It is the first time in my life that I have spent a Christmas holiday in a country where most of the people cherish the actual festival more than just another reason to go out and party. When I was studying in New Zealand, I saw the preparation, the buzz, the hype and the importance that radio and T.V. commercial created. But I would spend the actual festive season in Thailand because of the southern hemisphere summer school break. Therefore, this is rather special for me to celebrate Christmas in Australia.
I walked around the city in the afternoon to find empty streets, closed shops and lifeless restaurants scarcely opened. Finding a bar at night becomes unexpectedly difficult. The colourful lights that use to keep me accompanied are off, leaving me in the darkness. The unfamiliar chilly breeze adds on to the loneliness in an unaccustomed setting, and it makes me think how bad it must be for people on their own.
Finally, a year is about to end. I slowly recall my life for the past 365 days, quietly mulling about every moment spent. Being away from my “safety cave” may shock and confuse me today, but in this unbelievable trip around the world I just have to embrace the unexpected. This is just another moment of life that I have to go through with self-understanding and consciousness. I will never regret living this extraordinary experience.
Monday, 7 January 2008
Australia
After three months of travelling, I have heard and talked about Thailand more and more often, either within my team or with people I have encountered. There have been many times when my team praised the warm weather and sunny days; I just thought that Thailand is hotter and sunnier. When someone crazily ran down to a beautiful beach, I just thought that Thai beaches are more amazing. Every time the team was amazed with the low living expenses, I just thought that it is also cheaper in Thailand. It may be a patriotic feeling but I have never realized how wonderful and liveable my country is.
Spending time in South America and South Africa where there are not many Asians to be seen, being a Thai is some kind of a rare species (but warmly welcomed). I felt excited with the new setting and practice that I am not accustomed to. But arriving in Sydney where there is such a large Asian population and loads of Thai restaurants, the feeling of my nation evokes an unexpected strive for identity.
After a series of incomprehensible countries, I admit that I feel strange when I hear Thai conversation in an unfamiliar sight. It makes me a happily confused though. Familiarity brings me back to my beloved country, stressing the special invisible value of “Thainess” imprinted in myself. Further more, I have accidentally bumped into a friend I know from Thailand. That longing for self-recognition and mutual acceptance has built up notably. Nationality becomes an invisible and indescribable bond.
In the past when I travelled overseas with my mum, I never wanted to find a Thai meal, I never understood the joy of meeting Thai people abroad, I never liked expressing my “Thainess”. Looking back now, I feel that it was nonsense. But now I gladly embrace what I am and what I have in my country. It is not a homesick feeling, but a pride of being a Thai.
I love Thailand…..
Spending time in South America and South Africa where there are not many Asians to be seen, being a Thai is some kind of a rare species (but warmly welcomed). I felt excited with the new setting and practice that I am not accustomed to. But arriving in Sydney where there is such a large Asian population and loads of Thai restaurants, the feeling of my nation evokes an unexpected strive for identity.
After a series of incomprehensible countries, I admit that I feel strange when I hear Thai conversation in an unfamiliar sight. It makes me a happily confused though. Familiarity brings me back to my beloved country, stressing the special invisible value of “Thainess” imprinted in myself. Further more, I have accidentally bumped into a friend I know from Thailand. That longing for self-recognition and mutual acceptance has built up notably. Nationality becomes an invisible and indescribable bond.
In the past when I travelled overseas with my mum, I never wanted to find a Thai meal, I never understood the joy of meeting Thai people abroad, I never liked expressing my “Thainess”. Looking back now, I feel that it was nonsense. But now I gladly embrace what I am and what I have in my country. It is not a homesick feeling, but a pride of being a Thai.
I love Thailand…..
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