The End of a Chapter.

 Hey Everyone, Let me just start by apologizing profusely for taking so long to finish this up. I know I stopped blogging for a while but I am sure you all understand I was just way TOO BUSY having the time of my life. However, I am very sorry for just leaving you all hanging.

I had the most amazing time in Thailand and wouldn’t trade it for the world. Although sometimes were really rough, sometimes were amazing. It’s like I would tell my mom, the highs are really freaking high but the lows are the lowest lows I’ve seen. Now that I am home I realise how much Thailand changed me and how much I love Thailand. I have now truly learned that you don’t realise how much something means to you until you let it go. On that note I sure hope to go back to Thailand in a few years.

 While I was in Thailand I had a list of things to do. I lost that list somewhere along my travels but I succeeded in many of those things and I would like to share what I remember of that list with you.

To Do in Thailand:

#1. Ride an Elephant

-          I did this TWICE up in Chiang Mai!! I love elephants they are such beautiful and intelligent creatures. I am privileged to have lived in a place where they are so plentiful. I remember every time I would see them on the streets they would take my breath away.

#2. Go to the Grand Palace

-          I went to The Grand Palace a couple times but more specifically to Wat Pra Kaew because it is the most beautiful temple in Thailand and the Emerald Buddha is such a sacred Buddha that you couldn’t help but to be humbled in its presence.

#3. Go down south.

-          I never did end up going to the far south but it gives me a reason to go back. I have to go to Full Moon Party before I die, I just have too.

#4. Go up North

-          I spent quite a lot time up north because I think it is such a beautiful area. It has so much culture and is the most beautiful part of Thailand. Plus it has a great laid back hippie atmosphere that I thoroughly enjoyed.

#5. Stay in a Hostel

-          Yeah, I did this way too many times and let me just tell you, it is not as exciting as it sounds. They are usually pretty gross.

#6. Get a piercing

-          I got my ears pierced again making a total of three piercings in each ear and I got my belly button pierced much to my parents dismay, however I love them!

#7. Ride a TukTuk

-          I did this too many times to count and can’t say it was as enjoyable as I imagined. However I did like when we would shove as many people as we could on them and there would be people hanging out the sides of this little sketchy three wheeled vehicle as you sped through the streets of Bangkok. I miss doing that soo much!

#8. Study Muay Thai

-          I Studied Muay Thai for three months and LOVED it. I am so happy I chose to study muay Thai intensively and not study Thai Dance. Thai Dance is boring while Muay Thai is Exciting and fun.

#9. Learn how to cook Thai food

-          I learned how to make Thai omelets, Tom Yum Kung, Som Tam and Fried Rice very well. To make up for the lack of variety I also bought a vegetarian Thai cookbook/cheat book.

#10. Learn how to speak Thai

-          By then end I could converse relatively well and I am so proud of myself because of that. It was a really big challenge that I worked really hard to overcome.

#11. Go Clubbing

-          That was a lot of fun!

#12. Kiss a NON-Canadian Boy

-          OOOH LAALAA sorry I don’t kiss and tell!

#13. Drink a Cosmo

-          I just always hear about them and honestly they are a little bitter. Gosh, Sex and the City should have prepared me for that.

#14.Learn about Buddhism

-          I learned a lot about Buddhism and religion and it has sparked my interest into a lot of different religions. After being raised with no religion and then thrown in to society ruled by religion it really changed my life and changed my perspective of religion. You are not gonna find me on a corner preaching about God any time soon, but it has inspired me to research different religions and learn about their teachings because I think every religion has something to offer.

#15. Embrace Asian Culture

-          At first there were so many elements of Asian Culture that I despised and there are still quite a few that I do but the one quality I fully embraced was the undersexualization of their society. I love that they live in a world not outwardly ruled by sex. They keep sex very personal and private and I believe that is the way it should be. You don’t see twelve year olds in Thailand running around scantily clad because they understand that sex shouldn’t be broadcast and I truly respect that aspect of their culture. However, They REALLY need to get on the train of letting their teenagers have some fun, like seriously.

So, I have accomplished soo much in the past year that I could have never imagined. I have learned soo much that I never knew I didn't know and I have grown soo much that I am scared to find out how much more I am capable of growing. At this rate I will be a super human by the age of THIRTY. I loved my time in Thailand but I am very happy to be home. My life here all though not exciting is peaceful and enjoyable and still has its twists. In fact I have started another blog about my life in Canada here > http://bigcitydreamssmalltownnightmares.tumblr.com/. So go ahead and check that out. No seriously, go press the link right now and check it out.

 I would like to thank all my supporters and readers especially my family, friends and my fans down in Las Ventanas. I really appreciate you taking the time to read each post. I hope you all check out my other blog and continue to read there too.

Ta Ta for now or until my next adventure unfolds at http://bigcitydreamssmalltownnightmares.tumblr.com/.

Xoxo Chantel <3

Maha Sarakham... ( belated)

Hey, guess what I am back in Maha Sarakham…. Guess how many days until I go back to Bangkok… no common actually guess. 2 days, 5 days, 7 days, 20 days, 50 days, never…

I am going back to Bangkok on Sunday, exactly seven days after I left Bangkok and 5 days from now. What can I say, I love it there and just don’t really like it here in Maha Sarakham.  I am officially on summer break now and it sucks. All my family does is sit at home and watch tv all day. That’s why I am leaving again. Originally I wasn’t going to go back to Bangkok this month because I spent way too much money last month and am seriously beyond broke, like I spent money that I had mentally prepared for next month. But after 3 days of staring at my ceiling in my bedroom, I decided I would rather be broke than bored, ( anyone want to send me money J) so I am heading back down to Bangkok!!

I am not sure who I am going with but a bunch of exchange students should be in and around Khao San because its summer break and because in a week and a half we all have to meet in Bangkok for our big NORTH ADVENTURE TRIP. I think my friend Ashlee is going to come teach English with me on the 26th, 27th and 28th of March and then my friend Annie is going to meet us down in Bangkok on the 28th or 29th.

As for my last week in Bangkok, I had an amazing time. Ashlee and I taught at an English camp for three days up in the mountains in the Rayong province. Then we came back to Bangkok and stayed with my friend Luis and his cousin. We met up with exchange students from our district and from the Bangkok district and just had a blast. We went to the grand palace again and I got in for free this time ( vs. the usual $12) because I had my school ID which meant I was officially “Thai.” That was a major achievement. Then we went to this fancy mall called Siam discovery and went ice skating. It was funny because most Thai people cannot skate, so they have a railing around the rink and everyone just holds onto it as they circle the rink, not quite like Canadians but at least they are trying.

We didn’t do much else in Bangkok we were really just relaxing and enjoying Khao San road. I got hair extensions  but my friend cut them and messed them up a bit. So I had to go to a hair dresser and get them re done, she cut all my hair and now it looks great.

I will try my best to post videos and pictures on my tumblr tonight, I know I have a lot I still haven’t posted so maybe I will sit down for a few hours and just post a months worth of pictures.

I know I didn’t write much today and I kinda just mumbled on, I just wasn’t feeling it. I need some inspiration… or extreme boredom. Wait a couple of days and I am sure I will post more.

Xoxo Chantel <3

Bangkok/Rayong Trip Day 1

So I am in Bangkok right now, in a bar/café with my friend Ashlee, listening to Britney Spears while lying on couches surrounded by our suitcases, waiting for my councilors daughter  to come home so we can go to her house and go to bed. AHHHH I am sooo tired.

Yesterday, I took a bus to Khon Kean to meet up with Ashlee and spend the night at her house. Then this morning we woke up at 6am and drove back to Khon Kean to catch our bus to Bangkok. At 2pm we arrived in Bangkok and went to J.J Market with two suitcases, two purses and one back pack. It was crazy but we did it. I bought one gift for a special someone ;) and Ashlee bought a bunch of dresses. Around 5pm we headed over to the mall to go shopping at forever 21. It’s funny because you know you’re an exchange student when you have pockets full of money you have saved for this trip and your favourite shop in the world and all you buy is new underwear and yoga pants. For two reasons, a) you have learned how to be logical and sensible about what you spend your money on and you really need new underwear and b)  Thanks to lovely exchange weight gain, yoga pants are like all that fits you. After buying some NESSECITIES we headed out for a feast of very random food, raw salmon in balsamic vinegar, spinach and cheese casserole, dumplings, stir fried vegetables and tofu, garlic bread and TWO Apple crumples…. Yeahh. That’s our feast of this trip from now on only vegetables and fruit I PROMISE!! I want to be able to wear something other than yoga pants!!!

Then we headed home and Anin wasn’t home so we found this bar/café with free wifi and that’s where we are now. Tomorrow at 4:30 am for the English camp in Rayong for three days. Then we are not sure how many days we will spend in Bangkok after that because its expensive and fattening, not a good combination!

I will keep you posted on our misadventures.

Xoxox Chantel <3

A lunch with Farangs

A lunch with Farangs

Today I went to Serm Thai, the local plaza in Maha Sarakham on the search for a good lunch and a new bathing suit. I looked and looked for this bathing suit I had been eyeing for months but couldn’t find it. So I headed down to my favorite restaurant, Black Canyon Coffee shop and ordered a sandwhich and pumpkin soup. About half way in to my meal I saw two Swedish ladies I had met earlier this week. We all sat down together and had a good ol’ chat about life in Thailand. It was a mother and daughter who were here for four months to exchange ideas and methods with Thai doctors.

They were amazed at some of the stories I told about Thai life and Thai families. I was shocked they didn’t know. I guess I was naive thinking that all the other people living and visiting this country  saw the same things I did. But they don’t they will never truly know what Thai Life is like until they live it for seven months with a Thai family. It was nice to talk to a mother and daughter because the daughter could relate to me about living abroad with another family and how it will never really be your family and how everything is sooo awkward and the mother was just as shocked as my own mother and told me that she was proud of me and that I am very brave.

I really enjoyed talking to these ladies, unfortunately they move cities tomorrow. But its ok because it gave me a boost and helped remind me why I do it. Also I received a bunch of comments and emails regarding my last few posts saying that you guys love them and that you guys understand how hard it is and are proud of me too. Thank you to everyone. I love you all so much.

Xoxo Chantel <3

SPECIAL POST #5

So this brings me to the end of my special posts... this makes me sad, I liked trying to come up with interesting and creative posts. For this post I made a vlog talking about my life in Thailand and my trip to Bangkok this weekend. PLEASE EMAIL ME IF IT DOES NOT PLAY!!  Thanks for the continued support and love.

xoxox Chantel <3