“Meow”…”Meeeeeooooow”…”Meow” I had been hearing it for about 10 minutes when suddenly it sounded like the world was ending. I was absolutely sure with 100% certainty that my house was collapsing. I flung open my door running through my “in case my house collapses” scenario (you NEVER know what can happen in Thailand so its better to be prepared, I always say!) and saw it. Baksida’s (my Thai cat) friend looking totally shocked on top of a ceiling tile and then he darted underneath a wardrobe. My heart was racing and instead of thinking about the cats well being my first thought was “great, now I wonder what kinds of creatures will crawl through that gaping hole my ceiling tonight”. I eventually grabbed a broom and pushed the dust covered cat out the door. It looked like had a dusty santa beard…seriously, above the ceiling tiles in the roof is NOT clean.
This happens to be the first time that I can’t DIY (do-it-yourself) a solution to this problem. Mostly because my ceiling is to high for me to reach. I asked Dah Jit to fix it and he just laughed and walked out the door with the tile. Still have a hole in my ceiling and still wonder what kinds of creatures have and will be visiting me in the night. I did find a scorpion in my living room 2 nights ago but easily swept it out the door. Trust me on this one, you never want to squish a scorpion — the blood and guts are difficult to clean up. I don’t think that little thing got in through the ceiling hole, I’m thinking more the space between where the front door starts and the floor ends. I once saw a mouse get through there.
The lack of urgency to fix the hole got me thinking about my little Thai house. Remember last year when I made that sweet slideshow? (If you don’t here it is!) My house is nothing like it used to be. I’m not complaining because its not really like I miss the extra stuff: desk, shelving unit, propane burner, table, vanity. However, disappearing acts take a bit of time for a “western” gal like me to get used to. It usually happens when I return from a trip, I notice that something else is missing. The first thought that goes through my mind (western style) is “how could they just take this from my house, I pay rent!” Then those feelings turn immediately to guilt when I realize Dah and Yai take WONDERFUL care of me. Then I usually DIY whatever I need (Thai style) or find a way to live without it. I think right now at my house I have a bench, TV holder (without the TV, I forgot to mention that above), broken shelving unit, a bed (with mosquito net!) and a wardrobe. Sometimes they tell me why they took it, sometimes not. Most of the time I’ve already forgotten its missing.
With a past filled with credit card debt, these experiences have really show me that I don’t need anything. Just the basics. In fact, I would even venture a bold statement: my life has improved because I don’t have so much stuff. I think I’m on the right track for the BEST LIFE EVER.
HUGS!
-C
P.S. First real American visitor is headed my way and I CAN”T WAIT!
