Blessings to Come

On the first day that I was there I became besotted with one little girl who I started sponsoring and this has been the reason for my subsequent three visits to Chiangmai. This however was an anticlimax to what was in store for me.

A few weeks earlier my Thai wife of 2-1/2 years had walked out on me, and I found that being with the children was very good for taking my mind off my problems even for a few hours each day. I had been hurt once too often. I had no intentions of ever getting into another relationship and even though I was surrounded by many very beautiful young ladies at the children's home, my eyes were only for the children themselves.

During this time the Songkran festival was taking place and I was somewhat reluctantly persuaded to join in with the festivities at the home. I found that I was constantly being drenched with water by all who were taking part, and being a Farang I appeared to be the prime target of everyone. One girl especially seemed to have it in for me, but I took it all in good spirit. Even my special little girl was brought out to join in the fun and was splashed with water. She was not yet two years old and she was a bit confused by it all. On my next two visits I was continuously reminded about the part that I had played in Songkran and to some extent teased about it but I did not let it get to me. I joined in conversations with many of the girls on the staff who could speak English but I only really had time for the children, that was until November 1997.

At that time I had just arrived at the home and had spent the morning with the kids, and was returning from lunch when I was accosted by a group of young women to join in a party. One of the girls became rather possessive and succeeded in keeping me to herself. We spent the rest of the day together riding around on her motorcycle eating, drinking and talking. It turned out that she was the one from Songkran who had it in for me, and she was the instigator in getting me to join in with the celebrations. She said that her name was Aranya and that she had liked me from the first time that she saw me but she was shy of letting me know how she felt not knowing if I would ever go back again to London. I think that if she had made her feelings known I would not have wanted to know considering how my personal situation was at that time.

This was Loy Kratong night and she came and spent the evening with me at the festival (the first year that I have had a companion). I feel sure that the gods were looking favorably upon us. Most of the next week when Aranya was not working we spent the time together. Four days later she said that she thought she loved me and that she would like to marry me, and by this time my feelings about another relationship had changed and I was feeling the same way. She phoned her mother and told her how she felt about me and it was arranged that we should go to visit her mother that weekend to discuss marriage. By the weekend everything was rearranged and we were actually going to be married in a small Buddhist ceremony. We had one day together following the wedding when we went to see the sunflower fields at Mae Hong Sorn before she had to return to work. We had to wait another two weeks before we could have our honeymoon which we spent at Mahasarakham and at Malee's Nature Lovers Bungalows in Chiang Dao. One week later our marriage was blessed in a Christian Church during the Christmas service. Over the next few days Aranya was ill, and so on Christmas day I took her to the doctor. It did not take the doctor many minutes to confirm what I had been telling her for a couple of weeks. She was pregnant and that we could expect a baby in August. This for me was a wonderful Christmas present, one that money just could not buy.

By this time I had just two weeks left before I would have to return to England and leave Aranya in Chiangmai. This will be a great hardship for us both being separated so soon after marrying and with a baby on the way and not being able to be together through this wonderful period. Aranya could not travel with me as my wife because we were unable to get our marriage registered. I could not produce vital documents from England, but I was not expecting to get married when I left home I did not see any reason to bring them with me. One thing that I do know and that is that will be back in Chiangmai in August to be with my wife when she gives birth.

I myself would prefer to move and settle in Chiangmai and will take every opportunity to find work there.

If by any chance there are any employers who read this article that could offer me work I would be very pleased to hear from them. Please write to me Khun Somchai Chantananad c/o Welcome to Chiangmai and Chiangrai Magazine.