Going down the river

So it's rainy season here in Thailand. With the exception of aerobic class cancellations and one day without school, life goes on as normal. Earlier this month, I got to experience the wonderful Buddhist festival of Loi Kratong. In this festival, people build beautiful boats out of bananna leaves. The boat's interior is circular and holds many items including, but not limited to: several incense burners, candles, hair from your head, nails, newt blood ( just kidding) and sometimes some money. The idea is to take this boat down to a river, light the candle inside, and then think of troubles plaguing your life. You then put the boat in the water, and your troubles float away. It was beautiful getting to see all the boats lit up at night. Even though the act itself was quite spiritual, I think in many ways the journey there was just as memorable. My entire street had flooded from the torrential downpours occuring that day. As I leave my mother and house behind in my plastic body condom (A.K.A. poncho) I quickly realize that Thailand rain is serious business. I wade through kneedeep water to the end of my road. I then wait for a ride on a blue truck taxi (Sawngthaew) for many minutes quickly becoming drenchingly wet. Finally one comes. Just as I arrive at my destination twenty minutes later, the rain begins to subside. As I approach the river, I discover an awning where Thais are waiting and chatting. I enter the awning and low and behold I discover people I've met before. Students from a nearby school who recognized me from speaking English with me at a local department store. We talk for a while, take some pictures, and laugh at the fact that the shirt I am wearing is the exact same one they saw me in two months ago at the mall. Finally the rain completely stops. Thais swarm to the river bank to light their Kratong boat and shew away their troubles. The river is simply glowing with scintillating, radiant light and I am once again reminded of why I came to Thailand in the first place. The light from the river coincides with the light in the people's eyes, with the light in our hearts and I know that finally I am home.