These past 10 months have been the most exhilarating, exciting, scariest, and emotional experiences of my life. I have changed in ways I never thought possible, experienced the bests and worsts and have truly grown into a better person. Thailand has been a rollercoaster of a ride. It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to leave this place I have fallen in love with and have called home. This decision did not come lightly, nor quickly, but opportunities have risen and it is with much emotion, my time here has come to an end. I know I will be back to the land of smiles, but what is life without an adventure. That being said, I start a new chapter in my life, moving to Ho Chi Minh City, old Saigon, Southern Vietnam. I never thought I would move to Vietnam, but life has a way of surprising you. This time last year, I was starting to get rid of all my belongings, fit my whole life into suitcases, and embark on whirlwind of a journey to Thailand, and I never would have imagined 
Although I have chosen to leave 2 months shy of a year and before the term ends, the time has come for me to experience a new adventure. Even though I am leaving, I will greatly miss my wonderful students past and present that have taught me to do 1000 things at one time all while pulling fighting kids off each other. I have learned as much from them as they have from me, like I can be as obnoxious and eccentric as possible, belt out Disney songs, and rediscover how educational and awesome the Magic School Bus videos are. 
These past two weeks have been the perfect send off starting with an unnecessary visa trip to Laos with another teacher where we were created with such hospitality, warmth, and kind-hearted human beings which I can't even begin to put into words. We had dinner at the cutest hippy restaurant which reminded me of something you'd find in Portland, brunch that looked like London, and chatted with the couple whose hotel we were staying at. Even though there was such a language barrier, we were still able to understand each other.
Immediately after Laos, we got two days off school for Buddhist Lent day, so off to Koh Chang the foreign teachers went.
It was rainy season, but that weekend (and this weekend) was, without a doubt, one of my favorite weekends in Thailand.
A week of teaching my last week in Thailand, and I was on my way back to where it all started: Bangkok. Before I left Chaiyaphum, I was blessed enough to have one of my best friends, Anne, through me an amazing bbq dinner. I definitely felt so much love from and for everyone who has been a part of my Bon voyage, I will never forget any of it.
A week of teaching my last week in Thailand, and I was on my way back to where it all started: Bangkok. Before I left Chaiyaphum, I was blessed enough to have one of my best friends, Anne, through me an amazing bbq dinner. I definitely felt so much love from and for everyone who has been a part of my Bon voyage, I will never forget any of it.
A quick 5 hour bus ride and 45 minute cab ride later, I was back on Khao San Road, aka backpackers paradise. Two teachers from Anuban were able to join me in sending me out of Bangkok in style.
In the past 10 months I have really learned some major resume building skills, get ready for the important things. I have learned the true meaning of Mai Pen Lai (no worries) and can't even count how many times I use that phrase a day. Thai time is a real thing and nothing ever really starts when it's supposed to, or even an hour after for that matter. Motorbikes are fun, especially when they go fast. Farong while driving is a thing, so if foreigners aren't wearing a helmet, it's only a matter of time before you get pulled over and fined. Motorbike crashes are inevitable, but I have been one of the lucky ones to not have crashed.....yet. Pad thai gets old really quickly and you soon accept the fact sometimes when you order food, you'll get something completely random. Thai belly is not something to joke about. Visa runs can either be super fun, or a drag, but either way, it's a way of getting out of school for a few days, so mai pen lai. Squatty potties are nothing to fret about. Disney movies on jump drives become your best friend because most of the time the Internet is dodgy. Grilled chicken, sticky rice, and spicy papaya salad is the literally the best comfort food ever. 7-elevens here are like Starbucks in the States, they're everywhere and life savers, which brings me to the Toastie, Thailand's best late night snack from said 7-elevens.
Until next time, Thailand.
