This and that

[robyn_migratori]

I quit my weekend job and now have time to do stuff on the weekends! Score! So this afternoon we went to see Final Destination 5, which is the first movie in that particular franchise that I've seen. I actually enjoyed it, though it may have been its filming location -- I love me a good dose of Vancouver. Watching the Lions Gate Bridge collapse in

Comments

[annabelleonyx]

I think living abroad for a year should be considered a success. Lots of people take 6 -12 month sabbaticals.

I don't see how going home will be going back to exactly what it was before. I mean, maybe superficially, but living away for a year has to at least have changed you in some way. If nothing else you'll appreciate an apartment with a full kitchen, no?

Also, doesn't the idea of going home sound SO good. I can't even imagine. A few weeks in ENGLAND and I am itching for home.

[robyn_migratori]

If nothing else you'll appreciate an apartment with a full kitchen, no?

Excellent point. I've already got a mental list of stuff I plan on cooking once I have some counter space, a big oven, and a stovetop. It's going to be awesome.

Also, doesn't the idea of going home sound SO good.

OMG yes. Right now it's like 20% sadness and guilt, and 80% "ZOMG I'm going to have access to ALL of my clothes again!"

[jennywren06]

I would not consider your time in Thailand a failure at all. I fully admit that I wouldn't last a month in most foreign countries. Also, I'm pretty sure that most people that go abroad to work intend to return home at some point.

I'm so glad you quit your weekend job so you can spend some time doing some fun things before you leave. And you never know what might be waiting for you in Vancouver. I hope you're able to find something that makes you happy back at home.

[robyn_migratori]

I'm so glad you quit your weekend job so you can spend some time doing some fun things before you leave.

It is an enormous relief, it's true. I'm glad you guys all advised me to quit. :)

[reve119]

I plan on living abroad for a few years at least and I know I probably couldn't hack even a few months in Asia.

Everyone that I miss will be excited to have me back for all of about a month, and some of them probably didn't even notice that I've been gone.

I was thinking something similar to myself this weekend. What makes me feel weird about my trip abroad is I feel like I have no one to say goodbye to in America, nobody who'll even notice that I'm gone, save for my parents and some people at church. And even my parents will be in Spain for the first week so it'll be a different goodbye.

Do you think you'd ever want to live abroad again (especially since you have experience teaching)? Remember, you Canadians have the "working holiday" visa so you're legally able to live and work in other countries, if you so desire. Right now I could only wish to have a working holiday visa so there'd be one less obstacle for me to eventually go to France/Italy/whatever, find work there and learn the language(s).

[robyn_migratori]

Do you think you'd ever want to live abroad again (especially since you have experience teaching)? Remember, you Canadians have the "working holiday" visa so you're legally able to live and work in other countries, if you so desire.

I absolutely do want to go live abroad somewhere again. I would probably not come to Asia again is all. That's one nice and somewhat surprising thing to have come out of this situation, learning that my enthusiasm for travel hasn't really waned.

[scripted22]

Don't you dare "admit defeat"! I call any time spent fulfilling a dream to be a success. For the rest of your life, you will know what you accomplished and, at least regarding Thailand, you will never have to wonder "what if."

Everyone that I miss will be excited to have me back for all of about a month

Heh. When I lived in Minnesota and visited Maine, people would make time to see me and I would run around making time to see all of them. I have been back in Maine almost ten years, and there are some people I have seen zero times since then.

[robyn_migratori]

I have been back in Maine almost ten years, and there are some people I have seen zero times since then.

Ha, yeah, I'm expecting something like that with a few of my friends.

[jeeperstseepers]

How is not liking a place considered "failure"? You're supposed to like every single place in the world? Failing would have been if you'd found yourself homeless or arrested or seriously screwed. That hasn't happened (yet!).

There are probably any number of other places you'd have enjoyed the experience of living abroad. It's sad that you ended up somewhere that's just not right for you, but not liking Thailand doesn't make you a failure.

[robyn_migratori]

Failing would have been if you'd found yourself homeless or arrested or seriously screwed. That hasn't happened (yet!).

Heh, that's an interesting perspective (and a good point).