A Room with a View

Coming down from the high of having my brother in Bangkok for 5 days. I wish his visit had been longer, but I feel blessed that he was able to come for even a few days. We’re one lucky family…

Chillin’ with my brother and our friend, Tom, in Bangkok. There goes the neighborhood.

tomvshk:

Day 55: Bangkok, Thailand with Hank and Rachel

I’m into this.

I fit my last month in Thailand into a nice, neat, little box.  I like nice and neat.  It works for me.  There are no surprises, I’m organized, and I feel safe.  I would have one week with Natalie, one week with my brother and Tom, and two weeks in India doing service before going home April 4th. 

I am only one week into my last month, and whaddya know, nothing is going as I planned!  Nice and neat?  Forget about it.

It all began when I dragged Natalie to the Indian embassy with me to buy my entrance visa.  At some point during the two-hour ordeal, it dawned on me that my travel companion, Mary, was not going to be able to obtain her visa on time.  It would be impossible for her to get into India without both of us shelling out hundreds of dollars to change our flights.

What to do?  Should I go by myself to Calcutta for two weeks?  Risk my safety and my sanity because I’m hardheaded and don’t want to not go?  I was torn!  “This sucks,” was my eloquent personal mantra for about two days straight.

Clarity came, however, in the form of Mary’s return from Bali, and lots and lots of prayer.  I spent about 30 seconds with Mary before I realized I didn’t want to go it alone.  An important part of the time I was to spend in India was time I wanted to spend reflecting with Mary.  Companionship is something I refuse to abandon for two weeks just because I’m stubborn.  Also, I’m a huge believer in the fact that things happen for a reason.  If it didn’t work out this time around, there is obviously a reason why.  God has a plan.  I have to have the humility to accept that it is not taking me to India on March 18th.

Rather, I now have the exciting opportunity to plan something new.  Something spontaneous.  Something that is unexpectedly and beautifully in the plan for me and Mary.  Life is good, my friends.  Very, very good.

Only 40 days left in Asia.  I’m ready to make the most of them.

― Shel Silverstein (via justbesplendid)

(via speakofmeasiam)

I love it when my students reply to my e-mails by just saying, “thank you love you :))”.  Gets me every time.

Proctoring exams. Woof.

What a crew!