PDA Report Bangkok

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Coffee World, Khaosan

Hello All:

Permit me a little cheek; a small indulgence.

During my previous six month tropical travel not a single drop of rain fell from the sky.

Glory!

My first two weeks in Thailand have been marked by daily torrential downpours.

Spectacular!

With scarcely seconds of warning the sky drops like a water fall. Traffic comes to a crawl, all other activity stops. These seeming cataclysms seldom last more than 15 minutes. I'm told it's unusual for October. But then, in the capsized worlds of climate change and capitalism (non-sequitor?) what's normal these days?

As most of you know, I've been pursuing a romance with a woman in Bangkok named Tam. We met online (ho-hum) six months ago and it's been a fascinating, arduous and, well.. thrilling as far as these things go. Last week I met Tam's mother. If I were dating a Canadian woman, meeting mom "the morning after" would trigger alarm bells. In most Asian cultures it's the norm.

(the sky just fell again)

Tam speaks very little English. Takes lessons twice a week. Given the formidable barriers of language, culture, distance and distortions of the virtual experience, I tried to lower (suppress) expectations.

In vain.

I'm a ponderous, philosophical sort.

Thais are generally not analytical, and presumably neither too ponderous. This is LOS (Land of Smiles) and while an intensely shy sort, they're basically fun loving.

After our initial flurry of emails back in March, Tam and I moved seamlesslly (and sensibly I might add) to the telephone. We maintained voice contact during the entire stretch.

Twice, sometimes thrice a day.

Half way through, the disconcerting prospect of continued conversation about the "weather" gave me pause. I suggested we curtail the frequency of our contact, asked for correspondence in Thai which I would go to the trouble of translating.

Tam respectfully disagreed. While promising to cut out the weather talk and willing to turn to weightier subjects (her new haircut, dress, bracelets), she also suggested that we keep it light.

Sensible gal.

She said she hoped I would not be too "serious" on our first meeting. I finally caved and said, fine, we'll keep it light. Then she shot back, but I hope you'll hug me and not be too polite and ask "How the weather?"

This came as a huge relief as I had been bracing for monumental awkwardness.

Never mind the semantic nuances of "serious." Never mind how it might translate into Thai.

And all this on MSN with animated emoticons thickening the semantic soup.

Surreal.

"How the weather?" is now a term of endearment and code for our respective amorous mood. And after many hugs, and despite the downpours, I'm happy to report the weather's great!

I'll shut up now.

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