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Farewell to Thailand
This entry was posted on 12/29/2007 10:38 AM and is filed under Jon's Thoughts.
How time flies?
It has been ten months since our bold adventure began, even longer than that if you count all of the weeks, no months we spent talking and planning. Most of which by the way didn't amount to achieving very much. It all came down to booking a flight, jumping on a plane, arriving in Bangkok and taking it from there. Very brave you might think, that or very stupid. But isn't life for the living? Sometimes you have just got to stop wishing you could do something and go do it.
Were we afraid? Did we have some fears? Yes, sure we did. We also knew that if we failed we could get back on a plane. This was our time and our choice to go do something and see where the road would take us. Did we have a map? Yes and no, we had a general idea of what we wanted to do but were very fluid and open to change direction at the drop of a hat.
I think our biggest fear upon landing was to feel unsafe, which didn't happen. We were met at the airport and driven to our new accommodation. Feeling welcomed and accepted is a very important part of any relocation and we were certainly made to feel these things.
The next fear on our list invloved the food, or rather the hygiene standards. Which to save space and time spent typing, it is easier to say that in many places there were no hygiene standards practiced. It didn't help much that shortly before leaving the UK we had read a book about diseases that were contracted through eating and drinking, especially in developing countries.
What a dilemma that presented, having people actually handling your food, who looked as if they had never seen a bar of soap, or if they had, had no idea what it was used for. I have used many public restrooms where no soap was provided and most of the men who used the facilities did not even bother to rinse their hands or even come near the sink. Unfortunately I have witnessed those same habits in so called civilized countries and have been told that female habits are not much better. Even in the school that I have just left, I fought to have soap placed in the restrooms. The same restrooms used by the catering staff. What's wrong with a few germs anyway?
Overall I would have to admit that Rita has been far more adventurous than I when it came to trying unfamiliar food items and dishes, even so we have both paid the price on occasion. I found the taste or flavor of most Thai food dishes to be similar in that they used the same spices. Apparently Thai food of years gone by was only seasoned with black pepper and the introduction of other spices and flavors has taken place as foreigners have introduced them.
Clothing size became an apparent issue as most Thai's are of a much smaller frame than the average westerner, so it presented somewhat of an ordeal especially for Rita when shopping for new attire. But we have managed, and more and more we have noticed that in tourist areas clothing is available in larger sizes more suitable to the western frame.
Safety has been and still is a priority. We read the stories of mugging, rape and murder in our local newspaper, as is the same in most countries, and have stayed aware of our surroundings. But I would have to state that not once have we ever felt in fear of our lives. Our accommodation, belongings, including our vehicle have never been under any threat that we are aware of. I think that the use of good common sense in where we have chosen to live, secure our things and chosen to go, have all played a part.
Teaching as a choice was a new vocation for me, although we are all teachers and students throughout our lives. To actually stand in front of a classroom full of students and present a lesson which could affect their future either directly or indirectly bares a heavy weight of responsibility. I was amazed at the eagerness of my students to learn and the warmth with which I was accepted. Just a few days ago I received an e-mail from a former student of mine in Chiang Mai. In it she wrote that she and her classmates still talk about me and wish I would come back to teach them, and that I was their best teacher. I am humbled, what a compliment.
We have been susceptible to the usual monetary rip-offs as are the practice in most tourist places. When a sign at a National park states, foreigners 800 baht, Thai's 40 baht, to gain entry, you have to wonder what are they thinking. We as westerners are viewed as being wealthy and able to afford to pay more for the same things. Upon our second and subsequent visits to places we contested those high prices by stating that we live in Thailand and work as teachers, consequently we were admitted at the Thai price.
In the retail environment also when the westerner price for a shirt is 350 baht we have been able to purchase in for 150 baht, or a watch where they wanted 1800 baht from the westerner was offered to us for 200 baht. A few words with the retailer have made a big difference in the price.
Overall I would have to say that we have been treated with respect and graciousness by the people of Thailand in all areas. They have quietly forgiven us when we have not followed their customs and allowed our western ways to rule. We have sometimes complained and knit-picked, only to be met with a smiling face. This is Thailand and we have sometimes failed to understand why things happen the way they do, but as a people they want to learn and want to please.
Soon we will leave Thailand, as we have decided to continue our adventure in another part of Asia. possibly Vietnam. Although we will carry with us many memories of our time here. I feel sure that as time passes we will realize an even greater understanding of what this time has meant to both of us.
We have now finished work at Kajonkietsuksa School and are in preparation for our move. The one item which will determine our flight date to Vietnam will be the sale of our vehicle. Purchased in Bangkok, it has safely transported us throughout our travels through Thailand. We had contemplated driving it through Cambodia to Vietnam and using it while we're there. However, Cambodia has a law against driving vehicles with right handed steering in its country and we suspect Vietnam may have the same rule. So we have it advertized for sale, if by chance you are interested, it is in excellent condition and low mileage ( 48,000Km, 36,000 miles ).
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