So, I've met many friendly and generous people in my ten days in Thailand but none beat Benjaluck, aka "Noi." She and her husband, Kung, have hosted me these past few days in their home in Uttaradit, a small city in northern Thailand. I can know her so well because her English is excellent, having taught it for years but, more importantly, having taught in St. Paul, Minnesota for a year, fifteen back. In fact, she recently took her first trip to the States since then. When people, old friends, heard she was stateside, they started buying her plane tickets so she could visit with them!
She's about 55 and has more energy than people half her age. Especially interesting given she's a cancer survivor--defeating it through a combo of Thai traditional medicine and become a vegetarian! She talks a mile a minute and, after our first two-hour conversation she said, "you need a rest after talking with me!" She's right.
I desperately hope to help her with some of her many service projects helping poor and less fortunate folks in her area of Thailand upon my return to the States. I'm open to any help people want to offer...off to Phrae.
Umbrella Workers
can you say union?
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