Here are a few more tidbits I want to share about life here in Bangkok:

We have become fairly adept at identifying ladyboys, although sometimes it’s a helluva challenge. There’s a gorgeous one at our hair salon: long silky hair, immaculate make-up, fashion magazine features, and curves in all the right places. The only visual that gave him away was the size of his feet. And later, I heard him speak in his man-voice. That, of course, clinched it. There also girls who dress and walk like dudes, who beg the question: is she or isn’t she? Or should I say: is she or is he?

It is way more common to see an expat man with a Thai wife or girlfriend, than the other way round. So, every now and then, our little family gets some extra attention. As Alaric can pass for Thai, we sometimes receive looks of interest. And I’m totally amused when the waiter presents me with the bill, like I’m the sugar mama!

It took some time to get used to being called “Madam” (pronounced as “Madaaam” in an exclamatory tone) or “Ma’am” (pronounced as “Mawm”). That said, it certainly beats listening to the laboured attempts to say “Melanie” right. Alaric is often called “Alaleek”, which is always fun to say.

When my kids make a mistake, with homework for instance, they exclaim the Thai equivalent of “Aww man!”: “Ohhhoyyy!”

The kids receive an inordinate amount of attention for their mixed-race look, as often by random passersby as by known acquaintances. Becca’s symmetrical features – particularly her nose – are “beautifoool”, and Keeran is “so cute and sooo whiiite”. Pert noses and pale skin are admired and sought. The desire for certain Western features and lighter skin are evident on store shelves, in advertisements, cosmetic surgery practices, and even salon services. In addition, looking young is widely encouraged and expected. This is the case the world over, but here, unlike North America, political correctness does not prevail. Alaric is regularly teased and called an old man because of his grey hair, even though the rest of him is unwrinkled and fit. And my hairdresser, upon seeing my stray greys, exclaimed in an alarmed and shocked tone, “Madaaam! Your hair!” With her reaction, you’d think I was walking about with the back of my skirt tucked into my waistband.

Finally, we have learnt to wai properly. Well, Becca taught us, as she learnt the right way in Thai class at school. While it’s not necessary for a farang to wai, it’s an effective way to show courtesy and respect, which goes a long way here. When in Rome, nuh?

Taken in the first month of our arrival in Bangkok