With only ten days remaining in Thailand, I can't help but look back on each and every experience I have had here. Five weeks ago I was packing up my stuff, saying a tearful goodbye to my cats (and my family), and heading off to the airport with no expectations for the adventure ahead. I didn't know much about the people I would be traveling with, and I had no idea what my project would even be! Sitting in the airport surrounded by my fellow SMRTies, I knew I had nothing to worry about. Everyone was in the same boat and each person was just as excited about the trip as I was. To my surprise the 18 hour plane ride went fairly smoothly, but I don't think anyone was resting as comfortably as Theary who passed out before the plane even took off.
Arriving in Bangkok, we quickly jumped into exploring the city making stops at the Grand Palace and the Weekend Market. Despite the overwhelmingly amount of people, motorbikes, food carts, and stray dogs, it wasn't hard to jump right in and start learning about their culture. Thai people are definitely some of the most welcoming people I have met in another country, and I can honestly say that I have always felt safe and comfortable here.
Chiang Mai is definitely where I have made myself at home. I've learned to never get into a songtaew if they try to charge you more than twenty baht, never underestimate the power of walking away, and always be open to new experiences, whether it be food or unexpected adventures. I have lived my dream of spending a day with elephants (treated very humanely), made new Thai friends who I hope will visit California very soon, and have hiked through a rainforest with countless numbers of waterfalls. I thought six weeks would feel like forever, but when I look back I feel like I just got here. There's still so much to see and do, so these next ten days will be pretty busy...
-Kyley Olson
Arriving in Bangkok, we quickly jumped into exploring the city making stops at the Grand Palace and the Weekend Market. Despite the overwhelmingly amount of people, motorbikes, food carts, and stray dogs, it wasn't hard to jump right in and start learning about their culture. Thai people are definitely some of the most welcoming people I have met in another country, and I can honestly say that I have always felt safe and comfortable here.
Chiang Mai is definitely where I have made myself at home. I've learned to never get into a songtaew if they try to charge you more than twenty baht, never underestimate the power of walking away, and always be open to new experiences, whether it be food or unexpected adventures. I have lived my dream of spending a day with elephants (treated very humanely), made new Thai friends who I hope will visit California very soon, and have hiked through a rainforest with countless numbers of waterfalls. I thought six weeks would feel like forever, but when I look back I feel like I just got here. There's still so much to see and do, so these next ten days will be pretty busy...
-Kyley Olson