Luk-Kreung (Half Child)

I recently had a dream in which I reached into my head and pulled out my brain, stared at it in my hand (amazed that I was still able to think) and then decided to put it back in. Not only was this one of the most shocking and graphic dreams I've ever had, but it has really made me think about how living in another culture forces you to change your thought patterns, your lifestyle and everything you take for granted as "normal." Kelly suggested that this dream was about learning to think like Thais, starting to see the world from a different perspective. It's true that this is the longest I've ever lived in another country and I can sense some really big changes happening. Actually, I don't generally notice them but Becky and Shawn have really helped me see how adjusted I've become here. While they are still new to Thai culture, they often comment on how "Thai" Hilary and I have become. For example, the first time they followed me on a motorcycle they said, "You're driving like the Thais now!" as I drove in an opposite direction down a one-way street, did an illegal U-turn and crossed the road. Becky said, "You never would have done that a year ago" and she was right. I used to be terrified of Thai traffic but now I just go with the flow. And it's not so scary once you know the rules, once you understand how things work here.

I feel like I've become a "luk kreung," a child that is half-foreign, half-Thai. I'm learning to reconcile the cultural differences while still trying to hold onto some values and beliefs of my own culture. And the things that used to bother me about Thai culture still do, but not so often. Although I'm still a bit of a stickler about time, I'm learning to accept "Thai time" which is always at least half an hour behind. I think just being able to anticipate how things are going to be makes life here much easier. Of course, being able to discuss these differences with Otto has really helped me. When Hilary and I moved into our new house, Otto suggested that we give some offerings to the spirits of the house. Under a tree, we placed some flowers, burned candles and incense while asking the house spirits to welcome us. It was actually a very lovely ceremony and it made me feel like the new house was "official." We also had a housewarming party to throw in a bit of our own culture. I love this blending of cultures, being able to share these different beliefs and evaluating the actions we take for granted.