3/26 Back to Asia

3/26/2013: I am back on the international road. My time at home in Colorado was unbelievably quick, followed by a great trip to North Carolina that was also too brief. During my week-and-a-half back in CO, I ran a 7k race with Dad and Kirk, worked a couple days, struggled to readjust to the new time zone, did some lumberjacking in preparation for Brady and Kara's wedding, then served as a groomsman in said wedding the following weekend. The wedding was a blast and I got to see Amy and a whole bunch of other great people I hadn't seen in a while. We celebrated Dad's birthday that Saturday and went cross-country skiing in Frisco. I got my car fixed during that time; a $1,538 expense I was not anticipating. Upon returning from the mountains, I buckled down to study for my GMAT so I might have a better chance at getting into Duke. I studied Monday and Tuesday for my Wednesday afternoon GMAT exam and spent the rest of my time working on my Duke application (due that Thursday) and trying to get a few hours in for work. On Thursday I flew to Durham and met up with Ariel, who I hadn't seen since Feb. 7, and I visited Duke on Friday. Ariel and I explored Durham, Chapel Hill, and Raleigh that weekend (mostly by looking for bars in which we could watch March Madness). It was a great time back in the US, but I am once again in the midst of a 27 hour journey to Asia. My route this time leaves Raleigh-Durham airport at 8pm March 25, flies to Washington-Dulles, then to London-Heathrow, then to Bangkok, finally arriving in Chiang Mai (Thailand) at 9:20am March 27. Someone will have to fill me on anything noteworthy that happens March 26, since I'll be missing it.

Unless this turns out to be the most elaborate break-up plan successfully executed by a girl who wants her boyfriend as far away from her as possible, Ariel will be joining me April 22. Until then, I will work a lot of hours to make up for all the work I didn't do while back in the US. I'm booked for a couple of nights at "Thapae Boutique House," and if it is nice, I'll stay longer. Terry Gage will be in Chiang Mai a few days after I arrive, so hopefully we can meet up and do some exploring, since he'll be with a friend who is familiar with the city. Once I'm caught up with work, I'll begin my search for a more permanent living situation, which should be interesting. And then I'll have to leave the country once again before April 27, since I think my tourist visa to Thailand is only good for 30 days. It is supposedly easy to get to Laos (or anywhere in SE Asia for that matter), so I'll have to do some research into good quick weekend trips over the border.


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