People You Meet When You Travel: Aleda

Travelling alone can be a bit lonely. But the loneliness is a good motivation to work harder to meet new people. Of ALL the (American) people I've met in Thailand, my favorite was Aleda.

I met Aleda at the Susan Williams seminar, and then she took me out in Chiang Mai. By the time I got to the bar, she'd already made friends with half the people there. She told wild tales of prior weekend evenings that ended at 5 am or later. Half the time she walks into a bar in Chiang Mai, random people she doesn't recognize scream her name.

She drank and danced me under the table. I couldn't keep up. At 12:30, I had to call it a night. She stayed out until 4. I ran into her the next evening, when she took me to another bar. And out-partied me again.

Aleda is almost 40. She had 3 children by age 19, and regretted not having a college experience. So, at 35, she enrolled at UVA. She attended every frat party, every football and basketball game. And kept a 4.0 GPA. And now she's entering her second year of law school in New York City.

She is enjoying every moment of Thailand and her life in general, like no one I've ever met. She's living it up in Chiang Mai, getting pedicures and massages, meeting Thai people, travelling in style, partying every night.

I admire her for so many reasons. She's a committed wife, mother, grandmother and sister. She's succeeded in school and in life, despite a ton of obstacles. She takes chances and risks, and makes the most of every opportunity she gets.