Thai Bicycle

What is the added significance of this blog posting? It’s the first one posted from my home internet! That’s right, after a few delays and minor snags, high-speed internet has finally been installed and I can blog and skype every day! Well, every day that I’m not going out and exploring Thailand to bring back materials for this blog…

Last week introduced a new aspect to my adventure: bike riding in Thailand. I’d had plans to buy a bike next month, after receiving my first full teacher’s paycheck. Well, those plans were literally taken by the handlebars and steered another direction.

Last Tuesday, some of the teacher’s invited me out for a “going away” party for one of the Guidance Counselor’s. We went to a local Thai restaurant and I graciously sampled everything they ordered. There were a few dishes that had pre-warnings and post-follow ups to them: fried duck feet, and soft bone from pork. The teachers warned: “Sean we don’t think you will like,” and then followed up with me the next morning to ask if “anything happened to my stomach.” Both dishes were actually tasty and had no bad side effects; the feet were a bit weird and didn’t have much meat.

Back to the pedal: the teachers offered me a ride home but I said I was going to walk over to shop at the market. They didn’t want me to walk, so they drove me there and asked what I would be buying. I had no plans to shop, just to browse, for bicycles to get a good idea before next month. When they found a bike shop, they parked the truck and four teachers piled out with me into the store. They asked me which one I liked and, when I found a real beauty, they immediately they started asking questions and negotiating prices with the sales lady. They worked out a sweet deal that was, admittedly, hard to turn down. But I was resolute and told them that I would wait till next month, just wanted to browse around and get a good idea. That’s when Teacher Chanida decided it was really too good a deal to pass, and she offered to buy the bike and let me pay her after the paycheck. I didn’t feel it was appropriate to accept such generosity, and I spent several minutes giving my best reasons to wait. I wanted to check the big mall too, I said. But Chanida assured me the deal they arranged would be better than everywhere else. So there I was, with four, female Thai teachers nodding at me, telling me to get the bike. I began to realize that denying her helpful offer would be the ungracious thing to do. We bought the bike. Loaded it into the back of the pickup. They arranged a lock to be thrown in for no extra cost, and extra light reflectors as well.

Next, we spent a good twenty minutes at two different stores picking out the perfect helmet (see picture). My roommate commented later that night that my helmet was “far too cool for a mere bicycle and would look more appropriate with a rocket or unicorn of some sort.” I agree.

One of the Thai’s who helped pick the bike is close to my age and the other teacher’s kept giving us a hard time, trying to arrange a date. But she is the Guidance Counselor who’s going away party it was. Nevertheless, she was very nice to drive me in her truck and to help pick out the bicycle.

The other three Thai’s that helped me do my shopping were all about my parent’s age and all very, very good shoppers. The way they mothered over the whole shopping experience, they way they negotiated and knew all the places to look for deals—I think I’ve found my Thai aunties! (editor’s note: when I get back home, I know my real auntie’s will have better food options than pork bone and duck feet!).