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 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 12: The Visa Process

Friends,

To enter and remain in Thailand, I have applied for a nonimmigrant visa which allows me to stay in Thailand for up to 90 days at a time within one year. This is a very scary process. For one, I have mailed off my passport to Washington, D.C. and no matter how much tracking and insurance and confirmation the postal service can provide, I'm still worried for my passport, not to mention all of the personal information in that priority express mail envelope with it. And second, there is always the fear that my visa application will be denied, or the consulate will need additional information, or it will take too long to secure my visa in time. The fear is very real and very worry-inducing.

Yesterday, while I was thick in worry because my mom had mailed my previously-expired passport instead of the current one to me on accident, I realized that something was running through my head. It took me a minute before I knew what it was.

May your preparation be worship... 

A friend gave me money for my trip to Hong Kong in 2012, and wrote this on the envelope. May your preparation be worship. One of my early posts on this blog featured this sentence as I was grappling with the concept of preparing for this seemingly impossible task. May your preparation be worship. This was the first thing I told my peers, fellow education majors also doing their student teaching overseas, when we sat together for fellowship the Sunday morning of CCTECC training. May your preparation be worship.

It rang in my head and heart the way strong words or loud noises ring in our ears. I felt those words like I felt my worry, and the desire to worship has started to overpower the feeling that I need to worry. 

What I have come to realize today is that the God who works all things out for our good and His glory even has control over the postal service and the embassy. This means that even when I think everything could be running at a much faster pace, for example, His hand is on these plans I'm making. His plans are already made! His eyes are watching my passport. His voice is speaking to the people involved in my preparations. His hands are making arrangements I don't even know about yet. His feet are going places I have never been in order to prepare them for me and to prepare me for them. I worry and fret, but He is good and He is in control. 

Would you join me in thanking Him today?