Letter #3

25-August-1945, to: mom

pages 16-20

Nguan Thong (Father’s cousin) has a wife and two daughters

TSU starts the letter by describing his place which they live in a store (store made out of wood)

The Sampheng Lane are mostly made of Chinese Families with a few Thai families and most of them open shops

  • talks more abt the neighborhood and the Khlong Ong Ang canal

  • Kuitieo boat (kuyteav)

  • Thai boat vendors

  • hats from thai and China is differeng- Thai straw hat is not pointy

NT family moved to Sampheng Lane cz fire destroyed their shop

landlord of the neighbor said there will be development plan to concrete shops

they were greeted warmly with tea from the NT

their boss (NT) is a thoughtful and worried man

TSU doesnt like the idea of men eating first and leaving leftover for women

TSU was shocked by the food they serve - chicken, egg, pork

Father said the thailand’s land is rich (well NT has a pen in teh backyard with chicken and pig) so they have abundant food

Chinese not allowed to own land but thai need money so yeah

FAther take TSU letters to mail

NT business is he imports food and merchandise from China and send it to retailer all over bangkok and then buy Thai product to ship back to China

Today was a busy day

While TSU was writing to mom, Kim came up to him

Kim sneaked up and watch the boss daughters and wife (okay kim)

Kim 15 baht and TSU 20 baht a month

  • Kim works by unloaded things

  • TSU works account

Kim jealous of TSU but is it what it is

They have a hard time sleeping cz of the mosquito and heat