Sunset in Bangkok

As I write this, the sun is setting in front of me on the landing strip at Bangkok International Airport. I found one of those "free internet" kiosks - the ones where you don't look up your bank account information, but you do check your Facebook. Go figure. Anyway, I've been here since 3 or 4pm Bangkok time, and my flight leaves at 10:40pm Bangkok time, which is in less than four hours. I have four currencies in my wallet (but not much of any of them) and I've been awake since 5am. This will be flight number three out of four. It's a bit bewildering.

As I sit here, I find myself feeling like I've crossed over into the "Stateside" side of this trip again. If you've followed my blog for long, you know that before I arrived in Chiang Mai, I titled my posts "Stateside Update" and a number. At this point (hours but not countries removed from Chiang Mai), I feel like I've somehow ended up back at "Stateside." The irony of this is that almost everything in my life comes full circle again. However, the truth is that even though I feel like I've returned to the beginning, I am definitely not the same person I was when I began.

For one, I am intimately more aware of (even if I don't understand completely) the norms of Thai culture. I noticed this significantly when I arrived in Hong Kong for a five-day mini-vacation with my friend Michelle. Let's just say that Thai people are friendly, accomodating, and try not to walk in front of other people. Hong Kong people? Not so much. Even though I had been to Hong Kong in 2012, it was a different experience visiting after three months in Thailand.

In addition, I gained the mentorship and friendship of many amazing people from all over the US and the world while I was serving in Chiang Mai. I also fell in love with 66+ teenagers, who just happen to be some of the greatest kids ever. I don't have favorites, but if I did, they would top my list.

There are many more realizations soon to be made regarding this trip, but I think time is needed to process them. I may feel as if I have already made it back to "Stateside," but I am actually over twelve hours from arriving back in the states. It's okay, though, because God is good, and he gives us time and jet lag and airplane flights in order to begin to grieve the loss of one culture and role while we come to accept another culture and role.

One thing I learned while I was in Chiang Mai is that physical and emotional distance provides clarity and objectivity. I prayed that distance from the states would provide clarity, and now I pray that distance from my three months in Chiang Mai would provide clarity. By this, I mean that I desire to look back and see God at work in my life during that time. I want to be able to trace, even minutely, growth and changes and memorable moments. God is good, and He is working all things together for good.

More to come,


--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."

Stateside Update 16: Final Preparations

Soon my posts to this blog will not read "Stateside Updates" or "Preparation," because my first flight leaves tomorrow at lunch time. Starting tomorrow morning, I will spend over 30 hours in airplanes and airports. I will arrive in Chiang Mai at 8am Sunday local time, which is 8pm Eastern Standard Time (for those of you interested in Skyping me, Chiang Mai is 12 hours ahead of EST.)

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to my arrival in Thailand and I am blessed beyond measure because someone is picking me up from the airport and taking me shopping when I get there, and a sweet girl named Cara is going to be my roommate! We are coordinating housing right now and there's a possiblity we'll be living with another lady, so I would ask your prayer for that process to be completed.

My mom and I are spending the night in Atlanta so I'll be ready for the flight tomorrow. As I sit here in our hotel room, I'm reminded of the time one of my friends told me to make my preparation worship.  As I'm finishing preparation for the travel, I am called, even now, to make my preparation worship. Even in the suitcase packing and restroom stops, long lines and immigration, cramped legs and "different" meal options, my preparation should still be worship.

A good attitude can change a difficult 30+ hours in the air into an opportunity for growth and worship, and I'm actually looking forward to the adventure a bit! Wish me well! Until next time,

Stateside Update 14: Eagerly and Anxiously

I wanted to subtitle this post "21 days and no visa," but I really don't want to start a waiting-on-the-visa countdown. So, moving on...

After having to submit flight itineraries and background checks (twice) and being asked to change the type of visa I applied for, I am still eagerly (anxiously?) awaiting my passport to be returned to me with a visa sticker inside. I'd worry myself sick if I didn't have prayers for peace overflowing inside me.

In the mean time, I have done quite a bit of research on where I'm going and how I'm going to get there, and I thought it might be useful for anyone else planning a trip to Asia. My cooperating teacher told me one very important thing to keep in mind: You can get anything in Chiang Mai. From what I've read and heard, Chiang Mai is a medium-sized city (the fifth largest in Thailand) and is an interesting juxtaposition of history and modernity. The Thai culture is also very influential in Chiang Mai. I am looking forward to seeing cool animals, riding in songthaews, visiting wats, and drinking lots of Thai tea! I also hope to get to visit The Chiang Mai Flower Festival, which is in February.

If you are planning to travel overseas soon, here are some of my suggestions for traveling:

• Register with the US STEP program. It lets the embassies in the countries you are visiting know that you will be there, and it provides a safe way for your family to contact you if something unfortunate were to happen.
• 10 Ways to Survive a Long-Haul Flight, brought to you by IndepedentTraveler.com. Who would have thought that Gatorade would be an excellent hydrator for long flights?
• I'll be flying Korean Air for my long flight from ATL (Atlanta) to ICN (Seoul/Incheon) on an Airbus 380-300. But I will also be flying from Seoul to Bangkok to Chiang Mai (round trip), in addition to my round trip flight to Hong Kong for the last five days of my trip. If you're going overseas, I suggest you research the in-flight entertainment; airplane size, seating arrangements, and amenities; when meals are offered and what they might consist of; etc of all flights you will be taking. Also research the airports in which you will be spending layovers, especially if they offer Wi-Fi, recharging stations, certain restaurants in the arrival/departure areas, and if they accept different currencies. I'm a big planner, so I really benefit from even a basic idea of what my travel is going to be like. I think the most important thing to research is size and weight limits for luggage (on each airline's page).
• Speaking of booking flights, I recommend Kayak.com. I used Kayak for the first time for this trip and found it cheaper than Expedia.

And some suggestions for packing, preparation, and trips to Asia:

• Check out this slightly outdated, but relatively useful WikiTravel article on the city of Chiang Mai. 
• 8 Reasons Why You Must Pack a Scarf when traveling to any international locale, courtesy of DIWYY.com
• Blogs, tips, and ideas for travel to any Thai city from Thaizer.com
• I also have a bunch of resources for women living overseas, as well as student teaching and Third Culture Kid resources, over at my Spring 2014 Pinterest page.

I would like to ask you to help me out in two ways: 1. Share your tips for flying, life overseas, or teaching international kids as a comment below, and 2. Join me in praying for my visa to be processed quickly, for safety in travel, and for the students and fellow teachers with whom I will be working.

For more information on joining my prayer team or supporting me financially, check out the Support page.

May your preparation be worship.
Until next time,
--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."

Stateside Update 13: Twenty-Nine Days, Friends!

I just purchased plane tickets, emailed my roommate (a sweet girl named Cara), signed papers, budgeted for housing... The countdown is on!

This week has been very stressful as I have been trying to get everything completed and I am definitely indebted to all of you for your support and encouragement... And for putting up with me when I get annoying or have to miss work or stay up late. I'm so grateful for you all!

With that being said, if you are interested in supporting me financially as I am preparing for this trip, please visit my Support page. I have an online donation system set up if you are interested in supporting in that capacity. My first need is always prayer, however, so feel free go to the Contact page and indicate that you would like to serve as a member of my prayer team to receive consistent updates.

Whether or not you are considering supporting my student teaching trip financially, I would like to ask you to take a moment to consider supporting Grace International School, where I will be student teaching. For those of you who don't know, Grace is a school primarily for missionary families, as families do not pay tuition and teachers raise support. In addition, Grace has struggled with a legal issue over the last few months, and they are in need of relocating. You can help support the efforts of the school by Giving a Day's Pay, Grace's new initiative. The online calculator determines you much you make in a day and makes it easy to give that amount to support Grace.

Finally, I am continuing to learn what it means for my preparation to be worship. It is so easy to get sucked into the fear that I will not be able to afford this experience, or the dread that my jet lag will be debilitating, or the anxiety of feeling like I will not able to complete all my assignments. And yet, when I realize that this experience is an incredible blessing that not many people get the opportunity to enjoy, I find myself thankful and overjoyed. In addition, thinking of the ninth graders I will have the opportunity to meet, teach, and befriend keeps me going. What a blessing it will be to see His Body at work in Asia.

Thank you for your care and compassion.
With love,
Alex
--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."

Stateside Update 10: Housing and Plane Tickets

Dear Friends,

Most of the preparation for overseas student teaching occurs in spurts. Complete the application... Wait... Hear back about acceptance... Wait... Hear back about potential placement... Wait... Receive finalized placement... Contact school... Wait...  There's been a lot of waiting, because there is a lot of unknown in the process.

However, today I received really great news!

I got an email from the recruiter at Grace International School regarding housing and airplane tickets. GIS uses an outside organization to locate housing for their teachers. Today, I began communication with that organization by way of an intake survey to help determine my housing needs.
I also began the intensive research needed to locate plane tickets. This is the first time I have had to coordinate my entire international airfare on my own, and I have already requested advice from the GIS recruiter. Please pray that I would not be anxious about airfare or finances but that God would provide exactly what I need.

My trip to Thailand is becoming more and more real as it becomes closer, and I am reminded that I am so blessed to have this opportunity. As always, I covet your prayers, and I am indebted to you for your encouragement and support. If you would like to support me financially or otherwise, please visit my support page or send me an email. In addition, if you did not receive one of my prayer cards via snail mail, but would like one, please let me know and I can get that out to you.

Entirely dependent upon Him,
--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."