Live without expectations. It’s a common phrase said when preparing for exchange. You’re supposed to be able to go with the flow and take things as they come and fight against the urge to build a picture in your head of how life is supposed to be. This is all in preparation for coming on exchange, but what I don’t think I realized was how important this sentiment is for every moment of your year on exchange. In Thailand, people rarely ever tell you what is going on. This just happen that seem to be in the moment but were truly planned previously; it’s just that no one deemed it important to tell you (as the exchange student). So as I sat in the library last Wednesday, studying Thai and trying to practicing reading, my phone rang. I answered the phone to find my host mom on the other end telling me in Thai that she was coming to pick me up, right now. In broken Thai I discussed where to meet her and tried to wrap my head around what was happening.
It turns out that she was picking me up for a Rotary event. We went to lunch and attended two small elementary schools where Rotary was donating books. We talked with the principal and spoke with the students. It was an awesome experience, but very much epitomized Thai life as well as the life of an exchange student. You have to learn to let the world take you where it will and be up for anything, even at the drop of the hat. It’s an important lesson to learn that’s applicable to anyone at any point in his/her life. If you’re open to new experiences in the moment, anything can happen.
The rest of my week was a blur. It was Thai sports week at school, so everyday after school, the different color teams faced each other in “Traditional Thai Sports.” The games were very reminiscent of summer carnival games. They had tug of war, water ballon races, three legged races, potato sack races, and many others. It was calamitous fun that ended in a concert by a famous Thai singer with whom I got a selfie (I felt very Thai in that moment). I’m not sure if it’s fair to blame my sickness on these crazy and overwhelming events, but I find it to be consequential. A week full of adventure and fun can often overwhelm the system, so I sit here typing: exhausted. I’m unable to speak or think because my throat is so rough and my head is pounding, so I apologize if my thoughts are not conclusive or concrete. I hope by next week, I will be well and able to mold my thoughts more easily. Until then, I wish you all the best and hope that you health is better than mine.
Sam
It turns out that she was picking me up for a Rotary event. We went to lunch and attended two small elementary schools where Rotary was donating books. We talked with the principal and spoke with the students. It was an awesome experience, but very much epitomized Thai life as well as the life of an exchange student. You have to learn to let the world take you where it will and be up for anything, even at the drop of the hat. It’s an important lesson to learn that’s applicable to anyone at any point in his/her life. If you’re open to new experiences in the moment, anything can happen.
The rest of my week was a blur. It was Thai sports week at school, so everyday after school, the different color teams faced each other in “Traditional Thai Sports.” The games were very reminiscent of summer carnival games. They had tug of war, water ballon races, three legged races, potato sack races, and many others. It was calamitous fun that ended in a concert by a famous Thai singer with whom I got a selfie (I felt very Thai in that moment). I’m not sure if it’s fair to blame my sickness on these crazy and overwhelming events, but I find it to be consequential. A week full of adventure and fun can often overwhelm the system, so I sit here typing: exhausted. I’m unable to speak or think because my throat is so rough and my head is pounding, so I apologize if my thoughts are not conclusive or concrete. I hope by next week, I will be well and able to mold my thoughts more easily. Until then, I wish you all the best and hope that you health is better than mine.
Sam
Here is a young student who talked to me in English to practice his English in from of the entire group.