For the last week or so we’ve been immersed in our home stays. The major changes from here and Chiang Mai, is that rather the awkward timid use of our Thai, and having to awkwardly decline the vendors at street markets after they have informed us not only of their difficult financial situation, but also their several kids which they must feed (I’m not so sure they were always telling the truth,) to having to awkwardly decline the fifth serving of breakfast. We all live on the same street, the name of which is a mystery to me, and our host parents all know each other to one degree or another. There has been flooding all over Thailand, and after a bad rain yesterday a few of us packed up a dozen or so sandbags and helped deliver them to a friend of our Aajaan (teacher), to a very grateful family just outside of Chiang Mai’s moat.
(Forewarning, the rest of this post is only my experience, as I cannot speak for everyone’s homestay)
I am living with two sisters, who operate a restaurant and the end of their property that touches the road. With the constant in and out of customers I have plenty of people to practice my Thai with, which I appreciate greatly, although I’m sure I’m soon going to earn the reputation among the community as the farang who harasses everyone who tries to eat at the restaurant. I try to help out as much as I can at, busing tables, and responding to the frequently spoken phrase ‘burd.’ My ability to translate Thai is limited, so from what I’ve observed and reacted to, it means something along the lines of, “Hey kid, open my beer.” As far as perks of living at a restaurant, I get a constant supply of incredible food, and the occasional soda if I so please. The cons, there’s constant supply of food that I’m expected to inhale. As far as the sisters that watch over me, they are both incredibly kind, and they do their best to keep me safe, despite myself. I’ll blog again sometime this week with pictures and some trivia.
Gareth