Small World

Eleven years ago, several internet buddies decided to take a stab at re-establishing a family association which had started during end of 19th century but had not been viable for more than fifty years.  We made a go of it and organized research, databases, web sites and family.  We held several family reunions in Massachusetts where I got to meet many of my internet buddies and "cousins," and amongst the group was Joy Eaton Nemergut and her husband Fred.  Who knew that the next time I would see them would be in Thailand.


As often happens with many cyber-net relationships, very quickly you can establish close personal friendships similar to the penpals of old, but there is a special connection when you also know that you have a common legacy.  Joy has graciously kept in touch with me over the years and when she mentioned that she and Fred would be in Chiang Mai in January, I was delighted.  When they arrived, we planned to meet for dinner, but that was the last decision we would have to make.


To my amazement, the couple Joy and Fred were staying with whom they had met in Boston so many years ago became our ultimate hosts, tour specialists and party planners.  They made arrangements to have me picked up and taken to their beautiful home where I met another extraordinary couple from the US, an educator and his lovely wife, a now retired US State Department employee, who was returning for a visit to her homeland.  How delightful that we were now a group of 7 for dinner.  No one could have anticipated the generous hospitality of our hosts that evening, and the next day I happily accepted an invitation for breakfast and a road trip to their coffee plantation. OMG, is only the beginning description of the fabulous day we were to experience.


Having received his masters in business administration at Harvard, our magnanimous host became invested in the politics of his country upon his return and made great strides towards developing global recognition for Thailand, while maintaining his deep Buddhist beliefs in taking personal responsibility for relieving suffering and giving back to his homeland.  Now, owner of a prosperous jade factory, restaurant, condo buildings, etc., his new ambition, if he does not return to the political arena, is to retire to his mountain retreat and to expand upon and contribute to the villages near his coffee farm, while providing training and education for his workers and their families. He became our tour guide after a beautiful lunch at his home, happily shuttling us around his beloved mountain, showing us "his" Thailand from its quaint villages and exotic jungle beauty, to the expanses of his arabica coffee farm for which he takes great pride and pleasure.  Upon the steep mountain slopes, sheltered in the shade of its dense jungle forestation, his arabica beans grow to perfection, and are harvested and processed by hand by the village inhabitants to note-worthy production of the finest coffee in the world.


I cannot detail the overwhelming feeling of pure beauty, spiritual enrichment, family and country pride we were allowed to witness throughout the day and, upon returning to Chiang Mai, indulged in an awesome dinner and walk through the Night Bazaar to again "feel" the richness of Thai culture and craft.


My thanks to Joy and Fred who shortly after were on their way to South Africa.  A day to truly remember!

View from Doi Suket mountain

Joy Eaton and Fred Nemergut

And the Next Step Is?

It has been two months now since I first arrived in Thailand.  The holidays are over and life is finding a "new" normal.  The biggest changes I find take me back to my years in New York when I walked more, shopped at fresh food markets and found more time to spend with friends and family.  I still help from time to time with restaurant on Riverside and in exchange am learning some Thai cooking, but not enough time to spend enjoying the fruits of our labors.  Business at restaurant has become very busy and so less time for socializing.  It's all good, but miss the relaxed time we used to have.  


Started working on web site for new language institute where my son, Paul, teaches and in return, they have taken me under their wing as they firmly believe that "Mom" is special.  Nice thing to know about Thai culture is that we have value as we get older and it is privilege as well as duty to make "Mom" happy.  So today we worked on web site for a few hours, but spent most of time having lunch at beautiful boutique hotel, meeting new people and visiting large Thai school.  Of course, as I was from America, the teachers asked me to say hello to several classes where the children were learning English, which I was happy to do.  It was amazing the joy and happiness such a simple gesture meant to both teachers and children.  The greatest overall pleasure was to see the shining, excited children who were so pleased to be learning and in school.  


I was very, very impressed with programs, students, teachers and classes which ranged from pre-K to 12th grade.  There were dance classes - both traditional Thai and American line dancing; music classes with animated children gladly singing their little hearts out; classrooms which held perhaps 30 pianos or more, while the owner of the school apologized for the tattered leather on the piano stools; science stations; rooms with perhaps 30 computer/audio/visual set ups; daycare; an olympic size pool for swimming lessons, and so much more.  Today was Wednesday and most students were in their "Scout" uniforms, while teachers and younger students dressed alike to show camaraderie.  The smile never left my face for the hour or more we visited and I hope to have opportunity to come back soon!  What a fabulous day!!!  


And then back to work for a little while with the total gratitude of the wonderful ladies, Tabtim and Sunisa who are principals of the new language institute.  They encouraged me to come back as often as I wanted to help finish web site and volunteer for programs at school.  They have made me feel especially welcome and once again valuable.  I am so happy I came!