What Happens When It All Goes Awfully Wrong?? Smile!

The reason I've been a little MIA from my blog-I left the Teach Abroad Program after the first term to accommodate my friend that came to live with me in Thailand. I'm a Teach Alumni, and now that I'm on my own heres what happened-after 2 months of just settling for where I was and what I was doing I decided to be drastic! I quit my job, got kicked out of my house and found my self in a place I just didn’t want to be. 

Let me rewind. I moved to a new city to work. Hat Yai. I didn’t know much about the town when I moved there but I took a leap, packed up everything and caught a plane to the south of Thailand.  I was living in Sattahip, a small town below Bangkok. My home was on the Royal Thai Marine Base teaching wonderful little 4 year olds surrounded by amazing people. For many reason, I decided to try something new. So I left. When I got to Hat Yai it was like a culture shock! And I was in the same country! There were definitely nice people but few and far between. Though I made sure to try and surround my self with those kind hearted people including my friend who moved all the way out here. I tried to stay positive. Then I started teaching at a school where the teachers hated me because I was new and a foreigner. But again, tried to stay positive. I loved the kids I taught. They knew that, the teachers knew that and the parents knew that. So that made it worth it. Then after 2 months I had a run in with my boss. She had been fine before that. I ignored all the rumors I heard about how nasty and crazy she was. But one day she flipped her switch and went totally nuts on me! With in 5 days, she had called me into her office, screamed and shouted as much as she could. Then followed me down the street on her motorbike just to yell at me some more. When I decided to stick it out until the end of term, for the kids, she then walked in my house. No knocking, no calling before hand, just walked right in. The yelling, on her part, began again. There was never any point to fight back or stand up for my self when she called me stupid because the woman just start flipping out more. That was it. The moment she came into my personal space I knew I had to quit. If she thought she was able to go that far than there was nowhere I could go to avoid this woman. The next day I quit. Well long story short, she was the signer on the lease for the house my friend and I were living in. When I quit and she lost it, again, we found ourselves on the street the very next day. (this was illegal by the way but we just wanted to get as far away from her as fast as possible!) After checking into a hotel, then finding a 1-bedroom apartment we were free!! 

Again, what happens when it all goes awfully wrong? Smile!! My friend decided he is going to come out to visit me since I no longer had work. He is coming out before the end of term. So I set out looking for some part time work. A week and a half later I found a new full time job. The school was desperate for a teacher even if it would only be for one month and I would be leaving before the term ended. What’s the catch? I’d have to move again, but this time to an even smaller town that I knew nothing about. The only things I had heard was that is was small, boring, there was nothing to do and almost no foreigners. So I took it. Don’t ask me why.

Smile. I’m here now. Sitting on my porch. I wake up to the sounds of roosters yelling at me not to be late. Now going to sleep, listening to the daily intercom chants from the mosque close to the house. The sky is beautiful and the sunsets are even better when they fall behind light clouds and swaying palm trees. It brings in a cool breeze that makes the heat of the day worth it. I'm looking up. I can actually see stars?? Perfect. With maybe 2 scattered clouds, the bright moon and stars shining through palm leaves against the black sky; an image I will never forget. I have no one to speak English to on a regular basis. I’m alone. Smile. The biggest event since I've been here was the rice cropping ceremony that was put on by my school. It had maybe 50 students and 10 teachers. The parents, local towns people, the governor and a camera crew all came. It’s the country! After school and on the weekends I take out my motorbike and just enjoy the mountains and the breeze. I might be alone but there hasn’t been a day yet where I feel alone. Some times we just need to get away from it all. I have a school where they respect me, students who come running across the school just to say hi and shake my hand. Sure there are those tough days when a class of 45 12 year olds don't feel like listening and try and create chaos! I'm tired, have a soar throat from trying to shout over them but at the end of the day, it ok.  The teachers eat lunch with me even though we don’t speak the same language and a town that’s not only beautiful itself but the nicest people who fill it up. The town has only one main road and I do all my shopping at the local market. It will be incredibly sad to say good-bye so soon but I am so happy I’m here and I’m lucky that I said yes. And smiled! 

"What happens when you hold up a cat and drop it? It lands on its feet."-My dad

      

Stories That Must Be Told

There are some stories that must be told and after I constantly tell people about this particular one, I realized it wasn't on here! What do you think about this? 

About 2 months ago my parents came to visit. One place we went of course was Ayutthaya, the ancient city. ( Look up Biking Through History from my old blog about this city) I had emptied out my entire wallet so I wasn't carrying around unnecessary papers. I slipped it in the drawer of the night stand in the hotel room. We did our tour and two days later got on a plane for our next adventure. I pulled out my wallet once we got on and there it was, the reminder that my entire semesters savings were sitting back in the hotel room. Right away the attendant realized I was freaking out and came over right away. With in minutes she was on the phone with the hotel and they had arranged for an email conversation with me and the hotel, as well as arranging a place to mail my things if they found it. The plane landed and the flight attendant gave me her phone number and wished me luck. The next day I received an email from the woman at the hotel to inform me of the exact contents that were found which included 9,120 baht, 2 credit cards and business cards. They hadn't touched a penny! Or I suppose a baht! Ha. We had arranged a time and place to mail my things and that was that. These people were already amazing to me. Then I got another email a few days before we were heading back to Bangkok, anxiously waiting to get my money back, that read they thought it would be best to hand deliver my package. The last morning of the trip, I sat in the lobby and out in the rain pulled up a bright pink taxi. I boy popped out, couldn't be any older than me, and ran in the door wiping off his shirt. He stood there while I untied the string on the package. Inside was another package. I ripped that right open. Finally after the layers had been peeled I pulled out the contents in the manila envelope. In my hands exactly as I had put it in the drawer was a stake of papers, money and credit cards. I'd never been so happy. I definitely paid for his 2 hour taxi ride back and something for actually bringing it too me! But even more I couldn't believe there had been people that would be so honest and go to such lengths to return my things back safely. 

The Difficulties of Thai Exams

This is a theme I’ve come across with many Thai exams. I can’t speak or all schools, but I have heard this a lot and am now experiencing it first hand. Thai schools-full of cheating and fake grades. I’ve given my first set of exams and it was all bad! The students will do what ever it takes to cheat. They aren't even hiding the fact that they are cheating, they just do it! I’ve asked other teachers about this and they all have said the same thing. I even talked to foreigners who have lived here for a few years and they go to the extreme to say that the cheating is so well known that they won't even go to the hospitals here for anything major because they wouldn’t want to have surgery from people who cheated their way through their medical exams. My students looked confused when I told them there would be NO cheating in my class. Like this was the first time anyone has ever said it. What't the point of giving students exams if they just think they are going to pass anyway. Now I graded the exams. The range of grades landed anywhere from .5 out of 46 to 46 out of 46. I presented this to my employer and I am now facing major consequences. I am not allowed to fail any students. Even if a student didn't fill out the exam, I must pass them with a 50%. This isn’t fare by any means! So, reluctantly I had to raise all my grades so that everyone passed. Ok, I've unfortunately accepted this.  

New School

It seems that since I got to Thailand I have been given an enormous amount of luck. First with being put on the Royal Thai Marine base and been shown an amazing amount of respect as a teacher. I made great friends and was taken care of by everyone I knew and didn’t know for that matter. I was worried about moving to a whole new school, new students, new teachers, and new town. Nothing about it is familiar or comfortable. But it’s supposed to be an adventure right? First day of school went on with out a hitch. Not only am I teaching a whole new age group, but also I have my own Thai assistant, and my own classroom that she brings the students to everyday. I’m decorating the room with the children’s work and drawings too. The classroom is beautiful with bright colors painted on the walls.   

 
 

Actually the school its self is painted pink and blue and orange. It’s amazing. The difference in the student’s behavior is a complete 180 from my old school too. These students actually pay attention and want to learn. Well, most of the time. I only have 30 in each class instead of the 45 before. This makes a world of difference. And the greatest feeling about it all is when I go to lunch and 6 or 7 students will sit next to me and try and speak English. Well the extent of the transaction is them point to something and saying, “flower, chicken, pig, blue, pink, ice cream.” Then they follow me back to the classroom the rest of my break period. When they finally have to leave they wrap their little arms around my waist and give me a big hug. Then there’s my schedule. I don’t start work on Mondays until 12:30. On Thursdays and Fridays I finish at 1:30 and the rest of the week I start ay 8:30 and finished at 3:30. It’s just perfect. The only down side I see so far is that since I’m only at school the hours I have class and I have my own room, I don’t get to interact with the other Thai teachers and that was something I really enjoyed at my last school. It’s like I come for the job then leave. Though there is one teacher who is incredibly nice. Most mornings he either brings me iced tea in the little plastic bags that people drink out of here or a bag of fruit. So I’m sure I just have to give it some time and I’ll have gotten to know the others fairly well. I hope. It’s only been a week and I’m so glad I made a change to try a new challenge. I’m going into this taking it head on!

Caught Some Where Between Alive and Living the Dream

I just realized that five months is over in less than a week. It feels like so long ago that I was here but at the time has seemed to fly by way to fast! I’ve grown incredibly close to so many people here. Have you ever had that bipolar feeling of being intensely sad but then the next moment being completely happy!? At one moment I’m sad I have to leave every thing. But then another moment I’m so happy I got to even be here and have one of the greatest experiences! Here have been some random events during my time living in Sattahip on the Royal Thai Marine Corp. base. I helped a girl out with her English homework one night and ever since, the family has been incredibly generous and invited me over to their house to eat amazing home cooked Thai dinners. They took my roommate and me to the local fair with the whole family and some friends. One of them won me two cute stuffed animals. Later that week he was moving to a new base so he invited me out to the beach with him and his friends for a going away party. Another great friend takes me out to dinner, to use the Internet at his office, and brings us food whenever he thinks about it. Once he took me to a party after sports week and I was of course the only girl there, seeing that this place is all men. Their faces were priceless when I walked in with him. All stunned to see the farang there. Then I got to sit at the officer’s table, which is a huge deal here! His friend last week took us to karaoke and even once to his base to have a bb gunfight on a real playing field for the Marines. We got all dressed up in their camo uniforms and everything! Imagine paint ball fight except this was in the dark with little tiny pellets. Then they took us to dinner and dessert to celebrate being promoted to a very high-ranking officer.

 

With just those people, my stay here would have been more than warm and welcome. But the list continues! If Julia and I are ever walking somewhere on base a soldier will pull over and pick us up whether he speaks English or not. Yet they always seem to know where we live. Some how that strikes me as very interesting and creep at the same time. My favorite is when I’m sitting on the beach on the weekends. I’ll have my headphones on, reading a book and just enjoying the beautiful weather when out of no where I can hear a faint voice beside me. I always have a random person come up and start talking, asking me questions. They are so sweet and just want to speak English or meet the foreigner that they get up the courage to come talk. The Thai people are just so intrigued by foreigners. Oh and yesterday I went the massage place that Julia and I have been a frequent customer at. Julia went in and I decided to wait for her and not get anything done. For the hour I was out in the front, I sat in the best massage chair I’ve ever sat in. Then they made me an iced espresso outside at their drink stand. When I asked how much, she just smile and said, “For you free.” Then she came back with a little bag with an amazing bracelet of beads from Brazil. She apparently also makes jewelry and gave me one of her pieces. Also in the bag were Buddha “coins” that everyone wears. She noticed I had nothing to put it on so in 2 minutes she made me an adjustable string necklace. She told me it was for her friend; me. We exchanged email addresses and chatted the rest of the time through an English-Thai computer dictionary. I have a feeling they don’t do all this for their normal customers but that’s just how nice they are to foreigners, they always want to make sure we are happy! It’s been absolutely amazing here. And that’s just my life outside of school. Which is only half of my life in Sattahip. 

The people at school that I teach with are some of the nicest I’ve met. We always sit around and chat about life, school, Thailand, travels, the children and so much more. This is all by the way in very, very little English. I teach kindergarten which is in a different building so I’m always around the same teachers. If I have a mosquito bite, they will go get something to take away the itch. If I have a headache they’ll get me medicine and if I have a little time before class, they’ll make me try all types of foods and drinks and desserts. The other day one of the teachers invited me to her hometown with a couple of the other kindergarten teachers. Now for the reason I’m here. The kids of course!

 

Every day I walk up to the sliding gate and I’m welcomed by little shrieks from the students in their adorable uniforms. “TEACHERRRRRR!!! DENELLEEEEE. TEACHERRRRR!!!” It’s too adorable to ignore. They run up and want me to give them high fives or they’ll just attach themselves to me legs. In class they’ve gotten used to my teaching. They cheer when I do a game or teaching method they enjoy. The kids will sit and try and talk to me in Thai even though I still don’t speak much Thai. Although, after a while of hearing the teachers speak to them, I’ve caught on to some words so when a student comes and asks me a question and I here that word I can at least tell them yes or no to their question. But to try and help me out they will point and make gesture. The most adorable part is during nap time. They sleep on little pink blankets and are sprawled out in the most awkward positions. It’s so cute that sometimes I go over to the building just to hang out in the room. The other Thai teachers don’t understand or sometimes think it’s a little weird that kids that I know or even some I don’t will come up and hug me in the halls. It’s hilarious because they only come up to my legs.  I’m guessing they don’t get this kind of attention from anyone. Even when they say bye to their parents in the morning, they bow. So things like hugs, hand shakes and high fives are extremely exciting for them. I’m going to miss them so much!

This last week will be concluded with what else than parties! First the school was supposed to have a dinner for us on the last Friday with the teachers from school. But the soldiers at the Navy where we also teach some times wanted to have a bigger party so they called the school, had the dinner moved to lunch on Thursday and then planned to have their party for us on Friday at dinner on the beach! If you can believe this they even put this into their party budget. (Yes, the base has a party budget. haha)

 


We have been so lucky to be here. We are the first and only foreigner to live on the base, ever! So we get extra attention and care from everyone. Not just people at the school but also the soldiers that live on the base. It’s only been five months but I’ve grown so attached to everything in Sattahip that I’m genuinely sad to leave this extraordinary place, amazing people and even better friends. I hope that I don’t lose contact with them and that one-day I’ll be able to come back and visit. I will never forget my time here. 

Sorry, no tips on this one, just my thanks and appreciation to everyone who has been so great and supportive of my blog. My time here has been so amazing that I have decided to stay for another term. But I will be moved to a new school in the Southern part of Thailand. Be sure to come back and look for more amazing times from here in South East Asia. I’m Denelle Plummer and this will be my last entry from Sattahip, Thailand. Good night and good luck. Peace!

 

Chiang Mai-An Experience to Remember

I tried to cut this story down a few times but I just can’t find a place to delete. And to think, I wasn’t even going to go on this trip. After visiting Chiang Mai I’ve decided if I were to live anywhere it might be there. When I got to Chiang Mai I instantly felt like a part of the city. I’m a pretty laid back person and this town was overflowing with "hippie" types. Not only did I love the vibe but there were so many activities to do. They have Muay Thai, hiking trips and yoga. And I have this image if I lived there that after school I would go into town and just sit in a cafe and people watch for hours or talk to the locals.

The first day in Chiang Mai I just walked around town. Visited some Wat’s, and just got to know the town a little. Behind this wall was a woman painting amazing pictures of Thailand. They were so beautiful I bought two great ones. The market there was also amazing. Everything was crazy cheap and authentic to the north. It took a lot of will power to walk past with out buying everything! That night was the Queens birthday so to celebrate I went to my first muay thai fight. It was international night. Sometimes the Thai’s fight very slow, kick a lot then slow down again. But the minute the first international fighter stepped up he whipped out punches that are more than the Thai fighters are used too. Changed it up a bit. And within the second round, the Thai fighter was laying on the floor. It was a great fight. Very exciting. I left about 12am and it wasn’t even over. But I had to get to sleep to prepare for a very active day.

The next morning I left bright and early for a two day trek. We took an hour sawngthaew ride to the elephant camp. We had an uneven number of people so I volunteered to sit on the Elephants neck instead of the bench. Though I was quickly moved to sitting on his head. I really never knew how tall an elephant was until I sat on its head with nowhere to put my feet or grab on to with my hands. Five minutes into the trip two Elephants in front of me decided it would be a brilliant idea to get in a fight. One jumped on the other, standing on his back legs, which threw off the Thai guy leading him. Needless to say, the four tourists that happened to be on the Elephants at the time probably wont be getting on any large animals any time soon.

We were on to our next adventure where we would spend the night-the Lacu hill-tribe village. The guide handed us a hiking stick that was made of bamboo. We started walking down a street and I have to admit that I was making fun of these wimpy little sticks that seemed to be getting in the way more than helping. We all laughed about it thinking they gave them to us to make it more touristy. Well I wasn’t laughing anymore after two hours off the street and into the mountains. These little sticks serious kept me alive I swear! I exercise, somehow, almost everyday but this trek really kicked my butt. We were going through rough terrain, rivers, and insane foliage. Take an image of Vietnam and land covered in green. The plants snaking up the trees covering everything in their path. That’s kind of what we had to hike through. And two hours in I was covered in so much sweat that it looked like I had just stood in the rain. And yes, I paid to do this. We finally made it to the village on the top of the mountain with my sturdy bamboo stick holding me up. When I turned around to look down at what I had just accomplished my jaw dropped. It was the most gorgeous view. It was a beautiful green sight for miles. There were mini villages on each mountain that looked like the most peaceful places on earth. I could have stood there for hours until I realized I was standing in the rain. I got inside this amazing home. It was made of all bamboo, the floors, walls, and ceiling. All this was resting on bamboo stilts. The huts were perfectly crafted. I took a shower in a grass and bamboo hut with a door on one side and half open on the other. It could have been a little creepy except it was open to the other mountains. No one would be able to see me but I had the most amazing view. I finished but had no towel and had to put on the only change of clothes I was saving them for the next day. Oh well!

We all went inside and hung out for a few hours while the villagers made dinner. It was in this little room with a fire pit a huge pot, the same room they sleep in. Dinner was served in a big circle on the floor. We all sat there taking in the simplicity of life. When we were finished eating we laid back and relaxed while one of the locals played guitar and sang some great songs in Thai and English. Everyone was sitting with the people they came with and although I had made friends with them, I was still by my self. The other local guy sitting next to the guitarist kept signaling to me about this broken guitar in front of him. He would do some more hand gestures and laugh like crazy. He finally came over and handed me the broken guitar and turned it over. Apparently this is what they used for a drum. That and a soda can. He handed me two sticks and for the next hour I played drums right along with the music. It was ridiculous but seriously so much fun. I found out very soon after that the laughing Thai guy was actually deaf. I literally sat there for hours "talking" with a deaf Thai guy and no one could figure out how I could understand him, but somehow it just worked. After all the singing, and music dwindled down, everyone went to bed. Well, everyone except the deaf guy, the guitarist, one other tourist, and me. When would I ever get to sit with local tribe people and have a conversation? So I took the opportunity. It was extraordinary. This 21 year-old guitar player named Bo escaped from Tibet with his family when he was younger. He was never able to go to school. He learned how to speak English from tourist. Though by tourist I mean the ones that come up to the village because he rarely ever leaves the mountain to go into the city. He had an amazing story. Right before I went to bed the deaf guy told his friend to tell me he loved me. It was the most adorable thing I’ve ever heard or seen. I sat there while they tried to remember how to write in Thai "I love you." They invited me to come back for Song Kran, the Thai New Year. It’s basically a three-day water-fight. How crazy would that be! I was sure to take pictures with them and told them if I was able to come back, which I’m going to try my hardest to do, that I’d bring back the pictures. I finally went to bed on a mat on the floor and a lovely pink mosquito netting around me. As awful as that sounds to some people, I absolutely loved it! Not saying I don’t miss my insanely comfortable feather bed at home, but to be able to experience this makes me realize I don’t need that feather bed at home.

The next morning I woke up and there were pots of tea and coffee waiting for us on the fire pit. I grabbed a mug, poured some hot tea, and stepped outside. It was so surreal. The mountains were covered in fog. I sat there on the bamboo floor and just watched this fog. It felt like it was everywhere except where I was sitting. I could see it moving past my feet. I got a second and third cup and just watched the flag being still in the mist. I decided to go wondering around the village and see the places that weren’t near foreigners. I found little kids playing with dirt, clothes hanging on strings to dry, and a man preparing food in baskets. It’s so hard to describe.

After the hard boiled egg and toast breakfast, we had to pack up and leave our little hut. We hiked back down the mountain that was even more dangerous since it had just rained but most of us made it down safely. We finally got to the waterfall in the middle of nowhere. Instead of jumping in, I sat with a Thai guy named Phosit and watched him carve things out of bamboo. He was a really sweet person. Right before I left, Phosit gave me what he had just created. He had made me an awesome cup and butter knife. Phosit lived in the village with Bo so I told him about my plans to come back. Hopefully I’ll learn more Thai before I go back to visit my new friends.

Our group made it to our next destination. White-water rafting. I had been through much harder rapids before but when it started raining I should have known better than to think this was going to be completely safe. Going down was fun. Water was splashing everywhere and we were making a game out of trying to beat the other group in front of us. When it came time for the big drop, we paddled hard and fast. But something went wrong. Our raft hit a rock. Instead of it hitting then just going around, our raft lifted up onto the rock. There was so much force in the water that it just kept pushing it up, up, up. We were all hanging on to the side of the boat that was now completely vertical. 1, 2, 3 and the boat flipped over. It didn’t just flip over and we floated down the river though. It had turned over on top on me and two other girls. We were trapped underneath the boat, caught under the water. I opened my eyes but all I could see was brown. I was being thrashed around so many times I didn’t know which way was up anymore. Before I could get out from under the raft, I smashed into the rocks on the way down. It’s been two weeks and I still have my scrapes and bruises. I kept pushing up on the boat trying to get my self out but it wasn’t until I got to the bottom of the rapid that the boat went over me and down the river. My whole left side was bashed up but I had to get out of the water before I went into more rapids. The life vest didn’t seem to help too much since the water kept pulling me under and this extra weight was just making it harder to pull my self out. I swam as hard as possible over to the right side toward some rocks. Except the only problem was everyone was on the left side. Here I am stuck holding onto a rock on the opposite side of the river. I’ve noticed Thai people are amazing at trying to rescue people but they seemed pretty stuck on this one. After about 15 minutes, felt like 30, a Thai guy dove into the water through the rapids and by some miracle got to the other side. My side. I told him I would just swim across. He looked at me with this look like, "really? You think you can?" Right as I was about to let go another raft came down and they saw me. The guys in the raft paddled as hard as they could and in the last minute stuck out a paddle for me. I grabbed it and in two seconds I was pulled into the boat. Lucky?! I had to take a few breaths and throw up some nasty water before I could put a smile back on my face. I introduced my self to the people in the boat and thanked them for helping me. Since everyone else that had gotten caught in the water was hysterical, with very good reason to be, the guys in the boat wondered how I could be sitting there, happy and laughing with them. All I can say is that it was a terrifying experience and instead of something much worse happening I was lucky enough to be able to sit there laughing with them.

Over the next two days, once I got back in town, was when I got to see the people in Chiang Mai. It was one of the big reasons why I loved it so much. Here's a great story about a night at a reggae bar and the type of people that live in this town.

I was insanely lost walking around the city for about 30 minutes trying to find the cafe my friend was waiting for me in. I walked into a lounge/bar called Rasta Bar. A man came up and asked me if he could help me. I was looking for some hot tea. Well this was a bar so that was a no. But the guy insisted that I stay anyway and hang out with him and his friends. After I told him I had to meet up with my friend he told me to promise I would come back. I laughed, said ok, and left. 15 minutes later I finally found the cafe. My friend and I chatted about the crazy adventurers we had in the last two days and a couple hours later we parted ways. As I was making my way back to the guesthouse, the right way this time, I had this sudden thought to turn around and go back to the bar. It was 12:00 am. I could either go to sleep or walk into a blind situation and see what happens. Why not! So I walked 20 minutes back in the wrong direction to go meet up with some people that I didn’t know and that might not be there anymore. When I got there, they were sitting in the exact same spot. Turns out the guys that I sat with were the two owners of the bar/bartender and head of the band. The night turned out to be amazing! When the bar shut town they asked me to hang out. I stayed there until 5:00 am with them and seven of their friends. They were all Thai and most barely spoke English but they tried. The night was filled with craziness and laughing. They drove me back to the guesthouse. I seriously had so much fun that I went back the next night too. I definitely plan on going back to visit. (Though they tried to convince me to move there, get a job and offered me a free room to live in above the bar.) Have you ever met people like this after only knowing them for 2 days? I loved it there!

I finished off my trip with a fun Thai cooking class given by a sweet old lady in an amazing set up she had at her house. I left to go home in the afternoon and arrived at 5:30 am Monday morning. Just in time to go home, take a shower and start school.

Tip #1-Don’t let a story about almost drowning keep you from doing this stuff. The adventure was worth it!

Tip #2-Maybe risk doing something your not used to doing. You may have the best experience of your life.

Tip #3-Take risks. It’s always worth it in the end. (Plus a heck of a lot more excited than sitting on your bum!)