We've already told you about how well Tom's former student and our friend, Supattra, has been taking care of us; she has taken us apartment hunting and out for food at wonderful restaurants. She has pointed out places to shop and made arrangements for us to see famous artists and their incredible work. Our latest adventure was visiting the house and studio of a wonderful artist: Wattana Wattanapun. He works in different media. My favorite was an acrylic on paper. His work is hard to describe but glorious combining Thai fabric motifs with the outlines of human figures "interwoven" into the fabric (that's really paint). The Thai motifs are traditional yet incredibly textured and contemporary. Like they say--you gotta be there--and actually you could if you visit his website: www.wattanapun-art.com However, you know it's still not like seeing them in person. He even knew where Ohio was since he was a visiting professor at Oberlin College (as well as at the Rhode Island School of Design and other U.S. universities).
But Tom is not the only one who has a former student living in Chiang Mai. My former high school student, Rachel, has been here off and on for the past several years. She is an engineer and is finishing up work for her PhD. And she's also the daughter of one of my former teaching colleagues. (See--Mom--she looks great--healthy and happy.) We figured that it may have been ten years since we had last seen each other. It was so much fun for me to have lunch with her and her friend, Jack, at her "current favorite place" --a small food stall with tables and the three of us had soup and a main dish for 80 Baht--a whopping $2.40. And it was truly delicious.
After lunch she took me to see her apartment--a big, really nice studio with loads of storage and a private bath--one of the nicest graduate student living pads I've ever seen. We also stopped by her gym where she has met so many people--and I met some there as well--and saw what a "web" of connections the town of Chiang Mai is. And I was properly impressed with her Thai speaking abilities (and jealous as well).
The following week, both Tom and I went to dinner with Rachel and Jack (who is truly a wonderful guy--and so protective and helpful to all of us)--and her friend, Amanda,
who is also here from Cornell working on her doctorate. Fun, smart, lively and wonderful people--we're going to be in good hands with their generation! We had another delicious meal too.
We also met and had dinner with new friends: Adam, director of International Programs and of the Thai Studies Program at Payap University and his friends, Jessica and Eva. We dined at an Italian restaurant not far from where we live--and the daughter of the owner just happens to be our landlord. There are so many interesting people here--both Thais and others from all over the world. So, cheers to friends, old and new.
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