Mitch and I are now back in the US and we’re trying to figure out our next steps. In the meantime, I’ve been thinking a lot about the positive aspects of my experience in Malaysia. I have learned a lot, befriended inspiring people, expanded my taste buds, and stretched my mind. Along those lines, I am grateful for (in no particular order):

• the people I met who kept me grounded, taught me about traveling, and were always up for trying something new
• finding the courage within myself to seek out experiences I never imagined I could or would have
• my family and friends from home who supported me through phone calls, emails, text messages, comments on this blog, and updates on Facebook
• the friends I made in Malaysia for being there all hours of all days, bringing me out of my comfort zone, and helping me become wiser, stronger, and braver than I thought I could be
• the travels that I had all over Southeast Asia
• learning about different people, places, and cultures
• the food I grew to love, like curry mee, laksa, Chinese vegetable curry, and Indian food of all varieties
• learning to play badminton
• my students for knowingly and unknowingly bringing a smile to my face every day with their inquisitiveness, curiosities, excitement for learning, and positive energy
• my boyfriend, for supporting my desire to teach overseas, talking me off multiple cliffs, traveling all over with me, and never wavering in his affection (I love you, too)

Lesson learned: Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy. Ms. Frizzle was right all along.