Most of you know that my parents came to Thailand this week and let me tell you it was somethin' else. While they are technically here (leaving in a few short hours) I find myself perplexed but intrigued by their departure.
If you know me at all you know I am a huge family person. My family are my people and I would do anything for them. If you know me then you also know that I am stubborn as a mule and don't particularly like being told what to do. SOOOO enter my family in Thailand, and here comes the questions and the lectures and the "Sarah do this, Sarah do that." Not quite a shock when it comes to me and my family, and while this drove me up a wall (as I suppose it always will) I have come to the conclusion that I really really missed it. I mean I didn't necessarily know it when I rolled my eyes at my mom or say "okay Dad I get it" but now that they are leaving it makes me realize how truly lucky I am; how blessed I truly am.
I have had people tell me how spoiled I am and I deny that 100%. I am blessed.
I am blessed to have a brother that spent his birthday in airports to come to see me and have an adventure. I am blessed to have a father who spent fathers day with me being stressed, and I am blessed at having a mom that wants to sit up and talk to me all night long, even if she is kind of nosy (I guess that is where I get it from) because her nosy isn't really nosy, it's caring! I have a wonderful family and I am so grateful to have them as a part of my life and to have them come visit me so far away.
ANNNNDDDDD now that the the sappy stuff is over lets talk about the funny stuff.
First of all America and Thailand are very different in so many cases, and my family witnessed it first hand.
My mom had a hard time getting over the smells, and trust me some of them are VERY hard to get over. Think the worst smell you have ever smelled and then double it.
My dad spent the week dealing with the humidity and how much you sweat whenever you go outside, because boy oh boy is it humid. The moment you walk outside you are instantly drenched in sweat.
My brother (and I) potentially got mites from riding the elephant and got a first hand account of what it would be like to be in a freak show performance. Jimmy is 6'2-6'3 ish and when we took my family around my school he got stares from everyone. The girls loved him and said how handsome he was (and some of the boys too!) and the guys all wanted to play basketball with him.
Weirdest of all though was when I took them to a hostel and they decided they wanted a resort. Here you can get a 4 star hotel room overlooking the beach in a swanky hotel for about $55. That seems like a great deal to a farang (foreigner) but to me, living here, holy moly I was living like a superstar. My drink at the hotel cost more Baht then about 4 meals that I have been eating. I actually took a bath (in a real bathtub) in 2 months- AND I LOVE LOVE LOVE MY BUBBLE BATHS! I had a cheeseburger with real beef and I swear I think I felt a tear of joy drop.
It was crazy!
It is amazing to me how some things change in the blink of an eye but some always stay the same. My parents still give me boy advice, and my brother still thinks he is cooler than me. However, now I miss it. I wondered if I would really change that much while I am here and I didn't think I had, but having my family visit made me realize how much I had and I am okay with that, because it has made me become an adult. It has made me recognize how much my parents and brother mean to me ( I always knew it, but living 25 hours away really changes that) and it made me realize that no matter how far away I go I will always have the support of my family, because I am so so blessed.
Having my family say they are proud of me for doing this isn't a testament to me, but truly a testament to them, because it is through them I get my strength, and my stubborn will power to finish things through, and this is one thing that I am looking forward to experiencing until the very last minute!
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