Dr. Elizabeth D Rhinehart, PhD

Liz's support over many years long ago was instrumental in my subsequent growth and ability to wrestle my bipolar disorder to the ground and keep my knee to its back. There were no meds that ever really helped, it was all me and her and then just me set loose on the world, stumbling and falling and getting back up, and still I persisted. She helped me heal my wounds, understand what makes me tick, and shined a bright light on the path before me, though it was difficult to walk at times, and I was a rebellious curmudgeon even when younger. She was a rock, her support was always with me. She revealed me to myself. I live in Bangkok Thailand now and would not have been able to bridge the cross cultural gap and build a new life from scratch were it not for the confidence she helped me build in reaching out and connecting with good and enlightened people, meeting the challenge of a daunting language barrier, opening up and embracing life and people around me, and there are no better people… in the world than the wonderful Thai people and their culture and the travelers and expats from all over the world and all their stories to which I now add mine, a neverending story of my own which never ceases to amaze me even after 7 years of Thailand adventures. The ground now rises to meet my every step and I go boldly forward with no fear. If there were an Oscar for compassion and personal dedication I would personally hand it to her. But maybe I can put a word in for the Nobel Prize next time I run into the King of Sweden. Does Sweden have a king? Dunno. If so he probably vacations at Patong Beach, Phuket. Don't know how to thank you Liz, but in Thai it's Khap khun mak mak krap. And, now, phum phen kuen Thai, "I am Thai people"