Seized from the Isan life (part 7 end)

What is such an expat doing there in Isaan? No compatriots around, not even European cultures. No cafes, no western restaurants. No entertainment. Well, The Inquisitor chose this life and is not bored at all. Daily, taken from life for a week. In Isan.

Sunday

Although most natives do not have a weekly schedule, there are a few. Teaching staff, people in government service such as municipality, province, post office. They have Sundays off. The Inquisitor knows that people in government service simply had to 'buy' that post. Even for a lot of money, some families are heavily in debt for this. But it is a lifelong job. Do you have to be able to present the necessary diplomas for education and administrative work, but that is not necessary for maintenance men, gardeners, etc.

But Sunday is usually a lively day in the shop here.

Now De Inquisitor and eega have made the shop very cozy - on the advice of madam, De Inquisitor is still trying to understand this society and still doesn't understand much about it, so he relies on the advice of an expert.

Inside, the shop is decorated on a 'seven/eleven' basis. Love the people here. Also a very extensive range, and always sufficient stock of everything - unlike the two older home shops in the village. In addition, we brought new products to the village for which people used to have to drive to the town six kilometers away - something most people hate, no driver's license and often police checks, moreover, the police now also dare to check for drunk driving - his all of them in sin.

Only the air conditioning is missing, which has been replaced by less electricity-consuming ones . But on the other hand there is a karaoke installation. Something The Inquisitor dislikes but the majority find immensely enjoyable. There is also a television screen – which De Inquisitor vetoed after a week: only sports, no more soaps.

Is there a cozy covered and therefore sun-free terrace on the street side. With plants, chairs and benches, and, something The Inquisitor has to point out time and again, rubbish bins.

A bamboo sala has been installed next to the shop, surrounded by a green screen of shrubs, flowers, banana trees, etc. – extremely popular. Even when no one sits there, because then they often take a nap, full booze and voilà, an hour of recuperation. And then happy to continue drinking.

As a result, the shop has become the only means of entertainment, not only for one's own village, but also for five surrounding villages. And these people, who have a small fixed income, invariably go down whenever they can. On top of that, they attract the less wealthy, who always show up once there are a few guests. Hoping to enjoy the .

And that is always the case. People share everything here. And are happy to pay for the less fortunate. If they have two hundred baht to spend, they die. If they have a thousand baht to drown, they will. And if it happens that no one has no money left, they go , up the book.

And without exception, it is paid back at the end of the month.

That often starts on Saturday. Late afternoon and go, party. Until the money is spent, sometimes it can go well past midnight, sometimes they're already sitting around without money.

But without exception they come on Sunday.

Sometimes they dare to settle down in the morning, but fortunately not this Sunday. They don't get there until around two o'clock in the afternoon. Because then there's boxing, , live on television. Incredible how they empathize with it, much worse than when The Inquisitor shouts his science at the football.

And betting, oh boy. Although for small amounts, ten to twenty baht, a few who dare to go higher are soon called to order by De Inquisitor. And every time there is a big winner - who can't leave without converting his winnings into beer. Nice is that, also good business for the store. They like to tempt The Inquisitor to bet. They already know him, better than The Inquisitor knows himself. Because at first he invariably refuses – “I don't gamble”. After the fourth bottle of bear Chang, he happily joins in….

Sharing wealth is also something The Inquisitor has learned over time. Much nicer than 'every man for himself'. What does it matter that he has a bill of a thousand or more baht on Sunday? In his previous Pattaya life, a night out cost several thousand. Here he not only gets the fun, but also friendship without nagging, if he has had enough, he disappears in the Isan way, so without saying anything, and no one bothers or tackles him the next day.

So Sunday is beer day. And yes, sometimes as early as the late morning. The Inquisitor always tries to control his consumption a bit, but by midnight the pipe is out. And sometimes he has to stay a little more sober. When the love of his life is also in a thirsty mood. Because someone has to manage the finances.

Sunday night has no set ritual before going to sleep. The dogs apparently already know that and don't come for food, they've been scraping it together all day because of course there is no Thai who drinks without food. The cash register is not made on such evenings, that moves to Monday.

Showering together is usually a bit more exuberant than on weekdays, the book is not brought out because of other fun.

Anyone who has followed this blog for a week now knows that an expat is not bored in Isaan. Because something happens every day so that there is no fixed pattern in life. That an expat doesn't necessarily have to live a primitive life. That an expat in Isaan does not get lonely, moreover, there are regular trips to the more Western-oriented tourist hotspots. That you can reasonably accept that strange culture of family, money matters, ... and even adapt it to the norms and values ​​in which we grew up, without disturbing the harmony. And that you can build a relationship without mistrust, with lots of love and mutual respect.

The Inquisitor is a satisfied man.