Yesterday I finally arrived back in the U.S from Thailand after a long couple of flights.  The flight back gave me a great opportunity to reflect on the things I did and the friends I made at CRMA. The last couple of days included farewell parties and personal goodbyes. Waving goodbye at the airport to our Thai cadet sponsors while coming back to States was bittersweet. I really felt that I knew them after three short weeks, but I was looking forward to returning back to the U.S too.  Looking back at my time in country, I realized that even though the Thai cadets and I live on opposite sides of the world, we are more alike than different. They like the same music, sports, music, and clubs that American cadets like. They are as much interested in Basketball as we are.

                The best part of my experience in Thailand was conversing with the Thai cadets and learning about their home and what they do in everyday life. What the most surprising thing I learned was the difference in lifestyles throughout Thailand. Daily life near Chiang Mai is different than in Bangkok or in the Deep South. This difference in living is much like the same as it is in the U.S; New Englanders have slightly different habits than Southerners. In Thailand, this makes for a varied culture that, from the outside, seems homogenous. Being immersed within CRMA and with the Thai cadets was a unique opportunity that I enjoyed thoroughly.    

                I will be finally putting some pictures up either this week or the next from my trip; I hope they give a more vivid picture of what I did than words can!