kap khun ka

Thanksgiving. How super unique and original of me to write a post about the people and things for whom and which I am endlessly thankful, right? I thought about trying to avoid the topic altogether seeing as how it's all anyone is posting about these days. But to allow my people to go un-thanked? It's unthinkable. So I'm taking this entry to revel in my cliche-ness because DARN IT! There's just too much to be grateful for this go-around.

I'm thankful for revelations. 
Every moment that goes by reveals another reason to count my lucky stars. It's my home 8,000 miles away from home. My home where my words are rarely understood, but my heart has never been perceived more clearly. I see, witness, give, and feel love every day whether it's from my fellow English teachers, my students, my Thai friends, shopkeepers, trainers, or even people I've never met. I'm so happy to have discovered that my love of teaching does, in fact, extend beyond only the secondary grades. Where I've found the most love, as always, has been from God. I had no idea His plans for me would be revealed in a predominantly Buddhist country (of all places), but it's been beautiful.

I'm thankful for being single.
Despite all my serious ongoing relationships with Travel, Adventure, Routine, and Teaching, life has its lonely moments. Nearly all of my best friends are in relationships, and I'm just over here as single as I've ever been. Sometimes I can't stand it. Sometimes I'd sooner ask Too, the man who sells me fruit everyday, to be my husband than go it one more minute alone, but those are only the days when I see that somebody has posted engagement pictures (coughCainycough) or become "facebook official"(coughTaylorcough). But when I get out of those few minutes of funk, I realize that my polygamous relationships with Travel, Adventure, Routine, and Teaching are far more rewarding. I am ultimately more happy living the lifestyle I do. Like my friends, my relationship status allows me to do the things that I love, live in the places that I can make a difference, and explore all the corners of this earth.

I'm thankful for the Pony Express (and I'm thankful those ponies swim).

I'm an Appreciater. I make it a point to appreciate everyone and everything that happens to me. So when someone takes the time and makes the effort to write some words on a page that will make it all the way to Thailand, I appreciate the heck out of it. Few things make me happier than a little hand-written love. It's as if Christmas comes every time we check the mail and have a package or letter waiting on us. I will never ever ever ever ever get tired of getting hand-written notes or boxes full of fun. My students also enjoy it because they think American candy is the coolest. 

I am thankful for roommates.
When it comes to terrible roommate stories, I can never partake in the tellings. This is because I have had the world's best luck when it comes to them. From my awesome college dorm-roommate to my first apartment with the sweetest girl in the world, I have had incredible experiences. But none would compare to my living situation here. I was prepared for changes in my living arrangements, but I didn't quite expect for us to be living in one little room. While this might have been disastrous for some friendships, it has only strengthened mine and Meredith's! It's a huge accomplishment for me to have lived in such close quarters with anyone for this long without having chased them away yet, but she's stuck by my side like a champ. I didn't just get a roommate; I got a counselor, a spiritual guide, a motivator, a morning oatmeal chef, a nurse, a comedian, a sister, a teacher, and a friend. She is officially the most patient and loving person I know. She tolerates my mood swings, anxiety, sarcasm, dancing, singing, complaining, and crazy with grace, calmness, and understanding. Once again, I've hit the roommate jackpot.

I'm thankful for hard decisions.

Some people leave home to escape life, or to make a new one. Some people never look back, and might not even have had anything on which to look back. My case couldn't be any more extremely opposite. I had EVERYTHING (I had to bolden, italicize, and underline this word to even vaguely get my emotions to you through this word) to leave. The most caring, selfless, wild, loving, and hilarious friends I could have ever hoped to gather up in 24 years. The most supportive family in existence (all my adopted parents included, and especially my lovely friend and role model who afforded me the opportunity to not only get to Thailand, but to return to the states as well with her generous buddy passes!). My dream job as an English teacher to over 100 7th graders who just plain stole my heart. I was able to have trial runs with certain best-friendships before I left that were indicators that everything would remain as it always had been. My childhood friends and I haven't skipped a beat--we've stood the test of high school, college, and now beyond without hesitation. The same goes for my college sweethearts. Steven happens to be one of the most attentive and present people in my life, and I've seen him maybe 4 times since 2010. I've just excitedly (understatement) accepted Cain Anne's proposal to be a bridesmaid in her wedding (and not because she's desperate for friends--I made her promise!), and we've only been in each other's (physical) presence a handful of times in the past couple of years. My very best friend Ashley has lived in Germany for the majority of our bestie-relationship. Like we'd ever let a little water separate us. As emotional as it was to even think of being away from these people (ones I have seen lately and ones I haven't), it is because of them that I am able to be over here doing what I love. I didn't have to think for a second about what would happen if I left. I didn't have to fear that friendships would fizzle or that my parents would choose a new favorite child (kidding...maybe). I don't have to worry about returning to awkwardness, seeing that places I may have held in people's lives may have been filled. Nothing would change. And since I've been gone, aside from the physical difference, nothing has changed. Turns out my parents haven't forgotten about me, my friends still make me laugh (every day), and my students are still learning. If it weren't for hard decisions, I wouldn't have nearly as much to be thankful for.

I'm thankful that my students had never heard of Thanksgiving.

I am such a holiday person. I'm a complete sucker for pumpkins, fall leaves, cornucopias, pecan pies, and all the other symbols that kick off the start of the holiday season. I'm ending the examples there because Christmas talk will send me into a frenzy. So when I first mentioned Thanksgiving here to blank faces, I was thrilled. This meant that I could brag on America and its beautiful tradition, and my words would fall on fresh ears. I emphasized the thankfulness and downplayed the binge eating (while still explaining the importance of turkey), and the kids were hanging on my every word. They couldn't exclaim all of their reasons to be thankful fast enough. It was the greatest gift last week having the power to get children to stop and count their blessings, realizing how often we don't.

I'm thankful you're reading this. 

I love to write, but it's even more of a blessing knowing that my Faithful Five are out there taking the time to click on this link and read what's new in Thailand. I've got nothing but love for every single one of you. So, as I'm constantly saying here in Thailand, kap khun ka!