The Girl in the Red Rubber Boots

Tag: travel

  • The Redwoods Expedition (Part 2)

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    Emily Sara Smucker
    in

    (Read part 1 here) I woke up to the sun streaming through the windows of Elaine’s van, shining on the orange pillows and vintage suitcases. “Yes! Maybe it will finally warm up in here,” I thought, curling deeper into my sleeping bag. It had been a rather cold night. I heard a rustle of tent…

  • The Redwoods Expedition (Part 1)

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    by

    Emily Sara Smucker
    in

    I resented daylight savings when I got up early Monday morning to take my last final of the term, but as evening rolled around I was so thankful for it. “Maybe we’ll have just enough time to set up our tent before it gets dark,” said Ashlie, leaning over the seat. I held my phone…

  • The Longest Christmas of my Life

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    Emily Sara Smucker
    in

    Hour 1.0 to hour 8.5 One last time, I slept on Amy’s brown leather couch, the soft tropical breezes drifting through the screen door. I rarely have insomnia when I’m in Thailand. Or maybe I do, but the night is so beautiful through the wide windows that I don’t even notice. I dreamed that I…

  • More Flight Drama

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    Emily Sara Smucker
    in

    “I’m sorry, but you can’t fly through Tianjin without a visa.” “What?” “You need to call your travel agent and get another ticket home.” “But…what?” We stood at the checkin desk, bags packed, ready to go home. The lady at the desk looked sympathetic, but she really couldn’t do anything. Our ticket was from Chiang…

  • Failures in English Teaching

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    Emily Sara Smucker
    in

    Nestled in the jungle outside of Chiangmai is the Night Safari. It’s just like any other glorified zoo, except instead of viewing the animals by day, you view them at night.  Exciting, huh? When I last came to Thailand, just over a year ago, I declined the opportunity to go on a night safari tour…

  • Into the Thick of Things

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    Emily Sara Smucker
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    I was an angel but I had no wings. I fluttered the tails of my long white sweater, hoping the children would get the picture. “I am an angel,” I announced, in case there was any doubt. “My name is Gabriel. I have come from God with a special message for you.” I spoke slowly,…

  • Take a Sad Song, and Make it Better

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    Emily Sara Smucker
    in

    I knew that I’d figure things out eventually and everything would be fine, but sometimes my emotions don’t listen to my logic. I didn’t want to cry, but I felt the tears trickle down the side of my nose anyway. Blast. What was wrong? Let me make a list: I had been traveling for a…

  • Abandon me in Bandon

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    Emily Sara Smucker
    in

    I will never get tired of the ocean. It gets me every time, like a whisper saying “you belong here.” Of course I’ve been to the ocean many many times, but this weekend my youth group switched it up a bit and went camping in Bandon, further south than the beaches we normally visit. It…

  • Today I am in Thailand

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    by

    Emily Sara Smucker
    in

    My sister Amy has a life that is far more exotic than mine. Her home has a tile roof and tile floors and tropical flowers dripping into her yard from the tree next door. She lives in Thailand, teaching English at a hole-in-the-wall university at the edge of Chiang Mai. Since travel for me takes…

  • Storms of Life

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    Emily Sara Smucker
    in

    I flew through the night, thinking I would like the red eye flight because I could sleep and miss out on the generally terrible experience of flying. Which would be a good idea, were it possible to sleep while crammed between two strangers. It isn’t. In case you wondered. I spent Friday chilling with the…