Soraya Dastager

Dai yang sia yang' is Thai for, you must lose something to get another thing. Growing up in apartheid South Africa, I was always fighting for recognition. Without realizing it, I had become an impatient, somewhat aggressive and arrogant person. Fortunately, life intervened and I took an opportunity to teach at a Thai university. This experience re-shaped my life perspective and opened my mind to new ways of being. I enjoyed spending time at a Buddhist temple with Monks. Through meditation I learned to be more comfortable with myself, to reflect and appreciate the benefits of calm and quiet. I was adopted by two Thai mothers who welcomed me into their homes and families where I learned to speak basic Thai. I am so grateful for this experience, to lose my impatient manners and replace it with a calm empathy, patience and a deep respect for diversity. I believe these qualities are what enables me to create my own destiny.