what i have learned
Autor: Renand C. e Sá Grando | Publicado: 2012-01-04T20:03:00-08:00

I came alone, with my joy, my fear and my expectations. I didn't even know where to go and who would be the people around me. It could have been boring. Unsurprising. It could not have been this challenging adventure I gentle dip into. 

Today, thinking upon the journey I have been to, I feel sadly relieved. Relieved because there were situations driven from bitterness. Sad, because those situations makes me feel a better person today. Sad, because now I leave beautiful people behind that I met in the circumnstances of those situations. Sad, because among this bitterness there were the most enjoyable and intense times; the most life-learning and spiritual-healing experiences.

I started in local conferences with AIESEC Thammasat and suddently I was engaged in projects and meeting people from all different teams and the national team. I went to Vietnam and had fantastic surprises in a few hours of deep gorgeous experiences in Ho Chi Min (Saigon). My cards, source of money, were stuck in cash machines. And then, when I came back to Thailand, the flood. Homeless.

From then, I had already planned to be in the volunteer team of the World Jam 2011, in Chiang Mai, north of Thailand. I went there and joined the participants, sharing magnificent experiences from outstanding people from completely diverse atmospheres of our globe.

After, with a few remaining belongings that was with me and a pair of flip flop, I joined a workshop in Transformative Leadership in Chiang Rai. One morning went far up in the mountains with young brisk amazing people. I attended Thai festivals, interacted with Thai culture and constantly raising my aware of dealing with inner spirituality and balancing body and mind. 

I went down to Chayiaphum province days after, where I joined a project in a poor farm community to teach English. But suarely the sharing of language skills would not be the purpose of this that was one of the most life-changing experiences for me. That people, that kids in my school, that food, my thai family... that faces will be kept in the most sacred of my memories. The respect, appreciation and overall that uncondicional love stamped in a rather isolated community.

In between, I have travelled to many different provinces, and across the country I left many hearts, many shares, much passion and willing to emanate and spread human sensitiveness, identity, connection.

And then I learned and learned. Learned how genuine is the art of avoiding personal conflict, and that simplicity often generate beautiful results. That actual development is not aligned with welfare. That we ignore or not realize our inner feelings, our intimate spirituality, and then that often mind and body are unbalanced.

That there is something that goes not through language, gestures, actions, or what one gives or receives. There is an essence in common, better captured in a cosmopolitan environment. an essence. empathy, perhaps. It's what connects us. What makes us, from the whole, present by the part. Or what makes us, from the whole (holy?) present, the part.

Thailand brought me southeast asia, asia, east, world. across many ethnics and nationalities. attached in the picture, there are a few gift i have received from people's empathy.

I give you an amazing, great, delightful, yummy and fragrant "thank you". It was awesome. And I will remember of this, persons, places, colours and smells, forever.

kop khon na krap
kop khon na krap!