Going To Lunch

      With the day camp scheduled to end after the student's lunch the teachers decided yesterday would be a good day to take me to lunch.  Of course it was fun, of course there was much food, laughter and many pictures.  Thai people have a celebrative gene, they love to laugh and they like a good sport.
      A table for fifteen was reserved at a nice restaurant and the food was pre-ordered.  That's how a quintessential Thai custom that amuses me came into play.  Transportation was via cars and motorcycles...no one had a fifteen passenger van.  One student was still at school waiting for her father to retrieve her.   The first car, with three teachers and me, left while the others waited with the student.  Arriving at the restaurant we were shown to our table and seated.  As soon as we were seated the wait staff brought out the food and I was directed to begin eating.  Never mind that only four of the fifteen guests were present.  The others dribbled in over the next fifteen minutes.

At the table.

All on the count of 3.