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Thai Project
#38
Okay, pull up your beer or your coffee and get a comfy chair... I have been in COMMUNICATION HELL for 24 hours. Good Laughs ahead.

Last night I found out Bob's mom passed away. Now you have to understand that some people have a love/hate relationship. We had a hate/hate relationship. That woman has been terrorizing me since I was about 11. However, I have always encouraged Bob to have a good relationship with her and be a good son. It took me over an hour to fnd someone in the village with a pre-paid phone so I could phone Bob. He is sad but doing okay and flew to San Diego this morning.

It took me another hour to explain to everyone around me what was happening and why my telephone call was so sad. Theo and Ang are in the city while I am in the village, so I am depending on my little Thai-English dictionary, some bad pronunciation and a lot of patience.

As Lek, the girl who stays at the little cabin with me, had to do an errand for or with Grandma, I sat alone. Not feeling like cooking, I was having a cup of tea when "Mom" came over, took me by the hand and dragged me to the falling down bamboo house. I climbed up the 4 feet and onto the bamboo floor, frightened that I was going to fall through any minute and either break my neck or rearrange my new dental work. Fortunately, I found some stronger cross bracings and walked and sat carefully. With much ceremony a woven rug was brought out and placed on the center of the floor, small bowls brought with a little rice in each one and ceremoniously I was offered the privilege to spoon the first of the main dish onto my plate.

Oh, God..... something white with legs. Couldn't do it. My face blanched. The older son said "arroy" which means delicious. I finally motioned with my hands No... and got out my dictionary. With poor diction I said "no bugs, no worms... sorry". I guess the look on my face told it all.

It is fortunate for me that laughter both with and at someone is a cornerstone of Thai sociability and we laughed at me a lot. I nibbled peantus. When Lek got back I guess her Mom told her because she returned laughing and with some kind of noodle thing she brought over from Aunties.

Only then did I find out it was Saturday, not Friday and I was leaving at 6 AM for Chiang Mai. I packed in a hurry, took an ice cold shower/bath at a spigot and headed for bed.

Up in the morning I couldn't find my watch. My ride was waiting for me while I brushed my teeth and scampered around. With the dictionary we tried to talk, again laughing a lot. Apparently they heard about dinner too. It turns out they were Ant Larvae... as if that makes it better!! Ewwww.....

On the way to Chiang Mai I wanted to stop for something to eat. No problem. I pointed to some roast pork (they don't eat a different menu for breakfast here). I get a bowl of white rice with three little forkfulls of pork on it. Nope, I need protein in the morning or I am sick all day. I explained I didn't want all that white rice. Back went my plate and out came a giant plate of Fried Rice. UGH.... After 20 minutes, my drving hosts ate all the rice and I managed to get some pieces of cold meat. Great way to start the day....

After a 4 hour drive to Chiang Mai we began to shop for the things on our Project Family's list of farm needs. We went round and round. I didn't know it could be so hard to explain that I wanted bulk seeds, not little packets. After three little stores along the road we wound up at some Chemical Company, and believe it or not, they had what we were looking for. Go figure. That after being sent for seedlings, starter pots and some place I never did figure out why we were there.

On into Chiang Mai, I needed to buy wood for making counters in the cabin where I am staying. The kitchen consists of one falling down cart. I bought a gas burning single burner stove and am building the counters as a thank you to my host who has been housing me for most of the two month trip. Anyway, I tried to buy one solid piece of wood for a workstation counter. I drew. I explained. Then I cried! After about two hours, several lumber lots and lots of driving we found a woman at a furniture store that spoke some English. She s the only one who understood I didn't want furniture and didn't want 2x4's.... but a wood slab. She sent us to a store that is closed. Next place said they could order a sheet of wood for me. No no no..... As I was ready to give up and build the darned thing withhand sawn construction lumber, I dragged my driving hosts to Global (them nearly kicking and screaming), kind of like a high end Home Depot and FINALLY showed them a sheet of wood. Took a 'Farang" (Thai Haolie) to show him the store. Lived here all his life and never went in. Needless to say, we spent hours there buying most everything on the shopping list like heads for an Axe, hoes, etc... They were astounderd when I showed them pre-made stuff and sinks and such... wow. Culture shock for them.

Okay so then we get to the house I am staying in at Chiang Mai. Of course, they have burried my personal belongings in the back of the truck under the lumber and tools. After half an hour of rearranging we sit at the table (this is now a big two story house wtih FURNITURE) and I get out the dictionary. I have drawn a total diagram of the kitchen counters and already talked to the builder, but had to explain the changes since I bought different wood. Oh, god.....

I think we finally got it. it is now four in the afternoon and the driver and his wife stll have a four hour drive back to the village. I return Thursday. I am so curious as to what will actually happen while I am gone..... Wish me luck!

Stitches out Tuesday, Wednesday to rest up and on a mini-bus back to the Village on Thursday at 5 aM IF I got it right. Who knows.... it's all part of the adventure.

Smile Pam


Just another day in P A R A D I S E !!
I want to be the kind of woman that, when my feet
hit the floor each morning, the devil says

"Oh Crap, She's up!"
Reply


Messages In This Thread
Thai Project - by pslamont - 01-24-2008, 02:01 PM
RE: Thai Project - by nanasohana - 01-24-2008, 02:30 PM
RE: Thai Project - by canhle - 01-24-2008, 04:38 PM
RE: Thai Project - by dmbwest - 01-24-2008, 05:00 PM
RE: Thai Project - by Nate SC - 01-25-2008, 04:39 AM
RE: Thai Project - by Carolann R - 01-25-2008, 04:50 AM
RE: Thai Project - by jdirgo - 01-25-2008, 07:09 AM
RE: Thai Project - by Bullwinkle - 01-25-2008, 11:39 AM
RE: Thai Project - by Kapohocat - 01-25-2008, 12:42 PM
RE: Thai Project - by rbonplaza - 01-25-2008, 01:26 PM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 01-26-2008, 05:04 PM
RE: Thai Project - by rbonplaza - 01-27-2008, 12:22 PM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 01-28-2008, 02:12 PM
RE: Thai Project - by Nate SC - 01-28-2008, 04:02 PM
RE: Thai Project - by Carolann R - 01-28-2008, 06:18 PM
RE: Thai Project - by Nate SC - 01-29-2008, 02:56 AM
RE: Thai Project - by Carolann R - 01-29-2008, 05:32 AM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 01-29-2008, 02:13 PM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 01-30-2008, 05:48 PM
RE: Thai Project - by Nate SC - 01-31-2008, 01:41 AM
RE: Thai Project - by John S. Rabi - 01-31-2008, 04:51 AM
RE: Thai Project - by Bullwinkle - 01-31-2008, 05:24 AM
RE: Thai Project - by Punamom - 01-31-2008, 06:19 AM
RE: Thai Project - by Carolann R - 01-31-2008, 06:30 AM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 02-02-2008, 12:26 PM
RE: Thai Project - by ericlp - 02-03-2008, 04:56 AM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 02-03-2008, 12:46 PM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 02-03-2008, 05:59 PM
RE: Thai Project - by Beachboy - 02-04-2008, 04:35 AM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 02-04-2008, 05:57 PM
RE: Thai Project - by jdirgo - 02-05-2008, 11:57 AM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 02-05-2008, 03:20 PM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 02-05-2008, 03:52 PM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 02-06-2008, 02:44 PM
RE: Thai Project - by Nate SC - 02-08-2008, 02:30 AM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 02-08-2008, 02:33 PM
RE: Thai Project - by mella l - 02-09-2008, 05:03 AM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 02-09-2008, 08:25 PM
RE: Thai Project - by Greta - 02-10-2008, 02:04 PM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 02-10-2008, 06:45 PM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 02-11-2008, 02:58 PM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 02-14-2008, 03:55 PM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 02-16-2008, 07:04 PM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 02-21-2008, 02:00 PM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 02-24-2008, 02:39 PM
RE: Thai Project - by Carey - 02-26-2008, 04:57 AM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 02-27-2008, 08:25 AM
RE: Thai Project - by Carolann R - 02-27-2008, 02:39 PM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 03-02-2008, 03:42 PM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 03-05-2008, 12:39 PM
RE: Thai Project - by John S. Rabi - 03-05-2008, 01:26 PM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 03-05-2008, 07:29 PM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 03-07-2008, 04:10 AM
RE: Thai Project - by John S. Rabi - 03-07-2008, 04:26 AM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 03-08-2008, 03:37 PM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 03-12-2008, 05:25 AM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 03-12-2008, 01:28 PM
RE: Thai Project - by pslamont - 03-21-2008, 05:48 PM

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