Hello — in Thai we say “Sawasdee” for both greeting and goodbye. If you already read my About Me, then you know my name. If not, I’m Oath, the name my dad gave me.

When I was young in Thailand, I used to watch TV and imagine cold countries as places with only one season — winter. I thought people lived in snow all year, and I couldn’t imagine how anyone survived. Later, after moving to the USA and living with my American husband, I learned the truth: there are warm seasons too, with green trees and sunshine. Summer here feels just like Thailand.

I learned to adapt to everything — the weather, the culture, the lifestyle. Luckily, my husband never forced me to do anything. He always gave me freedom to decide for myself. On the other hand, I’m usually the one asking him to do many things. That part never changed.

People often ask me how I survive the snow and the freezing winter. My answer is simple: stay indoors most of the time and go out only when necessary. I even asked my mother‑in‑law if she ever got used to the cold. Her answer was no — and she has lived here her whole life. When I asked her, she was already 73 years old.

I’m the same. I never feel “used to” the cold, but I found my own way to live with it happily. I come from a hot country, so summer in the USA is my favorite. My happy place is the deck, lying in the sun — but only for a short time because I don’t want skin cancer. LOL.

Life teaches us many things we never expected. What we imagine and what we discover later can be very different.

Do you have a similar experience — something you believed when you were younger, and the truth surprised you later?