| In 1995, while living in the US, I was offered a really | | | | buildings and whatever else she could find. She was |
| great job in Thailand. My vision of Thailand was | | | | not deterred by weather, fatigue, illness or language |
| exotic and wild, with jungles, beaches and temples, | | | | barriers. She waded or dove into murky water, ate |
| but at the same time, I didn't know anything about | | | | and drank what she was given, talked with her hands |
| the culture or the people. | | | | and face, listened with her eyes and heart and felt |
| As part of the preparations for the move, the | | | | loved and respected by the Thai everywhere for it. |
| company gave me the book "Mai Pen Rai means | | | | The language in the book shows off the writer's |
| Never Mind" by Carol Hollinger. The subtitle of the | | | | knowledge of fancy words and the books she'd |
| book was "An American housewife's honest love | | | | read, which may put the reader down a bit, but the |
| affair with the irrepressible people of Thailand". I | | | | love for the Thai people and their personable culture |
| started reading it, but didn't get into it right away, | | | | is still clearly communicated. |
| and then decided it'd be better if I formed my own | | | | It takes courage to let go of conventions and simply |
| opinion and left the book alone. | | | | enjoy yourself. Carol Hollinger not only enjoyed |
| I've just finished reading it, 10 years after leaving | | | | herself in Thailand, having let go of her Americanism, |
| Thailand, and I absolutely enjoyed every minute. | | | | but seemed to relish every moment of writing this |
| Carol Hollinger came to Thailand with her husband, | | | | excellent book. I found myself smiling to my self |
| following his work, but decided to go out and do her | | | | many times, as I was reading about how uptight |
| own thing. She secured a job as a lecturer at the | | | | foreigners were about some of the Thai antics, while |
| best university in Thailand and immersed herself in as | | | | "Acharn" Hollinger looked on and giggled on the inside. |
| much contact with the Thai people as she could. | | | | Many of these episodes resembled my own |
| She was lucky to be in a position to meet some | | | | experience in Thailand and elsewhere. |
| influential Thai people, as well as some key | | | | "Mai Pen Rai" is highly recommended if you're planning |
| foreigners, who all made her experience deeper and | | | | to go to Thailand. If you're not, it still makes |
| more meaningful than most people have, but at | | | | interesting reading and may spark in you the urge to |
| every turn, she took opportunities, no matter how | | | | visit Thailand and meet these wonderful people from |
| strange, to get up close and personal with the land, | | | | the land of smiles. |
| the animals, the people, the history, the food, the | | | | |