My Daughter in Thailand - Part III

Here they are. More pictures to share with you all. 

Chelsey is finally back at work and earning a paycheck, but as promised, I'm sharing the last of the photos from Thailand. Here's Part III from her Loop Abroad trip. I'll link Part I and Part II in case you missed them!

Some more touristy stuff for you. These two and the next two photos were taken in Doi Suthep - Chiang Mai. 

The one below is referred to as the Golden Spire. The real temple exists in Bangkok, but I'm not sure why. I'll need to do some research on that!

Here's Chelsey looking all thuggish and tatted up. Yantra tattoos are believed to be magical and they bestow mystical powers, protection, and good luck on to the bearer. The three main effects of a Yantra tattoo: to make the bearer more eloquent, to ward off evil and hardship, and to invoke fear in everyone around the bearer. The tattoo only confers its powers so long as the bearer observes certain rules and taboos, such as abstaining from a certain type of food. If that food happens to be cheeseburgers, then it wore off when she child stepped back onto US soil. 

In the voice of a thug, "PEACE!!"

There's no way you would guess what this is, no way! Seriously, give it a try. Um, Ruffles? Doritos? Gee, I'm so confused. Okay, so everything is written in this foreign language, but if you look closely, you'll discover that this company wants the consumer to know that it is the "original flavor". 

The gang is all here!

The girls get therapeutic massages after a long day working with big animals.

This looks like a rice field to me, but I could be wrong. It's beautiful either way, even though the water looks a bit murky.

Chelsey and her roommates hanging out and being lazy. And she said they were roughing it in Thailand. 

I received a lot of videos of the elephants, but I didn't know how to save the Snapchat videos to my phone. Here are the majority of the elephant pictures Chelsey sent via Snapchat.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you've enjoyed a taste of Thailand. Thanks to the Loop Abroad folks for keeping my daughter safe and making sure that she had a productive experience.

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My Daughter in Thailand - Part II

So many more pictures to share with you all. Chelsey is finally home in the United States, but I haven't even shared some of my most favorite photos from Thailand. Here's part II from her Loop Abroad trip, as promised. Here's Part I in case you missed it!


I can only guess that this is some sort of tea indigenous to Thailand, like Japan and their green tea called Sencha. Or Korea and their Ginseng tea. Whatever it is, I love the cup! 

Did you really make these?
Because I can't even roll that tight.

I think these are purple orchids.
Not sure what they did with these.

In Hinduism, Ganesha is the Lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also worshiped as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth.

This fountain is gorgeous and I love the Thai architecture and lights as the backdrop. This is almost like being there.

She looks so lovely and refreshed here.
I know the flight must have been a doozy!

Thai version of Mountain Dew. I would have guessed this one even if she hadn't given the hint.

Chelsey is enjoying the land, the people, and mostly the many animals she gets to hang out with in the village. 

One of the things I enjoy most about seeing photos of different countries is their culture. The most captivating pictures are those taken unencumbered by traditional media coverage. It looks like they are grinding corn or something.

I guess they are shopping for and donating to kids in the local area.

Making new friends in Thailand.

It's paint! No, she did not get this tattooed.

These fish eat the dead skin off your feet.
They are getting pedicures, maybe?

I'm so happy to have her home. I will post more photos in part III of Chelsey's Loop Abroad trip to Thailand soon enough. Stay tuned!
 


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My Daughter in Thailand - Part I

My daughter made some serious progress in her life this Summer. She is living in Thailand  for two weeks. 

She registered for a program with Loop Abroad to learn about big animal care on an elephant sanctuary. The trip serves two goals: learning to care for big animals and building memories. Part of learning is the experience you gain. The best part will be the cultural one of being in a country far unlike what she's accustomed. 

I like the Loop Abroad outlook on life and the reason they formed this organization. It is especially important for young adults.

How would our lives have been different if we'd traveled more, experienced more, known what was out there, and spent more time around people who truly love what they do before we'd tried to answer the question, "What do I want to be when I grow up?"

This is her picture story.  Don't forget to read the captions.

Chelsey is about to leave Tallahassee and head to JFK International Airport. She will then leave the United States with her Loop Abroad classmates and guide masters. Talk about a nervous mommy!

Smiles on the outside.
Nervous bundle of mess on the inside!

No longer traveling alone! *EXHALE* I'm going to be fine.

We'd just received the same text message
from Verizon.
"You've used up 90% of your 12 gigs."
The next cycle is 2 weeks! W...T...F??!

Learning about spirituality and Buddhism.

Yes, culture!

I can make the same thing out of red bell peppers.

Most beautiful smile!! =)

Learning art and culture.

Taking in the landscapes.

The food.

The food, part II.

Wildlife? That looks like a pretty pampered
and domesticated animal to me!

This is not the last of the photos. She's still in Thailand and I have enough for part II and part III, so stay tuned if you'd like to see more of Thailand and Chelsey's adventures abroad!

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Growing Up Way Too Fast

I say there's nothing more encouraging than when your children explore the world beyond what's most comfortable and secure. Then I wonder. Comfortable and secure for whom, them or me?

When my son joined the Army and deployed to Iraq, it was hard on me. But when I see his photos and realize the independence he'd gained, the empowerment he must have felt being out there in the world, living life on his own, meeting new people, sharing skills, and helping others, it made my heart swell with pride. 

The photo above is my son Cameron posing with a group of Iraqi kids with whom he'd just shared the secret powers of the international language of peace and love. The kid next to him has perfected the signature peace sign. Click "Like" when you see it.

Fast forward several years and hear this. MY DAUGHTER WENT HIKING IN THE MOUNTAINS AND GOT LOST!! She had just told me about it this morning, after she'd been trekking the Eastern United States for the past week, hiking, camping, and bathing in the wilderness. I keep telling myself that she's 21 now and I have to let it go, let HER go.

Mountains of Colorado. The girl is brave!

Growing pains are not just for kids. I've been learning this lately, AGAIN. I love my kids so much, but I know they are grown and capable adults. I'd like to think we raised them that way. But hell, I have to give them their credit, too. I would never have made a great mother had it not been for the goodness of my children who helped me every step of the way.

The hammocks Chelsey and her friends
called beds for the past 7 nights!!

Never would I have imagined
my baby girl exposed to the
harsh dangers of the world.

And she thinks she's grown.
I think she's right! Love you both!

Have you experienced your own growing pains lately?




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