THAILAND: Mother Dearest, Continued...

I just wanted to write a bit more about the time my mother spend in Thailand before moving on to the time with Nicole and my future plans. I also wanted to THANK HER FOR COMING!!!!!!!

The trip with Mother was really wonderful. Of course, the resorts, the nice hotels, the endless dinners were a wonderful change of pace from my less luxurious travel, but it was our time together that really made it memorable.

As everyone knows Hurricane Reny is a breath of fresh air in any environment, country, region, constellation. Like no other visitor I have had, or traveler I have met Mother took Thailand and ran with it. She immediately loved the amazing care and host nature of Thai people. She immediately told me that yes, she would wear more conservative tops, but that Thailand also needed to realize that she was Brazilian and that cultural exchanges come in every form. In her case, it came in beautiful tanned shoulders that were well moisturized every night. I am my mother's son and everything that is big about my personality, is bigger in hers. So, her love for the beauty of Thai women was not held back. She must have told 1,000 women that they were beautiful, stunning, that their skin shined. She thanked everyone profusely for their kindness. She learned to bow in respect, to say thank you in Thai. I turn, she was a guest to this country that honors its guests. It was wonderful to see, after so much of my own constirnation (sp), someone who was unabashedly herself and at the same time unafraid to make mistakes and connect. Again, she taught me about life, as she has for so long.

Mother also helped with another key aspect of Thailand. Its economy. My mother arrived with an empty suitcase and departed with two filled to the rim. She is a smart woman and knows when something is a good deal. Thailand, in the exchange market,is a great deal. This was also a great place to watch her. I, as many of you know, have always been the perpetual negotiator. Three months in India and 6 months in Asias has only honned my skills and my drive to get the best price for anything. Of course, the fact that I LOVE the exchange with the sellers, the ongoing game of who will win the best price, only fuels this activity. Mother is different. While she obviously does not want to be cheated she also thinks that getting a skirt for $3 istead of $1.50 is no big deal since the same skirt costs her usually $30. So, this was also a place for learning. She learned when she came to ask me for money. We would see an item that cost 600 baht. She would talk them down to 500B and then she would ask me for money. I would think, I could get that for 300B. So, i would give her 400B and tell her to work harder. I know, I am an awful son and person. In fact, Nicole simply said, "G-d, you are such a boy sometimes." But, my mom would undoubtedly get the item for 400B. Listen my theory is this. Capitalism being the law of the land, NO ONE WILL SELL AN ITEM AT A LOSS. So, with that in mind I play the game.

But, of course, in all there is a lesson. So, my mother reminded of all that I tell people in my work...that maybe the sellers don't ultimately make that much money, etc. etc. I mostly agreed. After 6 months of traveling my politics is less clear on the "theory of the whole: people are struggling" and the theory of the individual: this person is struggling." I stand firmly that no matter how poor, we all should be honest and unfortunately many of my experiences are that "these poor workers" are not always honest. This has strengthened my belief that we should give money to non-profits groups as the best strategy for change. STILL, I of course, opt to give people the benefit of the doubt, which is that I eased on my haggling techniques and have since my mother paid a bit more than I usually would for things.

Finally, it was outstanding to see my mother so happy, planning her next trip to Thailand. She hates it when I say this, but she is so much the reason I am doing this. Her struggles have made my freedom possible. My life, my success, and this time in my life is a clear reflection of her efforts to create the best life possible for me. She also reminds me that my own efforts and struggles have gotten me here. I am learning to agree, but Freudian Theories still work themselves out too evidently in my relationship with Mother.

Love to all, especially my mom.

"Into the Woods to Find the Giant..."
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