Home for the Holidays - Questions

During my recent visit to the US, my family and friends had many questions about my past year living and serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions...

1. Have you gained weight?

Barely. In the past year, I've gained exactly 2kg (roughly 4.5 lbs), which is barely noticeable on my small frame. Those familiar with my Peace Corps journey may know that my application/medical clearance process was complicated and prolonged due to my perceived "underweight condition" and that I'd been actively trying everything to gain weight since then and even after I arrived in Thailand. This became an unhealthy obsession for me, yet and still, my efforts did not yield much. I've since decided to just eat as normally and as healthily as possible, appreciate my genes and metabolism, and not worry about my weight.

2. Can you cook Thai food?

Unfortunately, No. I have picked up a couple things along the way, but the majority of my meals are prepared behind the scenes. I take opportunities to observe and even help in the cooking process when possible, but more often than not, I'm shooed away to sit and wait until the food is finished. I suppose I could be more insistent on learning how to cook/prepare Thai meals, but really and truly, I've never had the gift/inclination or whatever it takes to actually cook, so... I think I'll make more of an effort this year though, because I don't think that I can return to a life of microwaveables and takeout... We'll see...

3. Can you speak Thai?

Yes, I can. I wouldn't consider myself fluent, but I know enough to get around comfortably living and working among non-English speakers, I also know enough to travel out and about the country by myself, and of course, shop and get bargains. About 90% of my everyday interactions (including classroom management) are in Thai. My reading and writing skills aren't too great though, but I can read most street signs and complete forms with my basic information. (Thai has actually been categorized as being one of the most complicated writing systems in the world, this video explains why.)

4. Are inter cultural relationships common in Thailand? (Sometimes phrased as "Are you dating anyone over there?")

From my observation, most Thais seem to "couple up" among themselves at a fairly young age, but it is not uncommon to find old white retired foreign men with very young Thai wives or girlfriends. I have yet to see a Thai man of any age with a foreign (non-Asian) wife or girlfriend. (And nope, I haven't explored the dating scene either. I'm very focused on my roles as a Volunteer.)

5. So really, what do you do?

As a Youth Development Volunteer, I do activities and programs with youth in my community to help them to develop life skills; this includes making healthy choices, promoting positive self image, addressing gender norms and biases, improving communication skills as well as English language skills. This satisfies the first goal of Peace Corps to help interested countries in meeting specific needs. The second goal of Peace Corps is to promote a better understanding of the United States to the people in the country of service, so I find ways to share aspects of American culture with my community and students whenever possible. The third goal of Peace Corps is to promote a better understanding of other peoples and cultures among Americans, which I do through blogs and emails.

6. What are your plans for Post-Peace Corps?

First and foremost, I would definitely get my social work license. Beyond that, there are a few options that I may explore. I vowed to dedicate my 20's to service, but I may take a shift from volunteerism to take advantage of my NCE (Non-Competitive Eligibility) Status. This gives preferential consideration for employment with the US Government for up to one year after completion of Peace Corps service. Veteran's Affairs has been on my mind, or Family and Children Services at the state level, I've also considered returning to AmeriCorps or doing international service work with my church. I plan to explore each of these options more carefully towards the end of my service.

7. What do you miss the most about America?

My family, having a car, and the wide variety of foods.

8. What will you miss the most about Thailand?

My host family and community, the people in general, and their tremendous hospitality. I will also miss how inexpensive everything is! 

9. How much longer will you be in Thailand?

Until the close of my service in March 2016. 

10. Can I come to visit you?

Yes!!! Just let me know when!

My family. I miss them the most!

I'm always happy to answer questions about my life/service in Thailand.  Feel free to comment below if you have any!

Home for the Holidays - Highlights

It has been about a year since I left home to begin my service in Thailand, at that point, I was uncertain as to whether or not I would return home (or to the USA) at any point during my twenty-seven months of service. I knew that I would miss my family and numerous celebrations/life events of loved ones, but I also knew that I could just immerse myself completely into this new life for two years and that my family and friends would still be there when I return. All the same, during the year leading up to my departure, I made it a point to save enough for at least one trip back home, just in case.

"Just in case" came in the form of an invitation to a dear friend's wedding, which would take place during the holiday season and would be perfect for   spending time with friends and family, and just enjoying the holidays with loved ones. Although I didn't technically go "home" for the holidays, it was close enough. I spent my vacation surrounded by folks near and dear to my heart; after all, home is where the heart is.

My parents and siblings traveled from their different locations to meet me, so in a sense, "home" came to me. The timing of this trip translated into the perfect opportunity for a family vacation, which we haven't had in over a decade. This was actually our first family vacation since my brother was born, so really, our first full family vacation. We toured four cities in ten days, visiting family, friends, theme parks, and just enjoying our togetherness. It was a great time.

All of us. First Family Vacation.  Last Sabbath of 2014.

My two week retreat and family vacation was nothing short of wonderful, here are just a few highlights from my trip.

The Union Of Mr & Mrs Louis. I had the opportunity to witness the beautiful union of my dear friend Tasha and her love, with the company of great friends. Tasha and I became friends during our AmeriCorps service and we have maintained a great bond and friendship even as life has taken us on various separate journeys. I am so happy that she has found a life partner, and I'm glad that I was able to be a part of their special day.

Celebrating Love and Friendships

"Keep Calm and กินข้าว" These souvenir t-shirts were great conversation pieces. กินข้าว (gin-kaao) translates literally to eat rice, and really refers to just eating a meal in general since rice is a given for just about every Thai meal. Lately though, I had been longing for breakfast foods and pasta. My first stop was supposed to be IHOP, but we settled for Denny's and it was just as good to me. Pancakes at midnight, so yum, followed by more of my favorites at Olive Garden, Boston Market, Chipotle, Cheesecake Factory, and homemade Caribbean food at relatives' homes. I kept calm and enjoyed many rice-less meals for the remainder of my trip, and it was amazing!

Enjoying a variety of meals with my family. Pancakes, Pasta, and Caribbean Cuisine. Loved it!

Santa's Enchanted Forest, World's Largest Christmas Theme Park, so magical! My siblings and I have enjoyed the magic and enchantment of this park for the past few years, but this is the first time we all went together.  The weather was a bit chilly, but we rode every ride, watched every show, and had countless hours of fun.

Enjoying the enchanted forest with the siblings. We had a fantabulous time.

Bro's first trip to Universal. My sisters and I had our Disney and Universal adventures when we were pretty little, my brother missed out on a lot since he is so much younger than we are, but we felt that he was due his chance to experience the magic. We spent two full days exploring Universal Resort and Studios, and even with the rain and chilly weather, we had a blast! Next time, Disney!

We spent two full days exploring the parks, in the wind and the rain, and we still had an awesome time.

Gifts from Thailand, with Love. When my community members learned that I was going home for the holidays, they brought gifts and souvenirs for me to share with my family. They came bearing gifts right up until the morning that I was leaving. The gifts were all produced in my community, my family loved and appreciated every one.

Gifts from my community, all locally made/grown in our villages. My family loved them!

Congratulating Mom. My mother had a year of great academic achievements, she completed her nursing degree earlier in the year and recently top-scored the national certification/licensure examination on the first try. This is a tremendous accomplishment! My aunt and uncle organized a lovely celebration in her honor, and I was happy to share this moment with her.

In the middle of her celebration, my mother decided to give me a wonderful surprise. See my sister's video for her documentation of our vacation, including my big and wonderful surprise at 5:30. Stay tuned for more!

To be continued :-)