Seven Months in Thailand: Chiang Mai Keeps Giving
Hello hello, welcome back to another episode of “Gracie’s Recalls All The Crazy Things That Happened This Month in Thailand.” November was one of my most favorite months I’ve had this entire experience.
Loy Krathong Festival
The Loy Krathong (Lantern Festival) celebrations went on for weeks, and the festival itself just happened to fall on my 23rd birthday. It was a magical day, full of love and light and celebrations. The whole city came alive and it was such a joyous time to be in Chiang Mai.
Loy Krathong is celebrated on the full moon in the month of November, after rainy season & the rice harvest. It is tradition to build floating lanterns and release them into the river, hopeful for a better year ahead & thankful for the one past. I went to a huge lantern release on my actual birthday, and it was one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen. Thousands of lanterns released into the night sky, slowing floating and twirling up, up, up.
I felt so celebrated by my students and my friends, and it was one of (if not the best) birthday of my life. I felt so grateful on this day, as I looked around and saw what a life I had built for myself here. It was a special, reflective moment.
Highs & Lows
As always, the highs were high, and the lows were low. Unfortunately, I went to the hospital again (this time I was admitted for a horrible case of tonsillitis & dehydration). That really broke my spirit for a bit, as staying in a foreign hospital is NEVER fun. But I forged on ahead and recovered, and spent the next few weeks teaching and getting a bit burnt out.
Just when I needed it we were blessed with a long weekend, and I went on an amazing trip to the tallest peak in Thailand, a national park called Doi Inthanon ~2.5 hours from Chiang Mai. This was such a special experience, and the national park was so much better than I had anticipated. The mountains were sacred and spiritual, you could feel it in the air. The temperature was cool (I could finally wear a sweatshirt and beanie!) and the landscape was insanely beautiful. A lovely time, with lots of wonderful memories made.
Thanksgiving
Oh! How could I forget about Thanksgiving. Me and some friends (mostly American) had a huge traditional Thanksgiving feast and it was seriously so delicious! I was missing home this day and it was so nostalgic & fun to feast like I would have back home. We got the food from a diner owned by an American expat in Chiang Mai. This city keeps giving!
Funny Story
I had an interesting encounter with a student a few weeks ago. Let me set the scene. I’m in my least favorite class, with 50 students who don’t speak English and no Thai co-teacher (he was in a meeting). I’m sitting at the desk in the front of the room, watching as the kids take a quiz on vocabulary. I’m sitting with my legs crossed, silently counting down the minutes until the bell rings and I can go home.
All the sudden, this 12 year old boy comes up to me with Google Translate pulled up on his phone with this message … “Sir, your legs are popping out.” I cannot make this up. I stare at him for a few moments, confused and stifling a laugh, when I tell him to go sit back down. Do I look like a sir to him?!
Not only was his message hilarious and inappropiate, but he was supposed to be taking a quiz at the time! Instead he thought it was quite important to let me know that my legs were popping out (they weren’t!) as I sat there with them crossed over each other.
Final Thoughts
Anyway, other than that life was pretty normal, and I got a great haircut from a nice Australian lady. I’m pumped for Christmas and New Year, and I think December might even top November if that’s possible!
It is really weird to be listening to Christmas music in 85 degree weather, but I’m rolling with the punches and trying to get into the Christmas spirit. I will miss the United States during actual Christmas, that I’m sure of, but I’m okay for now.
As always, I miss you all a lot and hope everyone is doing well and having a good holiday season. Until next month!
xx Gracie