back to reality...

15 months have come to a dwindling end...I've been home in Chicago for the last few days preparing to move back to school, where my adventures will be put on hold for a while. I'm going back to school much more enlightened but even more confused than I imagined. So many things have changed, so many plans altered, I'm just going to take things as they come. Some great news, however, I just registered for 5 hours of intro Arabic!!! Tackling a lifelong goal with that one. And the countdown continues for my brother's wedding (September 17th) leaving much stress and excitement in it's wake.

More pictures should be getting posted, but my computer refuses to cooperate. Hopefully Dell can change that...

never ceasing to amaze me...

An excerpt from the first few pages of Paulo Coelho's newest book, The Zahir:

Ithaca

When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the angry Poseidon - do not fear them:
You will never find such as these on your path
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your heart does not set them up before you.

Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many, when,
with such pleasure, with such joy
you will enter ports seen for the first time;
stop at Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
visit many Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scholars.

Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it last for many years;
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.
Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have never set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what Ithacas mean.

Constantine P. Cavafy (1911)

i'm left speechless...

3....2....1....

At the STA travel office in Bangkok. Just picked up my ticket and relived Weaw's AIESEC glory days (part of this used to be AIESEC Thailand's space)...now excited as ever for the final few days I have in this wonderful country, and then it's off to the homeland. It may not be exotic, but I'm sure I'll spice things up soon enough...

updates...

finally posted pictures. enjoy.

finally booked a flight. 16-17 august: bangkok, hong kong, los angeles, chicago. crazy.

trying to find a home. some obstacles, still hoping.

KL Blue Mosque

KL Blue Mosque 2
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

Children running out after lessons.

KL Blue Mosque

KL Blue Mosque 3
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

KL Blue Mosque

KL Blue Mosque
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

A veiled visit to Malaysia's largest mosque.

KL Batu Caves Monkey

KL Batu Caves Monkey
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

Climbing the 282 stairs to reach Batu Caves we met this monkey and some of his gang. He was so friendly he'd managed to snatch a can of Coke out of Ta's hand. Monkeys are funny...

KL Chinatown

KL Chinatown
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

Roasted chestnuts in Chinatown.

KLCC - Meredith & Anthon

KLCC - Meredith & Anthon
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

Two of the crazy people I live with, Meredith from the US and Anthon from the Netherlands.

KL Shisha

KL Shisha
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

With Lina and the gang at a roadside cafe, drinking tea and smoking sheesha like the good old days...Anna, this one's for you ;)

KL Petronas Towers Skybridge 2

KL Petronas Towers Skybridge 2
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

KL Petronas Towers Skybridge

KL Petronas Towers Skybridge
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

View of KL from the Skybridge, 41 stories above ground.

KL Petronas Towers

KL Petronas Towers
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

The gleaming Petronas Towers on our first night in Kuala Lumpur.

Morgan Girl

Morgan Girl
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

One of my absolute favorite pictures, a Morgan girl swinging beneath her house.

Kar Tun

Kar Tun
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

Kartun, the ball of fur mentioned in a previous post, cooling himself off in a cup of iced water.

Phuket Construction - Library

Phuket Construction - Library
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

Since we work 6 days a week, we like to spice things up a little. Here we are building a library in a Morgan village in Phuket with a group called Lifeworks. The whole thing was organized by the Duang Prateep Foundation, who also sponsors the relief camp we work with in Ban Bang Muang.

Krabi Rock Climbing

Krabi Rock Climbing
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

With Meredith, modeling our rock climbing harnesses.

Phang Nga - Elephant

Phang Nga - Elephant
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

Elefante...our neighbor at the old house. We lived next to a place offering elephant trekking through the jungle, so we'd have 3 of these guys roaming around, eating, posing for pictures...

Khao Lak National Park 2

Khao Lak National Park 2
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

5km inland, and roughly in our backyard is the other part of Khao Lak/Lam Ru national park. This was shortly before getting attacked by leeches. Flip-flops were definitely not a good idea...

Khao Lak National Park

Khao Lak National Park
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

Although reminders of the tsunami can still be seen, there are also pristine places such as this national park beach. The park entrance is about 10km from our house, with a 1.5km hike thru the jungle to get to the beach.

Ban Lampi School 3

Ban Lampi School 3
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

Love and affection everyday, and that's on top of the constant gifts and love notes we get.

Ban Lampi School 2

Ban Lampi School 2
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

Ban Lampi School

Ban Lampi School
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

The incredible kids I teach at Ban Lampi School. Meredith, Yvonne and I work at Lampi 5 days a week teaching 4-6th grades. We can't speak Thai, and the kids don't really speak English, but we've established a connection that is hard to describe. Honestly one of the best experiences I've had.

Khao Lak - Tsunami affected hotel

Khao Lak - Tsunami affected hotel
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

Walking along the beach you can still find traces of what the tsunami left behind. Broken chairs, clothes strewn amid shoes and teddy bears. Some hotels such as this one have not yet been restored, everything left much as it was on 26 December. Further down the coast, the constant growling of trucks and hammering nails reminds you that Khao Lak is moving forward.

Baan Nam Khem - Fishing

Baan Nam Khem - Fishing
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

Much of the area has been rebuilt, such as the house on the left. Although the houses are there, many of the villagers don't have money to move back. Lack of tourism is a major factor in this. Instead the villagers stay at the relief camps where food and shelter are free. Things are getting better though, and we're beginning to see less people at the camps.

Baan Nam Khem - Fishing

Baan Nam Khem - Fishing 2
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

An eco-tourism fishing trip organized by one of the tsunami survivors. We were taken on a fishing boat, spent the morning fishing, then met in the village for a BBQ dinner of our catch.

Baan Nam Khem - Boat

Baan Nam Khem - Boat
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

Baan Nam Khem is the hardest hit village in all of Thailand. Most of the houses were completely washed away, this one was saved because the boat shielded it from the wave. The village is about 30km from where we live now.