Final day in Up with People

I woke up two mornings ago thinking, "ugh, four more shows in this soupy heat, how will I make it?" Last night, as we performed our show for the final time this semester, I mentally ticked off each number, "that's the last time we'll do that one, and that one... and THAT one."
Today feels like a normal day in Up with People, but it's not. It's our last, the final, el fin. We have a banquet this afternoon, a time to get dressed up, party a bit, cry a lot (I imagine) and enjoy each other's company before climbing on our three buses for the long ride back to Bangkok and then the flight to California.
Right now, I don't feel it. I can't fathom returning to my "normal" life, where the world has turned on, without me, where my friends and family have so many stories to tell, so many memories that I do not share in. I fear not being able to connect, I fear crying at random moments, feeling angry, confused, lonely, and having no one understand why. Because I have a new family, here in Up with People. A family with members I may never see again, who knows. A family that means the world to me, and I want to hang on forever, but I know I can't. I know it's time to move on.
It's been an amazing ride, and AMAZING journey across continents, through emotions, growing, performing, learning... I'm ready to start the next adventure of my life, but I imagine I may have random moments of withdrawal over the next few weeks. For those of you who will see me soon, please know that if I start randomly crying or acting strangely, most likely it's nothing to do with you, and everything to do with me re-acclimating to my "home" life again.
Thank you all for all the support you've lent, the e-mails, phone calls, facebook messages... I apologize if I missed something important, if you needed me when I couldn't be there, if you felt I left you for good in some way. I love you all and can't wait to see everyone again.

Peace and love,
Marina

Wow. Wow wow wow...

Four other girls and I are living in a school for deaf kids from the ages of six to 18 here in Khon Kaen. Today we played with the kids and learned how to make this really bizzare, but tasty, coconut, egg and rice flour ball soup. We are living together in a new building on the campus and are very spoiled. The teachers bring us breakfast and dinner every day, and it's always something fabulous and thai. Last night we visited a friend of one of our hosting teachers and she is hosting a bunch of Uppies as well, so we all got to help make a delicious dinner and hang out for a few hours. I feel like the rest of my time here will be grand...

We visited a village an hour away from Chiang Rai where we helped clean the grounds around the temple and met the monks.

Here's a picture of the White Temple in Chiang Rai that we visited.

Land of smiles

The past week and a half in Thailand has been incredible. The people here are so giving when they have so little and it truly is the land of smiles.

Our time here has been spent working in schools during the mornings, teaching English and generally sharing our cultures with the kids. They are so receptive and excited to see people not from here! For most, if not all, it was the first time in their lives they have interacted with anyone who wasn't Thai. Every afternoon we had a BTS, which is a short version of our show. The kids went wild every time, and I got a taste of how it would be to be a rockstar. After our shows the kids would run up to us, in mobs, screaming and pulling at our hands, I almost got pulled down a couple of times. I signed so many autographs my hand started to cramp.

I'm living alone with my 16 year old host sister and her parents, but really she takes care of me. I'm living very close to five other Uppies who are hosted alone with 16 year olds as well, and they are all friends with each other so every morning and evening we go home together on our motorcycles. I LOVE riding on a motorcycle, SO FUN! These kids are amazing. Tonight they're cooking us a farwell dinner (we're leaving for Kon Khaen tomorrow) and last week they planned a fabulous host family day full of sight seeing, great food and shopping at the night market, where you can buy amazing Thai silk for 3 dollars.

I'm addicted to the Thai pants here. They're very hippie in look and feel so I'm stocking up so I can be a real Bard student this fall.

It's hard to believe there are only two weeks left in our time, but I'm ready to come home. I find myself soaking up every minute even more now that I know it's getting down to the time to leave. I feel like I've grown so much, probably in ways I can't quite describe or see yet. I know I'm more confident speaking in front of people, and I know I've learned to let my feelings be. I'm sure I've learned so much more that I will only recognize in the future looking back on this amazing period of my life.

I hope all is well with everyone, hugs and kisses to all!

-Marina