Thailand, Part Deux

Hello friends,

Since the close of my Peace Corps Service in April 2011, this blog has been eerily quite. I figured Peace Corps was over and with it, came the end of my blog. Kind of like closing that chapter in life.   But, I realize now that maybe my Peace Corps experience has really just begun as  I gain RPCV status and continue to fulfill goal 3 of the Peace Corps Mission: "taking home" my experience of the 27-month stint (lots of presentations, formal & informal talks in the past 2 years) 

 On the other side, I've maintained relationships with my beloved Thai friends and family and made new acquaintances stateside with Thai business people and students living in the U.S.  In short,  

I'm happy to say that HeidiThailand lives on!  And, as time passes, so does this blog enter a new chapter.  Upcoming are new updates and adventures as my relationship with Thailand (Thai people, Thai food, Thai country, etc.)  continue. 

The impetus for all of this, you ask?  As of yesterday, I'M BACK in Thailand!  Yes, for about 5 weeks I am here to visit friends, my site community, host families, attend a yoga retreat in the South and play tour guide with a friend of mine from high school who arrives in about 2 weeks.  

Sure, life has certainly changed and continued after I left Thailand--so a brief update in pictures on what I've been up to since my recent return...

Not in chronological order:

I've become a yoga teacher & more dedicated yogi since my return--taking a bit of a hiatus from International Development as the job market in my field has proved to be a less than desirable situation.  Here in Prasarita Padottanasana 'A' in Okoboji, IA July 2012

Aubriana Mae made me a proud Aunt for the third time
when my sister gave birth on August 17, 2012.  For the
last 6 months, I have been living in Des Moines, IA with
my sister and her (growing) family. 

At Tiger Leaping Gorge, China May '11--
6 week trip in China immediately following departure
from Thailand--arrived back to the States in June 2011

College buddies reunite in Aug. '11 for a wedding

With cousins in San Francisco, June 2011 (me pictured right--
experiencing some culture shock probably in that very moment)

Sampson is my parents newest pet addition,
he joined our household shortly after my return.
I stayed at their place in Sioux City, IA upon my
return from San Francisco (June-Aug 2011).

With two of my closest friends in Boston (where I lived and worked from August 2011-May 2012)
In Boston, I received my 200-hour yoga teacher training certificate and worked at a 4-star hotel--met lots of Thais!) 

Reunion with Iowa cousins in July 2012, it was so nice to see my Aunt (center)
 before she passed away unexpectedly in October 2012