Rialoves2cook: After a great mass at Assumption Cathedral, a heart-racing climb up Wat Arun, and discovering a new market, I fell in love with everything I ate today. There aren't enough hours in a day to consume the amazing flavours of a dill and lemon catfish salad, savoury marinated pork, and a sweet and spicy papaya salad. This country is amazing and I'm so blessed to be here and to finally appreciate it fully.
#WangLangmarket #Bangkokeats #Ineed4stomachs #goodbyehomedrama
Posted: November 10, 6:50 PM
Tinanator: I hope the goodbyehomedrama means what I think it does!
RiaLoves2Cook: It does : )
Tinanator: Nice! PS I'm still waiting for my plane ticket to join you. You keep posting these amazing foods when I'm stuck eating mom's cooking.
CamillaTomas: Looks like you want to cook tonight. I'll leave the ingredients out for pancit for you, Christina.
Tinanator: That last comment must have autocorrected. I meant 'when I'm blessed with mom's amazing cooking' <3
CamillaTomas: Nice try, you're making supper.
***
After Sunday mass, a group of Filipino ex-pats called Maria over to have coffee together in the hall near the church. She approached their table with her cup in hand. A man in his twenties adjusted his skinny purple tie. His styled hair and well-fit button-up shirt were nice on the eyes too, not that she was in any position to be looking.
"All alone this week?" he asked in a similar accent her family who'd recently moved from the Philippines had.
"Most of my coworkers are busy worshipping their beds and toilet bowls," she said.
He laughed. "I remember those days, I'm Jomari, and this is Benilda," he introduced the petite woman beside him.
"Maria."
"Are you new to the church or to Bangkok?" he asked.
"Kind of both. I got here just under a month ago and took me a while to land on my feet."
Jomari smiled, as did Benilda. "Sounds familiar. During my first month, the job my aunt arranged for me fell through. After weeks of searching, I taught English for a year to pay rent before I found another job in hospitality," Jomari said.
"I'm teaching now, but I'm not a teacher, so it's exhausting," Maria said.
"At a public school?" Benilda asked.
"International school."
Jomari whistled. "Hang onto that. I've heard they pay well."
Maria shifted from foot to foot, not wanting a repeat of the uncomfortable wage conversation with Prae and Aom. "How long have you been in Thailand?"
"Four years," Jomari answered.
Benilda tucked her dark hair behind her ear revealing hoop earrings. "Five for me."
Maria's eyes grew wide. "I can't imagine being away from my family that long."
"It gets easier and the flights home aren't too expensive." He stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"Are you pretty close to your family?" Benilda asked.
"With my mom and sister, yes, but I haven't spoken to my dad since I left. I offended him by moving to Asia. My mom is the one who practically shoved me on the plane."
"Your father hasn't said a word?" Jomari asked.
"Wouldn't come to the airport, wouldn't speak to me the morning I left," Maria answered.
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