Journal entry by Al Negstad — 30 minutes ago
Twelve years ago when Joanne said "If you're going to go SE Asia regularly, do something worthwhile" I then did an internet search for agencies that use volunteer teachers. The International Federation for Research Expeditions (IFRE) does that. (A mighty impressive sounding entity, right?)
They sent me to Ayutthaya, Thailand, and after two years I had my own connections which included a home stay.
For nine years I've been living with the same Thai family so have experienced Thai life as lived by the natives. For the majority of Thai life is a struggle. This is true of the family with which I live even though they might be considered on the bottom rung of the middle class. They had a house built ten years ago and the fact that they qualified for a mortgage indicates their class. Less fortunate persons must borrow from a money lender at 20% interest per month. "My" family struggles to make ends meet even with three wage earners.,,
The family consists of father, Mai, mother, Met, daughter Poo (Poe), and her son, Nice, two and a half. Poo's husband left while she was pregnant and, there being no child support laws in Thailand, provides no support. Mai does maintenance at a hospital, Met recently opened a small coffee/convenience shop, and Poo, does IT work for a large company. Poo is a university graduate in IT and her salary is $300. per month, working 6, days a week. She commutes by bus which cost $79. dollars a month. She leaves home at 6:30am and returns at 6:00pm, unless she works overtime, and then she gets home at 10:00pm. Compensation for overtime is at the same rate as regular pay.
I don't know what Mai gets paid at the hospital but not more than $10. a day. He leaves by 7:00am and returns about 6:00pm six days a week. Met recently opened her shop and initially business was very good but then 3, shops opened nearby and that has severely curtailed her intake. She opens at 7:00am and closes at 7:00pm seven days a week and keeps Poo's son with her. The store is very near the school where I teach but about 15, minutes from her house.
Work consumes most of their life and yet they struggle to get by. In the next post I will continue my report on "Life With A Thai Family."
Blessings,
Al
Picture: Nice, age two and a half.
They sent me to Ayutthaya, Thailand, and after two years I had my own connections which included a home stay.
For nine years I've been living with the same Thai family so have experienced Thai life as lived by the natives. For the majority of Thai life is a struggle. This is true of the family with which I live even though they might be considered on the bottom rung of the middle class. They had a house built ten years ago and the fact that they qualified for a mortgage indicates their class. Less fortunate persons must borrow from a money lender at 20% interest per month. "My" family struggles to make ends meet even with three wage earners.,,
The family consists of father, Mai, mother, Met, daughter Poo (Poe), and her son, Nice, two and a half. Poo's husband left while she was pregnant and, there being no child support laws in Thailand, provides no support. Mai does maintenance at a hospital, Met recently opened a small coffee/convenience shop, and Poo, does IT work for a large company. Poo is a university graduate in IT and her salary is $300. per month, working 6, days a week. She commutes by bus which cost $79. dollars a month. She leaves home at 6:30am and returns at 6:00pm, unless she works overtime, and then she gets home at 10:00pm. Compensation for overtime is at the same rate as regular pay.
I don't know what Mai gets paid at the hospital but not more than $10. a day. He leaves by 7:00am and returns about 6:00pm six days a week. Met recently opened her shop and initially business was very good but then 3, shops opened nearby and that has severely curtailed her intake. She opens at 7:00am and closes at 7:00pm seven days a week and keeps Poo's son with her. The store is very near the school where I teach but about 15, minutes from her house.
Work consumes most of their life and yet they struggle to get by. In the next post I will continue my report on "Life With A Thai Family."
Blessings,
Al
Picture: Nice, age two and a half.
No comments:
Post a Comment