Amazing Thai, humbling women
She was always nondescript, ducked behind the reception desk of the business center. I found her soft-spoken and a bit shy, her voice not among those who would laugh loudly when they're having fun at the lobby. She would always click the automatic lock open for those who have forgotten their key cards hoping to get away with it by smiling apologetically through the glass doors of our office space.
I caught up with her in the pantry the other day as I was to have lunch and she was finishing up. At first we talked about where each of us were staying. My place is a bit far - or so I thought. Compared to within the city center, I guess you can say I live at least within city limits. She lives in the next province.
I commute via a 20-baht van ride and the sky train, four stations away from the last station which approximately would take me 30 minutes or more travel time, depending on traffic. It takes her two hours to get to the office via a 50-baht van ride and then a bus ride. She lives with her family and I do too. Except that her 'family' is her parents as she is single, and I am with my children.
While I laze the weekend away trying to get ample rest to energize for the working week ahead at the same time trying hard to spend quality time with my children as best I can, she works still on another job. She doesn't have a day off. If I remember correctly, she only has maybe half a day ? rest in the whole seven days.
She is very simple, dresses simply and neatly and quick to smile. There is never a trace of weariness or burn out on her pretty face during the whole week. She would even volunteer to do things for us in the office if we are getting a bit crazy with all the things to be done.
Now that I'm in my aged 39, I look back and think, I was full of energy and vibrancy at that age 20s? I don't know. I am absolutely clueless when it comes to any form of measurement - time, length, distance, size, and yes, age. But I digress. I guess I did a lot of things in my day including but not limited to motherhood, pursuing a passion for issues and the love for words in my free time, and working on a day job. And yet, it wasn't just her passion that amazed me, it was the mixture of disposition, humility, loveliness and a skating career that made me gawk when she told me what she did during the weekends.
She teaches ice skating. Sometimes she travels to ice skate and compete. She has been to different countries in pursuit of her ice skating. I cannot help but be humbled with her disposition and humility.
I have always admired Thai women in general. They are hardworking, industrious and always will have a way to earn money. They remind me so much of the women back home who would go to the ends of any piso with their patience and laughter. Yet this revelation caught me off-guard, just when I thought I have seen and heard it all. Like a splash or cold water during Songkran, the thought doused me of my self declared blase state as I realize I still have a lot to discover. It was awesome to feel surprised. The discovery enthralled me and made me realize that I am not totally immune to surprises and I can still feel thrilled with the unexpected, especially in people. It was a humbling experience.
* I will not mention her name for fear of violating her privacy because, this is after all, her story. I just had to turn it around to make it seem like it's mine.
I caught up with her in the pantry the other day as I was to have lunch and she was finishing up. At first we talked about where each of us were staying. My place is a bit far - or so I thought. Compared to within the city center, I guess you can say I live at least within city limits. She lives in the next province.
I commute via a 20-baht van ride and the sky train, four stations away from the last station which approximately would take me 30 minutes or more travel time, depending on traffic. It takes her two hours to get to the office via a 50-baht van ride and then a bus ride. She lives with her family and I do too. Except that her 'family' is her parents as she is single, and I am with my children.
While I laze the weekend away trying to get ample rest to energize for the working week ahead at the same time trying hard to spend quality time with my children as best I can, she works still on another job. She doesn't have a day off. If I remember correctly, she only has maybe half a day ? rest in the whole seven days.
She is very simple, dresses simply and neatly and quick to smile. There is never a trace of weariness or burn out on her pretty face during the whole week. She would even volunteer to do things for us in the office if we are getting a bit crazy with all the things to be done.
Now that I'm in my aged 39, I look back and think, I was full of energy and vibrancy at that age 20s? I don't know. I am absolutely clueless when it comes to any form of measurement - time, length, distance, size, and yes, age. But I digress. I guess I did a lot of things in my day including but not limited to motherhood, pursuing a passion for issues and the love for words in my free time, and working on a day job. And yet, it wasn't just her passion that amazed me, it was the mixture of disposition, humility, loveliness and a skating career that made me gawk when she told me what she did during the weekends.
She teaches ice skating. Sometimes she travels to ice skate and compete. She has been to different countries in pursuit of her ice skating. I cannot help but be humbled with her disposition and humility.
I have always admired Thai women in general. They are hardworking, industrious and always will have a way to earn money. They remind me so much of the women back home who would go to the ends of any piso with their patience and laughter. Yet this revelation caught me off-guard, just when I thought I have seen and heard it all. Like a splash or cold water during Songkran, the thought doused me of my self declared blase state as I realize I still have a lot to discover. It was awesome to feel surprised. The discovery enthralled me and made me realize that I am not totally immune to surprises and I can still feel thrilled with the unexpected, especially in people. It was a humbling experience.
* I will not mention her name for fear of violating her privacy because, this is after all, her story. I just had to turn it around to make it seem like it's mine.
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