By Though I have visited enough Wats to last me a lifetime and I’ve sweat more than any normal human being should, I love Asia. In the Philippines I spent my time with some of the most hospitable people I have ever met. Malaysia astounded me with its gorgeous landscapes (I climbed a mountain one day and spent the next snorkeling and relaxing on a fantastic beach). Thailand however, is different. Thai culture has been so hard for me to understand, my homestay was definitely less then ideal, and the language barrier made a lot of situations more difficult then they should have been. Despite these things, Thailand has still been my favorite. I have learned so much here in so many ways. The classes were (for the most part) great and from them I have a much better understanding of Asian history, politics and art. Not only did we have a few really good teachers but our class is full of students who ask some great questions (leading to some interesting answers). Visiting ALL the historical places and Wats in Thailand (ok, so maybe not all…but sometimes it felt like it) helped in giving me a clearer idea of the history and religious aspects of Thailand. In some ways it made Thai culture clearer, but mostly it brought more questions (which I think is great!). Finally, I have learned a lot from the people I have been travelling with and the experiences we’ve shared.
Today is my last day in Asia and I am still slowly realizing how much I have learned. I am still processing Filipino, Malay, and Thai Culture and I’m still trying to understand the effects of them on my life.