In the evenings, the weather in Bangkok has turned for the better. I can walk the neighborhood, and make out the faint twinkle of stars against a backdrop of dented tin houses across the street. Cool gusts of breeze rustle the foliage lining my local park, and the evening Christmas lights create this almost festive feeling in the moobahn (neighborhood). The weather is nice, and it's really beautiful.
I've been taking advantage of the accat dee :-) after work, and taking daily evening strolls. It's a good way to enjoy my days and my life here. I can appreciate the moments better and work at calming my mind. It might sound strange in Bangkok, but I can actually think about nature as well as be friendly with the local people. It's been nice.
Last night, I went to a new restaurant behind the neighborhood park, and I ordered some food as rowdy locals spoke excitably of Abhisit, Thai Soccer, Cars, and girls. They gave me a cursory glance, and spouted on as I read my book in relative solitude.
After about 10 minutes or so of reading, the head chef/proprietor made an appearance, and asked me about my order in Thai. I replied simply and without much in the way of description, and the conversation in the restaurant stopped immediately with all the Thai staring at me, surprised that I understood the question and formulated a Thai reply.
"Oh he speaks Thai very well," everyone spoke excitably.
"Foreigner understands, foreigner understands!" came over and over again.
The happy patrons cheered and offered me a glass of whiskey for my 10 Thai words :-). By cultural obligation, I accepted their generosity. One drink had me feeling tipsy :-P.
I maybe sat in the restaurant for a total of 45 minutes, and said about 30 Thai words in total. It is agreed though that my Thai is very good. "You speak Thailand very well," one of my new friends complimented.
That was a heart warming way to end my 'cool' evening walk last night, even if my Thai is not very good. The weather is nice, my Thailand is very well, and I'm listening to alot of Miley Cyrus on my Ipod (don't tell anyone please). Life here is happy and nice :-). Happy holidays :-)!
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I like this story very much and I think it shows how genuinely Thais like it when foreigners make even a modest effort to speak a bit of Thai. Its a more direct connection and if you are here for the culture it will help you have a richer better experience. good for you!
ReplyDeleteThanks :-), I'm trying to get better. Just like my English though, grammar is a problem :-P. Happy holidays teacherbob2 :-)))
ReplyDeleteUsually, when people asked me if I can speak Thai, I reply in Thai "Puu dai ninoi" or "Puu mai dai" and they will laugh and said I can speak Thai very well.
ReplyDeleteIf I greet someone in Thai e.g. "Yen di tii dai ru jak", my colleagues will all laugh and stare at me.
I think they are surprise I can speak/understand it at all even though I have been learning it for the last 5 months! They are funny ppl.
Although another Thai friend who lived in HK for 5-6 years so he learned to speak some Cantonese told me that I should have learned a lot more vocabs by now :p. He is advising me to try to learn 5 new words per day....I guess that is my NY resolution.
Happy NY holiday!