Back to reality, I guess.

I got to meet little Micah

So, I’ve been getting a few emails and messages from people enquiring when I’m going to get this bad boy back up and running. Here goes I guess.

I had an amazing trip home to Aotearoa, but I’m happy to be home in Mae Sot. My visit to NZ was a fairly spectacular friendship extravaganza and, as my best friend put it the week after her amazing wedding when we’d all gone home, I’m now having a pretty serious friend come-down. But that’s ok because now I get to hang out with all my great friends here. 

I know I’ve said it several times already, but once again, thank you so much to those of you that have helped me out. I have been truly humbled by the generosity and support of my community. I quite literally could not have made it back here without your help. From selling pakoras at markets for me, to buying my t-shirts, buying me a drink so I could save my pennies, to slipping me little envelopes and just generally giving me words of wisdom and encouragement, every little bit has helped, and you are all welcome at my place anytime! I’ll even take you on a guided tour around town and buy you a bowl of delicious mohinga.

 

At this stage, things are very up in the air regarding how long I will be here for this time – there are many, many factors to be considered before any concrete decisions about anything can be made. But for now, here I am. I’d kinda forgotten how insane this place is. Everything has changed in the month I’ve been away, yet at the same time, somehow everything is still the same. The babies are still screaming on immunisation day, and the fathers are still grinning in anticipation as they rub their wives backs while they’re in labour. The days are still scorchingly hot (minimum 37 degrees all week, no clouds and currently 24% humidity to be precise), the nights and mornings are wonderful and cool; but not for long, I can feel the hot season encroaching upon us at an ever increasing rate. This is liberal chap-stick application territory – the occasional breeze brings no respite from the heat, instead making you feel like you are cycling straight into a hair dryer. One thing that is noticeably different however, is the abundance of mosquitoes around at the moment. They are eating me alive. Here’s hoping I don’t get dengue or malaria I suppose. 

Christmas at the beach

As for work, it’s pretty much the same as always. Once again, I’d forgotten how much there is to do here, constantly. I’ve worked more in the past three days than the past 5 weeks. Not surprising really when you consider the fact that I was on holiday for those weeks, but still. I’m right back into the delicious food over here, although, I was a bit bummed out to find a big black bug in my noodle soup today; it’s from my favourite place that’s usually so reliable! Oh well, no health regulations over here. For all the good food here though, I was pretty happy to eat obscene amounts of cheese when in NZ. Oh cheese, how I miss you. 

Anyways, I hope those of you who have had summer holidays have had a wonderful break – I know the weather in NZ has been pretty hit and miss this summer. And for my dear Northern Hemisphere friends, well, it sucks to be you in the cold I guess. But I hope you’ve managed to roast a few chestnuts on the fire or whatever it is you do in Northern Hemisphere winters. 

For those I saw – I love your faces! For those I didn’t see, I still love your faces, but they might be a bit blurry in the ole memory so here’s hoping we catch up next time I’m home. It’s always just grand indeed to hear back from you, so do be in touch eh. I’m off to eat a mango. Ka kite.