Reflection

      As of now I can't imagine what it is going to be like going back to an 
air conditioned house and a room with no cracks in the floor or walls. 
Even to have a flushing toilet and toilet paper in every restroom seems 
crazy. I have decided that if the washers are full at college,I can 
just hand wash my clothes, no big deal. All stuff that before coming 
here would have been unheard of. I have finally adjusted and it feels 
like everyday life not me constantly struggling to fit in. I can't 
barely believe it is almost over. The people in my town all know me, I 
can walk around town and have people wave and stop to say hi. I finally 
fit in and now I have to leave. 

I'm so glad I did this, it has changed me for the better and I have grown much stronger. Both in confidence 
and assertiveness. I now have confidence that I can do and go anywhere 
I want in life. It is certainly heating up but I don't even notice when 
I'm sweating really. I have only taken cold showers since arriving and 
have learned to hand wash and hang my clothes up to dry in the sun. I 
have also adjusted to the spicy foods. I now love spicy food and put 
chili or pepper in almost every dish. I can't wait to get home and see 
all my friends and family but I also can't imagine leaving this country 
that I have learned to respect and love. I will miss all my friends 
here and am thankful for the two families that have taken me in as 
their daughter in Chiang Kham and made it not so lonely. At first I was 
so lonely I didn't think I'd be strong enough to finish my year here. 
Ever since I switched families I have felt love and made many new 
friends. I have also gotten to travel more than I first expected. I 
have traveled with my friends and my first host family. Right now I 
have a friend from Texas staying with me for the week. I can't wait to 
finish my wonderful year and at the same time I'm dreading it. We had 
to say goodbye to a few of the YE's last week after our southern trip 
and it had me in tears. These kids have become my new family and I will 
never forget them, this experience wouldn't have been the same without 
them. All is great, see you this summer!