Family Reactions

July 14, 2007 |

Its a month and a week since me and Nan got married in her village in Phutthaisong. And to my surprise, so far I have only met with positive reactions among friends and family. But then perhaps thay are not quite over the shock yet. My mom f.ex, knew there was something going on, and that I probably had someone special in Thailand. But I had not told anyone except a few close friends about Nan yet. Well, told anyone that did not read this blog that is
So when I called home that evening, two days before the wedding she must have been quite surprised. But it was all congratulations and good luck, and we are proud of you, from my folks. My 13 year old niese think it’s all cool. “About time” was her remark! And the rest of the gang also appear to like it. My grandma is my biggest supporter though. I was quite surprised by her reaction to it all. But then she is the only one in the family who has regular contact with Thai people.

At way past 80, she is still quite clear thinking, although she is getting frail, and her hearing is not what it used to be. She still manage to live alone, helped by good neighbours (they are of similar age, and help each other out), and the municipality home maid system in our town. In Norway, the elderly and people with disabilities can get a maid to come and help with chores like cleaning and doing some shopping a few times a week.

My grandmothers favourites are a couple of Thai ladies. Grandma loves them to bits. She worked herself as a maid and later supervising the maids at the same hotel for over 40 years. So the old lady knows what hard work is, and knows when someone is putting their heart into doing a good job:

“They do a great job and always laughing and smiling, salt of the earth they are”

So when I called her to tell her about Nan and our marriage, she was more than pleased. Yup, a Thai wife was certainly all well and dandy in her book!

As for my friends, they all know I am insane anyway. Other peoples reactions I honestly don’t care what they think. But I’ll probably feel a bit self conscious the first couple of times we take a Sunday walk back in my home town. It is a small town, and I bet there will be a few negative comments behind our backs. But again, who cares. They are just narrow minded people who don’t know any better.

The only thing that do worry me is that someone will say something that may hurt Nan, or make her feel that she is losing face. But since there is a well established little community of Thais in town, we won’t have to make the path our-self. So there will be plenty of people who can explain how things are. And anyway, she is of course getting some reactions at home as well that are not all positive. So she will be a bit used to it.

But why take the sorrows in advance? For now We’ll just concentrate on loving each other to bits, and get to know each other.

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