Community

Today was one of my happiest days in Thailand. So my plans to stay in this weekend were utterly smashed to pieces but I was happy and I am so glad that I went with the new plans for today. First off, I got a call this morning from my Cameroonian friend around noon. He picked me up and introduced me to a Thai woman that was a Masters student in English. Together, we went to a plaza with pizza, ice cream and KFC. There is no need for me to explain my happiness there. We ordered tons of fattening American food and stayed and talked for a couple hours. During this time I learned a lot about both Thai culture and Cameroonian culture. Like shaking hands hello is considered romantic and sexual and a hug in public is utterly unheard of in Thai culture. In Cameroonian culture you are jailed for three years for having any sexual tendencies other than straight. I also learned they have transgendered bathrooms along with male and female in certain places in Thailand lol.

I also learned a lot about the Thai version of dating. So here is how it goes: You first meet someone of the opposite sex. You swap numbers and talk late at night to each other for the first two years. You would not even dare to go on a date with just two of you. After that, you are allowed to be out together but the community considers you engaged and expects a marriage soon. So yep, I learned that today. I also learned that after I first met my new friend and swapped numbers in 7-11 the entire store buzzed behind raised hands after I left. They could not believe I had been so brazen and public lol.

But there is still plenty more to my day. We then went to Lotus, the Walmart of Thailand, which I have not been to since I first arrived in Uttaradit. I got some things I needed. Then I was taken to a park. It has a large pond domineered by the largest number of silver shiny fish I have ever seen. We bought cheap fish food and then got to see just how many fish there were. I know this is shocking to some because prior to coming to Thailand I had an utter aversion to the smell of fish food, but if you have ever smelled the smells of Thailand, your opinion if what smells bad changes drastically. We sat there for hours, on stone steps on the edge of the pond with the jungle surrounding us, feeding the fish. I did not choose to touch the fish even though I could have easily, but I have had enough of touching slimy things.

No, my day did not end there but had barely started. I was thoroughly happy all afternoon from all the interesting and amusing talk and all the laughter. But then I got to meet the community of other English speakers. There are four guys and one woman, not including my Cameroonian friend and my new Thai friend. As soon as I stepped into their house I was part of the community, utterly accepted and was immediately informed of things about the way the community worked. All of them are from Cameroon but they did not meet until they got here and all of them are teachers at different schools in the area. They get together at least once a month and talk, watch movies and drink beer and whiskey. I learned that they will never let a glass be empty. Ever. So you have to watch the number of times they refill it. I was immediately liked by the men because I drank beer and played soccer. I have never found such high and obvious approval on so many faces for such simple things. The woman of the group had a 3 month old baby that was a focus for the first few hours. She is "stronger" looking than most Thai babies, as my new Thai friend informed me. We watched movies and drank plenty of beer and they loved informing me of things. I learned about their Thai experiences and Cameroonian culture all while drinking Thai beer (which totally has Thai spices in it) and watching the Rock smash things. For dinner I even had cabbage and rice (I opted out on the cow hearts) cooked Cameroonian style.

Tonight was a magical night as I found a new community of English speakers that are absolutely nothing like me but include me already. Tomorrow morning I will even go to church with them just to see how things are like in Thailand. I have new numbers in my phone of friends, some of which are really not far from me, that would love to spend time with me. They ask me questions about America and I ask them plenty about Thailand and Cameroon. I think they are all really cool and since all of them have been here longer than me, they all speak better Thai than me. I may be pleased with my books and thoroughly amused and loved by my students but now my Thailand world is complete with a whole community of tight-knit people who will give so much for each other without a thought. Right now I feel like my heart has exploded with happiness. They even want to go dancing next weekend with me and learn ballroom dancing. Sometimes throwing all your plans to the wind makes you happier than you ever thought. And yes, I realize I trusted a near stranger to take me wherever he thought best today, but I know trust is the beginning of friendship and I was more than tripled rewarded for my trust. No more am I alone and this makes me feel stronger.