A New Brother

In the United States, people are told to mind their "P's" and Q's."  I suppose you could say that in Thailand, people mind their "Pi's and Nong's."  Comparative age is an important part of relationships in Thai culture.  When talking about brothers and sisters, the terms in Thai language always include reference to whether it's an older or younger sibling.  You have pichay and nongchay (older and younger brothers), as well as pisao and nongsao (older and younger sisters).

To continue this lesson on Thai culture, family lines are often blurred, and people who are cousins or other relatives are often right in the mix of immediate family life.  Sometimes you don't even have to be part of the family to be referred to as a brother or sister.  As relationships between people are built, depending upon the difference in age, the younger person may begin to prefix their trusted older friend's name with "Pi."  It's a term of respect and brotherhood (or sisterhood).

As I checked my email this morning, I was happy to see that I had received an "invitation" to be a friend's older brother, or Pi.  This friend happens to be a young Burmese guy studying for the monkhood in Chiang Mai, while also taking focused coursework in the English language.  One of the local wats, or temples, in town offers an opportunity known as "Monk Chat."  It's a chance for these young Buddhist monks to interact with English speakers, and for English speakers to have the opportunity to learn about the monks' culture and life journey.  It's an event that I try to fit in my schedule as time allows, and in doing so I've been able to develop trusted relationships with some of the guys, not much younger than me, who are entering the monkhood.  It's a profound opportunity for me to learn firsthand about the Buddhist religion, and as trust continues to develop, to be a witness to the one true Lord and Savior of all people.

Below is the letter from my new brother.

hello..............,,,,,,

Dear my friend ,,,,,,,,

i write a letter to you with a innocent love as a brother.

how are you and is every thing for you ?

i hope you will be ok for your evry thing in your life .

i am Dassaniya , living in thailand at mahachulalongkorn univeristy of chiang mai.

i  think you will know me who am i .

i am very happy for meeting with you  and discuss .when i meet with you , i feel in my mind as a like brother.

can i make you like my brother ?

i think you will allow me to make it because  we  are living in  infinite life.

may i hope you  to make like a really brother with a innocent love each other.

as for me,i will be really younger bother on you .

what are you doing now  you are long time now come to here .

i am remembere you every time and waite you in the monk chat some time .

but , you don't come so i am so sad for that .

i will hope if you have free time you will come it in time to discuss with monk .

 

ok ,

your like younger brother

Dassaniya

mahachulalonglore university

chiang mai

To all my brothers and sisters who share my journey here in Thailand through this blog, I thank you for your prayers and support.  May God's peace guide your own journey.

Your pinong in Christ,

Eric