Goodbyes

Yet another group has come and gone, and with just two weeks left myself, I'm a bit melancholy. We all went out and a had a marvelous time last night; one last hurrah before two more head home. Bijan left this afternoon, Lucy and Eleanor left a few hours later and Russ leaves tonight. I am trying to be of the mindset that it is better to have known people for the brief time you have them in your life and be happy for it, than to focus on how little time you have with them before they leave. It is sad. We're all sad. It is a blue house on Issarapab 33. But while we say our goodbyes, we are turning right around and saying hellos, as members of the next group of 10 begin to trickle in from the airport. I don't think I could work in a place with such a high turn over.

I can't beleive that in just 2 weeks, I will be off as well. I am going to miss so much about this place. I'm going to miss the toads in the evening sounding much like a symphony of tubas gone flat. I'm going to miss the guards with their ready smiles, salutes and blow kisses when your back is turned; the motor cycle taxi drivers yelling out "HELLO!" each time you pass; the quiet serenity of the morning as the bright orange clad monks collect their daily meals. I'm going to miss Noo with her beautiful smile running up behind me to grab me in a big hug; June asking me to taste dinner as she cooks to make sure it isn't too spicy for the other volunteers ("pet, mai?"); Air with her booming Sawadee, Ka, each see sees you coming; Foon jabbing me in the side whenever I pass. I'm going to miss the sound of the tuk tuks and the trucks rushing by; riding in taxi's on the wrong side of the road. I'm going to miss Sua and his perpetual questions always prefaced with, "excuse me" even when we're face to face. I'm going to miss listening to Vikram talk about Elvis; and Pong and her impish smile. I'm going to miss walking by Sit at Side and seeing familiar faces inside; the piles of shoes at the door; the feeling of coming home to a housefull of friends.

While my impact here through my work may not have been earth shattering, I have enjoyed every minute of my stay here. I don't think anywhere else has ever felt so much like home in such a short amount of time.