Learning Thai and Doing What I Was Hoping Never to Do

Later on today I start my first actual Thai lessons. I get the informal lessons from Thais who introduce certain words to me or try to explain to me why Ratchadamri spelled in Thai has a mystery “M” (ราชดำร = R-ah-cha-d-ah-ri as far as I can tell). And I’ve listened to tapes and have a few phrase books but I’ve never had any sort of formal training.

Last week I went up and signed up for two two-hour classes a week for the next year. Before people think I’ve gone off the deep end, I also will basically get a visa to stay in Thailand for a year. I say basically because it’s actually a bit more complicated with trips to the immigration office every 90 days for renewals but for the most part it’s a one year visa to study in Thailand.

After that I can continue a second or third year of study basically doing the same thing. It’s a tad more convenient than having to leave the country every 90 days and waiting around for another tourist visa which may or may not be granted.

Well, wouldn’t you know it, the same day I sign up and set the dates for my classes a friend from Gibraltar sends me a text saying he’s going to be arriving Thursday night which also happens to be my first class.

He’s on his way down to Pattaya for a bit of a holiday so assuming the red shirts, yellow shirts or some other color shirts don’t close the airports (again) or do something else stupid I’ll probably try to leave straight from class and either get a taxi with him down to Pattaya or grab my own taxi and meet him down there.

In the 5 or 6 years I’ve been frequenting Thailand I’ve never had a desire to go to Pattaya. To me it represents the worst parts of Thailand. I know some people are saying “But Bill, it’s and endless party down there,” and you would be right but to me it just seems to attract the worst types of people – both farang and Thai. But then again, I’ve never been so perhaps I shouldn’t be so quick to judge.

Either way, I’ll be hanging out with a good friend I haven’t seen since I left Gib back in Oct and that alone should make it an interesting few days.

I’m bringing my laptop as I have a half-dozen or so half-written posts that I might try to finish up and get them up during the morning coffee ritual. If not, expect to be inundated when I get back.

Photocred to Roman Lashkin