As my previous post drew to a close, I was already feeling much better about things. That's the beauty of creating a post over the period of several hours. I am currently back in my apartment feeling quite...well, wonderful, and I don't even have Chang to thank for it.
I was walking home from school when the sentiment started to really kick in. I had just finished up a great extra class, and now walking home I was greeted with numerous smiles and "herro! goos afternoon!"s. I went a little different route back and as I rounded the corner towards my apartment I noticed that the unpredictable market was on today. I have tried, with zero success, to figure out when this market actually occurs. It occurs when it wants to. Complete with the inflatable children's play house, thai-remixed American pop-hits, and cheap goodies galore. I was walking across the street, weaving through motorcycles, when I realized I had already adapted the Thai way of crossing a street---just fucking go with it man. I smiled at the thought.
In my apartment, I pulled out what has become my bible, the Lonely Planet's Guide to Thailand, and checked in with a friend about how we are to meet up this weekend. Several messages later, our plan was set, I was taking a train Friday after school and meeting her at the train station in Ayuthaya. Hell yes! More century old ruins to explore and elephants to ride. This has to be my single-most favorite thing about this country---how easy it can be to travel. Traveling is also the single-most stress inducing thing about this country, if you try to have any sort of a schedule in mind. Once you throw the Western expectations of timetables and prudency out the window (logic?! huh?), and you learn to adopt a heavy measure of patience, you can do wonderful things here. Like travel to and from virtually ANYWHERE in the country using semi-public transportation, stay there, and feed yourself, for less than $50 on a weekend. And that includes a hot shower, a western sandwich, and several Changs. If you sleep cheaply, travel un-extravagantly, and eat locally, you can drop that to below $15 EASILY.
Fast forward an hour or so, my tummy growls. My Thai friend "Eve" cannot meet me out for dinner tonight. *Sigh* But I really wanted some yum (this spicy salad orgasmic concoction that is different every time and made a thousand ways, and yet, always the same)... So I grabbed my phone just in case I needed to phone a friend, and I set off to the one place I successfully ordered it in town (*cough* with the help of a student *cough*). I sat down, smiled and said, "do you remember, from last time? Yum?" Confused look. "Yum?" I try again. Confus---oh wait, recognition! "Yum somethingsomething I didn't quite understand! Yes, yes!" "Yes!" It really couldn't have been that easy even if I spoke Thai. And about two minutes later, this Westerner from across the way asks if I need help, and at this point having already ordered, I say "No, but thank you!" "Oh? You can read Thai?" "Haha, not a chance, but she remembers me!" "Ahh, well, you just let me know if you need anything." Where did that come from? Thank you nice fella! The best part is, my food came out even better than last time, this time she added glass noodles, some chicken, some pork, some shrimp. Total upgrade, they love me. And it was fannnntastic.
About half way through my meal, the neighbor walked by and waved, entering the restaurant. UGH!!!!!!!!! *eye roll* Naturally, I did the polite thing and offered him the chair across from me. Prior to him completely freaking me out, we had had some intelligent conversations over these past few weeks, right? And you know what? We ended up having another one... all be damned, I didn't want to punch him or run away or anything! I successfully arrived at my apartment with zero delay from his awkwardness. A normal encounter. This calls for a blog post.
Can you talk about a 180? Thank you universe. Kayla needed that, my god.
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