Hey guys, my name is Aria, I had srs in Thailand with Dr. Chettawut on November 16th. I vlogged and journaled my entire experience and recovery and I'd thought I'd share for those of you who are looking to have srs with him or just interested in general now that's it's been a month and I'm recovering back home now
Day 1
So I got up today, November 10th, at 5:30 am, couldn't sleep. i was too excited and anxious. on the drive to the airport with my mom, I was feeling a little panicky. I'm not really sure why, but my heart was racing. Maybe its because I'm flying 22 hrs to a foreign country by myself to have my first ever surgery at 21 years old? Waiting for my plane to board at the airport, I kept thinking about the conversation I had with my mom in the car. "Are you feeling okay princess?" she said. "What do you mean by that?" I said, in a rather offended tone that I didn't even recognize why it sounded that way. "You're not talkative and perky like you usually are," I relaxed. I mean, yes, I'm always talkative and lively, but not always at 7 am! lol.
While getting my carry on luggage checked, there was a little hold up which made me nervous for whatever reason. I was having a Sex and the City 2 moment because I thought they were screening my bag due to my hormones in it. Then the attendant pulled me to the side and I'm like "Oh god, whats happening" in my head. He then asked me, "Miss, do you have any sharp or dangerous items in this bag?" I respond no quickly and honestly, then he went through the bag and finally found a pair of scissors that I had packed for my diary. My eyes grew three times its normal size. I totally forgot I had packed them. "Oh, well, I mean there's that..." I said, feeling embarrassed for not placing them in the zip lock bags id prepared. He smiled down at me and said it was okay and put it back in the bag and wished me a safe flight.
The feeling that consumed me for days was the feeling of "This doesn't feel real". It doesn't feel real that I'm actually traveling by myself, out of the state, out of the country, by myself. It doesn't feel real that I'm one step closer to achieving my dream of having my sex match my gender. Its a chilling feeling. It feels like one of those moments where I really want something (like when I wanted my first iPhone) I would just research it over and over again, watching demos and videos of it on YouTube, growing obsessed and then you finally get it. (Im a scorpio btw lol & surgery date is one day before my birthday) In just four short days, I'll no longer have a 'member'.. WOO HOO!! I had several connecting flights before reaching Thailand and one of them was China.
First-- I was really shocked at how tall some of the Chinese people were. I expected them to be smaller than me, I'm 5'4", and the women at the Shanghai airport were like 5'9".
Secondly---- I HATE CHINA! I'm going to spare you guys the long story and sum it up for you. Basically a native guy, who didn't really speak english well, attempted to help me get to my next gate. Also, before meeting him, I was scared!! The langue barrier and just being by yourself ina foreign country try to follow directions to your next gate where you have to take elevators and escalators, which aren't in english and having to ask for help from people who dont speak your language was terrifying for me. Any who... I left the guy because I'd rather ask someone who works at airport for directions and she pointed me in the right direction and the guy tagged along. Not that I cared. However, when we were finally in the elevator alone together I noticed he was close as hell to me and I turn around to tell him that hes too close, and he says 'You're so beautiful," I thanked him and then he grabbed my right boob and at that moment I began to punch his face and push him against the wall and making sure hes on the ground. Then the elevator opened and a thought dawned on me. "Can I be arrested or something for smacking this guy?!?!" anyway, I left and boarded my damn plane.
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Day 2:
I landed in Bangkok at 3am on November 12th and was greeted by Chettawut's driver who was really cute actually. I think his name is Ling if I'm not mistaken... That's what I called him anyways. Ling is a really fit, slighting muscular 5'3" guy with fair skin and reallllyyy dark jet black hair and eyebrows. Gorgeous! and super sweet, always opens every door for me and carries my bag if I have any. When I arrived to The Vertical Suite apartment suite, I was in loveeeee with how beautiful it was. I facetimed my mom and talked to her until 8am and then went downstairs for breakfast and met tons of trans girls. I sat next to and made friends at the time, with a girl named Taylor and her friend Nancy. Taylor and Nancy are both about 30 something and 6 feet. I clicked with Taylor the most, Nancy was a bit stand offish. Nancy was going to have surgery 3 days before me. Taylor had her surgery done previously with another doctor.
Later on, we all decided to get into the pool at the hotel and it was freeing to be in a pool, in a bathing suit, with a body im not comfortable with, yet so comfortable and relaxed at the moment with them, people who understand body dysphoria and dont judge at all for it. I then took a nap because I've been up since 3 am and when i woke up at midnight, i wanted to go out so I did my hair and makeup and actually rode on the back of the security guards moped around the city at 2am. It was really cute. Consultation with Chet tomorrow ;D ;D
P.S. There are a TON of stray dogs everywhere here!
please tell us more or where can we see the rest of your vlog?
? I'd like to stay informed about your progress too ?
That being said... Most of us who go through this step disappear from the map (our map) altogether. It's the big O, the final gate to pass through, and possibly the moment we step into our true selves.
Not that I like it, but it's understandable in a way, too. After this, the only thing left to do is to get used to it all. Which takes the rest of our lives, and is, by its very nature, a private thing.