Well I’ve been home from Thailand 16 days now and I still think about it every day. The first week was probably the hardest because my sleep schedule was so messed up. I would be wide awake until 3 A.M and sleeping all afternoon. My body was not adjusting well to the food back home either. So, I can say it was without a doubt much easier to adjust to the changes over in Thailand. I was only tired for the first few days there and I never got sick. 

It’s still hard for me to explain to people how amazing Thailand is. Whenever I tell them I would go back in a heartbeat, they are always like “really?” Sometimes, I start feeling like my time in Thailand was a dream because I had to get back into the routine of every day back home. I really miss living every day on “Thai time”. It was really easy and almost sad for me to realize how out of touch people back home can be. Everyone is moving so fast, I miss being able to take the time to take in the little things. 

My life back home has always been very chaotic and stressful. I always have so much school work and then I have to work on top of that. I really took that monk chat to heart, and just the Thai culture in general, of living in that moment and not worrying too much about the past or the future. I of course as any American have many goals I want to reach and sometimes on the way to those goals I get really stressed out. I’ve made it my goal being back home that I want to live my life with more mindfulness. I have to stop and remind myself that everything will be okay and not to let it get to me. I’m still trying to figure out meditation, but I think it’s something I can see myself doing every night. 

Lastly, I’m super fortunate to have at least one person from the trip in each of my classes. It’s nice to have that support system. But, I really miss everyone and I think that’s what makes me the most sad some days. And of course the nice warm weather in Thailand. 🙂