By Sr. Teresa Joy F. Balais, DC
Ordinarily I walk from the Language School to our apartment after class. But one Friday, I was so in a hurry to reach home that I decided to take a public bus.
All the seats were already taken. I had not got a firm footing when suddenly the bus pulled up. Losing my balance, I fell sideways on the man sitting at my left, brushing his head briskly with my hand during the impact.
What we had learned in class that morning flashed to my mind. Our teacher told us never to touch anybody’s head because in Thailand it is against good manners.
Embarrassed, I awkwardly whispered “Excuse Me” to the man and without thinking, slightly brushed his head politely to erase the touch I caused a while ago. To my surprise, he looked at me opened mouth! Only did I realize how my erasure [Philippine Culture] has now doubled the crime in Thai Culture.
After New Year, I met Sister Annie in a Seminar. That time, she was stationed in a small town about 21/2 hours drive from the city where I lived.
Sister Annie confided to me that she seemed to have Anemia because every time she dries herself after bath, she would notice her skin getting yellowish.
I told her that it also happened to me in my previous mission in Venezuela. What put up my hemoglobin was a daily snacks of fresh carrot juice.
After 3 weeks, we met again in Bangkok. “Have you gotten rid of your Anemia?” I asked eagerly. “Yes!” she answered sweetly.
“How?” I inquired. “Did you take the carrot juice?” No! She answered. “I just got rid of my yellow towel”.
I was shopping one day when I met a lady whom I knew before was working in a Bank.
“Sister,” she said. “I have a boyfriend already and he is a farang.” [Farang is another word for foreigner.] But then, she said became worried when she receives his first letter from aboard. “It is as if he is only interested in my body”, the lady spoke sadly.
I got curious and asked her what made her think so. She searched her bag and took a pink stationary.
“Listen to this,” she asked me. Then she read aloud: “Ows ebrai thin darling! Ay owp yer in gud shape!”.