I have been debating whether to write on this topic or if it is to “sensitive” but I have decided after much deliberation that I would share because I wanted to share all of my experiences, with my friends and family that were interested, when I took this journey. 

I haven’t been away from home long but I am really starting to miss the ability to be blissfully ignorant.  I don’t mean this in a cruel way by any means, so please do not take offense.  I loved living in my southern home where I didn’t really have any worries, I didn’t live in a big city therefore I only saw “bad things” happen through the media.  Let’s be honest here, if you are living in rural America there really isn’t a terror threat level that one needs to worry about.

I knew moving here would be different.  I know around the world there are many people that hate Americans and what my country stands for.  I understand that I am in a relatively safe location but one can never be too careful.  The other day I experienced fear like never before.  The feeling lasted for only a moment but it was so intense it literally stopped me in my tracks and took my breath away.

Killian and I were out at the mall waiting to meet Chris for dinner.  I thought we would kill some time by doing some laps.  On the third floor as I am about to ascend onto the escalator I see across the room a man, a young girl, and a woman in a burqa that covered her from head to toe with only a mesh covering at her eyes.  This site stopped me dead in my tracks.  (I am being honest here so try not to judge me.)  The one and only thing that ran through my mind was “Please God not today, not with Killian here.”  My second thought was “I must be a bad person for even thinking that!”

I have been thinking about this for a couple of weeks now.  I have been going back and forth trying to determine if the first thought I had made me a bad person.  Have I completely stereotyped and judged this woman that I know nothing about?  She is probably a very nice woman with a beautiful family but as an American, I have been conditioned to think that a woman covered from head to toe usually means they belong to an extremist form of Islam who more than likely hates Americans, for example the burqa normally worn by Pashtuns in Afghanistan.  I believe that my first reaction was an acceptable reaction since it was my first time having encountered this situation.  I was in a huge public place with many westerners as it would have been a perfect target.  I am ashamed to say that but it is true, I have been taught this and clearly, it has made a lasting impression on me.

photo credit: http://solo-traveling.blogspot.com/2012/09/hijab-or-habit.html#!/2012/09/hijab-or-habit.html

Luckily for me living in Bangkok, I’m not in a war zone like the fighting that is going on in the south of Thailand.  Although recent events could cause some alarm to anyone visiting or living in Bangkok.

1.  January 2013: One of two Hezbollah terrorists was taken into custody for planning attacks.  “The US embassy in Thailand said foreign terrorists might be plotting attacks in Bangkok and that American citizens should be careful when visiting crowded tourist spots.”  Bangkok Terror Suspect Arrested  

2. February 14, 2013: An Iranian man blows off his own legs by trying to throw a grenade at police.  Turns out he was running because of an explosion that he caused at his house.  This explosion and insider information caused police to investigate and they found he was a terrorist making bombs at home. Iranian Blows Legs off on Valentines Day & MSNBC Article

3.  April 2013: Thailand tops FBI Asian terror target list.  “Thailand’s likelihood of being hit by a terrorist attack is first in Asia and fifth in the world.”  Thailand Tops FBI List

When I see reports like these, it makes me wonder maybe I’m not completely off base by having that first thought…