'Nothing Short of Thankful'

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, a list of things inside and outside of Thailand that I am thankful for (in no particular order and hardly inclusive)...


In general I am thankful....
-that I wake up everyday to go to ‘work’ doing something that I love.
-for having a healthy body that houses a functioning mind.
-for being a woman who lives in a world post women’s suffrage, the advent of the pill, the legalization of a woman’s choice, the near demolishment of the glass ceiling, and the acceptance that my brain does science just as well as a man’s.
-that I was born in the United States to parents who are loving, committed, fiscally responsible and weren’t scared to use the word “no” except when I was discussing my dreams.
-that I have people in my life who, despite all of my flaws, still see me as worth their time.
-that I had fabulous public education through high school and that my private college degree didn’t cost me a penny.
-that I have always had access to clean drinking water and a flushing toilet.
-that I have never gone to bed hungry, felt as though I was alone in this world, or experienced abject poverty.


In Thailand I am thankful for...
-public transportation: BTS, buses, trains, and MRT.
-Som-Tum, a dish that makes up at least one third of my diet.
-an endless supply of inexpensive and delicious fruit, likely another third of my diet.
-the Fulbright grant that pays me (PAYS me) to be here. 
-the street food vendors who line Pradiphat Rd. and keep my tummy full.
-the propensity of Thai people to smile at you, always.
-my landlady who is, as my Finnish friend who lives down the hall has deemed her, an angel.
-my Mercer friends who keep me laughing even in the most frustrating and discouraging of moments.
-lab mates who don’t mind my quirkiness, treat me as an intellectual equal, and constantly take me on adventures. 
-Skype.
-love that spans 10,000 miles.


And, finally, this is a repeat both within this post and those who are my Facebook friends but, I think, it is worth the repetition:
To my Friends/Family in the States: The next time you are having a lackluster day walk over to the water faucet in your work/home, fill a glass, and drink deeply. That is a privilege remarkably few in the world have. Be thankful. Remember what is truly important.