What The...?!?

If you were reading my last post and came along the line: "There are not enough words in the English language to express my deep love and respect for this woman, nor for the heartbreak I will feel when it comes time to leave Thailand and her behind (although we are hopeful that she will be able to get a Visa to come home with me for a few weeks in November)." and thought to yourself "What the...?!?" you are not alone.  That's right folks, my return to the US has been delayed from the end of September to the first week of November, and I couldn't be happier about it.

The stars all magically aligned to give me the opportunity to continue to work for WorldTeach through next years' Orientation.  This was a hope of mine from the very beginning, and started to look like a semi possibility when I started as Assistant Field Director. I didn't want to get my hopes up because X, Y, and Z all needed to happen to give me this opportunity.  I started to resign myself to going home in September and even bought the plane ticket to prove it.  I planned a Welcome/Birthday party for myself on the very day I left for Thailand one year prior.  While this event made going home a little more appealing (I really was looking forward to having all my friends and family together, gazing at the autumn foliage, enjoying fall-like temperatures, etc.) I was (and still am) beginning to dread the impending Goodbye to Thailand.

Staying for the next groups' orientation just feels right.  I've learned so much this past year - about myself, about Thailand, about other people, that I am really looking forward to teaching some of the new "krew" about what it means to be a volunteer here.  In the office, we've already begun planning for Orientation and making site placements for next year, so it would be a real disappointment to go home without seeing the fruits of my labor.  Not only that, I am so curious about the new group of volunteers, staying just to meet them makes it all worth it. NKP will always hold a special place in my heart, and I want to make sure the new krew are well enough prepared to take care of this wonderful place in my absence.

I'll see ya stateside November 4th.