[mirex]

My first impression of Thailand was one of confusion. Everything you read on the internet and in books cannot properly prepare you for what you will eventually encounter, although the advance research surely helps. I was impressed with the quality of the roads, but the city (PTY) was quite congested and noisy (aren't they all). I guess the smells and the heat were the first things that attacked my senses. I thought being from Florida would prepare me to deal with the heat and humidity of Thailand, but I was wrong. As for the smells, I think it was the mixture of exhaust fumes, sour garbage, and freshly cooked food that sticks in my mind. It is easy to be taken advantage of when one first arrives. There are a lot of eyes watching, and they can detect a newbie from a mile away. Once I got settled into a routine and began meeting the people, I became a bit more comfortable and confident. When I met the lady who would eventually become my wife, I learned much more about how average Thais really think and live. On my second trip we visited the family home in Sahatsakhan. That is the Thailand I eventually fell in love with. I enjoy rural life much more than the city. Everything in the countryside revolves around food, religion, and work. There are fun things to do also. It is also easier to meet people, and there are fewer names to remember. The cost of living is very small and the quality of the company is great. I really feel that my head is farang, but my heart is Issan. I can't wait until I am able to retire and move there permanently.