The Keds are dead.

   Calm down. My Keds are not actually dead they are just dying. I have been wearing them around the town because I love them, they match everything and they make me feel spunky and almost athletic. I feel the need to represent my country everywhere I go and I believe my Keds give off a good American vibe without being in your face. The moral of this story is that I need a new pair because the ones I own are no longer the queens of comfort. Do not let your hearts be troubled, I will never part from my original pair because I am a sentimental pack rat and I will wear them at least once to every new city I go to.

I do like these kicks though!

   With that in mind Bangkok has an interesting fashion sense. Many of the women dress like they are little girls and many of the men dress feminine. We like to guess if a person is a male or female. I wanted to take a picture of an example, but it felt like exploitation so I did not. Androgyny is a thing here. I had the opportunity to explore an eight story mall by myself yesterday and the sights intrigued me and repulsed me. The mannequins had cat or bird faces. Not knowing the language and having already walked through as much mall as I felt necessary to "get the experience" I settled in my home away from home...a bookstore! Bookstores smell wonderful like warmth, conversation, tea, creativity, color and intelligence all in one. I settled into the teen fiction section and read some books and biographies. I almost read an information book on Thailand, but the lure of the colorful fiction section proved too strong to resist.

 My future daughter will wear these and be Miss Personality.

 You see how they look like terminal exits? The levels I saw were Istanbul, Tokyo, San Fran and Paris.

   I tried Thai food for the first time and the verdict came out as awesome! My exact menu was roasted duck, rice, veggie/fruit smoothie and mango sticky rice all for about three dollars! We ate this food at a different mall. This mall, called the Terminal Mall, has an airport theme and every floor represents a different country. I want to explore this mall so badly. On the America floor you can find a San Fransisco bridge replica and a three story tall Oscar award. The bathrooms also have their own themes and so far my favorite has been a baking themed bathroom with mixing bowl sinks!

This was fun. 

   I have enjoyed meeting some of the other people at the guest house especially an  older woman who runs a guest house in another country. She epitomizes warm conversation, giggles, loving counsel, and pizazz. I kinda want to be like her when I grow up. I like the idea of running a guest house in a foreign country for people in the company. The houses can offer much needed hospitality and home. When we visit the different ones I like to look at their strengths and what I might do differently. I like that you can meet people from all over, make them fell cared for, share stories, serve great meals and still serve in your area. Maybe God wants me to run one of these bad boys some day. In this guesthouse we are not supposed to flush the toilet paper because of the plumbing style here so after you do the deed you throw away your used paper. So that's fun.

Coloring buddies!

   One of my new imaginative stories details what people think when they see our "family" walking down the street. I know that I look a little out of place and I would be curious to see how they thought that I fit in. Am I the surprise child that Shannon and Kathy had and then waited ten years to start their family? Am I the adopted niece whose parents were deadbeats and S and K took me in because of their love for Jesus? Am I an Au Pair traveling with them to exotic lands? Am I the young aunt who tired of her boring life in the states so moved in with my sister to help them out and seek adventure? Most likely people do not think twice about my role or just see me as another foreigner, but it amuses me so I will keep on creating my story.

   The support and love that I have received from my people has bolstered me and given me the freedom to explore and work without regret. Thank you guys for your messages, emails, texts and prayers. I enjoy being kept in the loop and to know that I am not forgotten. I look forward to my Skype dates and checking Facebook and gmail everyday to see what everyone is doing and to have a taste of home while I am in Asia. You guys are the best and if I ever make lots of money or we all go to Thailand together I will serve you roasted duck.