Here goes my umpteenth attempt to write 'regularly' about life in Mae Sot. Fingers crossed it will become a habit (again):)
But first...a verbal montage of my time in the West:
*Christmas tree decorating & cookie baking with Mom*seeing Vegas, the Grand Canyon, and Hoover Dam with family*finding a kindred spirit in my Aunt Barb who dared to lie face-down over the skywalk and look into the Grand Canyon, then (even more scary) lie on the pavement with me under the light show in the old part of Vegas*wine tasting and Cookie party with my VA Ladies including 'fast walker' Anna Martin*salsa dancing at Lucky Bar in DC*latino food*DC Gay Men's Chorus Christmas pageant*mechanical bull riding at the National Harbor*Wynne Family Party including Beer Tree* Italian Christmas Eve*pie-tasting/creating*
Really, this is a shortened version. I had an amazing time and was so thankful to see almost everyone I wanted to on this trip. Thanks to everyone whose couch/extra bed I crashed in between Florida, Virginia, DC, Maryland, New York, and Bangkok (for the departure and return).
Since being back in Mae Sot I've been realizing that I need to take more advantage of living in Thailand! Thus, massage Tuesday was born. Sauna Saturday (at the Chinese temple) will be soon to follow. I've never really been a massage person but Mom got me one for my 30th and it as truly the best I've ever had! Other massages have left me feeling beaten (literally) and not at all relaxed. But now I understand why people swear by these things.
If you've been keeping up with the news you've probably heard about the release of many high-profile political prisoners in Burma. This is certainly a step in the right direction, and I've heard many Burmese express their desire to return home one day. However, change is slow and even a positive step like this can be politically motivated. Sadly, such a significant step in the country has also overshadowed the fact that ethnic groups are still being targeted by the Burmese military (the SPDC). While it is an exciting time in Burma, the majority here view the 'progress' with more skepticism than hope.
Finally, I will leave you with a story that has a very happy ending. There is a bar in Mae Sot run by ex-political prisoners. One of them was in prison for 17 years because he protested against the government. He's been out for about 4. Just take a second and imagine your life, minus 17 years. Think of what you missed in these 17 years...in your family, your social life, technology, education...Thiha lost 17 years of his life fighting for his country to be an inclusive democracy. I think I speak for most people when I say, there are very few of us that would be willing to risk a sentence like this for our country or a greater cause. A year or so ago Julia came to Mae Sot to work with Thiha's organization, which does work on behalf of former and current political prisoners. Yesterday they were married.
This was one of the more emotional wedding receptions I've been to (the ceremony was small and in a Buddhist temple so most of us weren't invited to that). Julia's family had flown in from Australia and the whole Mae Sot community was there to support them both. The energy was just indescribable! It is so good to see something so wonderful happen to someone who truly deserves it. Sigh....:)
But first...a verbal montage of my time in the West:
*Christmas tree decorating & cookie baking with Mom*seeing Vegas, the Grand Canyon, and Hoover Dam with family*finding a kindred spirit in my Aunt Barb who dared to lie face-down over the skywalk and look into the Grand Canyon, then (even more scary) lie on the pavement with me under the light show in the old part of Vegas*wine tasting and Cookie party with my VA Ladies including 'fast walker' Anna Martin*salsa dancing at Lucky Bar in DC*latino food*DC Gay Men's Chorus Christmas pageant*mechanical bull riding at the National Harbor*Wynne Family Party including Beer Tree* Italian Christmas Eve*pie-tasting/creating*
Really, this is a shortened version. I had an amazing time and was so thankful to see almost everyone I wanted to on this trip. Thanks to everyone whose couch/extra bed I crashed in between Florida, Virginia, DC, Maryland, New York, and Bangkok (for the departure and return).
Since being back in Mae Sot I've been realizing that I need to take more advantage of living in Thailand! Thus, massage Tuesday was born. Sauna Saturday (at the Chinese temple) will be soon to follow. I've never really been a massage person but Mom got me one for my 30th and it as truly the best I've ever had! Other massages have left me feeling beaten (literally) and not at all relaxed. But now I understand why people swear by these things.
If you've been keeping up with the news you've probably heard about the release of many high-profile political prisoners in Burma. This is certainly a step in the right direction, and I've heard many Burmese express their desire to return home one day. However, change is slow and even a positive step like this can be politically motivated. Sadly, such a significant step in the country has also overshadowed the fact that ethnic groups are still being targeted by the Burmese military (the SPDC). While it is an exciting time in Burma, the majority here view the 'progress' with more skepticism than hope.
Finally, I will leave you with a story that has a very happy ending. There is a bar in Mae Sot run by ex-political prisoners. One of them was in prison for 17 years because he protested against the government. He's been out for about 4. Just take a second and imagine your life, minus 17 years. Think of what you missed in these 17 years...in your family, your social life, technology, education...Thiha lost 17 years of his life fighting for his country to be an inclusive democracy. I think I speak for most people when I say, there are very few of us that would be willing to risk a sentence like this for our country or a greater cause. A year or so ago Julia came to Mae Sot to work with Thiha's organization, which does work on behalf of former and current political prisoners. Yesterday they were married.
This was one of the more emotional wedding receptions I've been to (the ceremony was small and in a Buddhist temple so most of us weren't invited to that). Julia's family had flown in from Australia and the whole Mae Sot community was there to support them both. The energy was just indescribable! It is so good to see something so wonderful happen to someone who truly deserves it. Sigh....:)
