Dear Hillary,
I have just said farewell to the last of the in-laws and their cousins’ cousins who came to see in the New Year. All in all, there would have been around 20, but they were so mobile it was difficult to count them all at one time! They slept on the floor of our two bedroom condo unit, got up before me, prepared their own meals, brought their own rice and vegetables and tidied up and swept up after themselves. I know that many readers don’t like this sort of thing, an Englishman’s home is his castle and all that, but we aren’t living in jolly old England, we are living in Thailand, a country with its own customs and culture and if you want to stay in Thailand (and stay sane in Thailand), you have to say goodbye to your own customs. As they say, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Make that “When in Thailand, do as the Thais do.”
Ricky
Dear Ricky,
How delighted I am to read something from an ex-pat who is not complaining at Thai customs and culture. You are so correct, my Petal. This country is Thailand, not the 53rd state of America. Keep enjoying yourself in your new country.
