Looking back on my writing class in high school, it was drilled into me that you are suppose to capture your audience in the first few sentences.... but, I'm having a hard time focusing because all I can think about is eating Taco Bell! Most of my cravings have only lasted a day or two and I usually get past them. However, this ridiculous longing for a crappy fake bean burrito with wimpy chili sauce, has been captivating my stomach for the last 3 weeks! I think a scavenger hunt in Chiang Mai for crappy burritos is in order... Cravings for certain foods you simply can't get here have become more of a blatant reality for me. The honeymoon and magicalness of Thai food has worn off and I'm ready for some mouth watering Chi-Fil-A or In-N-Out, and you guessed it -- crappy Taco Bell.
Another blatant reality? Never finding anything I need! For example, I wanted to buy a portable speaker for my roommate's Birthdays so we could play music or watch movies from our computers - simple enough, right?... Cuz why wouldn't the store called "Power" Buy or Electronics Plus, an entire electronic floor in a mall, or even Big C (the Walmart of Thailand) have it? Or if they did carry it, why on earth would they bother to restock it?? Even something as simple as corn tortillas or tomato sauce!... And don't even get me started on finding lotion without bleach/whitening agents in it or actual antibacterial hand soap. I've simply run out of explanations. At this moment, I should say "back on topic," but the truth is, these are some of the realities of living overseas and they are often never mentioned. They can sometimes be the straw that brakes the camels back... People often see 'missionaries' (I still don't like calling myself that) on a pedestal. A sacrificial lamb that is so courageous and has a perfect relationship with God. BUT, the truth is - they sin, often fail/fall short, miss their family and friends, have cravings (lots and lots of cravings), miss the comforts of "home," want to have fun and be goofy, get frustrated with the culture they are living in, frustrated with the people, and even frustrated with God... So, "we're" just like everyone else who is living life while giving of themselves to love and serve others, discover who God is, and trying to further His Kingdom in all that we do and say; we just accepted the challenge of doing this in a culture other than our own. Nothing better. Nothing worse. Just different. *Disclaimer: Perhaps this should have been a part of my first blog, but hey! better late than never. Someone once told me, "Those that have yet to live overseas are never going to understand or be able sympathize with you." This may be true, but I find this no reason as to why I shouldn't share. Perhaps you never had an opportunity to learn about the world and other cultures; or perhaps you have never been able to travel outside your country; or perhaps it's just as simple as never having had an avenue for someone to share their experiences with you and invite you to journey with them. So, for those of you that would like, I extend the invitation for you to journey with me in the raw and real - might not always be "pretty" or "well composed," but I don't want to rob you of an opportunity to catch a glimpse (and I mean glimpse!) of what it's like living overseas. So, "CHEERS!" to living life together... :) P.S. Always a fan of questions, so never hesitate to ask.
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August 2014
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