Oh Silly Farang!

Firstly, let me say "Farang" means foreigner or westerner here in Thailand. Therefore, I am Farang.

Yesterday, we took the girls to Chiang Mai for a bowling trip and pizza! We all had a great time. One of the volunteers Chelsea just finished up her volunteering with COSA and the bowling was her last big event. Now, she is staying in the city for a week or so more. So I decided to stay the night in the city with her and her friend Kelly after bowling. Myself, Chelsea, and Kelly got a great healthy dinner at this place called Salad concept. Then we went and saw Thor. Which I suprisingly enjoyed. The next day we spent our time in cute coffee shops and things like that. I also got a Thai massage for 120 baht (which is about 4 American dollars!) It was a good time. Now, here's when things went awry.

The way to get in and out of town here is through the Sung Taos. I don't know if I said before but Sung Taos are like buses and you just press a button when you are ready to get off. Chelsea explained to the driver that I was a Farang and didn't speak Thai. She told him exactly where I was going so he would just stop. I have taken the Sung Tao before, but never by myself, so when I got to a familiar place, I thought it was time for me to get off. I got off with a bunch of people and I asked the driver "Wat-See-Chum-Poo?" (which is the name of the market I am supposed to get off at). He nodded his head and smiled at me, so I took that as a "yes". WRONG!

So there I am... Sung Tao driving away... standing in the rain...and I don't know where I am. Oh silly Farang. I started to cross the road and was in the middle waiting to cross the rest when a man starts saying things to me in Thai. He had been on the Sung Tao with me and I guess realized I had gotten off at the wrong stop. He was saying something that I assume, had it been in english, would have been something like, "You wanted to get off at Wat See Chum Poo? That is down the road, about 4 minutes, You need to get on another Sung Tao". So I crossed the road back to where I came from. I started to just walk, cause I figured it couldn't be that far. Then I heard the Thai man yelling again. Apparently, he explained to a woman standing on my side of the street that I was a silly Farang who needed to get to Wat See Chum Poo, because next thing I know she is helping me and explaining to another Sung Tao driver where I need to go.

So I get on this other Sung Tao, ride for about 5 minutes, and then the Thai woman motions for me to get off. This time I get off and it seems right. Now, I call Roger, who was supposed to pick me up. Except he didn't pick up his phone. So here I am... standing in the rain... without a ride or anyone else to call... not exactly sure where I am. Oh silly Farang. I start walking down a side road that looks familiar and I think will lead me back to the COSA shelter. The walk took about 30 to 45 minutes. In the rain. Multiple people offered to give me a ride. That is how it is here, Thai people want to help Farangs, and apparently it is generally safe. However, I was so confused and couldn't explain where I was going so none of them could take me there anyways.

I walked for a long time, past Thai people and wild Thai dogs. They probably saw me walking in the rain and singing and though, "Oh silly Farang." When I finally came upon COSA I felt incredibly victorious! Triumphant even! I survived my first lost Farang experience!

I must say, It's hard out there for a Farang! :)