Exactly one year ago, I embarked on my very first international service mission. Nadia, a close Bahai friend invited me along and hell I was excited.I spent the entire one free year bumming around and being unproductive, and i was glad to be away from home for 3 weeks. I knew I'd be learning oh-so much, going to experience so many things, but one thing again and again I am thankful for that short and memorable 3 weeks was the new leash in life it blessed me with.
There were many fond and long lasting memories, even more vivid impressions, awesome company and spectacular discoveries. There were many people who made it possible, even more people who made it better, there was Nadia, Sita, Kavin, Natasha, Warran, Scott, Janice, Lawrance and many more who capped the whole trip nothing short of what an ideal Summer Vacation is.
Out of the many many wonderful things that happened in Thailand was of course being able to teach english to those wonderful youth of Omkoi. Situated up the hill 3 hours of Chiang Mai, one would expect it to be the least of places for happening stuff to happen there. But it was where all the magic was. It was the cradle of joy, of discovery, of passion, of friendship, of love, of service, of the essense of The Bahai Faith. I was there to teach English and Moral Values, but yet the youth and the place who taught me back in ways I couldn't comprehend at that time. I was thought patience, nurturing, unbiased learning attitude and how things was done with lack of prejudice for color. I learnt the sweet deal of not being judged, I was showned how simplicity fulfilled so much in life. I witnessed what true, simple living was all about, and there were plenty more, I just wish I could have contributed more as how it gave so much to me.
Nothing so close to perfection came with its challenges. There were short cold wars, there were late-nights, there was confusion, there was some short-fused moments. Not forgeting things like bathing cold water in a mountain, not being well-fed, mosquitos, no communication and of course the fear of failure for our english camp.
There were extremely crampy times (3 hours,8 people on the back of 1 pick-up truck. Major leg numbness!)
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The "I wanna kill you but can't" time...
Moments where you just went "MEH"
Where you had to beg...
The downed and depressed
Times where you were streched to the limit..
The bummed and crashed out moments
The oblivious
The Stressed out and Furious period
Freaking out.
Times where we did not take things seriously and fooled around...
Dizzy,mind-puzzling moments...
Plus the self-imposing moments...
AND VERY DARK MOMENTS.
But they were all undescribably effing,awesome, mind-blowing,sensational
good times.
And there was one particular person who tipped the average vanilla ice-cream with chocolate and yummy toppings.
He is Sears Featherstone Maxwell.
For the entire year since I last met him was .... alot. I questioned what is love really about. I doubted my faith. I was put to the test of good moral values and I failed. I was subjected to humilating confrontations, and I created many lies. I confused with the meaning of living, and I spent many months crying over mistakes and decisions I've made. I challenged my then boyfriend, and I departed with a heavy heart to college. I became anorexic, cried to sleep, lost a best friend, and was forever tainted in his family's eye.
But yet the mere 3 weeks in that Summer with our friends plus him changed my life forever. I've welcomed him back to my life now, like how life is unpredictable, so is us, but for now, we are enjoying time being friends after 4 long lost years. I know you doubt yourself, but deep down you don't know how much effect you have on people. You're one of a kind, you're funny, you're extremely generous, you're young and restless,you're willing, you're loyal, you're sweet and you're great.And you're special too. To me, to your family, to the people that you've met and the world that you will conquer.
Toot you for being so tall. Bugger!
Enjoy your stupid Manchester United Match in Malaysia Mr Bulubatu :)And thank you Thailand for housing so many happy memories. They said some things are worth reliving for...but it was great the way it is and I wouldn't change anything for the world. Thailand was the place of dismay and contentment, but it was such a perfect setting for so many things so wonderful. I will not return, but I will always cherish :)
p/s: Thank you Nadia for the golden oppurtunity. I'm sorry for whatever happened.
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