That America needs to adopt a lot of ideas that would benefit them. For example, the sky train.
We need more life in our architecture, such as, color, artwork, something other than a big tall building and slapping the name on a sign.
We need to have more alleys filled with bars, shopping, lounges, and all need to be outdoor sitting.
Chili sauce makes everything taste that much better.
Still can't believe I am back.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Rambling
I realized that I never blogged about the professionals we met throughout the trip. One in particular I’d like to mention is Oliver, from Young & Rubicon. Just knowing we would be entering the building gave me goose bumps. For those whom are not familiar with the name Y&R, it is one of the largest PR firms out there. They are up there with my #1 dream company, Ogilvy. My professor told me he could get me an internship there but I m not so sure if Id want to live there all on my own just yet. Don’t get me wrong I love Bangkok, and every element that makes up the country. Thailand was my main place that I was excited to visit, so I can definitely see myself being there, just don’t know if it’s something permanent. If I could intern there and then be transferred to an office in the states, I wouldn’t think twice to take that offer up. Who knows I am still young and opportunities still exist and are plentiful, no matter how the economy is doing right now.
As I gazed down at the Pacific Ocean from the plane’s window, I found myself thinking of all the things I want to change in my life. I always knew I was somewhat more independent than most of my friends for the main reason being the way I was brought up. Always travelling, living in vastly different cultures, struggling with identities, coping with not having all family members in one household. Anyway, my point is, I realized that I can make it on my own, as in living on my own, travelling on my own, being in a completely foreign place and finding my own path. I also missed the entire experience already and was happy to be going home but would love to turn right back around and do it all over again. I don’t feel like I missed out on anything, I am actually very fortunate that I was able to go on this trip. It’s not every day that you can be working in a company that lets you basically take a month off work when you haven’t even been over your one year mark. To show my gratitude, I have a duffel bag full of gifts from all the countries I’ve visited for them! I also learned that family is more important than ever when your gone for a long time. I always call my mom and make sure all is well and even make a visit to good old Hagerstown, Maryland from time to time but I feel like my siblings and I have reconnected on some level. I e-mailed then more; face booked them more, shared stories, in a different way. As if I wouldn’t talk to them the next day, we said I love you to each other after every conversation, that type of thing. I’ve enjoyed that a lot, for we were never a very affectionate family. It was just comforting to know that even when your thousands of miles away, your family will be there day and night to answer your call, your e-mail, what have you. I am fortunate to have friends whom are like family as well. One in particular, Dorian. She and I have kept in touch the entire way and she gave me the best going away gift a person could receive. It wasn’t so much the actual gift but what it represented. She gave me an anklet, an anklet that represented our friendship. Whenever I felt sad, homesick, stressed, or anything of that nature, I could look down at it and feel at ease again. That girl is so thoughtful and I shopped until I dropped to find her something, but all I could think of was anything I give her won’t even amount to the symbol of “us” she gave me. So I found her some cool stuff but I am going to hang out with her nonstop when I get back and hopefully that will be the best gift she could ever ask for. We are not lovers or anything, not that I have a problem with lesbians, just two girls from two completely different places, which found a common ground to share.
Okay enough about the mushy stuff. Work is going to be crazy when I come back, I don’t know if I should expect the place to be in shambles or find out that I have some competition to squash. I know that my former colleagyue is know the manager of my department! Very exciting news but it’s going to take some getting used to from having a colleague/friend to her being your manager…Who do I tell all my office gossip to now!?
We are currently flying over South Dakota….it’s amazing to look down and see the world from this altitude. I am actually very used to flying, so I thought. I think as I get older I develop a fear of heights. On every flight we have been on I have clenched on to the arm rests of my chairs as if I was tied down to an electrical chair, thought twice about not looking out the window or getting up and getting off the plane, and prayed like there was no tomorrow. Whenever I felt turbulence, I would look around and wonder why no one else was having a panic attack on the inside like I was. Come to find out that there’s been turbulence where people were couldn’t even stay in there seats, and everything was fine. It’s the old age thing, I know it. You become more cautious, more worrisome, and so on. I have so many things I want to do, but feel that the older I get I will scratch them off my list, or It wont be important to me anymore. Which is why I took this trip on and didn’t look back. I was suppose to go my junior year and cancelled, and was not about to let the opportunity pass again.
As I gazed down at the Pacific Ocean from the plane’s window, I found myself thinking of all the things I want to change in my life. I always knew I was somewhat more independent than most of my friends for the main reason being the way I was brought up. Always travelling, living in vastly different cultures, struggling with identities, coping with not having all family members in one household. Anyway, my point is, I realized that I can make it on my own, as in living on my own, travelling on my own, being in a completely foreign place and finding my own path. I also missed the entire experience already and was happy to be going home but would love to turn right back around and do it all over again. I don’t feel like I missed out on anything, I am actually very fortunate that I was able to go on this trip. It’s not every day that you can be working in a company that lets you basically take a month off work when you haven’t even been over your one year mark. To show my gratitude, I have a duffel bag full of gifts from all the countries I’ve visited for them! I also learned that family is more important than ever when your gone for a long time. I always call my mom and make sure all is well and even make a visit to good old Hagerstown, Maryland from time to time but I feel like my siblings and I have reconnected on some level. I e-mailed then more; face booked them more, shared stories, in a different way. As if I wouldn’t talk to them the next day, we said I love you to each other after every conversation, that type of thing. I’ve enjoyed that a lot, for we were never a very affectionate family. It was just comforting to know that even when your thousands of miles away, your family will be there day and night to answer your call, your e-mail, what have you. I am fortunate to have friends whom are like family as well. One in particular, Dorian. She and I have kept in touch the entire way and she gave me the best going away gift a person could receive. It wasn’t so much the actual gift but what it represented. She gave me an anklet, an anklet that represented our friendship. Whenever I felt sad, homesick, stressed, or anything of that nature, I could look down at it and feel at ease again. That girl is so thoughtful and I shopped until I dropped to find her something, but all I could think of was anything I give her won’t even amount to the symbol of “us” she gave me. So I found her some cool stuff but I am going to hang out with her nonstop when I get back and hopefully that will be the best gift she could ever ask for. We are not lovers or anything, not that I have a problem with lesbians, just two girls from two completely different places, which found a common ground to share.
Okay enough about the mushy stuff. Work is going to be crazy when I come back, I don’t know if I should expect the place to be in shambles or find out that I have some competition to squash. I know that my former colleagyue is know the manager of my department! Very exciting news but it’s going to take some getting used to from having a colleague/friend to her being your manager…Who do I tell all my office gossip to now!?
We are currently flying over South Dakota….it’s amazing to look down and see the world from this altitude. I am actually very used to flying, so I thought. I think as I get older I develop a fear of heights. On every flight we have been on I have clenched on to the arm rests of my chairs as if I was tied down to an electrical chair, thought twice about not looking out the window or getting up and getting off the plane, and prayed like there was no tomorrow. Whenever I felt turbulence, I would look around and wonder why no one else was having a panic attack on the inside like I was. Come to find out that there’s been turbulence where people were couldn’t even stay in there seats, and everything was fine. It’s the old age thing, I know it. You become more cautious, more worrisome, and so on. I have so many things I want to do, but feel that the older I get I will scratch them off my list, or It wont be important to me anymore. Which is why I took this trip on and didn’t look back. I was suppose to go my junior year and cancelled, and was not about to let the opportunity pass again.
Monday, June 7, 2010
highlights
In 24 hours ill be on a fourteen hour flight to the states. Its bittersweet but ready to go home. I know I've been slacking on the blog posts....but am going to makeup for it once internet is stable and I actually have time to sit and put all my experiences down!
The people, their culture, the smells, the sights, the sounds, it's all an experience in itself that no words will amount to how this trip has been. You just have too see it for yourself.
Bangkok has been great, its the one location that we have stayed at the longest. Logan Vay has me
Met us tonight at one of the local hot spots right outside our hotel called Charley Browns Mexicana. It is run by a british man named Dave. Its out last night here and we are having a very nice dinner with the whole group....I've bonded wit everyone here and its a special bond that noone will be a part of but the ten of us....Bill,Elvir, Mark, Declan, Rachel, Jen, Stephanie, Kj, and Megan!
I know I will never forget this experience but the things id like to touch on are as follows:
Waking up to the call of prayer at the mosque from Sleepy Sams in Singapore
Haggling with people at the markets in Malaysia
Living in the oldest rainforest in the world
Building toilets for a family in the village of siam reap
Staying at one of the most luxurious villas in Cambodia
Eating bugs with the tuk-tuk drivers....whom are missed very much
Spending just enough time in Vietnam to say we have been to Vietnam
Bangkok...enough said. Thailand, temples, thai food, shopping galore!
The people, their culture, the smells, the sights, the sounds, it's all an experience in itself that no words will amount to how this trip has been. You just have too see it for yourself.
Bangkok has been great, its the one location that we have stayed at the longest. Logan Vay has me
Met us tonight at one of the local hot spots right outside our hotel called Charley Browns Mexicana. It is run by a british man named Dave. Its out last night here and we are having a very nice dinner with the whole group....I've bonded wit everyone here and its a special bond that noone will be a part of but the ten of us....Bill,Elvir, Mark, Declan, Rachel, Jen, Stephanie, Kj, and Megan!
I know I will never forget this experience but the things id like to touch on are as follows:
Waking up to the call of prayer at the mosque from Sleepy Sams in Singapore
Haggling with people at the markets in Malaysia
Living in the oldest rainforest in the world
Building toilets for a family in the village of siam reap
Staying at one of the most luxurious villas in Cambodia
Eating bugs with the tuk-tuk drivers....whom are missed very much
Spending just enough time in Vietnam to say we have been to Vietnam
Bangkok...enough said. Thailand, temples, thai food, shopping galore!
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