A Year Ago

A year ago I said farewell to friends and colleagues in Edmonton and now, a year later I find myself ready to enjoy a fresh mango pineapple milkshake and a mozzarella and roasted vegetable hot sandwich at O’Briens in Bangkok, Thailand. (more later on why I’m in Bangkok)

There are days when I long for my familiar Canadian lifestyle:

• An extra large steeped tea at Tim Horton’s
• A very cold Canadian day (below -15 C)
• Matching and appropriately fitted sheets on my bed with a handmade quilt on top
• Eating a family favourite meal of pot roast, potatoes and carrots, followed by chocolate cake, ice cream and strawberries
• Cross-county skiing or ice skating with family and friends
• Truly Canadian 100% maple syrup
• The beauty of fall colours
• Understanding at least 80% of what is communicated to me
  

And then there are days, I wouldn’t give up this new familiar for anything:

• A fresh pineapple milkshake
• A cool rainy day (below 30 C)
• Lao hand-woven tapestries
• Eating “foe” – noodles with my host sisters
• Line dancing at a Lao wedding with friends
• Wind blowing on my face, as I ride my motorcycle down the street in the early morning
• The beauty of April colours
• Discovering a cultural tidbit