There’s a lot that can be learned from how Thai culture has accepted the use of condoms. Thai people were having too many children and with the advent of aids, sexually transmitted diseases became a cause for concern as well. So, they looked to birth control pills and condoms to deal with these problems. Instead of simply telling people to stop having sex, they tried to make condoms and birth control as accessible as possible. They even created “captain condom” to help promote the use of them. Needless to say, it was very successful. They had dramatic drops in the prevalence of aids and the number of newborns – average family size. They took a problem, admitted the facts of it, and acted accordingly. There’s what is, and what ought to be, sometimes people get caught up in the ought part and loose sight of what is. And, when the livelihood of thousands of people are at stake, it is imperative to admit and understand the facts. I think Americans and those that are religiously devout could especially learn from this. By looking at the big picture and accepting the nature of people and who we are, we can serve a greater good. In the end, no matter your background, all people can agree on caring for and doing what’s best for humanity. We can’t lose sight of that overriding principle.

I awoke from a nap on the bus to what could’ve been a postcard from Thailand. I hoped Thailand would be beautiful and it most certainly is. The countryside is stunning. All of our days in Thailand have been sunny and warm. The small mountains, or large hills, roll like the Appalachians but the lowlands are filled with rice fields and exotic trees. It reminds me how beautiful this world really is. Every place on this planet has its beauty. It’s not a simple or lazy life here, but a sufficient life. I think we all could gain from being happy with sufficiency instead of a what seems to be never ending desire for more. It’s a wonderful world be live in.