I can attribute the success of my time in Thailand to one person. The person who was my roommate, my chef, my chauffeur, my bug catcher, my sister, my mom, my friend. Anna really was everything I needed here in one.
When I needed someone to be giddy with, she would gladly laugh with me and tell me stories of her past in her broken English. Such as the love poems she would write to tell someone she liked them. That was only 15 years ago, when she was 25 ha. It reminded me of the elementary check yes or no if you like me notes. She gave me advice as any mother would do. This included the heart melting, "Harry, be careful your heart." I wish she was married, she would make the best mom.
She fed me so well, oh man so well. I was never without biscuits (cookies) in the fridge, or my favorite meals waiting for me for breakfast. If she found out I liked something she would get it for me all the time. Laura and I would joke about the magic food table. Every time we would turn around there would be more amazing food sitting on it. Endless amazing food. Hence the little belly i'm coming home with...I can surely thank Anna for that one.
If I needed anything at all, Anna was quick to it. When I had my burn she was ready to rush me to the pharmacy for all the medicine she could get her hands on. When I needed some pb&j she would rush to the store even if she didn't know what peanut butter even was. She would drop anything to give me a ride, even to pick up my peacock painting (which I bought btw).
I'll miss Anna more than anything. It took us a little while to break each others shells, and by a while I think I mean a week (we are working on the three month scale...) But once that happened we were instant friends. I know I was fully accepted when she would tell me stories of her past.
She has been through so much that I can never begin to image. She was born in Burma and raised in a Christian family. She has a memory of a gun being held to her head as a child. She has stories of being separated from her family at an all girls school. She has lived through more things then most people do in a lifetime. All of this makes sense to me though, she has her priorities straight, she knows what is important. And I want to be like her, just like her.
What Anna has taught me:
Pray before every meal. Even in restaurants.
Give anything. Time, money, help, People are more important than any amount of things.
Work hard. I have never seen someone haul trees like she did.
Laugh hard. Anna laughs at me all day every day. Selfishly I like to think that she laughs at me because I am funny. I think the reality is that she laughs at me when she doesn't understand...
To point to things with your lips. She is pro at that one
Be a good Christian. All of her family is named after the Bible and hearing her insight on religion is something i'll never forget.
And pure and simple generosity. I have never met someone so accommodating, welcoming, loving, and selfless. She was ready to feed anyone that walked into our house and make them feel right at home.
I'm incredibly grateful for the last three months, for so many things that have happened. I am coming home a new person, well I'd like to think so. I can say that most of that is because of Anna. She is a beautiful person inside and out. She made Thailand a second home and for that i'll be eternally grateful. I'll miss her like crazy, but can't wait to keep in touch. She already has my next trip to Thailand planned out.
Oh man, saying goodbye to Thailand is going to be hard enough. Saying goodbye to her just might break my heart.
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