My last post

Well, my last week at work. Nearly four months ago I left Honolulu, school, my nice apartment and my lovely husband to come to Bangkok and do something for myself and my Ph.d. 

On my way home, picture stolen from Antony Tam

After much time spent having 'me' time and 'me-and-my-ph.d.' time, I can definitively say it was worth it. Although that 'osmosis' process I was hoping to happen, didn't, and my research question is still elusive, I still think that this UNESCO experience was one of the most beneficial things that will happen for my future research, but did not help the immediate issue of helping me define my question. Looking back, there were definitely nights when I could have mustered up some energy and did readings or put in some hard slogging thinking.  

But first things first, Kanchanaburi. My last weekend trip of my Thailand adventure and the sight of the famous bridge on the river Kwai, where some 14000 POWs died to make the train line for the Japanese invasion of south-east Asia. I hadnt realized how many Aussie diggers died in the process and admittedly, was found myself a little upset while looking at documentation in the museum. The cemetery next to the museum was a very tranquil place, I could easily spot the Aussie graves by the logo. Although it did take some restraint not to smack Asian tourists (not being racially stereotyping- those were just the only ones I saw) who would sit by the graves and take sexy-posing selfies. Oh man, I wanted to smack them hard. 

The bridge itself was not the original (having been blown up a year after it was built), but was still quite impressive and still put to use (as we discovered when a train came along and we were right in the middle of it). We walked along the entire length of it and looking at the train tracks lost into the green jungle was quite a sight. Having some dinner on the river afterward, a motorbike ride back to our hotel felt exactly what a night ride should feel like. No city lights, relatively quite night along the river and just the right amount of wind rushing through my hair. We also spent a day hiking out to Erawan national forest, where we saw the renown and quite beautiful seven stages of waterfalls. 

My last week of work lasted only four days. And it showed, I feel like I left a substantial amount undone due to my brain being everywhere. That big English report I had hoped to finished, never did get finished. But, I am actually a little happy about this. Since the UN (and therefore UNESCO) is so poor these days, interns are the most relied on feature for work (in my opinion). Meaning that they need as many as is sustainable. In this sense, I feel that staying in touch with UNESCO staff and having as many opportunities for future contact would be very helpful. This English report, might therefore be a link to them in the future. On the Friday we had the usual tea party to celebrate the end of the work week and also for my leaving. It was quite a nice affair before my some 30 hours of traveling. 

On a final note, thank you to all who have been reading this site, I see that it is over a 1000 visitors, which blows my mind, but when I think about it, I am sure it has just been my mum checking up on me. Now that I am back in Hawai'i, life has been a little lazy, but that is not a bad thing of course. I am looking forward to an actual date tonight with my wonderful husband! Life could not be better. Mahalo and Aloha.