Well, there is so much to say. Let me just start out saying that in situations like this where you're constantly being challenged to your core I find words fail to grasp the the reality of your experience. I want to pinpoint the perfect word that accurately describes the emotions and feelings running through me during this trip, but they always seem to fall short.
I've also been struggling with whether or not I should maintain a blog or not. I have been fearful that having such a strong, constant connection to my life back home would limit my ability to totally throw myself in to a new environment with a open mind. By temporarily cutting off those bonds I feel that I can be challenged the most and therefore growing the most. But I love everyone back home and feel that it is important for everyone to know what is going on in my life and that I am safe (specifically my family). Additionally, I literally have no time to write or even call everyone, so I hope this blog will suffice (especially for my fam).
Time
We live off of the "industrial time structure". That is, we don't observe weekends or the standard "9 to 5" workday. Our director David describe it as " instead of working intensely for five days in a row we work everyday, but at a slower, consistent pace". Its really interesting to step outside that frame of mind and not really be aware what day of the week it is, but just be focused on what is happening here and now. We definitely work longer days. Everyday our schedule is planned with events from (give or take) 7am to 5pm. Our weeks are so intensely packed full of homestays, thai lessons, group discussions etc., etc. that I've stopped planning ahead and only look at what is on tomorrow's itenerary. It's all I can handle. You just have to go with the flow or it all just overwhelms you. Its wacky.