I'm no Rambo.
Traveling throughout Southeast Asia has been such a learning experience. Cliche, I know. But I mean it in more of an internal way.
And quite honestly, my misconceptions about this place from movies and horror stories have kept me from taking one of the most important journeys of my life. A mistake I hope to correct in other areas as well. A close friend told me that I should watch "Rambo" (2008) so that I know what to expect, and how to deal with problems that I may encounter while in Thailand. I told him he was worse than a backseat driver. At least they were moving. He never left the couch. But as I reveled in my small victory in reparte, I realized that if I was honest, I was a little nervous. An unfounded anxiety about a place and people I knew nothing about. Was it fear of the unknown? Had I already subscribed to my own version of Rambo? Needless to say, I'm so glad to be wrong in every way, conscious of my fear or not. The people of Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia (haven't made it to Vietnam yet, as of this post) are every bit intelligent and kind, sarcastic and self deprecating, passionate and sensitive, apologetic and ruthless, rich and poor, regretful and proud, and like every other person I have ever made a friend in my life. Not to mention the other backpacking-budget travelers I have met here. From all over the world they hail... Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Canada, Portugal, England, Brazil, Japan, China... all of them open-minded, sharp, encouraging, eager to share, and unselfish. And hardly no Americans. And even more intriguing... no Americans between 35-50 years of age. I can only assume that we are amassing toys and wealth at this age, not to mention, "raising the kids."But as a British couple with 2 children ages 4 and 6 trekking 40km over 3 days with hilltribes said, "They've learned." So, I'm learning.Sorry, Rambo.
And quite honestly, my misconceptions about this place from movies and horror stories have kept me from taking one of the most important journeys of my life. A mistake I hope to correct in other areas as well. A close friend told me that I should watch "Rambo" (2008) so that I know what to expect, and how to deal with problems that I may encounter while in Thailand. I told him he was worse than a backseat driver. At least they were moving. He never left the couch. But as I reveled in my small victory in reparte, I realized that if I was honest, I was a little nervous. An unfounded anxiety about a place and people I knew nothing about. Was it fear of the unknown? Had I already subscribed to my own version of Rambo? Needless to say, I'm so glad to be wrong in every way, conscious of my fear or not. The people of Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia (haven't made it to Vietnam yet, as of this post) are every bit intelligent and kind, sarcastic and self deprecating, passionate and sensitive, apologetic and ruthless, rich and poor, regretful and proud, and like every other person I have ever made a friend in my life. Not to mention the other backpacking-budget travelers I have met here. From all over the world they hail... Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Canada, Portugal, England, Brazil, Japan, China... all of them open-minded, sharp, encouraging, eager to share, and unselfish. And hardly no Americans. And even more intriguing... no Americans between 35-50 years of age. I can only assume that we are amassing toys and wealth at this age, not to mention, "raising the kids."But as a British couple with 2 children ages 4 and 6 trekking 40km over 3 days with hilltribes said, "They've learned." So, I'm learning.Sorry, Rambo.
