The Memory of Asia Will Live ON!

I never thought I would ever go to Asia, let alone live there for five months. Now that I’ve been in Ethiopia for a month, I realize how much of a lasting impression it has left on me. There have been some amazing memories and eye-opening experiences that I’ll never forget. This blog is dedicated to some of my favorite memories that I’ve had in Asia. Here we go!

 

Month 1: India

1. My introduction to squatty potties

2. Eating authentic Indian curry with a banana leaf as my plate with no utensil in sight. (Right hand only!) Being dropped off at “Pillar 72” at 10:30pm in the rain. (We thought we were going to a bus station, but it was actually a pillar under the bridge, where we had to wait across the street outside of a random business. The only thing that kept me from not losing it was singing “Joyful, Joyful” from Sister Act 2 and doing all the dance moves to go with it.

3. “Anotha bus.” The phrase we kept hearing every time a bus came that we thought was ours, but wasn’t. *insert head bobble that you aren’t sure is a yes or no.

4. Nigerian fellowship night on a random Monday evening

5. Playing dress up in our saris and making a music video to Justin Beiber’s “It’s To Late To Say Sari”

                                        

6. Getting our portraits drawn 9 times at an art school run by missionaries 

                                                        

Month 2: Nepal

7. Climbing a mountain to the highest point of Kathmandu to pray for revival in that country

8. The “crockpot” (30 people using one squatty that can only be flushed once a day; insert tears)

9. Getting to know and loving on the girls who worked in the cabin restaurants, and in turn helping them have a way out of that lifestyle.

                                        

10. Paragliding in Pokhara

                             

11. Being baptized in a bathtub of a hotel named after a Hindu god; The Lord will be glorified regardless!!

12. Witnessing sunrise at the Himalayas

                             

13. Getting invited to a private party at our favorite restaurant, Evoke

 

Month 3: Thailand

14. Being chased down a mountain by elephants in the Thai jungle

15. Kluay tahnn!! (sp?) Thai fried bananas that we had almost everyday that were absolutely delicious!!

16. Eating pork and rice at the top of a waterfall.

17. Walking up river to a different waterfall with our students holding our hands to keep us from slipping.

18. Fellowship nights with delicious food and bible study

19. Seeing multiple people get healed!

20. Giving haircuts to school children even though none of us did hair.. Yikes!

                            

21. “1 year, 2 year, 5 year, 100 year!! I THINK TO YOU!!!!” -Lunchai, I think to you too, Lunchai

22. Team I61’s answered prayer of a beach trip!

                              

23. The epic travel day ending with a speedboat ride at midnight to get to the island of Ko Samet for said beach trip

 

Month 4: Cambodia

24. Witnessing sunrise at Angkor Wat, one of the Seven Wonders of the World

                               

25. Tuk-Tuk Tacos!

26. Realizing I was placing my identity in my hair, so finding some scissors and hacking it off. 

27. Cambodian sunsets

28. Thanksgiving Day complete with an old football game, a photoshoot, and an authentic Thanksgiving dinner at Common Grounds.

 

Month 5: Vietnam

28. Getting to know and loving my new team, Zion

29. My introduction to snot rockets (Holding one nostril closed and blowing the mucus from the other; totally mortified when I saw it happen)

30. Helping with “Merry Christmas, Danang” Christmas pageant

                    

31. Christmas in ‘Nam! (Especially shutting down Bon Pas Bakery, because it was their first time ever seeing Black Santa)

                                   

32. A night on the town in Hoi An- An ancient town in Vietnam that was absolutely stunning

                             

33. Authentic Pho, mmmmm!

34. Directing and starring in videos that coincide with the English curriculum at Fisher’s SuperKids

35. Decorating Fisher’s SuperKids for Christmas, Cristin knocking over a huge vase, spilling dirt eveerryywwhheerreee

 

To my people: Uncle “P”, Shilpa, Little Yvette, Brother Brian, PJJJJJJJ!!, PA, Bye, Matti, Bom, Hua, Lunchai, Romany and the team at Overflow Guest House, Anica, Bronwyn, Teresa and Little AZ, I will hold on to you, and I thank you for being a significant part of my story.

Asia, thank you for opening my mind to the Eastern way of thinking. Thank you for your delicious food, sunrises and sunsets, and kind people. To the home of snot-rockets and squatty potties, I’ll think to you forevveerrr!!!! See you again!!