Sa wat dee ka, everybody! Which is hello here in Bangkok- a city that is quickly becoming one of my favorite places, EVER.

Today was the end of our second full day here, and both of those days have been dedicated to a very thorough Orientation process. They've walked us through EVERYTHING- I can't even tell you the amount of information I've learned thus far. And it's all absolutely fascinating- I'm thoroughly convinced now that the only way to travel is really this sort of cultural immersion- we're not only learning about Thai tradition and eating Thai food, we're eating in a Thai home, surrounding by endless gardens and plants, and with barking dogs at the end of each driveway in the packed alley our homebase happens to sit at the end of. It's awesome in the true sense of the word- inspiring AWE.

I've been up at 5:30am the past two days, which has been the perfect excuse to grab my beach towel and do an hour of meditation, yoga, and pilates on the veranda on the second level of this house. I mean- really? At 5:30am the stars are still out and the sun hasn't risen yet. This really weird feeling crept over me when I first sank down into meditation the first time- that, of all places- to be meditating in Thailand is to be home. I know, in any given direction not far from here, hundreds of monks are deep in their meditation, as well. That astounding power of combined thought came over me, and I was a part of it- it's an incredible thought. Wow. And then- back in real life- downstairs at the homebase I find an endless supply of fresh fruit and green tea- again, REALLY? So far EVERYTHING about this trip is the culmination of the past year of my life- service, travel, and Buddhism. I have tried to think about any other place I would have gone with CCS or would go in the future- and I consistently settle on the secure knowledge that this is IT. I'm right where I'm supposed to be!

I'm totally that loser you see in New York City, walking around with their mouth wide open and taking pictures of everything. And I SOOO don't care; not one little bit.

We've had Thai language lessons, instructions for our placements, planning for the English Camp we'll do one day, health and safety precaution, and in the meantime, they've taken us to a few major landmarks already- the Temple of the Dawn and Jim Thompson's house. The Temple of the Dawn was sick NASTY- we climbed three levels of stairs that are simply the STEEPEST angle I have ever seen. Coming down was only possible by literally clinging to the handrail. The view at the top was worth it- this is a shot overlooking the Chao Phraya- Bangkok's major waterway.

I'm vividly aware of how much this experience will change my life- in so many ways, it already has. It's a delirious sort of happiness and again, that knowledge that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. (Which, of course, happens every single day in God's world.)

I love it :

XOXOXO,
A Dianna who can now die happy

ps- the first official souvenir has been purchased.....congratulations on taking the award, Aunt Betsy :)