…and during her few hours of free time each day, she invited
me to go to the beach with her tomorrow.
Who said that modern day slavery no longer exists? I have read up on some staggering statistics,
but in the end-the numbers tend to be numbing. So, instead of sharing stats,
why don’t I introduce you to my new friend Ann.
From the outside looking in, she looks like a 30-year old
woman who has but a few wrinkles around her mouth-not to be mistaken for years
of laughter, but from the long nights of pain and frustration that come from
her night job.
In actuality, she is 45 years old, a native from Bangkok,
about my height, has lived in Phuket for 15 years, enjoys tanning, works six
days a week on Bangla Road to pay for her bills and her daughter’s education,
and is quite intelligent. She claims that she is not proficient in English, but
I beg to differ. We talked about our cultural and national differences,
politics, dreams, goals, Buddha, God, my favorite verses, and relationships. She
advised me like a mother in the areas of boyfriends and marriage, shared
stories about her parents, daughter, and granddaughter, and cautioned me
against lying and drinking too much.
I look forward to getting to know Ann even more in the
coming weeks. She, as well as a few other new friends, is opening my eyes to a
new world of life-or something like it. She is free to think and love, but she
is not free when it comes to her body and time. Even though we had a great
conversation, it was frequently interrupted by her boss, who with a look or a dash
of his hand, ordered her around to yell at men as they walked by or take a
person’s drink order. She, not being of her own accord, quickly responded each
time and each time, my heart ached. She is in bondage to work a job she
despises and a lifestyle that dishonors her family.
