Saying Goodbye

January, 1st 2018

Last night was new years eve. I have 6 weeks until I take off with a one way ticket to Bangkok.  I rang in the New Year with my childhood best friend, Blake, at his house surrounded by friends. I've been living with Blake for a little over two months. I moved in with him after I decided to sell my house and apply for a international teaching program. I've spent the last few months saving money, listening to Thai language classes, rolling around on the ground with my cats, getting typhoid vaccines, background checks, postponing my cell plan, sifting through years of junk in tightly packed in boxes, reading books about travel, war, tefl teaching, Thai customs, poetry and listening to way to many locked up abroad podcasts. (Highly recommend these if you are going on a long run). I've also spent some sleepless nights thinking about the difficult conversation I will be having with my job in the upcoming weeks. 

 Over the Christmas break I found myself refinishing the ceiling of an old farm house that my parents have graciously let my store my things, building a princess tent with my niece and consuming far to many glasses of wine with my mom. I ate sushi with an old college friend and spent Christmas eve with my best friend and his family. Anyone that I might have known or met in life that has ever taught english, had a connection to Thailand, or just an in general globe trotter, i've reached out too. I keep finding people every week and it feels like a force is pushing me in this direction.  Everyone is supportive and empowering.  I'm anxious, scared, but also I am overwhelming joyful that I am finally taking this leap into the unknown. 

The wine bar at the going away party.

The mayhem of packing.. Yes, that is mace.