I have my Thai visa!   I have been on pins and needles waiting for it to arrive. There are so many contingencies that I thought for sure I would have made a mistake and it would be refused. Now I feel like I am really, truly, officially going to Thailand. It's like I can finally stop and breathe.

After 3 days of battling the China Airlines website, I finally gave in and called (again) for help. (Please God let me be able to understand them.) Lo and behold, a nice lady with minimal accent walked me through the process and told me how to lie properly ( "just tell them your credit card name is xxxx") and viola! not only did the ticket go through, but in the 5 minutes she helped me purchase the ticket, the price DROPPED $270! This must be a sign.

I am packed. I know I have packed too much so I may have to downsize before liftoff. Once you get the electronics packed, there's just no room for clothes. I have one standard 28 inch suitcase, a medium duffle, a laptop case, and the ever present backpack. While this would not normally be much for a one year trip, I am already trying to envision how to carry it all by myself through the airport. I may have to practice. And I will definately have to take a taxi into Bangkok and hire a driver to Ban Phe, I won't be able to wrestle these bags on a bus plus there is always the chance of suitcases being stolen on Thai busses, people get off at their destination and take an extra bag or two, and how would you know? Plus, being a falang, you're an automatic target as you are perceived to be 'rich.'

I guess I'll just have to cross that bridge when I come to it.