Storytelling: What Goes Around, Comes Around

This story will take you from Japan to Thailand, to Germany, and then Istanbul.

Many moons ago, at some time in the early 90s, I used to send care packages for Burmese refugees to the Chiang Mai University in Thailand. Locals had put up a Burmese Relief Centre (BRC) and gathered towels, sheets, clothing, etc. for new arrivals.

During the three years we spent in Japan, I must have sent close to 20 big packages. I hauled each one down the mountain from where we lived and took them to the post office on 199 (main road going through Wakamatsu). I asked around for donations from neighbors and friends.

Every time the centre received a package, I would get a polite thank-you note in return. I used to collect stamps back then, so I  held on to the colorful envelopes.

Letters from Thailand

I had forgotten about this little Burmese Drive of mine until our son applied to the Thailand English Teaching (TET) program this spring, 20 years later. This was the same child I had carried in Japan, while sending these relief packages. Son Thomas was born in Kitakyushu on a cold wintry day in January 1994.

If accepted, Thomas would teach English as an assistant teacher for nine weeks this summer. Well, he got in and so we were curious, of course, as to what location he would be assigned to, but we had to wait a couple more weeks to find out.

Then we learned he got a solo placement at Doitaowittayakom School School, which is a secondary school located at153 Moo.2 Doitao District… in Chiang Mai 50260 (Chiang Mai Province,  Thailand).

This was Chiang Mai calling. Interesting to see how this cycle was coming to a close.

Now this might seem to have come full circle. But wait. There’s more. This inspired me to e-mail the Burmese Relief Centre (BRC) and inquire whether they are still running it. Excerpts from their response this week:

… and many thanks for all your past donations of clothing to the Burmese refugees. The BRC is still operating, and providing emergency assistance to displaced Burmese people, as unfortunately conflict is still continuing, particularly in northern Burma. We still accept donations, of clothing or funds, for the displaced. If your son is passing through the town of Chiang Mai, he is welcome to get in touch and we can explain more about the current situation and our work.

From here and only two days later, the story continues in a different direction. One of my friends, Kamil, a German of Turkish heritage and living in Germany, had asked me to do a translation for his son. He needed this so his son would  be able to travel from Istanbul to Bangkok (without an adult) and spend time with his dad in Thailand for the holidays. When I sent him the translation, I also mentioned our son being in Thailand around the same time this summer. Surprise, surprise. He and his son would also be in Chiang Mai in late August and would like to meet up with Thomas.

I also mentioned to Kamil how much I admired Elif Shafak’s book The Bastard of Istanbul (the link will take you to Amazon.de). This book inspired me to plan a short trip to Istanbul with my husband this autumn.

Again, life surprised me when Kamil offered his vacation apartment in Istanbul for our use.

This seems to be the end of the story. For now. I’m sure it’s just the beginning.

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