Back in Thailand

I am now in Thailand for the fourth time in my life and I am loving it more than ever. Every time I leave Bangkok, I worry that it is for the last time. So far, I have always managed to return for one reason or another. Since the last time I've been here, things have changed a bit. The airport has moved and now is so high-tech, lofty and new, it puts JFK and Newark to shame. Bangkok continues to become more westernized and they now even have several Starbucks. Tourist sposts are even more touristy and ipods are becoming popular. Still, I would say the things I love most about Thailand are those that haven't changed--the people are some of the friendliest in the world, the temples are beautiful and ornate, the food is out of this world and there is always more to do.

This time, I am not here as a tourist or backpacker. I am actually planning to do work to help some people in Thailand. We are staying in Bangkok for a few days as an intro to Thailand but I am looking forward to heading northward to the more rural parts to begin our assessment. After a meeting with two very pleasant and intelligent professors from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Dr. Wattasit Siriwong and Dr. Ratana Somrongthong, I feel very excited and optimistic about our project. The six of us discussed the goals of our project, its feasibility and possible obstacles. Having had this discussion, I feel that we are fortunate to have a great NGO behind us as well as connections to local government officials. In a few days, we will head to Chiang Mai on an overnight bus, and then we will travel onward to Phrao, our final destination. I am eager to meet the people we will be working with and to get my hands dirty.