Two Promises

Before I left, Ralph (my professor) made me two promises. He said 1. This is going to be the hardest thing you have done yet. 2. This is going to be the best thing you have done yet.

Well, I feel like I am understanding why those were the two promises he chose to make. Yesterday I was trying to get back up the mountain after my weekend in Chiang Mai. I followed the directions I was given precisely, but the driver of my first yellow truck took me very far out into the middle of nowhere. There was a second driver there who was supposed to take me the rest of the way, but he didn't know where to go. When he realized that I was completely lost and unable to speak Thai, he told me that I would have to pay him 800 baht. My entire trip down the mountain cost me 40 baht. There was no way I was going to get ripped off that bad. I called my professor and orphanage director to try and help sort things out. It was getting late and dark and I was stranded in the middle of nowhere. I only had 200 baht on me so I couldn't even take that driver. I just lost it. I felt so helpless and pathetic (the worst feeling ever). I couldn't hold it in and I just cried. There were a bunch of Thai men just staring at this farang crying her little eyes out. Embarrassing. But by that point I couldn't have cared less. To make a long story short we sorted it out that he would drive me home for 500 baht and my director would spot me 300 baht and I would just pay him back. I eventually made it home safe and sound, but I was so upset. At that one moment I just wanted to go home more than anything. But Ralph called me to check up on me and make sure I was doing well. His kindness and support brought me back to reality. I decided to just go to bed and let go of the stress that had built up from that misadventure.

This morning when I got up my eyes were slightly swollen (yes, I was that upset) and I was worried about how today would go. But a semi-warm shower and big hugs from all the kids reassured me that things were going to be okay. I taught today and I feel that my lessons went well (the preparation over the weekend paid off). I swung on the rope swing, played countless matches of badminton, and even learned some Thai today. I couldn't be happier.

I just need to accept that living in a foreign country and not being able to speak the language is going to be a problem sometimes. I should consider myself lucky that I have only had this one incident so far. And I am sure there is going to be more miscommunication in the future. That's okay. Responding with Mai Pen Rai is a tad bit harder than I thought it would be. But I'm trying. And honestly I'm thankful for that experience. I learned a lot and maybe now I will be able to avoid that in the future.

So here I am, going through the hardest but the best thing so far in my life. Here's to a good week!

Til the next adventure.

Peace out.