First full day of "vacation" and we got up VERY early, and walked to the bus station from the hotel. It was an hour and a half ride on the bus to Mae Sai, which is the Thai city in the north that is at the Burma border. We got on the bus by 8, and Moe had been calling us since 7, to ask when we would get there. They had already made food in anticipation of our arrival.
When we got to the Mae Sai bus station, we had to get on a "songteaow" to go to the border. Then wait in line at the Thai Immigration to "check-out" of Thailand. Thank the Lord we had already gotten our "re-entry permit" before we left Phang Nga, or that would have been more time. Without that, we couldn't get back into Thailand.
After "departing" Thailand, we had to go to Burmese Immigration and apply for a visa to visit Tachileik. You aren't allowed to enter the rest of the country here, but you are allowed into the Tachileik area on a short tourist visa. Ours was for 24 hours. Pay the money, take your picture, stamp the visa into the passport. Unfortunately we were behind a Norwegian group of about twenty people, so we had to wait for them to finish. I guess the Immigration Officer thought I was an old lady or something, he said "Sit down, (mommy or madam, don't remember which--they might say either to a "mature" white woman)" because we had a bit of a wait. It took at least an hour to get through the process.
Once we were across the border, I called Moe again. The plan was that she would come to meet us once we got there. So I called her and they were on their way. We waited a good while, and unfortunately when you stand around in Burma as a foreigner you are such a target: for salesmen, beggars, taxi drivers, etc. If you look at all like you are unsure of what you are doing or where you are going, you better look out. You just must look determined or ignore people a lot.
A white car full of people pulled up; there was Moe, smiling and nervous but so happy to see us; it had been a couple years since she and her family had left Thap Lamu; her dad was still alive--he just wanted to get back to Burma (he had AIDS) because he said "I don't want to die in Thailand." And he had gotten his wish. Moe held on to my arm or my hand most of the time we spent with them. She loves her teacher. I think it was her cousin or brother in law driving the car. He is a motorcycle taxi driver, and borrowed the car for the day for Moe. I am sure she paid the expense. And as many of the extended family as could packed into the car to come and greet us, and to take us to her sister's house.
Immediately we were fed, everyone else claiming they had already eaten. They all (basically) just watched us eat. Not uncommon we found out in our Burmese travels. Invite you to eat, then watch you do it!
Well to shorten the story, after eating we spent the next few hours visiting pagodas. I guess it is just the thing to do when you have company. Isn't our idea of fun, but we weren't really there just for us.
Moe confided to me that the rest of the family did not know what her father died of, and they did not know her mom has the HIV virus. Moe is staying in Tachileik right now out of concern for her mom. Before Moe came, her mom was working a job, and making about 40 dollars a month. Probably working six or seven days a week. Moe came from her village and got a job making about 60 dollars and insisted that her mom stay home while she is there.
We talked about the Lord. Moe had listened to our witness while in Thap Lamu, but her understanding of English is not great. She is now going to church one a week and to the (Buddhist) pagoda at least one other. She thinks all religions are good. But she wants so much to understand what I have.
Before we had gone, I set up an email account for her. I planned to go with her to an internet café to show her how to use it, but we ran out of time and needed to get back for our Tuesday evening meeting. I gave her the email address, told her my plan and she assured me someone could help her.
She was so sad to see us go. And we to have to go also. Tachileik was hot and dry but it was a lovely day with my English student who loves and misses her teacher.
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