The Kids are Alright
I recently came to Bangkok to participate in an international ‘Urban Heritage and Community Development Field School’ with suppositions about desperate communities’ struggling with officials and developers and how much I could help to their cause. After a few days into the Field School, my biggest insight is that community work requires tons of patience, devotion, empathy, and knowledge. So almost instantly, I gave up my previous illusionary missions. The fact that I am physically here meant I could just open my sensory system to feel and experience.
The foremost thing I was telling all my friends elsewhere was the thunderstorm I experienced here. Trust me, when it arrives, you could merely hear people two meters away. The grand and magnificent rain scared most of the outsiders, but not Ban Panthom neighbourhood. George, a 7-year pet turtle living in the area would tell you that the rain is the vitality of life to this piece of land. It nurtures the tropical plants, taking away all our footprints and eventually replenishing the veins running through the historic Siam.
I generally talk a great deal about food. And the Thai food never disappoints me. Appetitely (if such a word exists) speaking, I am a Thai. The fresh herbs - from lemongrass to basil leaf to cilantro root, plus Thai chilies, shrimp paste, tamarind, palm sugar, coconut milk would instantly burn my stomach while it certainly cools my brain. Peace-making troops around the world should have Thai chefs since everything should be fine with freshly prepared papaya salad!
While conducting my fieldwork in Ban Panthom as part of the Field School, I kind of adopted a local couple running a small restaurant from their residence (old vernacular Thai house) as my Ban Panthom parents. When I first noticed that their business was not good, I was a bit sorry for them. During most of the time, my adopted mom would either watch television or chat with her neighbours, while my adopted dad would either grab a beer or take a nap along the canal. Something needs to be done! Well, after knowing them for a few more days, I would say that they have moved more tables and chairs from their living area into the restaurant area as they are always willing to offer a place to any trustworthy person to conduct a business (presently they offer their place as a tuition centre for kids from a nearby school) that would benefit the next generation. And, because they enjoy laughter and company of kids.
Those unprocessed feelings changed my perception of understanding community issues. I am not trying to say that the community of Ban Panthom is having a happy and trouble-free life. Instead, because of the actual weight of real spirit, it makes more sense to work on it. Everyone has the right to have a decent life, and to be respected.
This afternoon, while I was sketching an old house and was standing between someone’s bedroom and toilet, I saw two kids went out of the house holding large plastic containers and they sat inside them. They both had smartphone in their hands. One was watching video and the other one was probably playing some game on their phones. I did not exist for them as no one looked at me, which was the most decent way I could imagine, considering my awkward presence. They chat from time to time and one of them was singing a Thai pop song in a funny way.
Yes, they are just normal kids.