Aug
25
A Party for a Hut
August 25, 2007 |
As tradition is when you move into a house, there has to be some kind of festivity to mark the occasion. So we went to the market and got plenty of food. The fluids where already in place.
Around noon, Nan went to her moms house, to hel,p her with something. And I switched on the fan, and settled in on the bed reading a book. But I must have been tired because I dozed off. I was awakened by Nan, who smiled and announced that the guests had arrived.
I hastily pulled a T-shirt over my head and shuffled outside to find the yard full of people. So I retreated once more, and had a quick bucket shower and shave in the hong naam.
When that was done, the yard had turned into a kitchen. People where milling about hacking away at food. And someone was erecting an oil barrel, making it into a barbecue.
The invited guests where mostly Nan’s immediate family and the crew that had helped her finish the hut.
Food was immediately available. Bits of chicken and rice where carried inside and the double doors at the front of the house opened. Karaoke VDC’s where inserted into the DVD player, and Nan’s uncle was soon belting out Morlam tunes. Beer was distributed, and Nan’s mother in-law by her late husband plonked herself down next to me.
I soon realise that the old widow saw it as her mission in life this evening to make sure that my glass was always filled with Beer Chang and ice. That my plate always had bits of food on it etc.
So there we sat, listening to music and eating. Bits of dancing happened, people where smiling and laughing, and when the first food session was over, it was time to cook some more. Now it was the serous food. Meat of some kind was chopped up and barbecued, while people where milling about, dancing, and trying there hands at the karaoke.
Then we ate again as it was getting dark outside. The men had now found the Lao kao, and some serious drinking ensued. But everyone was still smiling and dancing. Some more neighbours joined in. And then, around nine. As if on cue, everyone got up, and simply went home.
Nan and I had a look around. The house was crawling with insects. As the double doors had remained open all evening. So we closed them off, and bug sprayed the entire house. We sat outside and chatted a bit, me enjoying a last beer chang. Then we went inside, and started cleaning out all the insects now dead on the floor. It was like a black carpet of them, and I could not believe it.
But it was easy to get it all out, and then we simply changed the linen on the bed, had a shower and went to bed. A quite enjoyable evening, and as usual with Nan’s family, everyone was enjoying themselves, and there was no episodes due to drunken behaviour. En enjoyable evening.
Thats it!
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Comments
2 Comments so far
Hilsen fra Bergen,Norge
Jeg er thai og bo i Bergen med min manen,som er norsk.
Jer like å lese dere historie og lykkes livet inn i Isaan. Jeg kose meg når dere har det bra sammen.
Også ønske jeg meg at dere er lykke til videre.
beste hilsen
Greetings from Bergen, Norway
Iam Thai and live in Bergen with my husband, who is Norwegian. I like to read your story and your happy life in Isaan. I enjoy it when you have a good time together. I wish you good luck for the future
Best regards
Sawasdee Khrap Khun Path
I hope you don’t mind that I translated your nice comment to English, as most of the people that read this do not understand Norwegian.
I am happy that you like to read about us. I think you must be the first Thai that have ever commented here.
Nan also says hello, and wish you and your husband a happy life together also
Best regards
Rune