It's the Little Things that Make Me Smile: Bangkok Edition


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June 30th 2014
Published: August 30th 2014
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I love truth in advertising.I love truth in advertising.I love truth in advertising.

These were amazing.
A few weeks ago, my student and her mother gave me chocolate covered cherries as a New Year's gift. Today, they gave me a homemade rum chocolate cake. It was still warm. (The mother bakes and sells them at a local hospital.) They are quickly becoming my favorite family.



This week after class, I asked my student's mom how I could get more chocolate rum cake, hoping I could buy one. She said that she'd come in Saturday and bring me and the new teacher each one. She joked, "I'm going to get some regular customers, aren't I?" I gave her a big smile for an answer.

Today, Saturday, I completely forgot about it, and we were all the way down the elevator after work when we ran into my student's family. "We just missed the elevator!" she said, "How lucky! I have cakes for both of you." We both thanked her and I turned to my coworker and said, "These are the best in Thailand." She beamed and looked a little embarrassed.

We're now on a first name basis.



Today, one of my five year olds sat right next to me, despite
Fresh salad!Fresh salad!Fresh salad!

Sweet peppers are in season at the salad bar. And I found black sesame dressing too! I love eating well.
there being several empty seats. I asked him how he was.

"I'm super, super, super, super, super in love."

Thinking this is a pretty big deal for him (and better English than I was expecting), I asked who he is in love with.

He looked around at the other students and leaned closer to me. His eyes got really big as he gave me a slow nod and small smile, he pointed his finger at me.



Outside the Tesco Lotus near my home, every night there's a woman leading a group of people in exercise dance in the parking lot. She's always up on a stage, scantily clad, bouncing around like a dancing warrior. The parking lot is typically filled with mostly middle-aged women and a few men trying to keep up with her. But tonight, in the back row, was a 60+ year old man, dancing at his own pace, and having the time of his life as he twirled around and around.



There's a security guard that greets me every time I walk past on my way to work, shopping, etc. Really friendly guy. Today he saw me, got
Japanese food court!Japanese food court!Japanese food court!

A bit small, compared to the one in Chicago, but still full of good eats.
really excited, and leaned out of his booth to point at some new golden flowers. He then gestured like he was giving them to me.



My skirt lining tore in the washing machine. I don't know any tailors or clothing repair people in my neighborhood, so I asked the Thai staff at work for help. I figured they'd know who I could go see.

One offered to fix it for me herself, since she always has to tailor her clothes to fit her small frame. I graciously accepted. But then it turned out she was busy during my days off, so my other coworker said she'd take it to a tailor near her home.

Well, the tailor near her home said it was impossible to fix and I should just buy a new skirt. (I'm guessing they really didn't want to sew in a whole new lining because they wouldn't make much profit off of it.)

When I got my skirt back this week, I was confused as to why I didn't owe my coworker any money for the repairs. Surely a new lining must cost something, not to mention the labor. "I asked
Homemade cheesecakeHomemade cheesecakeHomemade cheesecake

My boss helped his wife make it. He then promised they'd bring one the next week with an Oreo crust, so we could compare. I love that he keeps his promises.
my mom for help," she said. (Her mom was visiting Bangkok for the day.) I asked about the cost of the new fabric. "No, no charge," she said again. I looked at the lining and realized her mom had patched up the hole and fixed the seams for me.

I am well cared for here.



Student: Teacher, are you a grandmother?

Me: No. I'm not that old.

Student: You have to be old?

Me: Yes, very old. Are you a father?

Student: Nooooo! Hahaha! I'm only six!

Me: Six? Oh, that's old.



Went out exploring today with a friend. We met a few Thais along the way and stopped to chat in English and Thai. Upon learning we live here (vs being tourists) the smile wattage went up tenfold and they wanted to shake our hands and wish us well.



After eating, I stopped to pay my fried rice man and his wife. Usually, she handles the money because he's cooking, but he always turns to say thank you and good bye. Today was no different. But it's been a while since I've eaten there,
Okonomiyaki!Okonomiyaki!Okonomiyaki!

Sooooo good. And so filling.
so I made sure to tell him how good my dinner was and his reaction was one of absolute delight.



On the way home today, I noticed my local Tesco has changed its hours."Oh, wow, Tesco opens at 8 now instead of 8:30. Great!" After a moment's pause, my brain woke up."Who are you kidding? When are you ever going to go to the supermarket at 8am?"



Tonight my sidewalk restaurant was quite busy and there was only one table left after I sat down. Under it, a large cat had stretched out and was snoozing peacefully.

3 large men with motorbike helmets and bags started moving chairs to the table. Upon seeing the sleeping cat occupying most of the space under the table, they moved the chairs back a bit and repositioned themselves so they wouldn't disturb him.



Tonight when I
VW van barVW van barVW van bar

How can you go wrong?
got home from a long day at work, I noticed a sign up by the elevator informing us that the internet was still down after last night's storm. I'm the only non-Thai in the building, but they had it in both Thai and English.



I was trying to get the kids lined up for a game but one was just in his own world. I was feeling frustrated, but really, there's only so much you can do with a three year old. Finally, the five year old who's in love with me said very loudly, "What the f*ck?!"

After overriding my desire to laugh and high five him, I told him that wasn't very nice.



On my way home I was passed by a motor scooter with 5-6 people on it. Most intriguing were the guy in the foot space and the guy hanging off the back.



Tonight I stopped to buy fruit. As I was paying, the woman commented to her friends that I always only buy a half kilo, "so little, so little," she said in Thai. Not having the Thai stills to tell her I live alone, I pointed at my stomach and said, "So little, so little!" She laughed and smiled, then turned a bit to her friends, pointed at her own stomach, and said in English, "So FAT!" Everyone on the sidewalk burst out laughing, including me.



It's the little things that mean a lot and make every day special.


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Fresh!Fresh!
Fresh!

My supermarket has lots of pre-cut veggie kits for curries, stir fries, and soups. Makes cooking Thai food (and learning how) so much easier!
The rice and cooking sauce aisleThe rice and cooking sauce aisle
The rice and cooking sauce aisle

Cooking oil is on another aisle. So are pastes, seasonings, etc. There's more rice behind me.


30th August 2014

Neat!!
Definitely the people everywhere who make life great
31st August 2014

Your anecdotes...
capture the essence of the Thai people. Thanks for sharing...keep them coming.
31st August 2014
I love truth in advertising.

Truth indeed!
That's our kind of biscuit...more chocolate than biscuit! We agree completely that sometimes it's the small things that make you smile and a lot of the time when you leave a country, it's those same small things you remember most.

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