I’ve
been away for roughly over 1, 000 days and I would rate it a tremendous success. Three years passes by in a heartbeat. The main reason I came
back is because I applied and somehow managed to get accepted into Teacher’s
College to the University of Ottawa. I start school at the beginning of
September and will be spending my summer in Toronto, living with my brother,
his wife and their extremely cute and well behaved baby that I have quickly
fallen in love with. I landed on Friday night and was greeted by my mother who
to say the least, is over the moon about her baby being back on the same
continent as her. I have already eaten two poutines, received a parking ticket
and joined the twenty-first century in finally getting a smart phone. Things
are changing.
It
feels good to be back. I was fairly sad to leave Thailand, my school and my
friends. I love Thailand from the bottom of my heart and have already started
to plan my eventual return. The goal of coming home is to become a certified
teacher, learn new skills, make more money, continue travelling
and work at an international school. It’s great being able to watch sports at a
normal hour and have hockey and basketball on the television. I’ve already seen
a lot of my family and it is probably good for my heart to reconnect with them.
I suppose I will keep writing this summer about what it’s like to be back, what
life in Toronto is like and any fun stories that happen to me. I heard and read
a lot about reverse culture shock and I’m sure it might be real to some people
but in my opinion, this is my home and this is my normal. Yeah things are
different abroad but this is what I’m used to and it won’t be hard to get back
in the swing of things. I’m making a conscious effort not to complain about
anything, not talk too much about the last three years and just move on and have an
incredible summer, work hard at school and see what the future brings next
year. Thanks for staying informed with my life for however long you have been
reading. I enjoy writing and hope to continue to get better and add some sort
of value to your day. Have a great summer and message me if you would like to
hang out.
PS
Thanks to everyone I've met on this adventure. People over places. To everyone who helped me when they didn't need to, help me find a job, a place or a bike. People who went out of their way to make Thailand manageable, fun and eventually home. Thanks to all the Thai people who let me drink out of their drink, yelled ''HELLO" at me while I was driving, the countless stares in shops and restaurants. Thanks to the doctors for fixing me when I needed fixing, to the random people who helped me fix my flat tires, to the lady who helped me get my name notorized, to the kids I would try to play with and who would instantly cry in fear. Thanks to my two breakfast ladies who fed me consistently for two years and to the lady with the magic fingers that washed my hair. Thanks to all the Thai girls who never talked to me but made it clear that I wasn't the ugliest guy they have ever seen. (Lor mak) Thanks. Thanks to my barber who doesn't know anything about me other than the fact that I'm super lazy and incapable of shaving myself. Thanks for being nice to me and being my friend. I needed it. Thank you.
Bert
