Do you ever feel like you just want to get lost for a little while? A few hours, a few days, weeks, or months? I feel that way when I am overwhelmed with things. By things I mean work, people, and life choices. I’m sure we all have a tendency to feel that way at times.

Life has a way of making people feel like they are never good enough. Life itself can be full of obstacles along the way and then you add social media to the mix. This is like mixing Mentos and Cola. The carbonation and sugar mix eventually lead to combustion. Not saying we are like Mentos and Cola .. or maybe you are round and full of a lot of gas haha.. but yeah we have all these choices to make in life and sometimes they could and do make people explode.

It wasn’t till recently ( about 6 or so weeks ago) that I decided to take a hiatus from Facebook.

You see, I have been placed in this very small town to teach English in Thailand. I was gave a list of what was here before I arrived. The list included the following; things to do, the different modes of transportation to get around, the dress code of the school, what shops were in the town, and if there were any westerners.

Now I don’t know if this list was updated a while ago or someone just made up the information because several things were not accurate. Therefore making me feel mislead.

Their list

Things to do-go to the beach (30 min)  or Bangkok ( far 1 hour )

Transportation- bus, songthaew, van

Dress Code-Business

Shops-Big C, Tesco

Westerners- Some

My List

Things to do- The beach – 1.5 hours with public transportation or longer depending on traffic, Bangkok – 2 hours or more depending on traffic and the vans stop running from my town around 5:30-6:00 p.m. After that you must get the bus into the next town; which is a hour away and then get on a van or another bus for another hour or more to get to Bangkok so it’s a timely process . Now that can be a day trip if need be but it is a pain and I hate spending half the time riding back and forth in mini vans that aren’t exactly the safest.

Transportation- Vans that stop running around 6 p.m. in the evening and busses that stop running back from my school at 6:30. There is no reliable bus schedule- I spent 40 minutes waiting for the bus after school one day… It never came and one of the teachers was nice enough to give me a ride home thankfully. There are no Songthaews which are trucks with seats placed in the back for people to ride in. Not the safest but if they were here they would be another option.

 

I got REALLY lucky and was able to make friends with the motorcycle taxi fellows. One of them was nice enough (and trustworthy ..considering I had never drove one before haha) to rent me his extra scooter until I leave for about 15.00 dollars a month. Others people easily pay 60 or more monthly to rent scooters. I mainly take it to work and back because it is too dangerous on the freeway….Okay once I drove on the freeway because I wanted to get to the beach faster…. probably won’t be doing that again..

 

Dress Code- Business *** strictly business*** I was backpacking for three weeks before I came here and I did prepare some dress clothes to get me started but they were not what the school expected to see. They want skirts or dresses past your knees and button up dress shirts and shirts with collars. The Thai people have a way with being brutally honest at times…  they tell me on a daily that I look like a boy in these phrases.

 

1.) “Look like a boy teacher not beautiful.”

2.)” Don’t cut hair teacher look better long hair.”

3.) “You cut hair no good.” You no cut hair good.”

I realize I look like a boy and I am now going through the awkward in between mullet stage but come on now !

  this is awkward..

 

When you tell them ..JUST A TRIM … AND THEY BUTCHER IT….

 

Dressing became dreadful and I love to wear different styles of clothes. Just not when its 99 degrees and you have to wear something to cover pretty much every inch. On top of that I am apparently an XL here and it’s frustrating to find things that fit properly. I was told they were small but we are talking a whole other shape here.. I have had the hardest time with clothes and figuring out what exactly is proper business style… It’s been a rough adjustment. Fortunately a couple teachers at school have gave me some proper things to wear.

Shops- There is a Big C and Tesco which are both grocery stores and Tesco is like a Walmart with a little bit of everything. Other than that you have to take the bus into Chonburi City Center and there is a mall there with anything you could want. But since the busses stop running and I don’t finish work till 4:30 that is out of the question until the weekend if needed. Unless of course I go with a friend that has a car.

Westerners- I have yet to see a westerner in my town, and I walk around my town a lot and go to different places to try. With that being said you can imagine the looks that I get.. I am literally an alien… although they like to call me dark skin because I am tan like them!

Back to Facebook….

 

So I found myself with a lot of free time like you would imagine being in a town with no one to speak with…. I was always getting on Facebook … Now while I don’t post much I do put pictures of my experiences and I like to message and see how people are doing. It was becoming more noticeable how easily annoyed I was getting with the ignorance that is posted. Looking at others peoples placements just pissed me off and always made me compare my little town to their experiences.

I realize half the shit that is posted is made to look better than what it really is, but It was hard not find myself always wanting to leave or go somewhere every weekend. I kept telling myself that if I was closer to Bangkok I would have been able to celebrate Thanksgiving dinner with my friends, but instead I couldn’t make it because I would have no way back home. So I ate rice and some spicy soup for dinner. I got sad at Christmas because it’s not celebrated here, and I had to work Christmas Eve and Day for the first time ever. We did a quick ceremony at my school but that’s like me presenting a show about Buddhism to you, it really wouldn’t make much sense. It’s really hard living abroad and yes I know some of you are thinking ( well you made that choice)(insert me rolling me eyes here) I hear that all the time. Yes, I made the choice in hope to have support over time.

This happens to a lot of us. We are are constantly comparing our daily contacts and their experiences to ourselves; let alone adding this virtual world with a thousand of friends that are more than likely not even your friends in the first place! So I told myself that I was going to get off of it and focus on myself and what I want out of my time here. I don’t miss it for what it is; I miss it for having something to do when I am bored.

The people that want to get ahold of you will find a way to get ahold of you… it isn’t as hard as you would imagine it to be believe it or not.

1.Email- Lbrown@westliberty.edu

2. If you have an iPhone and I am in your contacts  you can easily contact me through iMessage

3. Through one of the other social media sites such as; KakaoTalk, WhatsApp, Line or Skype.

4. Snail mail… yeah I am old fashioned like that

So to keep myself busy I have read books, worked on blogs, researched places to travel, set up places to volunteer, hung out with some locals,and exercised. I recently ran a mini Marathon with over 2 thousand people it was fun and something new to try. I have been tutoring this family and had to opportunity to hang out with them several times and experience how they live their daily life. I’ve became more tolerant of trying new foods. I’ve grown in more ways than I can list honestly.

 Soup with noodles and pork

 Raw Oysters

Squid –Taste better than it looks

I never realized how truly obsessed people are with Facebook let alone their phones until I stopped getting on mine as often. It’s nearly impossible to engage in a conversation without someone having their face glued to it. For Example… 

This was painted by one of the students

Honestly it’s been less stressful in someways . Yeah, I like seeing what is going on in other peoples lives but it’s not as important as figuring out my own shit right now. I don’t want to live and constantly compare myself to what others have. There’s no need to post what plans are made each day. You don’t need to know my every move.If that’s the case no one will ever be satisfied with what they have or where they are. You will always be a hungry group of vultures that are insatiable, while some feed off of the failures of others. It’s sad, but the world can honestly be so cruel at times.

I feel happier in my town now that I have cut the use of Facebook. It’s honestly helped me adjust and and appreciate those around me more. Yeah things annoy me here and there, but I do feel like I have learned to accept things for the way they are and just go with the flow a little more Thai style.

I found myself comparing Thailand to Korea and other places I have been, but at that point you just  have to face that this a country that is still developing and get over it. You can’t go through life comparing everything to what you used to have. You will stay in a stagnant state of mind and never process into something better. After all I guess I should have done a little more research . I would have if I cared that much. I guess it’s one way to get the “full immersion”

Pai and I

My coworkers

Pais birthday

 

Tutoring Pai and playing shop

Pais birthday

Trip to a chaotic night market

3D Art Museum

Making the most of Christmas time 

They look impressed with my dance moves .. haha

Pat’s little sister Pun

My friend Poy

It’s one thing to be relaxed, but in Thailand relaxing is on a whole other level.. You don’t get told things ..well..until they are actually happening… the students will know before you, You have to be flexible with your lesson plans because more times than not the classes will always miss and be on different levels.. Like I said it’s been a lot to take in and adjust to , but I just have to take it day by day.

Pai

 

I’ve had time to think about more goals I want to complete, and clear my head. Don’t get me wrong some days have been a struggle, but the good days can outweigh those days.

I realized that even though I am making very little money the style of living is pretty simple. They don’t indulge on the newest technology, they don’t always go places on the weekend; they enjoy the time they have with each and enjoy eating and sharing food. This time in my life has been a slower pace, but slower can be good in a lot of ways.

My students have high goals. They must test to get into the boarding school and then throughout the schooling they must test to keep their seat because there are only so many students allowed. If in that time frame they fail their exams they must leave the school and find another. The risks are high because as long as they enter the school their tuition is free for their parents. It’s sad to see the ones who have to leave, but I guess that is a chance you take when you enter the school to begin with.

Most students in the school want to be doctors or scientist. They value having pride for their country and hope that others do too. I always ask them if they want to stay in their country or go be a doctor elsewhere, because they easily could. Doctors are needed everywhere. Even though I tell them that doctors are in the highest paying fields in America, 99% of the time they say they would choose to stay in Thailand. They are proud of their country and hope to help it develop. I really admire them for such commitment and devotion to help others if they are able. I have learned just as much from them as I have taught them . I will forever be grateful for having them feel comfortable enough to share their lives with me.

 

1960’s dance theme

When you hear Justin Bieber come on…

Happy Day

Happy Day

With that being said get off your damn phone!… haha just joking ….kinda…. ok not really. .

I highly encourage cutting some social media out of your life and technology in general. There’s no need to constantly check to see what others are doing. There’s no need for you to feel like you have to report what you are doing. Enjoy the time with the people around you. Ask how people are doing. I promise it won’t kill you.