The Million Baht Kid: Returning to Thailand After Growing Up Abroad [S5.E69]

Ed interviews Emily from Calgary, Canada, a unique 'expat'
in Thailand if there ever was one. Emily was born 19 years ago in
Nong Khai, Thailand, to a Canadian father and Thai mother, and
spent the first years of her life as a look-kreung kid in Issaan.
But her parents relocated to Calgary where she quickly
assimilated and became a full-on Canadian. She went to grade
school and high school there, only to have her parents
retire back to Nong Khai earlier
this year, with Emily in tow.


Ed asks Emily about her Thai language abilities, and Emily
explains that it's technically her first language and that her
mother has spoken to her in Thai her whole life. However, after
about 4 years in Canada, Emily somehow lost her ability to speak
Thai, and today feels little better than a beginner. The two
discuss how weird it is for Emily to see her Thai family but to
be unable to speak to them, forcing her to communicate largely in
sign language. But never fear - she's hopeful that she'll get it
back soon.


Emily also talks about her early life in Thailand where she
was praised as 'the million baht child' because, as half-white,
she would qualify for a huge dowry if she ever were to marry a
Thai man. But upon moving to Canada, Emily states that her status
as half-Asian in pasty white Alberta was considerably less than
what she had grown up with. 


Ed and Greg discuss parallels to Greg's own son, and Ed
mentions that Emily was actually born with blue eyes before they
turned brown after a few days. And lo and behold! Something
similar happened to Greg's son. See the photo below of Greg's
darling boy a few months after he was born.


Listen in for a fascinating discussion of double-reverse
culture shock (or something). 


Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free
version of the show as well as swag and other perks.
And we'll keep our Facebook,
Twitter, and LINE
accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or
whatever you want to share.