While the following line may possess a corny-factor rivaling the moral lessons revealed at the end of an episode of "Full House" (if you didn't watch "Full House" in the 90's, you missed out), it has to be said:
Sometimes I still pinch myself. It'll come at the most random moments: when I haggle with a store clerk at a market, realizing that I've just completed a transaction in a language that was about as familiar as Swahili one year ago. When I hop on a motorbike in the pouring rain, watching the water spray six feet in the air as we speed down the soi's towards work. When I order the spiciest dish at the street vendor and can shovel it down without breaking a sweat. That's when it comes - the urge to pinch myself and make sure that it's all real.
So I pinch.
Once.
Twice.
Three times for good luck.
Yup, still here. This is the new reality I've created for myself; one that transcends most of the boundaries of possibility that I could have conceived in the past.
Recently, I found that the best test of reality is to have someone you care about experience this new universe with you. I was lucky enough to host the wonderful Kikuye Inouye a week ago, and to share my new reality with her. The opportunity to show an old friend how I live everyday in this country solidified the fact that I am here, I am living, and I am so freaking happy about it. Plus, it gave me the chance to become a tourist again for a few days. We rode elephants, we took a cooking course, and we visited way too many temples. I even took photographs of random foliage, animals, and people - an activity I had stopped when I realized how lame one looked going on the daily commute with a camera bag around their neck. When Kikuye left to go back to Los Angeles, we both marveled at the fact that I wouldn't be going with her. While her 'escape' from reality was over, I had never left mine. Kikuye coming here was a much better reality-check than some pinch on the arm.
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Talk about reality check...I still can't believe I survived multiple motorbike rides to and from your apartment!
ReplyDeleteI had so much fun last week and I still can't get over the fact that you actually live in that insane country. I was so happy to meet your wonderful friends and experience your day to day life in Bangkok...even attending your work parties! hehe :) I'm still reminiscing on all the pictures--especially the cooking ones! hahaha.
I'm planning on heading back to Asia in late September/October for China. Want to meet me there?!
I miss you so much already! Stay safe and continue to enjoy your life out there. It's such a great experience and like I said, you're such an inspiration for doing this! Keep in touch my love! Hope you're having fun with your mama!!
xoxo
Kiks or "Kiki"
Well, my dear girl, I am busy pinching myself too. How wonderful to know that millions of lives go on outside my puny orbit. My trip to Asia has been so richly textured. I am so glad that people like you -- open, interested, flexible, compassionate and smart -- get to explore other lives more deeply. Most of us are perpetual tourists in our own lives, cameras hanging around our necks, pretending that this or that is familiar and this other is not.
ReplyDeleteYou take all of life as an adventure and a treasure -- even that thug at the border! And all the people who are kind and helpful and generous. You are an inspiring guide in so many ways for so many of us. Thank you my beautiful daughter for the adventure of a lifetime.