Thailand Anniversary
Posted by Stuart at 11:32 AM on August 01, 2003Today I am celebrating my one-year anniversary in Thailand and what an amazing year it has been. When I left San Francisco on July 31, 2002, I wondered to myself what my time in Asia would do to me. Would it be an interesting diversion? Or would it be a life-changer? I guessed it would be the latter, and I think I was right.
Today, after one year, I can look back and see that I have changed. Not so much in my personality (although that has probably changed some as well) but in my knowledge about the world and my view of my personal life. Now that I have been here one year, I am, for the most part, completely used to life in Bangkok. It is no longer exotic to me. I know my way around, I know the food, I know a lot of people, I have had 300 students pass through my classroom in the past eight months. It is getting harder and harder to find things that are new. The honeymoon is over.
Last year, I saw Thailand through the eyes of a tourist as a relaxed, easy-going, beautiful, welcoming place where there is a lot of opportunity. My Thai friends often said that everything in Thailand is not as it seems. One year later, I am slowly learning what they mean. The power of the government (and the lack of power of the people) and the very fast change to a Western-style conusumer economy has caused many problems that will be very difficult to overcome.
In my own personal life, a year ago I was intent on climbing the corporate ladder in the hectic high-tech world. In my job as a project manager, I was trying to balance my interests and my skills as someone would work with both art and artists and technology and technologists. But now I am increasingly seeing myself finding that balance not in the corporate world, but back in the academic one.
I have no idea what the next year will hold, or the years after that. My life direction is still changing. I am slowly approaching the crossroads, but I am not at the decision point yet. I think this year will answer a lot of these questions. I can only hope that it was as wonderful and challenging and horizon-expanding and fun and educational as the past year.
Congratulations for your one-year anniversary in Thailand. Seems like you've fall in love with this country.
What I think is an eye opener for me in the US, is that even though people look and talk differently than I, they have immersed themselves into a culture that is not their own. That they do know how the US works, and they are contributing to society (for the most part - I realize that is a very general statement), and sometimes may be even more sensitive to the way the US works ... much more so than I am, since I have lived here my entire life.
Congratulations on your year anniversary .. my, my how time flies!!!
Love you!!
Beth,
Yes I agree. People from other cultures often have a very interesting perspective on the new culture that they are in. It is difficult to describe your own culture because you know it so well you don't think about it. What is American Culture anyway? J-Lo and Ben? Chevy, mom, and apple pie? These are just surface things. The deeper issues are not always so clear to those who live it every day.
Wow, how quickly a year goes by!