This is how I keep myself in curry and beer
I have a sweet employment situation here in Nong Khai. For instance, my second job is to spend one hour a day on weekends hanging out with 19-month-old Jeddar, ostensibly to give him an early childhood educational foundation in English As Spoken With An American Accent.
Jeddar is the smallest member of one of the premier families in Nong Khai – his mother is a doctor and his father’s family owns the big shopping mall, a school, some other stuff I forget, and has major real estate interests here and in Bangkok. The extended family of grandparents, five children (one of whom is Jeddar’s dad) and truckloads of privileged grandchildren live in a Thai-style mansion on manicured grounds behind a big gate.
Although I have been hired, as I said, to acclimate Jeddar to American English, I suspect the real reason I am there is that the family grew bored with their massive home theatre and needed new entertainment. Jeddar’s 32789 female cousins are a nearly constant audience as I crawl around on the floor singing songs, clapping and screeching like a maniac. Although I’m not exactly sure what they’re saying as they giggle in Thai amongst themselves, I’d bet good money it’s something along the lines of, “Look at that farang make a complete ass of herself! This is hilARious!! Who’s totally amazing idea was this?!”
For hours afterwards I speak to everyone like they’re a toddler. I’m a little afraid that the day will come when I’m unable to snap out of it and then I will spend the rest of my life speaking in a high pitched, overly enunciated voice and clapping and screeching when something pleases me. Oh wait, I’ve always done that, haven’t I? Never mind then.
Tags: Nong Khai, Thailand
sandra_101
Second job? What is the first job?
sandy’s first job is being a stupid little girl.
Remember that time you came over to my place (with Pete) and played with that poor German Shephard that my neighbor had given me? I can totally picture you playing with these kids the way you played with that dog. You’re amazing!