Excited about the simple things

I will eventually get around to finishing "a day in the Isaan village life," but I've been thinking a lot about an energy shift I experienced recently. Not mine in this case, but that of two local Thai staff who work for Sweet Mango Tours. Netting (Isaan native, recent University grad, naturalist photographer, tour guide) and I were working on the annual farming and events calendar for Isaan, Northeast Thailand. (We bring people to Isaan to live in villages and help with farming among other things.) As Netting filled in the blanks about rice planting and harvesting, rainy season and dry, she invited Seenin (also Isaan native, our driver & right hand man) in to help with the celebrations calendar. The brainstorm became electric. One thought led to another; celebrations became difficult to separate; memories triggered more memories; eyes sparkled. What was happening? Isaan life is ruled by the farming calendar and celebrations are continuous. Netting and Seenin had lived it and the small things  about Isaan life became huge as they shared them with me. Netting laughed as she described, using hand motions, the process of pouring water into the cricket's hole to make it jump out so that it can be caught. Seenin explained that Buddhist Lent starts with the first moon of the rainy season and the monks do not travel for the next three months. The spirits are acknowledged at each full moon during that time. Netting shivered at her memories of making night time offerings to the spirits with her family. As we "worked" on this calendar, I noticed the passion these two felt for their local practices, traditions and wisdom. It was evident from the vibrant dynamism of the conversation. Isaan may not be a major attraction or highly recommended by guide books, but, when you ask a local you find that it is rich with tradition, history and life!