Well, I went to the movies with the nurse tonight. We saw a movie with the English title Best in Time, though I don’t think that is a translation of the Thai title, which seemed to be very different (I can make out the two words “remember” and “forget” in it).
I was a little surprised that we actually went. See, the nurse called me a bit before 4 p.m., interrupting my workout with Penfold, and she told me that she was about to finish work, but that she had to work again from midnight to 8 a.m. I assumed that she was calling to cancel, but was surprised when she said she still wanted to go to the movie, but it needed to be the 6 pm show.
She said she would have to go back to her room immediately after the movie to sleep before her shift. That seemed fair to me.
In the end, we decided to eat dinner after the movie. We spent about an hour eating and talking before I walked her home. We stood outside her building for another 30 minutes or so, and I do believe she might have stayed out front talking to me until her shift started if the mosquitoes hadn’t been eating us alive.
There wasn’t much hand-holding, and certainly no kisses goodnight, but it was definitely a date — possibly the first real date I’ve been on in Thailand.
It was a pleasant, if innocuous, night.
The movie was better than I expected. I’d thought it would be a sappy, silly, syrupy Thai romantic comedy.
Instead, it was a well made movie that had happy and sad, comedic and tragic elements. It actually traced 5 people through two and a half complicated love affairs, and all elements of the movie were professional and well done.
Here’s a synopsis of the movie that I copied from the internet:
It is said that goldenfish’s memory only last for 3 seconds. Just when it swims from one side to another side in it’s bowl, it begins to forget what just happened.
Because human isn’t the same creature as goldenfish, we apparently don’t forget things that fast, especially, the one we love. Just like Keng, who comes across his first love, Fai, when she takes her dog to his clinic. Keng knows that Fai married his best friend years ago, but now she divorced. This time, Keng hesitates to start over his relationship with Fai, pretending that he hasn’t known her. It seems to work when Fai indeed couldn’t remember Keng.
But sometimes when we want to remember something, we forget. Just like aunt Sompit and uncle Jamrat, who met at computer club for elderly. Every sunday, uncle Jamrat drives from Chumporn to Bangkok, just to be with aunt Sompit for 3 hours each week. Their love stumbles over an obstacle when aunt Sompit’s family disagree to let their mother having new love in her golden age. When her family is going to settle down in another country, aunt Sompit hurriedly flees to Chumporn to be with uncle Jamrat. They don’t even realise that day and age become the major factor that could take them apart.
Because we’re not goldenfish, we don’t easily forget love.
The more we remember, the more we hurt, we still keep struggling for long lasting love.
The movie was subtitled, but I was surprised how much of the dialogue I was able t follow in Thai.
The nurse seemed to really enjoy the movie. The night was very much like the dates I had in high school; rather chaste, with only hints of flirtation around the edges.
She invited me to join her, a cousin and one of her roommates on a shopping trip to the mall tomorrow, but I have to work and had to beg off. With her demanding schedule I don’t know how soon I’ll have another chance to get out with her, but I’m sure there’ll be another date.
Hard to believe I’m courting a girl… that’s something I thought was a thing of the past for me.
Ah well….
29 responses so far ↓
Erik // Saturday, 7 March 2009 at 12:55 am |
congrats, werewolf. glad the date went well. those are crazy hospital hours– hope you get another date soon.
John Brown // Saturday, 7 March 2009 at 8:39 am |
I dunno, but that “shopping trip” offer would be a red flag for me.
MSB // Saturday, 7 March 2009 at 9:11 am |
Buy her some gold.
Naki // Saturday, 7 March 2009 at 9:13 am |
At first glance I thought that the pic of the goldfish was portent to the fishy aroma of success (smeeelll my finger). However you obviously had fun so I guess that is success in its own right.
NurseRon // Saturday, 7 March 2009 at 9:56 am |
that’s pretty cool she’s willing to forgo sleep after a busy shift and prior to another, just for your company? I’d say she must really like you!
enjoy!
Prufrock // Saturday, 7 March 2009 at 11:13 am |
Mall expedition? No drama.
(But if they head for the iPod/Talking Dik store you’ll deal with your first hurdle.
(Webster’s dic 200 B, generic Mp3 850B)
In any case her posse will be scrutinizing your spending habits for later discussion so just spring for the KFC/Pizza Hut or, if they’re cool, the noodles.
Whatever the tab comes to there will be the cost of that all important first entry level gift.
No gifts until she wears the hat to your loom.
// Saturday, 7 March 2009 at 3:32 pm |
Actually I offered to buy a talking dic for her several weeks ago, but she declined and opted for a 350 baht TE-ET book instead.
At dinner after the movie on Friday night she tried to pay for dinner, and was rather put out when I insisted on paying.
I think you guys are missing the idea about this girl… she is distilled innocence.
Prufrock // Saturday, 7 March 2009 at 6:14 pm |
re: innocence
Yes. Yes. I get it.
We (all?) are joking? (rising tone?)
re: a gaggle of well-meaning girlfriends in pre-pre-pre bridesmaid’s role (irony alert) looking out for her best interests I’m talking about anthropological semiotics (ie rituals and symbols) readily observable among courting Thais in the Kingdom’s markets and malls.
Yeah one should restrict oneself in these placesto leering at “bun” but there, as everywhere, there is ritual.
re: distilled innocence, um, Patrick Susskind ring any bells?
// Saturday, 7 March 2009 at 8:17 pm |
Okay, I wikipedia’d Patrick Susskind there’s an entry, but no clues there (at least without clicking on the internal hyperlinks). I’m too lazy to work through Google tonight so I’ll have to admit to ignorance.
It’s hard to imagine any girl purer of heart than this girl except, say, Mary the mother of Jesus or Mother Theresa (sorry for being so Roman Catholic, but I am what I am….).
Prufrock // Saturday, 7 March 2009 at 9:02 pm |
Susskind’s “Perfume” was made into a film with Dustin Hoffman as a mad perfumer.
The English translation is a great read on . . . . the essence of innocence.
Serendipity.
(Well, not exactly the lily-white variety – innocence in a nurse outfit, if you will.)
Sorry, more irony. . . . not disparaging humor at the expense of others.
No schadenfreude.
Just irony.
(So whaddya think?: Shave or trim ;- )
Trope/Leitmotif
Well, at least you didn’t say “Catholic.”
Leitmotif.
// Saturday, 7 March 2009 at 10:07 pm |
Ah… I saw the movie just last week on cable. I believe that Hoffman was a star of the film but not as “the” mad perfumer, but his mentor.
……..
I *could* have said “catholic”…. as in:
I DIDN’T google it… that’s from memory.
gavinmac // Saturday, 7 March 2009 at 10:35 pm |
Are you sure she really had to work at midnight, and she wasn’t just giving you an excuse in advance as to why the date had to end a certain time? I once had a girl tell me as I was driving her to dinner that she needed to be home by ten because she had plans with another dude.
Also, you seem to spend a lot of time standing around outside talking to this girl. Isn’t that awkward? Just standing and talking? No chairs, no food, no drinks, no physical contact, no Connect Four? I would crack under the pressure.
// Sunday, 8 March 2009 at 12:12 am |
Yes, I’m sure.
You guys seem to think I’m totally clueless about Thai girls, but I think I’m starting to sound too defensive (methinks he doth protest too much), so perhaps I’ll stop tying to explain that “she’s different” (yeah, we’ve all heard that before….) and simply acknowledge that she’s probably a heartless lying gold-digging stone-cold bitch with three farang boyfriends paying the bills and a Thai guy siphoning off all her dough.
Don’t forget, during the talking outside we were busily slapping at mosquitoes and scratching furiously from the bites. Enough to keep any man busy.
Prufrock // Sunday, 8 March 2009 at 1:25 am |
OK, “mentor” then. Didn’t see the movie.
The first half of the book is a fascinating piece of writing.
I doubt that your readers have any opinion one way or another concerning your knowledge of Thai women. But you do put this stuff up here, your readers do have considerable e knowledge on the subject and this IS the comments section.
All the bishops at Nicaea, including the bishop of Rome kept the word catholic in deference Constantine’s (who died a Pagan) stated objectives for the conference.
That’s from memory as well so it might be oversimplified a little.
Anyway, it’s your blog. So we’ll leave the Council of Nicaea for another time, shall, we?
except to say that Wiki isn’t the last reference on anything.
But you knew all that.
And that “catholic” thing too.
Every blog has it’s “play”
They ALL do.
gavinmac // Sunday, 8 March 2009 at 2:46 am |
I don’t think you’re clueless about Thai women. I just distrust all women and assume they are lying about most things unless I can confirm otherwise. That’s probably just me. Good luck with the nurse, she sounds nice.
// Sunday, 8 March 2009 at 5:08 am |
I’d run at this point. You’ve played the “game” with the high school “date” thing and what happens next?
I’ve been with a good TG for over two years now, and I’ve got a few others on the side for sex, and it (the big picture) is just not working out too well. My costs just keep rising exponentially.
Bowing out of a relationship with a good TG will not happen easily. There is PAIN to reckon with!
// Sunday, 8 March 2009 at 6:04 am |
fontok69: you’re exactly right.
It was a blog or two back, but I did lament my idiocy on this point. I can’t figure out what I’m doing or why. There’s certainly no ‘plan’ in my mind.
What’s next?
My only answer recently seems to be “I dunno”
I shouldn’t be doing this. Don’t know why I am. Running away from relationship pain is why I came to Bangkok. I shouldn’t pursue this girl. I should stop now.
Maybe tomorrow…
Prufrock: Indeed it is the comments section. If I didn’t want to ‘engage’ I’d either turn the comments off, edit or delete them.
Instead, I answer them if I feel inclined.
The mild frustration in my tone earlier comes specifically from the fact that it IS my blog and I DO ‘put this stuff up there’. What I mean is that I’ve written several blogs now about the girl. I’ve described her numerous times as being variously sweet, innocent, naive, trusting, caring, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. In spite of my consistent characterizations the comments talk about her as though she’s Just One More Gold Digging Bitch.
I think this is unfair to Thai women in general, and reveals the seemingly universal disdain that experienced punters have for them (though to be fair, Gavinmac didn’t limit his distrust to Thai women specifically, but applied it to “all women”… good for him. That’s a predisposition I can support).
I think it’s unfair to this girl in particular, especially in light of my consistent characterizations of her. I would think that you, of all people, would be among the first to acknowledge that not every Thai woman is cut from the same mold (or comes from the same factory in Isaan, to give a nod to PE’s fine writing).
And lastly, it bothers me slightly at the edges that after three years of this, my descriptions of people aren’t taken a bit more at ‘face value’. The one thing I strive for in this space and the last is — not accuracy, but truthfulness about things.
What I mean is that not every sexual encounter I describe is a Penthouse Forum tale of fantastic athleticism. Sometimes they are unpleasant or downright boring.
Not every girl is a stunner. Some are described as ordinary or boring.
Not every decision is the right one — hell, it sometimes seems that none of them are. Wallets stolen, mobile phones lost, ditches fallen into, thieves allowed into the apartment.
I hope that the history of the blog builds enough credibility that if I describe a person that my description will carry at least *some* weight.
So to read my own writing and see that I paint a black & white picture of a sweet young thing who is all innocence and light, then read comments warning me of the pitfalls of greed and cunning that go hand in hand with a TG relationship saddens and frustrates me in equal measure.
For one, it tells me that my own writing either isn’t clear, isn’t believed, or my judgment is in question. sigh….
Secondly, it tells me that the jaded view of Thai girls (again with apologies to GM who has the good grace to distrust all women of the earth) is nearly universal (or catholic, if you will). In the Bible, cities could have been spared had prophets been able to find a good man anywhere amongst the population. Finding none, God destroyed everyone in town. It seems that if a poll of the readers was carried out in search of One Good Woman in Bangkok, finding none, God would must destroy The City of Angels here in the Land of Smiles. Sad….
There’re those damned religious references again. Dunno what’s come over me. Maybe it’s the *angelic* face of the nurse….?
Anyways, comment away… all thoughts welcome. I don’t promise to meekly agree with everyone, nor do I ask or demand that everyone meekly agree with me.
engagement is good.
// Sunday, 8 March 2009 at 6:10 am |
BTW, Prufers: If you have a copy of that book, the Perfumer, I’d love to borrow it. If not there’s always the library or Amazon.com. (I’m sure it’s all in the movie anyway… it always is)
I’ve got the Ripley series ready for you. Next time I know that we’re gonna be in the same place (and not on the way to a go go bar or five) then I’ll bring them along for you.
swampthing // Sunday, 8 March 2009 at 9:08 am |
WW. I shall be in Bangkok from March 17 through to the weekend. Fancy an evening out?
I haven’t visited the blog for monthsbecause I’ve been bedding down a lucrative new job.
// Sunday, 8 March 2009 at 10:24 am |
Swampthing: Sure… at the moment my schedule is quite light for the week, and the 16th is payday. Maybe you can get me one of those lucrative jobs as well. Hit me on email and we can make arrangements. rawbangkok@gmail.com I think.
Prufrock // Sunday, 8 March 2009 at 11:27 am |
“If I didn’t want to ‘engage’ I’d either turn the comments off, edit or delete them.”
Surely, as it is, some comments get deleted.
“Not every decision is the right one — hell, it sometimes seems that none of them are. Wallets stolen, mobile phones lost, ditches fallen into, thieves allowed into the apartment.”
An unfortunate aspect of this type of reportage is that one perhaps unwittingly builds a credible reputation as a person who “occasionally?” exercises poor judgment.
In regards to the innocent nurse I feel a religious metaphor coming on.
I better quit before some self styled Dawkins-Hitchens skim-scanner interlopes “clarifies” matters further.
// Sunday, 8 March 2009 at 3:16 pm |
“Surely, as it is, some comments get deleted. ”
I’ve never deleted or edited a comment that attacks me or my ideas.
I do, occasionally, edit or delete a comment that attacks other commenters. I believe I have deleted 4 comments in total on RAW… three of them on a single day and from the same post. All 3 of them were making comments that I thought were both unfair and unnecessary about a friend of mine mentioned in the blog.
I don’t believe I’ve ever edited or deleted a comment that didn’t directly attack or discuss an individual.
If I tire of comments on a topic, I have occasionally turned the comments function off for the particular blog.
In 18 months of Werewolf’s Lair I probably deleted half a dozen comments and made an equal number of edits, just to take out some of the venom from some comments.
Generally commenters on this site are civil. When I don’t like what they say I don’t delete them; I argue. Most people get tired and just leave on their own — no deletion required….
Mr Carpet // Monday, 9 March 2009 at 1:23 pm |
hi ww – been enjoying reading the stuff on ur new website of late (enjoyable as usual) and thought id look up the name of the movie you saw – “memory is short but love is long” – how romantic! u tread carefully…
turnip // Monday, 9 March 2009 at 9:13 pm |
Perfume – excellent book
Nurses – excellent women
Rawbangkok – excellent posts
What’s happened to YP? He going to do anything? Noticed he’s been on bigmango a fair bit – a site which is probably nearing it’s end.
// Monday, 9 March 2009 at 10:00 pm |
YP has been promising a post (”just putting the finishing touches on, mate”) for a week now. Originally he told me it would be posted Wednesday.
I think he likes to write the way BBB wrote… polishing a piece till he’s happy with it.
I’m trying to get him to just write and post. Essentially the same style as his TFS2M comments posted as blogs here.
Jury’s still out on whether he’ll get involved or not. In the meantime I see him several times per week for exercise, occasional drinks and occasional meals.
If he gets started here then it’ll turn into a kick ass site. If not it’ll continue to be boring tripe.
WarCorrespondentDave // Tuesday, 10 March 2009 at 12:10 am |
@turnip – why do you thing BigMango site is nearing its end?
@WW – not at all boring tripe, you have a loyal readership that enjoy your style and for many it is a view into life in BKK that many are denied for one reason or another. However mundane you may feel it is, lots of readers get a kick from your stories
carey // Tuesday, 10 March 2009 at 7:02 am |
Wolfie – a couple of premonitions for u:
1. after numerous dates u finally get her into bed where your schlong will scare the crap out of this good girl, she will scarper and you will have blue balls
2. u try the aussie date method and get her drunk with a carton of beer whereby u actually get sex but blow her apart from MSB (mega sperm buildup) – just remember to empty the weapon before your dates
3. it all works out and u publish a best seller – how to capture a good thai girl (yes they exist) in 10 easy steps by a huge white bald bloke (if i can do it u can do it) – may i suggest u follow a how to method such as a hayes motor repair manual
anyway best of luck on your pioneering adventure. i personally have taken your lead and adopted my own mfggd so as to avoid the good girl blue balls syndrome!!!
John Brown // Tuesday, 10 March 2009 at 7:56 pm |
So to read my own writing and see that I paint a black & white picture of a sweet young thing who is all innocence and light, then read comments warning me of the pitfalls of greed and cunning that go hand in hand with a TG relationship saddens and frustrates me in equal measure.
For one, it tells me that my own writing either isn’t clear, isn’t believed, or my judgment is in question. sigh….
Your quote… but I believe MOST professional writers would strive for this situation… appealing to the masses and engaging them at the same time without alienating them? Your writing style and the circumstances of the context behind it are purely content… that’s all. Anything that gets a good discussion going was well worth the write up…
Look outward rather than inward… no?
Just some lame advice from a commenter worth the price you paid for it….
John Brown // Tuesday, 10 March 2009 at 8:05 pm |
Sorry to double post, but what I meant was that the best “writers” have the most critics…. Not being a very good writer myself, I am guessing that it just comes with the territory…