New seasons, new joys / by Oranuch Anusaksathien

M y parents were born at a time of great changes in my country , Thailand . Living, teaching and eating habits among family members have altered a great deal. In my mother's time chil- dren were brought up mainly ' 'by hand'' but now innovative ideas on democracy have influenced not only the national government but have also spread into family lifestyles. Born to a conservative Chinese family as the eldest sister to three younger brothers , my mother had to complete the housework and help run the family's business, since my grandfather was a simple fisherman. According to Chinese tradition , sons - especi- ally the eldest - belonged to a privileged and more treasured class . He was expected to inherit not only the family name but also the family assets , while house- work was considered feminine. Like other girls in that small community in Samutsakorn Province, she was not allowed to go to temple festivals - the only meeting ground for young people at that time - or even chat with a boy of her own age . My grand- parents opted for hard work as a preventive measure, for fear that their daughter might go out and get entangled in a love affair. So my mother stayed mostly at home cooking and sewing, which in later years turned to be her prominent skill. At that time, when beating with a heavy walking stick held sovereign power , no one ever dared to take risks. My father, on the contrary, enjoyed existing advantages. He, the youngest son of a well-off Chinese couple, was a so-called spoiled child. He admired classical music, films and pretty women. No wonder that Tchaikovsky, " Gone with the Wind" and Vivien Leigh were his favourites! Life that had run so smooth, quiet and trouble-free changed its face as the Second World War broke out. Bangkok was bombed night and day. My father remem- bered it as the most wonderful time when school announced an indefinite closure. So my grand- parents decided to send their children to a cousin living outside the city. Auntie's house was located along a small canal. There my father learnt to swim for the first time with the help of a natural arm-supporter, two coconuts tied WORLD HEALTH 3/89 New seasons, • new JOys by Oranuch Anusaksathien from Thailand, 22. She is a graduate of the Faculty of Arts at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, and is now working as an assistant to a German correspondent. together . Boys under ten wore pure skin swimsuits : those who were older put on worn-out shorts . Diving from a high wooden bridge that ran across the canal was a big challenge. Adventurous diving would reach its climax when a few girls gathered at this open-air swim- ming pool for a bath. Some girl participants would find a reward- ing walking stick waiting at home . That year the central part of Thailand was seriously affected by floods . Thousands of rice fields went under water , and prices for imported essentials climbed up drastically. However, all these troublesome situations could not ruin those sunny days. When the war ended, life returned to its own pace . My father's former school remained closed, so he was enrolled at a prestigious Chinese school where he learnt to play mischievous tricks of skipping classes instead. Twice he was caught trading colourful cigarette packs display- In the old days girls in Thailand rarely received any education; marriage and a family were the cornerstone of their life. Photo L. Sirmaif! ing "western" film stars and singers. He lost count of the times he was beaten. But at no time must there be tears or cries . Finally he finished secondary school and started working as a salesperson. If only his hand- writing had been more beautiful, he would have been employed as a company's clerk: a better-paid job. My mother, in strong contrast to father, had little formal education. She cannot correctly read and write Thai. The low standard of schools upcountry together with the old beliefs hindered every girl's will to learn. "Girls don't have to learn much. Soon they will get married and take care of their children. ' ' That would be reiterated by almost all parents. Marriage and family were then a cornerstone in every girl 's life. Young people were usually introduced to each other by a go-between . To a void this embarrassing situation, she went to Bangkok where she attended a dress-making course. In those days, vocational schools were the only way out for ambitious girls . The course lasted for six months: in the meantime, she was intro- duced to a young man living a few blocks away. Shortly after she finished , they got married and later had six daughters and sons. Unlike Thais, my mother moved into father's house . According to Thai family lifestyle , when a young man marries the couple often go to live with the bride 's parents . But Chinese and Thai tradition still have some similari- ties. Elder people tend to believe in fortune-telling and the mating of souls. They would visit an astrologist with the bride 's name, and the exact time and date of birth, just to see if she suited their son. When I was a child , I hardly remember how I was brought up, but I discern a few pictures in my mind. Once I asked my mother out of curiosity where I came from. My mother looked a bit surprised and embarrassed. Friends told me that babies came out of a bamboo stick when their parents asked God for a child. I did not believe that, so I kept asking my mother. She told me a funny story which we still laugh at today. She said: "You came out of my navel when I got stomach- ache." At that time I felt quite satisfied with the answer. At least I was my mother 's real daughter, not a sort of bamboo shoot. 27 Today the education gate opens for boys and girls alike. When my mother was a child, she did not have any choice. She had to take what came her way without claims or complaints . Dinner was not a joyful gathering at all, for scolding sometimes ruined the atmosphere. Children were made to believe that egg yolk and meat were for adults because they con- tained substances difficult to digest. Milk and fruit juice were seldom available . Only boiled rice with a little salt or with a piece of dried fish was appro- priate for women after they had given birth. Today most parents- to-be tend to consult doctors as early as possible when they are expecting a child. Milk-drinking is advertised through all the exist- ing media . Life has become much more convenient. Shopping can be done within a few minutes. Never- theless, gone are those days with their spirit of simplicity and fes- tivity. But each of the seasons leaves behind memorable experiences and beauty as they turn, while past and present events stamp on our minds the liveliness and joy that encourages us to strive for brighter days. • "That year thousands of rice fields went under water, and pnces for imported essential food climbed up dramatJ'cally. " Photo L. Sinnarf0 28 WORLD HEAL TJ-1 3/89