so how do you like it?
it's simple really. mostly because I can't figure out how to make some epic blog layout. I think this is pretty nice considering how many buttons I clicked on to get to this point.
To tell you a little more about the title...
It was all thanks to HAESEON CHANG'S genius mind.
David Chin was over at my place and I was trying to brainstorm some titles like I had earlier with Dale. David wasn't as helpful. He was coming up with things like THAI-lenol, THAI-ger, Thai-me-up, and whatnot until Haeseon saved the day.
I really love it because it explains a little bit about why I decided to go abroad.
Of course I went to travel - everyone's been everywhere in Georgetown so I really gotta get on this ridiculous level (still need to hit up Europe).
But I also just needed a little time away from Georgetown and the timing couldn't be better.
Not that I don't love Georgetown and all the people in it (see, don't cry about it) but it's such a bubble - everybody knows it. To leave such a wonderful comfort circle would have to be for a dramatically new experience so I've chosen to go - but only for a little bit :)
Therefore, it's about time and it's about me - time for me to be a little selfish and figure out what I want, what I can do, what I need, and what I'll be.
I'm hoping Thailand helps me figure that out.
That's one of the things I'm scared of, quite frankly. I'm infinitely nervous about whether I'll measure up to my future classmates or the assignments or the experience. I'm not absolutely positive that my career will always and permanently be in public service, like some of these students have already decided. Now that I'm some 15 hours away from my destination, I keep wondering - what if I don't get enough out of this? what if I don't learn enough or leave not having done enough or created something on my own? what if this is what Thailand expects and what Thailand will give and I'll have nothing to give back?
I don't know who has higher expectations for an amazing experience - me or the program haha.
you know?
Anyway, I'm currently at the Incheon Airport. Monday, a family friend drove me up to Houston and from there, I went to Los Angeles for a 12-hour flight to Korea. Turns out I still can't sleep on a friggin' plane, even with one of those plushy donut pillows. It's just a different type of uncomfortable - I think it's because I'm short, sigh. Now I've got a good 7 hours before my last flight to Bangkok (and this is after I've done a substantial amount of wandering and getting lost).
Oh and they lost my suitcase. It was supposed to be dropped off at Incheon and it wasn't at baggage claim D:
sooo I have no outlet converter for my laptop (thank god for my ipod touch. thanks esther!) and i will have no clothes if my suitcase is not found. wheeeee. Hopefully they'll find it and drop it off at Bangkok because this is the lightest I've ever packed for a semester [one medium suitcase, duffel bag and backpack) so that's less of the nothing that I brought lol. So now I'm sitting at the "internet lounge" to write this blog and the mouse acts like it's moving drunk with one blind eye, one functional leg, and a concussion.
There is one plus though - Incheon has a relaxation area that offers free showers soooo spending 48 hours in planes and airports shouldn't be as gross now.
I miss everyone incredibly - I haven't spent nearly enough time with my family and I've gotten quite attached to all the people I've bonded with over the summer [David, Frank, Fagel, ShAleena] I still think about the friends in New York and if I think hard enough about Monica, Dale, Mia or Jan, I swear I'll cry so don't make me do it!
I think it's that, once again, I'm alone for a new journey - one that I feel will hold much more meaning for me than past journies - and I already feel like a stranger in a Korean airport. [I'm so whitewashed.]
I realize this is just the awkward part for now - that slow transition. Maybe it'll just be like summer camp all over again [shout out to my CTY nerdpeeps].
Looking forward to it.
You write with such an honest voice...I hope that your experience is all that it needs to be =) Good luck!
ReplyDeletewriting a comment b/c you couldn't see my plus. Mary I am so so excited for you. I know that you are going to gain so much from this experience, whether or not you even realize it. So go, find yourself, experience that self, better that self, and bring that self back to myself at Georgetown :) Gonna miss you.
ReplyDelete- Dale, choreoBUM.
ava: "personally...i think "Thai-me-up" was kinda GENIUS and it's very appropriate for thailand."
ReplyDeletecalvin: "personally...i thought "Thai-ger" was awesome only coz i like tigers."
MARY! so your crazy sister was sitting next to me and she just randomly asked, "HEY. can you check my sister's Facebook and see if she's in BANGCOCK?" (or is it with a "K"? like BangKOK...idk.) (sometimes i think your sister is really from JAIL...not YALE.) so, i went ahead and checked, but you never put a status message that said "THAILAND!" so i wasn't sure. but i did come across the blog shout out on your wall...so i thought...hmmmm this might have some juicy information about mary's life. and LOW AND BEHOLD, there it was. you're THERE! woooow! you're so close to us (and yet you never even bothered to buy a flight to come see us. gosh.)
and some by the way, my picture is on every single mother effin quaker oats package in this country. so you NEED to come here, or just import it to BANGPENIS (i prefer the scientific term).
but yes. where are you? please call. your family misses you. (kinda).
heart.
ps: i'm in manila with ava. and we hate each other's guts. but we're engaged. but we were living together (don't tell mama). and we're divorcing soon coz she has to go back to jail...i mean 'yale'.
kthanksbye
pps: thailand is gonna be wonderful. best wishes for what will be an awesome experience. don't make out with any guys there though. they could be girls. check for the bulge in the groin area slash adam's apple. that's the scientific term, i believe.