In two weeks and three days I will be waking up and throwing all my last minute items into a bag, then quickly realizing what I forgot once I get to the airport. This journey is actually starting to feel real to me now. Each morning I wake up and check my e-mail to see if something came up or if it was cancelled, but it hasn’t been. I’m starting to believe that this is actually going to happen. I went shopping last night at Kohls because while I am gone I need to wear “riap roiy”, which is Thai for professional attire. I’m not used to dressing up. I feel as if I live in my uniform or sweatpants while I am in school so it was interesting trying on more than half the store – that’s no exaggeration. The employees there pissed me off though. The whole time I was looking for clothes a lady was following me around and watching me. Then I was in the dressing room when they were getting ready to close and they told me that if I leave everything in there they will have their employees put everything away for me. I politely let them know that I couldn’t leave it in the dressing room because I planned on buying everything and they talked to me as if I couldn’t afford it. While I was paying they decided to make small talk and asked me if I was going on a trip, so I told them how the Army was deploying me to Thailand and that’s when everything changed. The employees all decided they wanted to talk to me and tell me to stay safe and called me sweetie. Oh sure, when I am just some teenage girl you think I am going to destroy your store but then when you hear I’m in the Army your opinion miraculously changes. People piss me off sometimes.

This was only part of what
the dressing room looked
like. 

Anyways, I am trying to get a list together of what everyone wants from Thailand, this way I don’t forget anyone or anything. So, if you want something just leave me a comment, send me a text, or message me on facebook and I’ll add it to my list. (:

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer.

-         - Britany 

The start of my journey to Thailand

January 5th I received an e-mail saying I was selected out of 1,218 people to travel to Thailand this summer. My first reaction was that this e-mail was sent to me on accident or this was some kind of a joke. However, this was so real. Since then, I have had to get way too many shots, complete a book, a 10 minute PowerPoint, a research paper, file for my passport and numerous other assignments. I do not know why the Army selected me for this experience but it is definitely a blessing that I am extremely thankful for. On 28 May I begin my journey up to Fort Knox, Kentucky for "pre-deployment training". In my eyes this shouldn't be classified as a deployment. I am not going to be Over-Sea's fighting for this country and everyone's freedom, my life isn't going to be at risk and most of all I won't be doing anything heroic. Anyways, my plane lands in Bangkok, Thailand 4 June where I will stay until 28 June. I get to turn twenty in Thailand. I am positive that this will be a birthday that I will always remember. While I am in the country, I do not know what I will be doing, except that it is being classified as volunteer work. Either way, I am really excited for this trip and the opportunity to experience another culture that I am completely unfamiliar with. 


I have been told that while I am over there the house I am going to be staying in will have WiFi, so I plan on updating this blog as frequently as I can. I figured this would be wayyy easier than sending everyone a message or posting something on facebook. I look forward to sharing my journey with everyone interested. (:


- Britany