Ring Ring! Hello, Ashley, This is the Real World Calling. It’s time to come back…

White Water River Rafting on the American River - Happy Father's Day!

After a whirlwind two weeks which included a welcome home party for my Mom from the Philippines, packing up an entire dorm room to move home, visiting Rotary family and friends, and ended with rafting down the American River for Father’s Day, I found myself back on a plane wondering how in the hell two weeks went by so fast.  I was excited to go back to Bangkok because I missed my friends, my apartment and my cheap $3 fish, papaya salad and noodle dinners, but I dreaded what was to come.  

Reality and the real world were two difficulties I knew I had to face – and I knew this time, they would both come as slaps in the face.  To me, there was nothing more important in the world than being home, and I actively made this decision without a hesitation, well-knowing that taking two weeks off a precious one-year Master’s was near-impossible.  I told myself that this was my vacation and I was entitled to have a little fun, and can return to the mayhem soon enough.  But I didn’t think that my “vacation” would be so BUSY and jam-packed - I wound up coming home tired from my two weeks off!

Is there a HOLD button?!

The minute I got home, I hit the ground running.  I had four days to prepare myself before I boarded a plane for Myanmar to begin my field research for my thesis, and I knew I was already behind with most of my classmates having entered the field over two weeks ago.  I was ready and worked through my surveys, interview questionnaires, and bookings to ensure that I had meetings set up with the right people, agencies and organizations, and that I knew what questions I was going to ask each one.  I have secured a head translator who has been wonderful in helping me with my research, and who will accompany me the majority of my time in Myanmar.  He will also help me hire other members of our research team, who will help us go out and survey the local villagers...