Out of all the great things my teach abroad program has
provided, above all is the college-esque experience.
And who didn’t love college?
It’s the friendships that thrive without constant attention
and connection. Where you can bump into someone on campus you haven’t seen in
months, and pick up right where you left off.
So, for me, Thailand is like that. It’s like this college
campus I’m still exploring and discovering. It’s like this Wanderlust Academy
glittered with friends in different regions. But there is bound to be that
party, or that Beach Week, or that Mountain Weekend where we will reunite.
It’s the ability to be connected to a vast population of
colleagues in a foreign land. It’s the camaraderie that helps limit moments of
loneliness and homesickness. It’s the
fairytale that could be denied, but that is authenticated by shared
association.
Did that really happen? Yes, it did.
__________________
Beach Week. Koh
Samet is a beautiful island in the Gulf of Thailand, popular for Thais and void
of the party backpacker. Actually, every Western stranger I met was currently a
teacher or had previously been one. A long weekend enticed groups of us from
the Isaan region, the North, and the Bangkok area to join in on a beach
vacation.
I hadn’t put on my mermaid legs in over 3 months, my
excitement was clear. The half-day journey to arrive was worth it the moment we
jumped on a boat with fellow program friends already onboard. This crystal blue
longboat ride landed us on an island guarded by mermaids. Need I say fate?
Despite rainy season forecasts, the weather was perfect every single day. We shared buckets for breakfast, cocktails couldn’t really wait until happy hour. We ate Thai food on English menus, a true rarity for us Isaan girls. We floated in the ocean, chilled on the beach. A perfect combination of sunshine and laughter. There were moonlight fire shows, where a six year old performed. There were Naga nights body painting, and late night swimming. It was a solid beach vacation.
Maybe I’m spoiled, maybe I’m oversaturated on saltwater from
years by the ocean. I know, I can’t believe I’m saying it. . . but the
Caribbean wasn’t giving me the cultural feel of Thailand I’ve become accustomed
to. I could have been anywhere in the world. I’m surprised that sand, sun, and
sea don’t bewilder me as much anymore.
Still, the backdrop was perfect for the occasion, it really
was. It’s just what I needed, to relax and chat with friends to the soundtrack
of waves. And it was groovy to see that, personally, my location in the
Northeast, what they call the “Real Thailand”, is perfect for me. I hadn’t
really acknowledged that, until then.
_________________
Mountain Weekend.
Khao Yai National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, covers three provinces
making it the third largest park in Thailand. It’s a very popular vacation, so
our timing of the rainy season helped relieve worries about cabin availability.
Cool mountain air, roadside monkeys, two private songthaews and a 40-person cabin all to 17 teachers set the mood
for a perfect vacation.
Driving around, up, and into the mountain. We visited a
monstrous waterfall, where we discovered pythons, and took in the epic scenery.
Unlike Hollywood daredevils in the The
Beach we did not jump off it, but we still pushed the edge. We received
history lessons on Thailand and Buddhism from our driver situated in
picturesque farmland. We watched as millions upon millions of bats flew out of
a cave like ballet dancers in the sky. The spectacle was amazing but the
company enhanced it tenfold. 
We only scratched the surface of the park. But we sure had fun. Monkey business. Laughter. Dancing. Laughter. Like little kids at camp, we built tents, or at least tried. The trip was short, but we are always able to pack legendary memories within 24 hours.
Traveling deep, with so many people, might seem like an
overwhelming experience to some. And yeah, it is a lot of people. Totally. But bringing
together mass amounts of friends just provides an opportunity to celebrate.
And it’s not like we just celebrate. We celebrate with backdrops of the
most beautiful places in the world.
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