And so begins another year.

The other night rain was pouring down in a way that made me think the earth was desperate for water. It was relaxing to fall asleep to, especially since my sleeping schedule has been out of sorts. Hearing the thunder clap at a distance and the rain beating on the roof, I was out before I could count to three (I also took a melatonin, you know for added measures) but around 1:40 AM I woke up to a raging storm outside my window. The lightning woke me up first before sound followed after. It illuminated my room so brightly, as if someone was taking a picture with the flash on. I knew what was coming next, raised in Florida, I am no stranger to lightning storms but here they’re few and far between. The thunder that followed the lightning was so terrifying and deafening that I involuntarily threw my blanket over my head like I was six years old and all that could protect me was my comforter. It took me a second to realize the move I just pulled wouldn’t help me and I started laughing at myself because, well, I’m crazy. It also took a little pep talking to calm my heart rate, “Cristina, you’re a 30 year old woman, get it together. You know what lightning storms and thunder storms look like, there’s nothing to worry about! After that, sleep was as far away as the sunrise. The worst of the storm was over but lightning still lit up the sky, causing anticipation and anxiety for the thunderous sounds that pursued. But the storm was already moving on, leaving emotional devastation in its wake.

A rather rude Welcome Back if I say so myself.

For the most part, traveling went pretty smoothly. Almost everything I packed arrived undamaged, with the exception of a few items I know I packed that mysteriously were no longer in my luggage…that’s the risk you take when traveling, I guess. But don’t think Korean isn’t getting a nicely worded letter from me.
I can never sleep while traveling, maybe an hour here and an hour there, but usually I’m wide awake. It doesn’t necessarily bother me because the flights are loaded with newly released movies, movies I’ve been wanting to see but never had the chance to watch when they were in theater. I’ve learned that I can function as a normal human being for up to 25 hours of no sleep, after that 25 hour mark I shut down and I shut down fast. I mean, it becomes painful to stay awake. I become emotional. I cry. I’m rude. I plop down wherever I am and take a siesta.
In my previous flights to and from Korea, I was extremely lucky with having empty seats between me and the next person in my row. I always ask for an aisle seat because I like to get up as I please and hate having to crawl over people to get out, plus I drink a lot of water and you don’t want to be in my way when I gotta go to the bathroom. Unfortunately, this flight was booked and there were no extra seats available so everyone was squished, making the best of the crowded situation. I sat next to an older gentleman from Vietnam, who had the supernatural ability to sleep 11 out of the 15 hour flight, but not without using me as a cushion. There were a few times when I got out of my seat because I couldn’t handle being a pillow and he’d wake up (sorry dude). At one point, I genuinely considered lifting our arm rest and saying the heck with it and legit cuddling Tran (maybe not his real name?), it really is a no bars hold when you’re flying such a distance, but I was never tired so…it didn’t happen. My flight from Korea to Thailand was much more pleasant. I sat in a row next to another nice gentleman who offered me his extra seat so I could stretch out and sleep. Although it doesn’t sound like much, his kind gesture allowed me to recharge after tapping out all of my energy. I think looking sleep deprived and wild made him feel sorry for me too. I don’t think I would have survived my trip if I didn’t take that nap.

Going through customs was easy, arriving home went smoothly, unpacking took a little time, but now that I’ve been home for a few days, I’m settled in. It amazes me how quickly one can travel to the other side of the world. Just last Saturday I was in America, eating Chick-fil-A and today I’m driving on the left side of the road, in the right side of the car, dodging horrible Thai motorists…and feral dogs. Just this morning I avoided hitting a litter of puppies running in and out of traffic and the mother of the dogs started barking furiously and chasing my car. Another welcome back.

This upcoming week, I plan on visiting all my Thai friends, signing up for an intensive Thai language study course at the international university, and preparing lessons for English classes. It’s like I’m picking up right where I left off. I’m constantly in awe at how fluidly I can live between two countries, two cultures. It’s difficult to choose which place I want to be in more. America has my family, friends, and my kitty (can’t forget Chick-fil-A); it’s my country, it’s the language that I speak and read. But Thailand has my heart because of the injustice of human life, it has my passion for wanting to make a change in this world; this country has opened my heart to loving the least of these in ways I never knew possible. I’m lucky enough that I don’t have to choose any time soon. I’m right where God has asked me to be.

And so begins another year.