Top 5's

So my computer has crashed (damn Microsoft updates) & I cannot access my pictures...which means I can't post them on here. (I'm not even letting myself think that they may be lost forever). So it's time for something a little different. I finished reading "High Fidelity" a month or so ago & just borrowed the movie from another volunteer. So with that & our upcoming Close of Service Conference at the end of the month here are a few Top 5's...

(And like the movie, these are in no particular order)

TOP 5 THING I'LL MISS ABOUT THAILAND
1. The food! I've become addicted to spicy food! If it's not spicy, it's just blah. Not to mention sticky rice. Luckily I was able to take a cooking class & I'm going to ask Pee Nuch to teach me how to make some other dishes (including sticky rice).
2. The people! Thai people are so kind & generous. They will go out of their way to help you & make sure that you are ok. I don't know how many times I've run into a casual acquaintance & they've completely dropped all of their plans to take me somewhere. Their kindness will be missed!
3. The fruit! Mangoes, papayas, mangosteen, lynchee, pineapple, guava...it's all delicious! And so cheap! I just bought a papaya for 6 baht (about 2 cents)...you could never find that in America!
4. The beaches! Islands, sun, sand...what could be better?!?
5. The scenery! I've seen the most amazing landscapes & the most beautiful flowers in this country...I'll miss the colors!

TOP 5 THINGS I WILL NOT MISS ABOUT THAILAND
1. Hand-washing my clothes! Enough said.
2. The roosters/rabid-werewolf-dogs/loudspeaker announcements that wake me up at all hours of the night & morning.
3. The Thai's general lack of planning. I don't know anywhere else where a Dairy Queen will run out of ice cream or a planned meeting will start 5 hours late or a deli will run out of bread!
4. Bus rides/songtao rides! No more 10 hour bus rides to get anywhere!
5. The bugs/scorpions/birds in my home.

TOP 5 BEST MOMENTS IN THAILAND
1. Swearing In! The Princess was there...pretty special!
2. Time on the beach!
3. Songkran in Chaing Mai! City-wide water fight...what's not to love?!?
4. Family/friend's visit!
5. Superbowl at the Patterson's. Pj's, Doritos, beer, and the Superbowl at 5am.

TOP 5 WORST MOMENTS IN THAILAND
1. Getting stung by a scorpion!
2. Waiting to meet my host-family! I've never been so nervous in my life. They were wonderful, but waiting to meet them was the worst!
3. First bike ride in Sakao! Many of you remember that email...an hour & a half of pure torture! I don't think I could sit properly for a week (which was unfortunate as I had to get back on the bike for that same ride the next day)!
4. 3rd Class Train Ride! Hot, crowded, wooden benches, and 16 hours long!
5. Nong Om's Wedding. I just wrote about that one.

TOP 5 FAVORITE PLACES IN THAILAND
1. Pagoda Inn/Chaing Mai
2. Kho Phi Phi
3. Kanchanaburi
4. Nan Market
5. Peace Corps lounge

TOP 5 THINGS I CAN'T WAIT TO DO IN AMERICA
1. Hug my family & friends!
2. Take a hot bath!
3. Do laundry the "normal" way.
4. Eat "real" pizza. I don't want corn, seafood, mayo, green beans, or cabbage on my pizza!
5. Drink real milk. No more boxed stuff that doesn't expire for a year & tastes like crap!

Here's to hoping that my computer is fixable & that I haven't lost all of my files! And if you haven't seen/read "High Fidelity" I would definitely recommend it...Nick Hornby is on my "Top 5 Favorite Authors" list.