We’re leaving for Thailand tomorrow night and I’m in preparation mode. I’ve put away the Christmas decorations, took down the tree, made packing lists and to-do lists, and did a little research on-line today. Christmas came and passed so quickly this year yet it seemed like our trip to Thailand would never get here.

I purchased a couple books back in August to help me brush up on my Thai and orient me to the cities that we’ll be visiting. I’m excited to see how much Thai I can still speak and if it will all come back to me while I’m there. It will also be nice to see Thailand through my grown-up eyes and senses since the last time I was there I couldn’t wait to come home. I remember my dad advising me to wait until I grew up before returning to Thailand. He said, “you’ll appreciate all this later”. I hope he’s right. I can’t wait to see the elephants, beaches, my dad’s old neighborhood, and my mom’s old house. However, I’m not looking forward to the sticky weather and blood-thirsty mosquitos. So far it looks like we’ll be in Bangkok for most of the time and going on small trips to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the north and Phuket in the south. Good times…