Can Chiang Mai really be over?

The exit came and went so fast...the last 48 hours in Chiang Mai are a blur, and even though I thought I was prepared there were still so many last minute details to take care of.

It was dark as our caravan of 3 cars pulled away from the Palm House (our home for the past 2 years in CM) and I finally broke into tears as my friend Sara bore silent witness to this emotional moment.
3 years come and gone...our son born, friendships blossomed, countless new experiences...

I find myself drawn to reading blogs like this and this on repatriation and transitioning out of your living situation abroad.
*YET*
We're not really repatriating...are we? No, we're here in the States for about a month before heading on to our next adventure. We left with all of our belongings in 7 suitcases (the rest of our stuff was packed up and shipped in May) and my mind *knows* that we're not returning to CM. My mind *knows* that we're not staying here...it's so hard to describe how heavy my heart feels for CM. And the clock is ticking as we make the biggest transition of our lives.
Now that the jet lag has left the room, I do feel more present here, but I find myself having to practice grace in so many of my interactions. Like I read about in this blog post, excerpted below...

Tip #10:  Grace – Give it Freely and Keep Some for Yourself

• When someone says, “you lived in Japan?  My neighbor is Korean.”  Give her some grace.
• When someone says, “you lived in Germany?  Heil Hitler!”  Give him some grace.
• When someone says, “you lived in China?  Oh my gosh, were you persecuted?”  Grace.
• When someone says, “you lived in Africa? That is so cool, say something in African.”  Grace.
• When no one says anything, and you really wish they would.  Grace.
• When you snap, or cry, or crawl into a hole . . . it’s for you too . . . Give yourself some grace.
• Landing is hard . . . sometimes because it was supposed to be easy.  As you leave and after you land grace is key.

I recognize that we are living a life that not too many people can relate to. Having one of these experiences of living abroad is the experience of a lifetime. We're about to embark on our second great adventure, and so I am reminded again of how blessed I am.  I am grateful. I am grateful that I have the experience and skills that allow me to work in a school like CMIS (Chiang Mai International School, where I have just spent the past 3 years) and at CNG (Colegio Nueva Granada, where I will work in Bogota). I'm grateful that my son is making connections all over the world. I'm grateful that we get to explore a new continent, and that exploration begins in just a few short weeks!

In a previous post I listed the top 10 things I would NOT miss about CM, but now that the experience of living in Chiang Mai is in the past, and I can look back on it, I need to share my top 10 list of the things I WILL miss.

The Top 10 List of Things I WILL Miss About Living in Chiang Mai (in no particular order)
10.) Pedicure: $10
9.) Thai massage: $10 for an hour
8.) the butt hose (a bidet spray attached to every toilet)
7.) Coconut water direct from the source
6.) Driving Perry, our scooter
5.) Mango Sticky Rice!!!
4.) Living in a giant house with a giant yard
3.) Monk sightings
2.) Teaching yoga in my home
1.) Friends

P.S. Stayed tuned friends, for a new blog will begin soon! Our adventures in Bogota will be documented on a new site soon to launch.