Isan experiences (3)

Dark brown earth, filled with promises of fertility, give the Isan land a different view. There is no water on it yet, so it reminds De Inquisitor of the springtime Flemish countryside. When you make the effort to take a closer look, you will see that it is full of life. The earth clods are full of worms that provide good aeration. Lizards, frogs and unknown insects enliven the whole.

 
Just about everyone in the village has plowed their fields, ready to welcome the abundant rains.
Very locally here there has been hardly any rain until the day before yesterday. Unlike other parts of Thailand where there was unusually much rain for the time of year. Sakhon Nakon and especially Udon Thani were hit by heavy summer storms, wind, a lot of rain and even hail balls the size of golf balls caused heavy damage. The Inquisitor also read that Bangkok, Pattaya and other parts of the country were also hit, accompanied by flooding as always.

Here the climate remained calm. In fact, there was hardly any rain, only two nice showers in recent weeks, that was all. Since New Year we received a total of four showers that stopped after an hour. Dry nature of course, but no one was awake. The rains will come is the general statement. It has been that way for centuries, they have hardly heard of climate change or anything else, let alone believe in it.

And they are right too. Their fields were just ready, and then the clouds came in. Menacing blackness in the distance that approached slowly but surely. Traditionally, there are gusts of wind that announce that it will fall wet. But the heat continued its resistance during the day, held the drops. With high humidity as a result, suffering for humans and animals. Only after sunset the clouds were oversaturated and the showers fell. A relief, the temperature dropped to a pleasant twenty-seven degrees, coming from over thirty-five. But it fell silent again for a day. A kind of North Sea sky, gray and gloomy, some wind, fortunately there will be openings in the clouds later and afterwards the sun simply burns away the cloudy sky.

It resulted in beautiful pictures yesterday morning. At sunrise a mist hangs close to the warm ground, two or three meters high. Just enough to let the brown earth color through and the bright green tree tops stick out above it, beautiful. The sun was present again, an orange-yellow sphere rises and gives everything a nice appearance. All green comes to life. Shrubs, trees, flowers.

The dogs are lively because of the cooler air, the cats want to go outside. Young buffaloes hop playfully behind the adult animals to the grazing areas. People seem even happier and friendlier, the young children are playing outside at the schools that have reopened. Teenagers are excited, they still have vacation until the middle of next month and they are enjoying their youth.

And so De Inquisitor makes another mistake regarding manners in Isaan. Stepdaughter, almost fifteen now, has a boyfriend. Well, in his Belgian life De Inquisitor had already experienced all this with his daughter and he reacted in a Western way. The boy, almost eighteen, has a show for sale. Completely normal at that age, of course, but it bothered The Inquisitor. A young man who does not say hello is enough to put The Inquisitor on his horse, moreover, he does not take off his fashionable shoes when entering the shop, probably too difficult because of the laces. So the guy on the grain: are you always so rude? Who keeps Eastern deaf. Barely looks at the Inquisitor, seeks support from his sweetheart. In vain, he also knows the moods of De Inquisitor.

Are you still studying or working? What are you going to be? The male begins to visibly sweat, then takes off his shoes anyway and takes a drink from the fridge. And places himself with his girlfriend who is sitting at the counter. The Inquisitor casually stands by, just out of wantonness. Can't they please, the few words of Isaan that De Inquisitor can pronounce perfectly make someone who doesn't know him think he has mastered the language.

Liefje-sweet follows everything with alternating facial expressions. Satisfied on the one hand that The Inquisitor puts the little guy in his place, on the other hand annoyed that The Inquisitor flouts Isan protocol. He will also hear that afterwards. Because you don't know who that boy's parents are, possibly important people? We don't tee-rak like that. We let them do.

But the sweet also knows that this will not work as long as The Inquisitor is here. Politeness is an elementary duty, especially of young people. Second, this is The Inquisitor's territory. That includes some rules, he has settled in well, has adapted heavily to Isan standards, but there is a limit. And if those parents were important people, then so be it. Everyone equal before the law.

Fortunately, the incident is quickly forgotten, stepdaughter is even happy about it. And De Inquisitor immediately takes advantage of the moment. Talk to three. What about information regarding relationships, he wants to know? It turns out that this is not taught at school.

 
So take the plunge, first with the stepdaughter: only if you are ready and want it yourself can you sleep with someone. Which gives the daughter a red head but The Inquisitor continues. "Do you understand? A young man wants that fast and a lot, only give in when you want it too, not before”. Fortunately, he now receives support from sweetheart who understands the seriousness of it. Then discuss contraceptives. “It's about time she brought condoms with her” – and to the daughter: “always with a condom for now!”. Who apparently knows what that is…. To the love afterwards: "Wouldn't she better start taking the pill gradually?" – “You don't want a teenage pregnancy, do you?”. Heavy costs for an Isan lady, also for her daughter, but you can't just let everything take its course, he reports again.

For the time being, the Inquisitor has no idea whether any work will be done, one of the weeks he will have to find a good opportunity to bring it up again.

And so the day ends, without noticing it the sky is pregnant with pitch-black clouds. Lightning flashes and thunder herald heavy rain. It also comes just when we crawl into bed. The Inquisitor finds that very relaxing. Especially when the wind is good and the bedroom window can be open. The flashes of light, the popping. And afterwards the murmur of the rain, that makes you fall asleep.