Freedom is an illusion and in today world of globalisation is becoming more and more an illusion. We are not living in a free world, the oppressor is just not so visible, may not be wearing an uniform and his guns are hidden. Let`s make this and many other “blogs” the last possible “freedom posts”.But remember... Everything is Maya. ITALIAN VERSION ON.. http://ilcazzabubolo.blogspot.com

Friday, January 06, 2006

A WORLD WITH NO "I"


So 2005 is gone, 2006 has come and nothing has, obviously, changed. New Year’s celebration are gone and life is clearly back to normal as it is confirmed by the fact that, driving my way to Bangkok on highway 226, I can see many children slowly walking back to their school.
Business as usual.

It has been the first time I spent the New Year festivities in Bannok and I was kind of eagerly waiting for this moment. It turned out nothing special if not another occasion to observe and try to understand a way of life and a culture that I realise are so much different than mine.
We had a family gathering with my wife’s siblings coming from Bangkok to our matriarch home, few drinks and a dinner with “som tam”, “pra ra” (not too much happy was I as they are the only two things I really do not like about here) and, thanks God, some rice and Tom Kha.
I brought some wine from Europe that nobody really seemed to appreciate… except me of course.

But it was nice, nice to see all those people who were genuinely happy to be together, all this big family made of smaller and broken families. Nobody cared if some were broken families, there was a real feeling of bonding together and this contrary to what may happen in Europe. Our neighbours were having a good time singing a karaoke and, I can tell from the way they were singing, drinking a lot of Leo Beer and Mekong whiskey.

The most beautiful part of the evening has been some kind of lottery which gave so much fun to everyone. Children, “weiloon” and old ladies were meant to draw a number and see if they would get a very simple prize or, maximum, 20 bahts.
It was amazing to witness how such a simple thing could generate so much happiness between all people of any age. It was fun, pure and healthy fun. I really did enjoy every moment of it, I did enjoy the simplicity and the atmosphere, sadly imagining how unthinkable would be having the same kind of “sanook” in Europe where everything is more and more sophisticated.
I am not writing this words with western contempt and the usual bullshit “poor but happy (which is totally false I can tell you after 15 year of social work in India, Nepal and Thailand)”, but it was refreshing for me to be part of such a collective way to enjoy a particular and very happy moment. Wish I had more of the same in the future.

Another thing which is amazing me is the whole concept of family which, in my humble opinion, is so much different than in the west. There (in the west) family is basically made by a limited number of people (father mother and kids) here family has a much wider meaning. What is best? I do not know, and I think is not absolutely important but what I am thinking is that the Thai family structure is likely to offer a safety net for broken families’ children.
In either sides of the world the number of so called “broken families” is ever increasing with mostly negative effects on children.
But while in the west after the parent’s split children are left with a single parent, it seems to me that here in Thailand in the same case scenario children have the “umbrella” of a huge number of relatives who can make them feel their love, care, affection and a sense of belonging.
Of course, this is only my impression which could well be wrong, but as a divorced parent myself I’ve had a lot of soul searching, and pain, on the matter.
In any case I like those big families, where people may come and go but always they will find someone waiting for them, no matter what.

Speaking of which here is another matter that has been in my poor brain for quite a long time.
Naudom is a small, limited society and a world where it seems there is no “I” letter.

It seems to me that everyone is there for each other, always ready and willing to help and forget about himself for the sake of the community.
This makes me wonder if I finally did discover some kind of successful form of socialism.

The side effect of this discovery is that now I can see clearly how still I am self centred compared to the village dwellers.

I think though this may not entirely be my fault, this is how the environment affects the individuals.
To my excuse is the fact that I did grow up in a hugely capitalistic society, a society based on the individual, on competition which is actually putting each one of us against the other.
The illusion of success turns us into beasts ready to kill (metaphorically, but not only) each other, with no mercy, no regards and respect for our fellows humans.

In a rural and simple society made of farmers this kind of wicked competition appears to be totally missing, this is a mutual society where everyone helps each other where all that matters is common welfare and not the individual success.

And even though everyone can tell I am always ready to help too, bring some sick old lady to hospital, helping carrying heavy rice bags but how many times I did that with joy in my heart?
Or instead how many times I thought… “Oh God, I have to do this and that again”?
Honestly too many, seldom I did it a smile on my face and in my heart and this appears to be is the big difference between me and them.

This is probably the biggest hurdle I have to overcome to finally blend in the village society’s life. Shall I try to put the community first and “forget” about myself a bit more.

Living in Ban Naudom is bringing me back to the root of human existence, but somehow I still am unable to cope with this process, I suppose it will be still a long hard road for me, to fight my inner demons and leave behind all the wicked influence that have tarnished my personality and my person.

Or am I being once again too hard on myself?
Am I idealizing a place, seeing what I wish to see and not what really is there to be seen?

I have, as usual, no answers just questions but one sure fact it is that I have still a lot to learn about life and myself and every day is a new lesson for this old Khun Phu and I would like to thank my wife and Naudom people for those lessons.


BAN NAUDOM, January 2nd 2548

C – COPYRIGHT / Claudio Romano

4 Comments:

Blogger oakleyses said...

burberry, michael kors outlet, michael kors, oakley sunglasses, ray ban sunglasses, kate spade outlet, ray ban sunglasses, nike free, michael kors outlet, louis vuitton outlet, louboutin outlet, michael kors outlet, louis vuitton outlet, nike outlet, longchamp outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, louis vuitton, ugg boots, oakley sunglasses, louis vuitton, oakley sunglasses, ugg boots, oakley sunglasses, ray ban sunglasses, nike air max, tory burch outlet, michael kors outlet, burberry outlet online, michael kors outlet, louboutin shoes, longchamp outlet, prada outlet, christian louboutin outlet, nike air max, chanel handbags, louis vuitton, tiffany jewelry, tiffany and co, ugg boots, louboutin, prada handbags, ugg boots, jordan shoes, gucci outlet, replica watches, longchamp

3:47 PM, November 05, 2015

 
Blogger oakleyses said...

sac longchamp, converse pas cher, coach outlet, timberland, true religion outlet, kate spade handbags, north face, mulberry, lacoste pas cher, hollister, nike roshe run, burberry, louboutin pas cher, sac guess, hermes, coach outlet, true religion jeans, ralph lauren pas cher, air max, vanessa bruno, abercrombie and fitch, oakley pas cher, air jordan pas cher, michael kors, hogan, vans pas cher, air force, coach factory outlet, true religion jeans, new balance pas cher, nike air max, nike air max, michael kors, ralph lauren uk, nike air max, ray ban uk, michael kors, coach purses, nike free, michael kors, nike blazer, ray ban pas cher, hollister pas cher, north face, tn pas cher, nike free run uk, longchamp pas cher, nike roshe, true religion jeans, lululemon

3:54 PM, November 05, 2015

 
Blogger oakleyses said...

mcm handbags, iphone 6 cases, mac cosmetics, wedding dresses, louboutin, celine handbags, mont blanc, nfl jerseys, abercrombie and fitch, insanity workout, new balance, iphone 6s plus cases, soccer shoes, birkin bag, valentino shoes, oakley, longchamp, ralph lauren, iphone cases, north face outlet, lululemon, ghd, iphone 6 plus cases, iphone 5s cases, nike air max, iphone 6s cases, ipad cases, herve leger, chi flat iron, baseball bats, instyler, soccer jerseys, bottega veneta, babyliss, nike huarache, ferragamo shoes, vans shoes, jimmy choo shoes, s5 cases, giuseppe zanotti, nike roshe, timberland boots, reebok shoes, asics running shoes, hollister, p90x workout, north face outlet, nike trainers, hollister, beats by dre

4:02 PM, November 05, 2015

 
Blogger oakleyses said...

moncler, ugg pas cher, moncler, thomas sabo, canada goose outlet, toms shoes, doke gabbana outlet, ray ban, juicy couture outlet, canada goose, pandora charms, louis vuitton, gucci, montre pas cher, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, ugg boots uk, coach outlet, doudoune canada goose, moncler, barbour jackets, juicy couture outlet, nike air max, louis vuitton, michael kors outlet online, converse, converse outlet, canada goose, replica watches, moncler, hollister, hollister, moncler, pandora jewelry, moncler outlet, swarovski, michael kors handbags, pandora jewelry, barbour, moncler, vans, louis vuitton, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, lancel, moncler, marc jacobs, wedding dresses, links of london, louis vuitton, sac louis vuitton pas cher, supra shoes

4:11 PM, November 05, 2015

 

Post a Comment

<< Home