It's coming to an end.

I am quickly approaching the one year mark on my time in Thailand.  But I am also quickly approaching my return to the States.  My friends have made it quite clear that they know I am leaving, and they aren't happy about it.  One of my friends has already begun making a slideshow for my departure... in eight months!  While I think he is jumping the gun a bit, it has made me think about my time here and the things I will miss, and the things I definitely will not.

Things I will not miss:

1. Driving a motorbike- Driving here is super dangerous to begin with.  Put yourself on a motorbike, and things get crazy.  People weave and swerve and do not obey rules of the road.  Correction- there are no rules of the road.  And with the rainy season in full swing, I hate having to plan my day, night and life around whether or not I can drive there without swamping my bike in my flooded neighborhood.  Just give me a car, with a windshield, a seat with a back, and maybe even a radio!  Gosh, that sounds nice.

2. The people- The people here can be brutal.  Let's just say that in the land of smiles, after 10 months, people aren't so smiley anymore.  I'll spare you the stories for now, but I have had some pretty wicked run-ins with a handful of teachers at school, and boy, they changed my whole perspective!

3. The rainy season- Just let me go to work without getting soaked!  Let me run around the lake without ending up knee deep in water and ruining my ipod.  Let me be able to drive through my neighborhood without putting my motorbike out of commission.  Let me walk across the school without wiping out on the soaking wet tile.  And seriously, in a country where it rains for three months straight, why is there so much tile?  Shouldn't we have thought this through...?  Let it stop!

4. The food situation- Street food?  Salad bars on motorbikes?  Can't I just eat like a normal person?  How about a nice bowl of pasta that I prepared for myself?  Or maybe a sandwich?  Is that really so much to ask?  I'm over noodles, sticky rice and chicken on a stick.  I'm just plain sick of the impressive selection of goodies at 7-11.  Give me some good ol' American grub.

5. Teaching- Why won't the students listen to me?  Oh right, because they don't understand a good portion of what I am saying.  Enough said.

6. My friends and family back home- Well, it's true.  When I am back in the States, I won't have to miss everyone there.  I'll be able to text message and visit.  Heck, I'll be able to talk to people within a 3 hour time difference!

Things I will miss:

1. Driving a motorbike- Driving and feeling the wind in my hair is a feeling that I don't want to give up.  Driving the motorbike with Manao perched between my feet, loving every second of our drive to 7- 11 is something I don't want to forget.  Being able to park just about anywhere, oh it's so nice.  Having the ability to weave through traffic, passing hundreds of cars and completely missing all jams, I know I will miss that!

2. The people-  People know me around here.  They may not know my name, or have any idea how to communicate with me, but they know me.  They recognize me.  And they always smile.  Sometimes I get the occasional "hellloooo!"  Or the whispering as they tell each other, "oh, it's the farang!  The farang!"  But, they are always kind.  They remember what I like to eat at certain food stalls.  They know that I don't like my iced coffee too sweet.  They know that I always get 100 baht worth of gas.  They know that I always get 300 baht phone cards.  And they know that I drink Leo beer every Friday night.  They just know.  They always are kind.  And I will definitely miss them.   

3. The rainy season- What a relief.  After months of intense heat and burning sunshine, the rain is wonderful.  All of the trees are green again.  Everything is lush and beautiful.  The storms are the most intense storms I have ever experienced, and they are thrilling.  The entire house shakes as the thunder rolls, and I can read a book with the amount of light emitted as the lightening strikes.  To be able to sleep with the windows open and the cool breeze blowing through is absolutely wonderful.

4. The food situation- Fruit vendors on every corner?  That's pretty sweet.  Pad thai?  It will never be as delicious in a restaurant as it is on the street.  Sticky rice?  Som tam?  Mango?  Fried bananas?  Ice cream from a bicycle?  Fried chicken on a motorbike?  I need to go eat something right now.  Just the spice in general will be missed back in America.  

5. Teaching- What's not to miss?  The kids are hilarious.  They adore me, and I adore them.  We have tons of fun, and my job is never boring.  Why would I give this up?

6. My friends and family in Thailand- Simon and Paul.  New and Sang.  Kar and Mom.  Pae and Mameaw.  T. Sue and T. Sow.  These are the people that have become my family here.  They take care of me.  They make sure I am eating well, but never too much.  They make sure that I always know what is going on in school and outside.  They are my social life and my work life.  These people have made my life here what it is.  And I honestly don't know how I will say goodbye.  But yes, Mom, I will.