New Pictures - Mom Moved to the States

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New Pictures - Mom Moved to the States

20 January 2008 277 views 2 Comments

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Yesterday my mom and step-dad moved back to the USA. They had been living in Thailand for over a year and a half. My step-dad is a civil engineer and my mom is a Medical assistant (also an English teacher while here). Basically, they were living off of their retirement money which was not yet fully saved up. They were volunteering everyday teaching Thai college students English - it was totally free. My mom found her calling here and she also got the Thai bug - meaning, she’s hooked on Thailand and loves it. It happens to most foreigners who experience the peacefulness of this place. They never want to leave.

But anyway, I had no idea how deeply her students were affected by her. She was teaching a group of four students - 3 girls and a guy. We invited them to have dinner with us at my house a few days prior to my mom departing. They arrived and they also gave my mom a very long hand-written thank you card. I have NEVER in my life heard such beautiful, sincere, sad words from four 20-something college students. These students loved my mom and her teaching ability and caring attitude so much that they quit when they found out she wasn’t going to be there anymore!!! I saw the board at the school which had their names originally written on it so they were signed up for the next class (not yet knowing my mom was moving away) so when they found out they used white-out to hide their names and they dropped out.

My mom and Bill were desperately trying to get stable funding to allow them to stay here longterm - and Bill was trying to get a job as a civil engineer here. It just didn’t work out in time. The card from the students said that they loved my mom so much - that she was their mom and that they don’t want to go back to school there without her as the teacher.

My mom felt really bad - and torn I am sure. Bill seemed anxious and excited to return to the states, wearing his Packer’s Hat and talking about the Packer’s everyday! lol. I could see my mom was torn up inside because she enjoyed it here so much. She found something that really impacted lives of others, including herself. She was doing something she loved. I can’t imagine being married because in that situation it really seems that she will have to give up her dream to let her husband follow his job. That’s why I will probably not get married honestly. I don’t expect anyone to give up their dreams and passions for me and live in Thailand. And, I can’t change where my heart is - I can try to - but Thailand is my home. At least for now. When I saw my mom’s face prior to leaving, she looked so sad. She had been staying at my house for two weeks. It was the first time I had lived with her since I was 17 or 18. It was actually wonderful with her here. Josh loved being around her. My family has never been close, so Josh and I have really been on our own.

Wow this is getting to be a really long post! Last thing I wanted to mention, I hired my mom as my Customer Services Manager. I needed the help desperately and she needed the job! I thought it would make her stay but she’s being pulled in all sorts of directions. Well, anyway, it is midnight here in Thailand now so I need to get some sleep. I must be crazy - I set my alarm for 4:30 am!!! I don’t know what is happening lately but I have so much to do and it’s hard to manage!