This is Thailand. Chapter 13: Exit of the Dragon. Part 2.
We drove into the underground car park of the Dusit Thani Hotel on the ever-jammed intersection of Thanon Silom and Thanon Rama IV. Our embassy organised a Christmas Eve dinner every year for the Polish people living in the Land of Smiles. It was a very nice gesture for which no doubt the Ministry of Foreign Affairs couldn’t afford in many countries. A small number of Poles living in Thailand for good justified throwing an event like this. We had to pay an entrance fee of course, but given the luxurious scene of the hotel, the fantastic combination of both Thai and Polish food and the amount of alcohol, I was sure that the government had paid a fair amount for this party.
Link to the previous part: This is Thailand. Chapter 13: Exit of the Dragon. Part 1.
We registered prior to entry at one of the hotel’s restaurant and entered a Christmas-like decorated room. Piam, as always, spent two hours in front of the mirror, which made us a little bit late. In the restaurant, there were about 150 people mingling around the tables that were heavy with food. Officially everyone came here to feel the magic of Christmas. Unofficially, the whole event served to meet people working in the embassy, deepen relationships and show off everybody’s Thai chicks. The highlight of the evening was of course Santa Clause giving presents to the kids. Apple didn’t let me sleep the night before because she was so excited about her first meeting with Santa Clause. When her turn came, she screamed, cried and Piam had to take her gift for her. The poor child had never seen a fat, red guy with a long, white beard. She calmed down after receiving a white bear, that was so big that she barely had enough force to take it home with her.
We finished a lovely family night by putting Apple to bed early and putting on a movie that we had hired on the way home. We sat in front of the TV with a pack of chilli-flavoured chips. Piam hugged me like a small girl, touching me at the same time so that I couldn’t really concentrate on what was happening on the screen. Each time I tried to move, she looked at me with a tempting facial expression and said –Shhh... - after the movie.
Shortly before midnight, just towards the end of the movie, the sound of my mobile phone buzzing broke the romantic atmosphere. Piam jumped like she’d been struck by lightning and grabbed the phone. In a few seconds, her face expressed all kinds of negative emotions from shock through to fear:
-What the fuck is that?! She said, throwing the phone at me
-Jesus! Relax! - I shouted, catching the phone.
-You have a lover?!?
-I don’t - I answered, looking at the phone, which said ‘I miss you’ from some unknown number.
-You lie! Who the fuck is that?
-I have no idea! It’s probably a wrong number. - I answered, trying to work out who it could possibly have been.
-You lie! I hate you!
Piam jumped up from the couch and ran to Apple’s room, slamming the door shut. Apple started to cry and I needed some air. I sat down in a street restaurant and ordered a cold Singha with ice and kept looking at the screen of my phone. The sender was a bartender from Ao Nang in Krabi. I had deleted her number and forgotten her name. I didn’t really think that she would message me again.
At home, I had a few days interrupted only be Apple’s screams, who still didn’t want to wake-up at 6.30 after staying up until 2 in the morning. The fights about my SMS-lover continued and I stuck to my version of events. She couldn’t prove my lie, so everything went back to normal.
**
Generally, I didn’t have to hand in my termination of employment notice. The lack of communication meant that I pretty much carried on doing my job and the contract for next year would be signed in the future. However, I didn’t intend to continue my employment, so I was not interested in any contract. It was not possible to do both the teaching and set up the travel agency. In January, I was supposed to go to Burma for three weeks. My task was to check the route, which we would later do with our first clients with me acting as a local, professional guide. Since our clients were only able to spend about 5 days in the country, I wanted to use the occasion to see what else was possible to do within the country.
We called it “The Inspection” and in the future, it was supposed to justify all of our travel cravings. I agreed with Peter that we would meet in Rangoon. He was supposed to fly there from Vietnam, where our first commercial journey began. Together, we were supposed to take the clients to Burma, Thailand and Cambodia. I was supposed to rush to Phuket, where I had another group sent by a Polish man residing in Indonesia. I planned to be back in Bangkok at the beginning of March, more or less halfway through the first trimester at the college. Yes, the continuation of work at the college was out of the question. I wanted to be fair towards my bosses though. Despite the lack of necessity, I informed them that I would not be extending my employment with them.
**
-Marek, I wanted to thank you for the whole year of intensive work for the college. - said Puwaret, making a toast with mineral water during a goodbye lunch in Dusit Princess Srinakarin hotel, which is located just next to the college.
-The pleasure is mine. I’m sorry to leave such a great place as Dusit Thani College, but as you know, I’m starting my own business.
-I understand and respect your attempts to become independent. I have a small request. -
-I’m all ears.
-We have a problem with finding your replacement. Could you please stay for two more weeks, for us to continue our search?
-I’m sorry Puwaret, but I’m flying to Burma tomorrow.
-You can’t change your flight?
-I have commitments towards our clients and a partner. And I’ve already booked the tickets.
-I understand. In the case, I wish you good luck.
-Thank you.
The rest of the conversation didn’t really go down well. Refusal to your boss, who is older as well is considered a huge faux pas in Thailand. Thankfully, I didn’t care in the slightest. The rest of my final work day went by quickly and painlessly. I cleaned my desk, deleted personal data from my computer, returned books and teaching materials and signed a paper allowing Guy to pick up my bonus of two months wages on my behalf. Without non-needed tears, I left the college. I was a free man again. No alarm clock, no logging into the attendance register system. Only me, my own company and unlimited travels. Isn’t life beautiful?
TO BE CONTINUED...