Recently while entering the Tesco-Lotus express in this small rural town in Thailand, someone yelled out George which is not unusual as I am the only Western guy around these parts. Actually most of the time I am called ‘farang’ which means foreigner in Thai. I answer to either name. When I looked in the direction of who called my name, at first I did not recognize the guy. That soon changed. Here is his story.
Somchai had been a personal driver for students attending the international school in which I had worked and that is how he knew my name. One of my responsibilities at school was to try and convince the BMW moms to kiss and go in the morning as they dropped off their children at school. Somchai’s job was to pick up and deliver other people’s kids, wait all day in the school’s garage and then take the students back home. In the evenings he worked part-time as a taxi driver. Neither jobs paid much. He made about B15,000 or $450 per month. And the hours were long. Somchai wanted to be his own boss.
He and his wife decided they would buy a 5-Star Chicken franchise to live and work in their home town. But saving money was tough with two children, a wife and an ailing mother-in-law. It took Somchai almost three years to save B25,000 or $750 needed to go into business to sell chickens and sausages.
Today, life is not easy for Somchai and his family, but it is better. He now takes and picks up his own children from school every day.
Finally, Somchai said “Have your friends stop by and try my chicken.”
Thumbs Up!
Don’t care for the sausages.
Beginning the Roast
Golden Brown
The chicken neck is still for sale.
Stocking up on Supplies
George's Life Observations 
Hey, George! I remember him, George…remember when I had the traffic duty, mornings? Richard Parkany, here! ~ ;-} rap.
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Oh yes, the quality time on traffic duty. Here is a story about one such time. One morning a young boy named Por had just gotten out of his mother’s car and was walking slowly to the gate. Jokingly and yet with serious intent I hollered out “Come on slow poke.” The mother later complained to admin that I had called her son, dumb. That was fun…
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Hello George. I enjoyed your blog. My Dad was stationed in Thailand for a year in the Air Force and always told me what wonderful people the Thai are. He loved the country.
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Small world. I retired a few years ago from teaching in an international school here in Thailand. Throughout the years, I taught 4th and 5th grade and often collaborated with the Art teacher to tie in with the subjects the students were learning.
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