Vignette Two: American Stranded in Thai Monsoon
On Tom’s first trip to Bangkok University, a lovely campus located on Rama IV in Klong Toey, he conducted a doctoral seminar; a night class meeting from 6:00 to 9:00 PM (1800-2100, Thai time).At the time, Tom lived on the campus of Assumption University, another beautiful campus in Ramkhamhaeng, about an hour away from Bangkok University, depending on traffic. When the seminar finished, Tom left the building only to encounter one of Bangkok’s monsoon storms. The rain was intense and he was unable to locate a taxi for the ride back to Assumption University. He also had no umbrella , a necessary implement for the monsoon season. As he searched the streets for transportation, Tom’s clothing became thoroughly drenched. Suddenly, a young Thai undergraduate student, identifiable by his Bangkok University uniform, approached Tom, smild, and inquired as to where Tom wanted to go When Tom informed him that he wanted to return to assumption university, the young man explained that Tom was on the wrong side of the stree to catch a taxi headed for Ramkhamhaeng. The student than conducted Tom across the busy Raama IV thoroughfare and installed him under an awning while he searched in the rain for a taxi.