It is Monday morning in Bangkok and here I am at the office already. To get to my Caritas office, I get the bus to Tesco Lotus at Rama III. Sounds easy enough? Well, it should be until you have to name your stop to the Thai bus conductor.
The Thais just say "Lotus" but in their own way. If you just say "Lotus" as we say it, they will never understand you. The problem is that this is one word I have never been able to get around. Well today, I had to face the challenge as I was asked where I was getting off, and there was no way I was going to get around facing this challenge.
So there I was and said yet again "lo-tis" (as it sounds to them). The conductor didn't understand. I might as well be going to Mars. I tried again and again and again. Then she said in their way "lo-taaas". I said "chai" ('yes' in Thai). Then she said to everybody on the bus "LO-TAAAS" and they all laughed. Well, I tell you that I sure know now how to say "Lotus" in Thai now. This is one sure way of learning and all I could do was smile as they all laughed. What else can one do?
I am John Murray, an Australian, Catholic priest of the Order of St Augustine. I live and work in Thailand and have been here since October 2005. I have many stories from my life journey and would simply like to share some of them. So hope you enjoy and go away sometime with a smile or a helpful little insight.
We gather
to give thanks for my 25 years.
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