Originally Posted by snotface
Yes, and you know what, you are so right; I am full of myself. I have to accept the fact.
When I studied in England, one of my teachers called me one day and whispered to me "Andy, did you realize when you entered to the classroom, you acted like you were better than every student in the class?
Your face were like ..... and she used her face as an example, a face up high, acting very snobbish. She explained to me in a soft friendly voice, kind of in a funny way. I was laughing when she tried to imitate me.
When I came back from England, I got a job in a hotel in Bangkok; I always acted like I was better than everyone. I was not and I am not a hypocrite person. I like to act from my heart, not what I think it will look good.
I was very proud that I came from an upper class family. I am a Bangkok boy and when I saw Issan boys or girls with Farangs I would look down on them (my thought was "prostitutes trying to catch Farangs").
"We are from different classes, on a different levels", I thought to myself.
When my father's finances went south due to an economy crisis at that time, it effected me directly.
I met an older Scottish man (62) while I was only 22 (at that time). I knew from my instinct that he liked me and was quite well off.
He was working in Bangkok as an engineer. We were dating and I took advantage of him financially. I was no better than Issan boys that I had insulted.
My situation at that time was not much different than those Issan guys at all. Whatever I looked down on them, it came back to me as karma. I understand exactly.
Years later, when I was around 24, I met an Issan guy and we became close friends. We could talk about everything. He came from a very poor family in Isann (province of ROI-ET). We came from a totally different backgrounds, but we could get along very well. His family could not afford to send him to a high school so he had to get aid from a provincial fund for promising students.
He also got a scholarship to attend Chula University in Bangkok. He was a smart, intelligent student and he graduated with a good GPA. We're still contact even now; sometimes I call him from Canada just to see how's he doing.
I also met an Issan girl few years ago when I was back in Bangkok. We became a very good friends; we hit it off from the get-go. She was very friendly, humble, and generous.
When we went out to restaurants, she would pay the bill. I had to tell her many times that I didn't want that. I wanted us to pay 50-50 but she would run to the cashier to pay up when she knew we were about to call for the bill.
I once invited her to a Dusit Thani hotel (a five star hotel in the heart of Bangkok near Silom) because I wanted to enjoy the luxurious atmosphere there.
We had dinner in the restaurant and at the end we almost had a fight. The bill was nearly 2,000 baht and I insisted that I pay because I had invited her. When the server brought us the bill I immediately opened my wallet and so did she. I asked the server to take my money and she did the same. No one was backing off.
It was a very funny scene and the server was laughing. She won the fight with strong words which I'll never forget: "Please let me treat you this time; next time you can treat me." She said this while holding my hand.
She is such a wonderful person. She is my good friend and I still talk to her occasionally on the phone. She's never had a Farang boyfriend and she is not a 'working' girl. She has her own business.
She knows I've had many farang boyfriends in the past (do you see the irony?).
Yes, I used to be so full of myself but I think I am a different person now.
I am more humble, more considerate, less selfish.
I am not a perfect person but a better person than before.
Yes, I was so arrogant and sassy when my father was well-off.
Yes, I was so stuck up when I married a millionaire medical doctor. When I married him in 2012, I felt like everything in the world belonged to me. A moment later everything evaporated, just like that, from top to bottom. I separated from him in 2014.
From a big house in an upper class, rich neighborhood in Belgium, to a tiny room in a basement in a middle class area in Toronto. (just like that, again). The bathroom in the house in Belgium was bigger than my current room in Toronto.
The good thing is, if I were still in that situation, I would never be the better person I am now. I would have been a snobbish, mean person. When a situation changes, it also changes you automatically.
As I mentioned before, everything happens for a reason. They have their own reasons and we have to learn from them. I have learned a lot so far.
I have grown up and I am thankful to my Buddha for guiding me through my new life.
I thank my Buddha for everything so far.
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