Today, I’m writing from a coffee shop. This is pretty normal for me. Most of my musings take place in a coffee shop. However, this shop is in THAILAND!! Yup, I’m back in Thailand, and it’s been a great Thai-me (sorry). I’ve been here since Wednesday and have been spending my time walking around, eating pad thai, and visiting coffee shops.
I love the coffee shop (or cafe if you bad/European) scene here. Every place has been so cute, and the environments have been impeccable. Wide open windows, good drinks, and nice snacks have been the rule, not the exception, and I am living for it. I’ve been spending quite a bit of my money at these places, and I need to stop, but it’s just so nice. I can’t stop.
I am (im)patiently awaiting the arrival of my younger sister. While I’ve been chilling this week, I’ll be kicking it into tourist mode when she arrives. I’m excited to see some of the temples I missed the first time around and generally get to explore with her. We haven’t really gotten to travel a ton together, and this is the first time we’re traveling together outside the United States. I want us to make awesome memories together.
I don’t really want to go back to China…
As much as I enjoy my life in China, it can be difficult sometimes. I feel like in Shenzhen, people don’t want to really connect or do anything, and it’s harder to be a little carefree. Shenzhen is work work work. Obviously, I’m not working in Bangkok, so I’m not experiencing it as a worker, but it doesn’t feel as intense as Shenzhen. It’s hard for me to believe that the population of Shenzhen is slightly more tha Bangkok because Bangkok just feels more open both with things to do and people to see.
Being here has reinvigorated me to help Shenzhen be a great place for the expats (and really everyone) that lives there. Some problems I’ve been pondering:
-how do people (especially newcomers) learn what’s happening around Shenzhen
-how can we motivate people to socialize
-how do we combat or work with the work/grind culture Shenzhen has
I think figuring out how to offer spaces for people to take a break, do something fun, and get to know each other is the key to growing the community.
The Long Stretches
It’s been a long time since I’ve last written. It’s strange because it’s summer! I should have plenty of time to do all the things I want and catch up on all the things I enjoy, but instead, I feel behind on my summer goals.
I’m reading, but I’m not reading enough. I’m planning, but the plans aren’t going as planned. I can’t even lie and say I’m writing; I feel like that’s barely been done. I’m not entirely sure why I feel so behind. I feel like I’ve been doing things, but looking back I can’t pinpoint exactly what I’ve been up to. I think having a lot of time to myself kinda makes it fold over and into itself. The long stretches become short really fast.
I’ve still got 21 days of summer vacation left. Two thirds of them will be spent in Thailand. The other third will be spent attempting to get my life in order for the new school year. I’m nervous but excited. There is still time for me.
I think I’m going to leave this cafe now. I’ve been here almost five hours. I haven’t decided if I’m headed home just yet or headed to a board game night I saw advertised. I went to one on Wednesday and head a lot of fun, but now I’m feeling rhe nerves a bit. We shall see.
I’m currently:
Reading: Swimming Back to Trout River – this is extremely good, and also taking me on an emotional roller coaster. I hope to finish soon. Most of my other reads are on the back burner for now.
Watching: Brooklyn 99 while I eat pad thai
Listening to: My Liked Songs playlist on my new Samsung Buds 2 Pro. I love them and spent SO LONG deliberating which ear buds to get.
Playing: Breath of the Wild but I got to a scary part so I’m nervous, Board Games with random people
Thinking about: How we can create a beautiful revolution.