How rare and wonderful
is that flash of a moment
when we realize
we have discovered a friend.
-William Rotsler
In just a month's time, Ernie and I will be leaving Thailand.
This evening, we finished packing up all the things that we won't be using anymore. With only four more weeks to go, I just want to savor the remaining time that we have left.
Being here has indeed been an enriching experience. How gracious of God to have allowed my husband and me this privilege. How often does one have a chance to live for a year in another country with people of a different language and culture? While it's true that we had to make a big sacrifice to come here, I believe it has been worth it all.
Not only have we been enriched in terms of experience and new insights gained, we are richer because of special friends that we have made.
When I began teaching English to the first batch of Maejo University's administrative staff last October, an eager middle-aged woman was among them. Her name was Angkab, the secretary of the Faculty of Tourism. I taught the class one hour daily for 9 weeks. Angkab, fondly called Oy, was almost never absent. Her office was a five minute walk from the Admin building were my classes were held, but she was seldom late. Such enthusiasm and faithfulness I have never seen in a student.
One time in class I casually mentioned that I loved pad thai (a very delicious Thai noodle dish) and wanted to learn how to cook it. Oy volunteered to teach me and we scheduled the cooking lessons for the following day.
After class we went down to the lobby, and there, waiting for us in his car was Teerapong, Oy's husband, who was ready to take us to our flat.
Upon arriving at the flat, out came all the ingredients she had prepared for the special dish - bottles of cooking oil, vinegar, fish sauce, and soy sauce. Minced garlic, sliced vegetables, cooked and peeled prawns, cooked ground meat, bean sprouts, eggs, sugar, chili powder... all wrapped in plastic bags. She even remembered to bring her own wok, a chopping board, a turner, and a big knife. Oy had really thought of everything beforehand. While we were cooking, Ut (her husband's nickname) was taking a video of everything.
In less than 30 minutes everything was cooked, and we all sat down to enjoy a sumptuous meal of pad thai. It was so delicious! By the time that they left, the entire kitchen was sparkling clean as all utensils we had used were quickly washed. The next day, Oy gave me a CD of the video that her husband had taken. The CD was labeled "How to cook pad thai."
This was how the friendship was born. In the months that followed, Ut and Oy have constantly reached out to us, offering to take us to places.
We have found out that we have many things in common. Ut and Oy also have a loving relationship with each other. You can just see the gentleness in the way they treat one another in their family. Their children have a good upbringing; both Nok and Jean are polite, respectful, and well-mannered. Nok works as a pharmacist, and Jean is in his first year of dentistry at the Chiang Mai University. Music is also an important part of their family, just as it is with ours.
I have no doubt that this couple is God's gift to Ernie and me.
One morning in mid January, Ernie woke up with his upper lip feeling numb. Thinking that it was an allergic reaction to what he ate the night before, he started taking antihistamines. We had also prayed daily for his physical recovery, and for whatever was causing the numbness, to leave his body.
But even after taking the tablets for ten days, Ernie's condition still did not improve. We were beginning to be really concerned, but we didn't know any doctor in this place. I asked God to show us what to do. I had just finished my 4:00-5:00 class that day, and Oy was preparing to leave.
Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind, "Ask Oy if she knows a good doctor." I asked her, and it turned out that they were on their way to Chiang Mai City to pick up their son, and that their family physician's clinic was just along the way. Oy offered to take us there.
Well, it really was divine providence. The doctor, after taking just one look at Ernie's face, diagnosed his condition to be Bell's palsy and told him to see an ear specialist to receive the proper medical attention as soon as possible. He gave us the name of a specialist in McCormick Hospital.
Ut and Oy invited us to their home for dinner that evening. They understood that we were downhearted because of what Ernie was going through. What we needed most at that time were friends who truly cared. And God had prepared this couple to be there for us. Ut gave us a card on which were written the complete name of the doctor, the address of the hospital, and how to get there. He would have wanted to accompany us to the hospital the next day, but he had an important seminar to conduct. He also gave us his phone number and instructed us to call him in case we lost our way. Such thoughtfulness and kindness really warmed our hearts.
On our 30th wedding anniversary, Ernie and I invited them to dinner at Sizzler's, a salad bar in Kad Suan Kaew. After dinner, Ut and Oy surprised us by taking us to a karaoke bar at a nearby hotel. In the course of our friendship, we have discovered that we all enjoy singing, especially the wholesome music of the 60's and the 70's. I was even able to sing a Karen Carpenter love song for my husband on our anniversary. Ut also sang two songs for Ernie and me. How meaningful that day was for us!
Last Sunday was another special day for us as friends.
Ut and Oy took us to the Amari Rincone Hotel for a buffet lunch of Thai and international cuisine. Ut was a pianist at the Lanna Cafe in this hotel for twelve years.
A foursome
Chocolate Fountain
At the Cafe Lanna where Ut used to play
After the delicious meal, we proceeded to Chiang Mai University where their children Nok and Jean teach piano and violin. We watched a recital of the students at the CMU theater. It was a delightful afternoon for us as we listened to budding young musicians render both modern and classical pieces on the piano, guitar, and the violin.
Young musicians in concert
After the recital, we passed by the CMU art gallery where there was a collection of Leonid Padrul's photographs on exhibit entitled Shadow of Jerusalem. This was actually my first time to hear of this man. Ut does watercolor painting himself, and both Ernie and I are into amateur photography, so we all had reasons to enjoy viewing the exhibits aside from the fact that Padrul's photographs were indeed very striking.
From the art gallery, Ut took us to a very famous mountain here called Doi Suthep. This mountain is actually a part of the Himalayas, and from several vantage points we had excellent views of Chiang Mai. We also saw an old palace of the royal family called Bhubing Palace.
The mountains of Chiang Mai as seen from Doi Suthep
The path was quite slippery...
Another view from Doi Suthep
It was a warm Sunday afternoon, and I guess we all felt the same way -- we all wanted to spend a little more time together! So Ut and Oy took us to another lovely nature spot called Huay Tung Thao which in Thai means "old tree reservoir." We took some more pictures, exchanged pleasantries, and just enjoyed the cool breeze and the serenity of the early evening scenery.
Dusk at Huay Tung Thao
We had dinner at a restaurant that served mouth-watering Thai dishes. Not even the sudden heavy downpour could dampen the warmth that we all felt in our hearts as we enjoyed the delicious meal of fish and mushroom in spicy sour soup, salted eggs in green papaya salad, stir fried vegetables, and sweet-sour fish.
A special couple
There must be a special reason why God sends certain people into our lives. I went to sleep that night asking God this very specific request: May this friendship be one that will last for eternity.
when we realize
we have discovered a friend.
-William Rotsler
In just a month's time, Ernie and I will be leaving Thailand.
This evening, we finished packing up all the things that we won't be using anymore. With only four more weeks to go, I just want to savor the remaining time that we have left.
Being here has indeed been an enriching experience. How gracious of God to have allowed my husband and me this privilege. How often does one have a chance to live for a year in another country with people of a different language and culture? While it's true that we had to make a big sacrifice to come here, I believe it has been worth it all.
Not only have we been enriched in terms of experience and new insights gained, we are richer because of special friends that we have made.
When I began teaching English to the first batch of Maejo University's administrative staff last October, an eager middle-aged woman was among them. Her name was Angkab, the secretary of the Faculty of Tourism. I taught the class one hour daily for 9 weeks. Angkab, fondly called Oy, was almost never absent. Her office was a five minute walk from the Admin building were my classes were held, but she was seldom late. Such enthusiasm and faithfulness I have never seen in a student.
One time in class I casually mentioned that I loved pad thai (a very delicious Thai noodle dish) and wanted to learn how to cook it. Oy volunteered to teach me and we scheduled the cooking lessons for the following day.
After class we went down to the lobby, and there, waiting for us in his car was Teerapong, Oy's husband, who was ready to take us to our flat.
Upon arriving at the flat, out came all the ingredients she had prepared for the special dish - bottles of cooking oil, vinegar, fish sauce, and soy sauce. Minced garlic, sliced vegetables, cooked and peeled prawns, cooked ground meat, bean sprouts, eggs, sugar, chili powder... all wrapped in plastic bags. She even remembered to bring her own wok, a chopping board, a turner, and a big knife. Oy had really thought of everything beforehand. While we were cooking, Ut (her husband's nickname) was taking a video of everything.
In less than 30 minutes everything was cooked, and we all sat down to enjoy a sumptuous meal of pad thai. It was so delicious! By the time that they left, the entire kitchen was sparkling clean as all utensils we had used were quickly washed. The next day, Oy gave me a CD of the video that her husband had taken. The CD was labeled "How to cook pad thai."
This was how the friendship was born. In the months that followed, Ut and Oy have constantly reached out to us, offering to take us to places.
We have found out that we have many things in common. Ut and Oy also have a loving relationship with each other. You can just see the gentleness in the way they treat one another in their family. Their children have a good upbringing; both Nok and Jean are polite, respectful, and well-mannered. Nok works as a pharmacist, and Jean is in his first year of dentistry at the Chiang Mai University. Music is also an important part of their family, just as it is with ours.
I have no doubt that this couple is God's gift to Ernie and me.
One morning in mid January, Ernie woke up with his upper lip feeling numb. Thinking that it was an allergic reaction to what he ate the night before, he started taking antihistamines. We had also prayed daily for his physical recovery, and for whatever was causing the numbness, to leave his body.
But even after taking the tablets for ten days, Ernie's condition still did not improve. We were beginning to be really concerned, but we didn't know any doctor in this place. I asked God to show us what to do. I had just finished my 4:00-5:00 class that day, and Oy was preparing to leave.
Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind, "Ask Oy if she knows a good doctor." I asked her, and it turned out that they were on their way to Chiang Mai City to pick up their son, and that their family physician's clinic was just along the way. Oy offered to take us there.
Well, it really was divine providence. The doctor, after taking just one look at Ernie's face, diagnosed his condition to be Bell's palsy and told him to see an ear specialist to receive the proper medical attention as soon as possible. He gave us the name of a specialist in McCormick Hospital.
Ut and Oy invited us to their home for dinner that evening. They understood that we were downhearted because of what Ernie was going through. What we needed most at that time were friends who truly cared. And God had prepared this couple to be there for us. Ut gave us a card on which were written the complete name of the doctor, the address of the hospital, and how to get there. He would have wanted to accompany us to the hospital the next day, but he had an important seminar to conduct. He also gave us his phone number and instructed us to call him in case we lost our way. Such thoughtfulness and kindness really warmed our hearts.
On our 30th wedding anniversary, Ernie and I invited them to dinner at Sizzler's, a salad bar in Kad Suan Kaew. After dinner, Ut and Oy surprised us by taking us to a karaoke bar at a nearby hotel. In the course of our friendship, we have discovered that we all enjoy singing, especially the wholesome music of the 60's and the 70's. I was even able to sing a Karen Carpenter love song for my husband on our anniversary. Ut also sang two songs for Ernie and me. How meaningful that day was for us!
30th and last wedding anniversary photo
taken by Ut at Sizzler's, Chiang Mai
March 18, 2008
Last Sunday was another special day for us as friends.
Ut and Oy took us to the Amari Rincone Hotel for a buffet lunch of Thai and international cuisine. Ut was a pianist at the Lanna Cafe in this hotel for twelve years.
A foursome
Chocolate Fountain
At the Cafe Lanna where Ut used to play
After the delicious meal, we proceeded to Chiang Mai University where their children Nok and Jean teach piano and violin. We watched a recital of the students at the CMU theater. It was a delightful afternoon for us as we listened to budding young musicians render both modern and classical pieces on the piano, guitar, and the violin.
Young musicians in concertAfter the recital, we passed by the CMU art gallery where there was a collection of Leonid Padrul's photographs on exhibit entitled Shadow of Jerusalem. This was actually my first time to hear of this man. Ut does watercolor painting himself, and both Ernie and I are into amateur photography, so we all had reasons to enjoy viewing the exhibits aside from the fact that Padrul's photographs were indeed very striking.
From the art gallery, Ut took us to a very famous mountain here called Doi Suthep. This mountain is actually a part of the Himalayas, and from several vantage points we had excellent views of Chiang Mai. We also saw an old palace of the royal family called Bhubing Palace.
The mountains of Chiang Mai as seen from Doi Suthep
The path was quite slippery...
Another view from Doi SuthepIt was a warm Sunday afternoon, and I guess we all felt the same way -- we all wanted to spend a little more time together! So Ut and Oy took us to another lovely nature spot called Huay Tung Thao which in Thai means "old tree reservoir." We took some more pictures, exchanged pleasantries, and just enjoyed the cool breeze and the serenity of the early evening scenery.
Dusk at Huay Tung Thao
A special couple
2 comments:
Hi Manang Lidj!
I could spend the whole day reading all the posts that I missed. You're looking great and younger as years come to pass!
Missya! Hugs to Manong Ernie!
Lovingly,
Jenny
Pad thai, that sounds yummy! I'll have to try to make it sometime.
Bless you!!!!
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