Cooking Lesson, Factory Tour and Blessings Again

Last night I learned how to make egg "soup". It isn't really soup, but a creamy smooth custard with pork at the bottom and salted with fish sauce. It is very easy to make and a typical Thai dish. The dessert was the highlight for me though, again a coconut custard baked in a squash. Unbelievable! Of course anything here with coconut milk is amazing.

Speaking of amazing, it is abundantly clear that this trip is a blessing beyond our wildest imagination. So much has happened and so many things have fallen into place to make it special. It is not just luck...no way.

Today we toured a "rubber plantation factory" and were honored above most people that have ever lived in the area. Beam is somehow a distant relative of Sadao's mayor. He happens to be the manager of a factory that produces rubber products. Last Thursday he was the guest at Sports days and we were introduced to him. He gave us a special invitation to come and tour his plants, so today we did. Now you have to understand, people in the school here, even the highest administrators have never been invited to see this plant. But we are the town's honored guests from America...and it is humbling to say the least to be treated in this manner.

We drove up and were ushered in for coffee and a video of their company. Then we began he tour, walking through the factory, seeing things that normal people never get the chance to. We were not allowed to take pictures inside, which I expected. This factory is only 20 years old and already has about a 15-20% world market share for latex and synthetic latex gloves. One plant makes those, another makes high pressure hydraulic hoses, and a third plant exports blocks of natural rubber to other countries. The entire factory sits on about 150 acres, and employs 3000 people who all work 6 days a week. It is a major boon to the area and because the products are disposable, the down economy isn't really affecting it. It is in the European and Thai stock market and I wish I could buy some because it is only going to get bigger and better.

Half way through the tour, we took a break, were offered some sterilized towels to "freshen up with", had a Coke and continued on. Every place we went, the employees, supervisors, human resource people... everyone made a special effort to treat us with the upmost respect and kindness...because we were the managers "honored guests." I can't explain how it feels to be treated that way, for no reason but being Americans in their province. This culture could teach the world about respect and honor!

Then after the tour finished, we were given a specially catered lunch in a large conference room off their company cafeteria. Chicken, pork, rice, fruit.... again everything "top shelf."

So back to school to teach the adult class, leaving Susanne and I to marvel. "What did we ever do to deserve this." and the answer of course is nothing. It is the Thai way!