“Perhaps home is not a place but simply an irrevocable condition.” - James Baldwin

"Where are you from?" is quite possibly the hardest question I have to face. Even complex math problems have a solution, but the question of my origin is much too broad for me to ever feel I've given a satisfactory answer.

I was born in Ohio. I live in Pennsylvania. These are black and white. But the oddly shaped rectangle on a map is hardly what I'd call home. Additionally, I borrow a sense of home from other locations. In Pennsylvania alone I feel at home in a multitude of streets, dorms, and houses.

But never in my life did I expect to land on the tarmac in Bangkok and feel so overwhelmed with a feeling of homecoming. I deplaned with the largest grin on my face, feeling practically giddy with appreciation for the opportunity to return to this country.

My taxi driver from the airport commented in broken English as I grew visibly excited as we drove down Ladkrabang Road. "You've been here before?", he asked me, "You know where we're going?". Oh did I. On my right the night market I used to shop at flew by, and my friend Kate's old apartment passed on my left. The bridge I used to use to cross the street; my favorite stalls still selling food in their same locations; they were all there.

I entered Santisuk English Center with the same grin I deplaned with, and it's hardly left my face since that moment. I left coworkers, students, and friends when I went back to the United States last year. However, I was returning to family.

It's been amazing since I arrived. Carol and Don Don are so incredibly welcoming. CJ, after some prompting, remembers me and still runs around Santisuk with just as much spunk but with a year added to his age. After Carol made us breakfast I left to take in the morning in Ladkrabang, just as I used to.

Ladkrabang Road, right where it connects with the road Santisuk's on.

I've sipped coffee around the world and by far my favorite way to take my coffee is blended with ice and made by the Ladkrabang coffee lady.

One of the water monitors (or as the locals call them, "komodo dragons") who hang out in the park with me.

It's good I'm only here a few days, or else I might need to buy a second adjoining plane seat to fit on the plane home. All I've done is eat the amazing food that Thailand offers. I seriously missed authentic Thai food. And after Carol treated me to lunch, my (well technically Kate's) old students treated me to dinner. And dessert.

Adam and New treated me to dinner... sticky rice and fried papaya were some of the long awaited items on the menu, although the seafood, duck, chicken, and papaya salad were delicious as well.

Ice cream before English class.

Good food and great company, there's nothing quite like coming home... other than finding another piece of it tucked on the opposite side of the world. Home sweet Thai home, for the next 4 days at least.