5 Things

How quickly the first 2 years in Thailand slipped by. As we go into our next 2 year contract here, it is my goal to reflect more on our experience and share a bit more about our life here. This blog will be my journal of sorts to do that.  To Thailand and beyond!

5 things I have learned about myself so far....

1.  I can live with less....We came here with 6 suitcases to start our new life. Now we have collected a few more things for sure, but nothing like we had before.  I shop for clothes once per year unless I can find something here (which happened 2 happy times this year) that might fit. Odds are against me and my North American Giant stature (5'4" and size US 16). I do not own a house.  I do not own a car. I sold my American dreams at a yard sale.

2.  I can make a full holiday meal with one burner, a tiny oven and microwave! No kidding. We own one pan and have a one burner induction cooker. I made a turkey breast, mashed potatoes (in the rice cooker), gravy, biscuits, brownies, salad! I do not need a magazine cover kitchen. Not even close.

3.  I can live out of my comfort zone.  Unless I stay at home and marathon watch movies or netflix (which does happen)  I am out of my comfort zone every day.

4.  I am a minority.  Sometimes it catches me off guard when I notice, "I am the only white lady here" or "I am the tallest and biggest person on the MRT today".  I am the odd one out, I am the foreigner. I am weird. I probably smell weird, I talk funny and I look strange. It did not help after I got the bright yellow electric bike and ride my singing kid to school on it everyday.

5.  I can make friends.  I have made friends from all over the world. Thailand, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, South Korea, Scotland, Finland, Germany, and I am sure I am forgetting some.

So why the name "latitudes & limes"?  more about that next post....