The light grows brighter

We are down to a month left.  This Saturday will be 4 weeks.  

Time grows short, but that’s ok.  Our Bangkok Bananza will turn into a Taco Research summer and end with some Shanghai Shenanigans.  LOL. 

The house is starting to get whittled down and Kiddo’s room is starting to look sparse as we start cutting down and moving items out.  Either people buying them or J transferring them to classroom, giving away, donating, or otherwise.  J has started her own cut down and keep it/leave it type planning.

I’m last on that ship.  Most of what I have is coming with me.  About 25% of the clothes are a no go for me, but I know what those items are so that’s less than an hour work for me.  The real challenge is the kitchen.

I have my knives and chef roll so that’s easy and mostly packed already from the move from 3 to 4.  The induction plate, one pot, air frier, etc are staying/being sold.  The challenge is keeping a food balance. I don’t want to have 10kg or waste and spoilage at the end, so I’m planning better, using up the last of things, and trying to balance it all.  Usually, right about now, I’d order 15ish things or so from our meat place, but that’s a month’s worth of food, with package size, left overs, and the like.  I don’t want to get that much, but getting half that will leave delivery charges (as it’s under min for free delivery) and at that point, I’m only saving about 300 baht (less than $10) by ordering half.  So, it’s a catch 22 a bit.  

Other than that, yesterday I got confirmation on the van that will take us to the airport.  So, that’s set up and one less thing to worry about.  J and I also have a plan for mobiles, bank, water service, etc.  So, the backend admin house stuff is moving as well.

Outside of that, we are just enjoying our time.  We are making sure we swim and have some pool time.  We’ve got plans in the next weekend or two to make our last trip to NH Library and Washin Ramen.  We have plans to visit our little Shabu place up the road at least once more.  I’ve got to go to GoodHands for one last Thai or Foot massage.

It’s weird.  Three years ago, we were freaking out and stressed to the max on the move and life in BKK and Thailand and Covid and Quarantine and all of it.  This time, we are more chill.  Yes, it’s stress and some anxiety, but mostly it’s just working the problems, doing what is needed for the house, getting ready, and then it’s just go time.  It’s more waiting and doing, but that does have stress and frustrations with it, but not like the first time.  At least we have some idea of what we are doing this time.

It’s a closing out and a moving on.  

We will hold Thailand and Bangkok dearly.  It was our first expat experience and it was an interesting one.  It was one of the least “Westernized” places that we could have picked for a first experience.  From what we’ve heard, even China and Shanghai are more “westernized” than BKK, even with the Great Firewall and all that is China.  We will miss our market and the Plurn Dee market.  The night markets.  The food.  The spice of the food.  The little pieces of the community that we’ve become part of in these last years.  

Soon, there will be new adventures and challenges.  New places and people in our day to day.  New experiences to have.  New places to see.  New things to learn.

It’ll also be an undoing for us.  In Vietnam last summer, it took us all a while to shake off the Sawadee and the KhabKhun (hello and thank you) and little things like that and even coming back from that trip, it took us a week to shake off the Vietnamese we picked up and used there daily.  We will go into China with Thai still in our brain, but also with Mexico on our tongues.  What weird combo of Hola Ka will we mix up.  HAHA

Thailand, China, Vietnam, The States, Mexico… and where to next?  Five down, hundreds to go.  Seoul and Tokyo are on the list.  Croatia is on the list.  France and Belgium are on the list.  Spain is on the list.  Argentina, Chili, Peru, Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Bhutan are also places we’ve talked about.  Either to live or visit.  

Time grows short, but it’s not a sad thing, it’s just the next adventure and next place.  It’s a family summer.  It’s seeing more of this big rock that we inhabit.  It’s showing Kiddo the world we live in and life in general.  It’s about seeing and understanding.  We understand Thailand more now than when we got here, both the people and the culture.  It’s about exploring and experiencing those places and cultures and peoples, so Kiddo can have an understanding and base of knowledge.  Then, when she’s 18 and ready to move on into her own world and adulthood, she isn’t stuck in one pond, but she can pick which one she wants to make a life in… even if it’s just for Uni or the like.  After that, she can pick her own path and life.  

We can’t wait to see the next, but we are sad to leave the now.  However, it will be the three of us.  As long as we have that, we have everything we need.  

Let’s go, Kiddo… it’s almost time for elephant walking in a new place.  To learn and hear new languages.  To experience new places.  Find our fun.  Find the beach and love it.  Find the tacos and love them more.  Then, it will be Shanghai and what we learn there.  Will you learn Mandarin as quickly as you picked up Thai?  So many questions, but the only way to answer them is to go and do them.  Be our leader and lead on, Mumma and I are right behind you and ready for whatever comes at us.  Family hugs and loves.