Happy Songkran at the Thai Embassy

Thanks to my beloved friend, Tina Neville, I had the chance to attend a Songkran celebration at the Thai Embassy last week here in Washington, D.C.

I was thankful to meet the new Ambassador of Thailand to the United States, Pisan Manawapat, who took over for Vijavat Isarabhakdi in February.

We talked on two occasions through the night. He was impressed with my Thai and alluded to something I said in his speech about the increasing prominence of the word “sanuk.” I found him to be the quintessential ambassador: friendly, kind, well-spoken, and generous. I was also interested to hear he went to Bangkok Christian College where my good friend Rob Collins used to teach 45+ years ago.

It was surreal to meet Khun Pisan in light of his recent letter to the editor in the New York Times in response to a scathing opinion piece. Perhaps needless to say, he and I did not talk politics but I enjoyed our conversation nonetheless!

Looking forward to returning to the Thai Embassy in the future.