By way of introduction, I've been in L.O.S for eight years, have three girls by Thai mothers all live with me and the children are all in good schools...
When one first arrives in this culture and, any given community, the locals are viewed by most normal ''aliens'' with goodwill...go along to get along.
It soon becomes apparent, that your appearance in like a ''POOLS WIN'' for the community....every tout, urger and market maker is your intimate friend...to hear them tell it....which by the by, only comes through the official interpreter...who ever she may be, [for those of the other persuasion....who ever HE may be], heavily censored.
You find this experience, akin to a serious car accident, where even before the careering mass of metal has come to a shuddering halt, a swarm of carnivorous scavengers descend and strip away gold, monies and anything of value.
While the body is as yet not cold.....and ''the jaws of life'' are vainly trying to free the cadaver, some enterprising ''local ling'' is prising out the gold fillings, from the very jaws of lifelessness....Oh!.....the memories....Oh! the fun....to be among the willing donors.
Eventually the victim recovers....[well hopefully, otherwise he is on the next plane home, broke and dis-spirited]....and begins to understand, the only recourse is non-engagement.....and even negotiating that course of action is a mine field of ...face, deception and extortion.
But hey!....what can you learn in eight years....
barr!!...barr!!....barr!!
Any comments?????
No doubt you have all escaped unscathed....well that's your story, anyhow...