Home Sweet Home! It's my second night sleeping in my own bed and I'm still adjusting. It's 3:49AM and I'm wide awake. I have a feeling it will take a week or so to get back on track. I'm happy to be home, although I'm already feeling a bit restless. I know I should probably take it easy for a few days, but I'm so used to being on the go now. I'm headed to Arizona Combat Sports tomorrow to check out their Muay Thai program to keep up with my progress. Originally I was going to blog about my flight home, but it doesn't really make for happy reading because I was quite miserable. Long story short: I almost missed my flight and had to pay over $200 for my baggage because United recently changed their checked baggage policy. I'm working on getting my money back... That was the stressful part of the morning, but the plane ride did get more interesting.
I put my black zip up gym jacket on to sleep, and lifted the hoodie over my head. When I woke up, the middle eastern man sitting next to me said, "Can you please put your hood back on I have something to tell you." umm.. okay I'll put my hood on… I guess? Then he said to me that he was watching me while I was sleeping (that part was a little creepy..) and that I looked so much 'cuter' with my hood on, and that with my striking blue eyes and features if I wanted to win the heart of a middle eastern man all I needed to do was wear a hood. First I was a little taken back and almost offended, but he continued talking. He said that I reminded him of Diane Sawyer when she did a middle eastern interview and had to the wear the head covering. He had never seen a western woman in a hood and he said how exotic and striking she looked and he would never forget that interview. Now my thought on veils and hoods… In the past head coverings and the veils and all of that women must hide behind the cloth stuff not only saddened me but infuriated me. This is how traveling has changed my perspective. Yes it made me slightly uncomfortable, but I realize that my discomfort is because of my own cultural views and my interpretation of the world. Even thought I may not agree, I sincerely believe that he was just trying to have a conversation with me, possibly even complimenting me in a strange way. Yeah but the watching me sleep part… that's scary movie creepy no matter what your culture lol…
Next is the story of the Drunken Monk. For several days I saw what I assumed to be a Monk sitting cross legged outside of the hostel. He wore the monk clothing, had traditional monk tattoos, bald head. He sat with his legs crossed, his hands out requesting an offering from passerby's, and a smile. Looking closer, I noticed the sadness in his eyes, the forced smile, and the inability to sit up straight without falling over. And the several bottles of liquor and beer surrounding him. I couldn't help but to stare a little. Really? A drunk monk? Okaaay…One doesn't see that everyday. I didn't give him money because naturally I didn't like the idea of my money buying his next bottle o liquor. That night I went to sleep and woke up the next day to find him passed out in the same spot, soaking wet because it had rained. Talk about tugging at the heart strings a little. Some people have the attitude that homeless people or drunks ruined their own lives. I guess I'm a little more compassionate than that, we don't know his story. Who knows what sequence of events led him to this unfortunate circumstance? I tried to talk with him and he genuinely smiled at me, of course he didn't understand english. I bought lunch for the two of us and observed him as we ate. He closed his eyes with his hands in front of his heart for several minutes, and opened his eyes and slowly and carefully ate his food. I tell the story of the Drunk Monk for the same reason I told the story of the Middle Eastern Momma. They both helped me to realize my judgement and perception of the world, and to realize that we are all human. Although very different, on a fundamental level we are all the same. We all have our shadow side and our light side. Some of us have addictions, habits, co-dependecy, overindulgences, laziness, lies, bitchiness, and general lack of will to LIVE. The drunken monk was not broken. He is obviously very lost, but there is still a part of him that is whole and that feels and that remembers what it is to be connected to himself- even if it was those few moments before he ate his meal and just sat in silence. It also helped me to remember not to put people on pedistools. When I think of a Monk I think disciplined, holy, connected, aware. Then I ask myself, why do I think that? I have never really been around a Monk long enough to form an opinion. So why do I have this notion? It's just because of the 'programming' and idea that I have, not from experience. THAT is the lesson.
The best habit I've picked up from this learning and adventure is my daily lesson. Some people pray before they go to bed. Every night now I lie in bed and reflect on my day, and I allow myself to look at each experience with an honest heart and say.. what did I learn today? Good experiences, bad experiences, painful experiences are all just a part of life. The ability to look at each day as a gift and learning experience is what ultimately leads to our evolution as people, and what ultimately brings us closer together and teaches us tolerance and acceptance dispite our differences. Also include in this is acceptance for my own culture.
It feels good to be home. Ezra had a bubble bath waiting for me and it felt GREAT to submerge myself in water and feel squeaky clean after a bath. The puppies haven't left my side. I'll admit I already miss Thailand and the new friends that I made and the sense of freedom that comes with traveling... This is only the first chapter of my new adventure. I am made for traveling, of this I am certain. Looking forward to seeing more of the world and it's inhabitants. If there is any part of you at all that desires to see the world, you owe it to yourself to make it happen. It has been a heart and mind expanding adventure.
I sincerely have enjoyed sharing my journey with you 8-) Thank you for all of your positive feedback and kind words, and for reading my thoughts and stories. I'll miss this little blog! I have at least one more video blog coming, with clips of Moo and my beachside jam session with my guitar. Till our next adventure...
<3 Tiff
