My year in 10 confessions

1. There are some days when it is humiliating and hilarious in equal measure learning a tonal language.

With all the correct consonants and vowels in the right places, I still managed to tell a class full of 10 year olds to pee on their partner, instead of point at them.

2. I prefer it when insect medley isn't the only choice to go with my sticky rice.
Other times it doesn't even matter if there is a choice of food presented, because all they're interested in is if you will dare to eat the cow placenta, or fried frog, or duck tongue. So really, there is no choice (...and that is how I choked on a duck's tongue).

3. Sometimes I don't try hard enough to convince myself that "it's not wrong, it's just different".
Culture runs deep, and in mine, you don't tell your friend all the things that you observe about them, like commenting on their weight, skin colour, white hairs and imperfections...
Other times you have to suck up your ideas about hygiene and just do your washing up in the bathroom. Thais tend not to have indoor kitchens.

4. I still don't know how to answer the ever-present awkward question, "will you marry a Thai?" Say no and I've offended them. Say yes and they'll be making wedding preparations...

5. A thunderstorm when you're cooking doesn't make for a good curry night.
Because when it rains, it pours. And not only did the roof resemble a waterfall all around the kitchen, but the drain also flooded, putting the kitchen under inches of water. Praise God we were able to move house part-way through the rainy season!

6. I do not get on very well with geckos.
Yes, I know they eat mosquitoes, but I don't think they're ever going to be cute and cuddly to me. These little reptiles give me the heeby-jeebies. And they're pretty much everywhere.

7. I am thankful for my brown skin.
Most of my team-mates suffer from the 'farang' syndrome. A simple trip to the market can get frustrating as people all around are saying 'farang farang' (white foreigner). Others don't stop at that, wanting to feel the much coveted white skin for themselves. As for me, I blend in to some extent, but still arouse curiosity with my Indian features, which invite questions and start many conversations which often turn into friendships.

8. I miss mountains and autumn.
Isaan is a flat land, at least around where I live. Spending the last few years in Wales, I hadn't realised how much I had fallen in love with hills and mountains.
A recent trip to mountainous Chiang Mai was much needed soul-food. Not only was I again surrounded by hills, I also saw some orange trees.

9. I love eating rice everyday. As long as it's not for breakfast. Not eating rice 3 times a day is inconceivable for Thais. However I am sticking to my toast breakfast, lunch of varied descriptions (sometimes a carrot and home-made houmous, yum!) and rice in the evening.

A perk of living in Thailand, you are liable to get hugged by an elephant. 

10. I wish God would work to my schedule sometimes. Really, I'm not asking for much, just a city to turn from generations of  bondage to the kingdom of darkness to be set free and brought into the glorious freedom of Christ, right now. He is at work, more so than this region has ever seen. I am just hungry for so much more.







[I have to credit my friend, Frazer Mayhew for the confessions idea - thanks mate! ;) ]