Erik CP10

Over the past few weeks, Kukit and I have slowly built a format for our conversations. Besides a few questions about American culture or questions about music, Kukit’s heart belongs to Thailand. It seems that we somehow stumble across a component of our own culture, and then we spend a few minutes trying to explain to our own experiences with the topic.

Yesterday, for example, Kukit and I met for the last time, and we just began talking about politics—something I would have NEVER imagined delving into with someone still grappling with English. He mentioned how a new prime minister had been elected in Thailand. She is apparently siblings with one of the former Prime Ministers, and is known as a very successful business woman. For these reasons, as well as many others, Kukit dislikes her. Also, I learned about some of the political parties in Thailand, the Red Shirts and the Yellow Shirts (which Kukit was). He mentioned how he believed American politics to be less corrupt, and that’s when I had to intervene.

I told him many of the checks and balances have flaws in our system. Law makers and politicians are usually also successful businessmen, I explained. I remembered that Snow mentioned to speak humbly when mentioning aspects of your culture—and that’s usually no problem for me. By the time we were done talking about politics, it was apparent that we both had our biases, but we could only relate with one another.

Then somehow the topics of witches, werewolves, and vampires came up. Mildly confused over America’s fascination with these legends, he asked if anyone believed they were real. I explained that once, maybe, people did, but that was during a religious awakening when they were believed to be horrible creatures to fear. Now, however, we’ve built an odd fascination with the legends, since we’re certain they don’t exist. He shyly mentioned how he believes in ghosts, maybe expecting me to react negatively. After reading a paper by my other tutee about ghosts, I have to respect a culture’s (and individual’s) belief of them. I told him I believe more in spirits, but then again, who knows, because we can’t sense them.

By the time it came around to say goodbye to Kukit, I made sure to congratulate him on his progress in English. Our first conversation was made primarily through writing and hand gestures, but here we were, closing up a conversation about politics and myths. I swooped in for a hug (it’s very natural for me when saying goodbye for long extents of time), only to realize that I was hugging a stiffened Kukit. After the awkward last few moments together, I apologized to Kukit, having realized my cultural assumption, and we parted ways. I can only hope that he will not remember me as the "baby abusing," inappropriate hugger.