a dollar. I’m going to flip in America when I pay 5 bucks for a sandwich.

Other fun fact- I’ve inadvertently gone almost completely gluten and dairy-free since being here. No one eats bread, people hate cheese, and I don’t have a refrigerator for milk. I wonder if this is why I haven’t really gotten sick since I’ve been here (I’m not counting the three rounds of food poisoning). There’s going to be some changes in the Lenz kitchen when I cook rice for every meal.

School

For as maddening as the ever-changing schedule can be, school is fun. There’s always something going on that keeps life interesting. The students have this air of innocence about them that you don’t see in America. I’ll miss them laughing hysterically as I butcher a word in Thai. I’ll miss students saying “May I come in please” at the door and have already sat down by the time I can answer. But their huge smiles are probably the thing I’ll miss most.

I started telling my classes this week that I will be leaving at the end of the term. The reactions have been very flattering, with many of them looking very sad and saying, “Noooo Teacha Mahk. I love you.” Their vocabulary might need a little expanding on that one but it’s still cute. They seemed excited that I would take a selfie with them before I leave.

My replacement is a young American woman coming through the same teaching program I did. The students have already decided that she’s beautiful and that I’m dating her.

Traveling

Thailand is just awesome to travel in. Want to go hike some mountains? Boom, overnight bus to Chiang Mai. Thinking about relaxing on an island? I’ll be on Koh Samet tonight. Feeling like seeing some waterfalls? See you in Kanchanaburi in the morning. There are just so many different things to see that aren’t that far away from each other. Better yet is that the buses can take you anywhere you want to go in the country.

That ease of travel just doesn’t exist in America. But it’s inspired me to travel much more when I get back. There’s so much out there to see!

Riding to work/nature

Every morning there is a two minute drive down side road. On it we pass construction workers building new housing developments. There are a few dogs darting across the street. And a fantastic view of the rice patties against the puffy cloud-filled sky.

I love it. It’s just a stunning display of nature. It reminds me just how effortlessly beautiful this country is and how lucky I am to live here.

Honorable mentions: 7/11’s everywhere, endless summer, nothing ever being on time, ridiculous number of public holidays, the chubby guy outside my apartment who runs a pineapple stand.

Next weekend I’m heading into Bangkok with friends for one last hurrah in the city. Should be tight.

Mark