Missing Thailand

What do I miss about Thailand? Perhaps the most obvious as we live through snow and cold is the weather. I also miss motorbike rides and Thai food. I miss seeing CD discs hanging from truck bumpers and elephant tails as reflectors. I also miss the interesting assortment of vehicles...tuk tuks, motorcycle taxis, motorcycles pushing carts, motorcycles with sidecars that cook and serve food, motorcycles with 3, 4 and sometimes even 5 passengers. I miss hearing the national anthem at 8am and 6 pm. I miss the students at school and the teachers. I miss "my" Thai family. I miss the musical rhythm of spoken Thai. I miss the smiles and warmth of Thai people. I miss seeing high school girls and boys in uniform carrying brief cases. I miss sidewalk vendors and night markets. I miss the green of rice fields and the storks that feed in them. I miss seeing the city streets washed on the weekends. I miss the organized chaos of night market set up. I miss the laughter that I provoke when I try to speak Thai. I miss great meals that cost a dollar or two. I miss being in a place that is so different from my usual life. I miss the freedom that comes from being unable to control much of what happens to and around me. I miss navigating by temples. I miss the feeling of comfort in a foreign place that in some small way I have made my own. I miss the pleasure of being able to order a meal in Thai and receiving what I ordered. I miss the satisfaction of being able to navigate Bangkok by Sky Train and minibus. I miss being a total outsider. I miss $10. two hour Thai massages. I miss the delight that Thai school children have in shaking hands. I miss the atmosphere of Thai schools. I miss the satisfaction of hearing students learn new pronunciations. I miss the uninhibited but respectful attitude of the students. I miss the smell of food cooked in the open air. I miss the smell of Jasmine. I miss the sight of Bougainvilleas spilling over a wall. I miss the vendors selling their wares at stop lights. I miss negotiating with taxi drivers over fares. I miss Thai markets. I miss Thai omelets. I miss exchanging pleasantries with my favorite beggar. I miss shopping for silk in the night market. I miss the respectful custom of never being presented a bill at a restaurant until I request it. I miss seeing elephants on the street.
These are a few of the things I miss.