I was incredibly anxious driving to the Wat Temple for orientation. I did not know what to expect, and ambiguous situations are very difficult for me. My biggest fear was ignorance and being disrespectful to the people who were so generously welcoming us into their community. I found the lessons from the monk to be very insightful. It helped clear the air about how to act towards other people while in Thailand. I also enjoyed meeting all of the other students who will be traveling with me. It helped me keep an open mind about finding friendships from people who I would not usually run into in my classes on campus.
On this trip, I would like to try my hardest to stay mindful and open across all situations we encounter. I feel extremely fortunate to have this opportunity, and I would like to be present for every moment. As I struggle with uncertain situations, my goal is to push myself into doing things I normally wouldn’t and to embrace the unknown adventures that lie ahead.
Blair, It is interesting to read this after having traveled with you. I feel like we’ve covered so much ground and its only been a few days. I enjoyed reading this.
Blair,
I love how you are aiming to push yourself out of your comfort zone. I too want to be very mindful and present. I think this is something that a lot of people struggle with because of how distracting life can be. I too enjoyed the monks insights and hope to be able to change my instincts to be very centered while on this trip.