nongklai

My Thai gf visited me for three months in Sweden last year. She came with little of the prejudices that I was rich and spoiled. Here she had the oportunity to acompany me in some of my worktasks and off cource we shared my everyday life here in a suburb to Stockholm. Now she has gained a much higher respect for me. She knows I work very hard and live very modest.

"Khun tamngan lambaak le ghaw kriat tukwan!" "Khun tamngan lambaak-gwaa tii baan chen!" "Khun mii kwaamkit muan konthai." Etc.

She knows I can't afford to go to restaurants, movies and such luxuries here. She understands I mostly wear workclothes and after 10-12 hours intense physical work without lunch is too tired to go out for fun on weekdays. Or for that part make love to her everyday.

She understands I have a small set of decent clothes which I reserve for my precious holidays to my beloved LOS. She understands I want to dress neatly in Thailand as a way of being polite and as a way of expressing my gratitude as a guest in LOS. She knows I save up for my holiday the whole year. etc...

I on my hand have as from the first day I set fot in LOS still the highest respect for the hardship and hard work of the everyday rice farmer and other working kindhearted people I've encountered in LOS.

The key to understanding and respect is insight in the other parts everyday life.

Finally a comment on the frequence of Taxi scams in Thailand versus West.

I can only speak for Sweden.

A couple of years ago I heard a story of a Canadian couple. They were driven from Arlanda airport north of Stockholm to the city. The cab driver charged them the same amount in Euro as the should have paid in Swedish Crown. Euro is roughly 10 times more than Sw Crown.

There has been numerous reports of scams against tourist by Taxi drivers here.

Now I think the airport authorities have set up some kind of blocking/system against that. Just how efficient I don't know.

I to have been a frequent guest/lurker on these boards. I joined today much because I want to express my great sympathy and love for the Thai people.

They are a great great people and deserves respect and appreciation to the fullest!

If you guys can construct the Farang Rak Thai Fund in a way so that us living outside Thailand also can contribute I would definitely add my share!

I can add a story from here in Sweden about how the altruism shown by a poor Thai guy can generate mutual altruism in the Swedish family father he helped. It was on News here the other day.

The Swedish family as well as the Thai guy was survivors in Khao Lak if I remember correctly. The Thai guy took the family to his house outside Khao Lak after the disaster. He feed them, gave them water and clothes without a thought about his own wellbeing. After they managed to get to Bangkok the Swedes are now back home in Sweden.

The Father of this family was interviewed on the same day they arrived. He was deeply touched by the generosity of the Thai guy. "We are back home safe and we have everything here. He had nothing but he gave us everything just the same..."

In response the Swedish guy imediately upon returning home had started calling all his relatives and friends asking them to donate money. At the time of the interview he had already collected quite a lot. When ready raising money he will send or hand it over to his Thai helper personally in order to help for his family and village neigbours to recover after loosing work, family members and more.

It's not just Thais that do an incredible job these days. Also many, many of you expats do!!

Big Thanks!!