Hi friends,
I realize I haven't written in a while. It's extraordinary how much faster life moves now I'm back. I returned April 17th, fought jetlag and greeted old friends, then started a new job on the 23rd. I thought the days between returning and restarting "the real world" would give me time to recover, or at least reorient. I didn't remember the speed at which I used to run my life. One blink, no pauses and I'm finishing my third week at work without even thinking about it.
Is it that easy to slip back into an American professional life? To spend $20 on a burger and beers? Wear a dress and heels? Advocate for increased bicycle ridership? Sing along to Disney songs and Radiohead at karaoke?
Well, yes actually.
I resumed my old life so quickly that I didn't finish processing my trip. Asia now tickles at the rear of my thoughts like a recent ex, or a complex problem with a solution just out of reach. Flashbacks hit me whenever I find quiet space, and I suffer from intense cravings for noodle soup like you wouldn't believe.
The other day I ordered pho to go from a place around the corner from my apartment. I pulled on a hoodie and my chacos for the walk. As I strolled along the quiet, lit, wide, clean sidewalk, a car passed by me and stopped at the red light. Normal American City life, right? My attention faded from the street and returned back to Bangkok. I closed my eyes to concentrate on the loud honking, the roads crowded with careening scooters driving on the wrong side, the stream of people navigating through the street vendors hawking clothes and lottery tickets and spiced meat that wafts over the burning heat even at night.
I breathe deep. Hold. Hold inside me.
Then I walk into a bright white hipster soup & beer restaurant, pay $8 for a poor imitation of my memories, and begin the journey home again.
Katie
