My Journal - July 29, 1993

          Today is our last day in Bangkok. Tomorrow we travel to our training site in Ayutthaya (Ah-yoo-tee-yah), The place of Ruins or City of Gold. We have had quite an experience so far. Hard to believe I left California a week ago. The food is great now that we are learning a few Thai words. Thai people eat pretty much the same thing at every meal.

          Our group (after one week) is very close, a group of people that that all really think alike and are basically “good” people. Like Disneyland on a much larger scale, with a bit more of a commitment.

          Darcy, the Thailand Country Director, said something really cool about it, Lisa and I are trying to remember… it was something like we all have that same positive attitude of doing something good.

          My roommate this first week has been Lisa Gaw, a TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) crossover. She is a lot of fun and we get along really well, we both like beer. We plan to keep rooming together in Ayutthaya. The whole group is really friendly, a couple of air-heads, a couple that are too serious, and a couple that are a little too focused, but all in all a great group.

          Since we have been in Bangkok we have been to Bang Lam Po or “Farang Alley” to go shopping. We tried the first day, we got on the right bus #30. But couldn’t seem to communicate where we wanted to go. We ended up at the Royal Palace! We walked a mile or so to the Chao Praya River and had lunch. It was fun walking through the markets.  On our return trip we walked through Wat Po, which was very interesting.

          The rest of our time was in class or getting shots. We have had six so far. I cant believe we have only been gone for a week. Here is a poem that Lisa had that I want to remember:

Comes the Dawn (Veronica A. Shoffstall)

After a while you learn the subtle difference

Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,

And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning

And company doesn’t mean security.

And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts

And presents aren’t promises,

And you begin to accept your defeats

With your head up and your eyes ahead

With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,

And you learn to build all your roads on today

Because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans

And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn…

That even sunshine burns if you get too much.

So you plant your garden and decorate your own soul,

Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure…

That you really are strong

And you really do have worth…

And you learn and learn…

With every good-bye you learn.