Waking up on the overnight train after a long trip, we were back in the capital of Thailand and ready to spend the last 24 hours of our time in Southeast Asia together. Unloading our bags from the train and back into our trusty van, we headed off for some breakfast near our hotel before checking into our rooms and having a little time to prepare for the rest of the day’s activities. As part of our closing, we have a couple of different things we do, but our favorite is the Wrist Rope Ceremony and we spent the first part of the afternoon doing this thoughtful and emotional activity. We all gathered together one last time, sharing feelings and apprehensions about leaving SE Asia and the group we had spent close to every waking moment of the last 70 days with to embark on whatever the next solo adventures had in store for us. Using a pink velvet chair as our chair of honor, we each spent some time sitting in it as Jared burned the ends of a paracord bracelet together around our wrist and we were showered with heartfelt appreciations and words from our peers.
All dressed up and absolutely slaying, we headed off to central Bangkok and the Chao Phraya River for a lovely riverboat cruise and our final feast. We had some time to wander around the absolutely massive Icon Siam mall and a chance to buy some last-minute gifts and souvenirs before gathering at the pier to await our lovely neon-lit boat. The firework display while waiting was a fantastic surprise and we couldn’t help but imagine that they were celebrating us. Finally, on the boat, we sat at a window-side table and dug into our final feast, which consisted of a delicious buffet of most of our favorite Thai dishes. Some slow jazz accompanied the meal until a singer took center stage and got us singing along to Ed Sheeran and Ellie Goulding, even getting mic time as the singer was obviously quite impressed with our abilities. Just when we didn’t think the evening could get any better, we were treated to not one but two fantastic drag queens who put our performance to shame. After the excitement of their show, we took a quick dessert break before lacing up our dancing shoes and gracing the floor, convincing most of the kids in the audience to join us in a dance circle as well as some of the braver adults. While we couldn’t quite outperform the queens before us, we did give them a run for their money and had an absolute blast dancing the night away.
We returned exhausted to the hotel and said our first goodbyes to P’ Lynn; she of course, had one final gift for us to pack into our already stuffed backpacks. Our first major departure happened as Jess also said a difficult goodbye to everyone as she would be staying behind in Thailand to do some personal travel. A few short hours later, we returned to the hotel lobby to head off to the airport for our departure from Thailand. A brief final van ride later, we said goodbye as we went through security to our incredible guide P’ Lucky, who had done so much for us during our time in Thailand. Another difficult round of goodbyes followed after our landing in Tokyo, and we left Kira, Fallon, and Riley behind as they had grand plans to maximize their time abroad and explore Japan while the rest of us returned to the States. They will be dearly missed and we hope they have enough fun in Japan for all of us!
The group had shrunk to half the size, but we didn’t let it stop us from enjoying a final few games and jokes as we traveled to the hotly debated “greatest state in the US” (sorry, Bodhi, you may be the only person in the group who thinks it’s California). It was bittersweet to finally arrive back home, feeling familiar and unfamiliar at the same time, already missing some of those small things that comprised our life for the past seventy days in Southeast Asia. After collecting our bags and officially passing back into the United States, Jared said a difficult goodbye to Bodhi, Megan, and Matt, who were returning home to the Bay Area, Ohio, and North Carolina, respectively.
We instructors are so thankful for all the people that were able to make this semester happen; it would not have been the same without any of you. Our guides and partners in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, the locals who were so welcoming, the parents and families that supported the students, the office staff who put everything together behind the scenes, and of course, the students themselves who put in so much love and care into the program.
Signing off,
Jess and Jared
