Nearing the End

I'm sitting in the library, finishing up my take-home finals, and it hit me, i don't think i have ever written anything on the blog, or in my journal about school here. The reason i am here, and i've neglected to mention it completely. The only explanation i have, if you can call it one, is that i've been so buys soaking up the cultural experiences that i put the experiences that where at least in some fashion similar to my "normal" life, that i didn't find it interesting to divulge. But the fact is, majority of the experiences i have had that are cultural, i was able to do so by the people that i met at the campus. Especially Ajan Jim. I will miss her quite a bit, she is one of the most genuine people, caring, and very passionate about what she does. At the end of her last Thai class that i was auditing, dana and i gave her a classic, peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich. (there was one day that the three of us where teaching and Ajan mentioned she had never tried one) I couldn't believe how happy Ajan was, she was truly touched, surprised and in a way stunned that this was actually happening. She clasped her hands and brought them up under her chin like a little girl and gave us the biggest eyed look of happiness i have seen in quite a long time. I am very lucky to have met Ajan, she made my experience here. Classes, well what i say when most people ask me, Thailand is much more of a cultural experience than an academic one. However having said that, i feel the teachers where very knowledgeable about their subjects, and many passionate (some overly so) to the point where we jsut couldn't follow their train of thought. The cafeteria, now i wish we had that part back in st.louis, i'm telling you, fresh vegetables and fish cooked to order everyday, and always given to you with a smile! Not to mention you can get full from a dollar. But i have a feeling i'm going to be missing the flava in my dishes; i'm telling you, sauces, don't discount them. I know i'm going to get home and wonder if i was actually here at all. I'm already starting ot feel that way and i haven't even left yet. It seemed so long in the middle, but looking back, looking back. I dont' know how to describe it. True, it follows the cliche, but yet there is another intangible aspect. As if there is a fog over the last four months, already it seems a part of my distant past, a past i can't be sure i actually was a part of it was so surreal. Surreal, i guess that's the word i'm looking for. This certainly isn't my goodbye, but it's a taste of it. Shoot, i have 25 hours on a plane for that one, whooo baby!