David's Big Adventure - Part 2

July 17, 2006

My first day at my new job. The driver eventually arrived at 10:00; I got to work at the crack of ten-thirty. Just like being back in Bridgewater.

Small, compact office – sliding doors took up less space. Seven people including lawyers and staff. One of the lawyers met me in the parkade to walk me up to the office.

Thirty-ninth floor – the elevator has a sign telling you not to use it in an earthquake.

Work today consisted mostly of reading draft agreements and asking questions. The deals seem to be all complicated share purchase agreements, since only Thais can own land.
So far every property I’ve seen is worth well over a million dollars. And the legal work to set all of this up is expensive.

Had lunch at twelve to one SHARP with two other associates at a nearby Japanese restaurant. It wasn’t bad, for Japanese food. I must say that it did make for a long afternoon – 1 to 6. Now that is NOT just like Bridgewater.

Got my new work email address - and set up my webmail server. I’m good to go now.

My plan was to catch the sky train home so I could have a video chat with my dear wife before she went to work. But they insisted that the driver take me instead, That took longer and didn’t make much sense to me, but so be it. I made it in time anyway.

I do feel a bit strange being driven around in the back seat of a large black SUV with darkly tinted windows – looking at people in the street that can’t see me. Sort of gangsta.

Tonight I’m reading over the Civil and Commercial Code – Book 1-6. It has a section dealing with Things. There are real property things (land and fixtures) and there are moveable things (everything else).

And on it goes. Tomorrow I am preparing a draft share purchase agreement that is due tomorrow for a guy who is buying a villa – or at least the shares in a company that owns a villa – for about $1.3 Million. No pressure.

Day two

It’s all starting to make sense. It’s just property being bought and sold, but because Thai law won’t allow foreign ownership of Thai land, every transaction involves complicated contracts involving purchase and sale of share of multiple layers of companies. Typical legal fees are $10,000 to $20,000 per transaction. No representing both sides here – many potential pitfalls (=conflicts). Also, no shortage of money with these buyers. Can’t wait to meet my own clients on Samui.

So enough about work – BORING. Time for a politically incorrect moment. I noticed my first day here that this area is crawling with Arabs. Men in white robes, women with all black, with hoodies and burkas. Based upon the women I’ve seen without their faces covered who should have, I’m left wondering how bad the ones with burkas are? Also, I think I’ve hit on why so many men seem so angry.

Turns out that the Egyptian Embassy is just across the street. There is one hotel up the road that has a mirror on a pole and a scanner that checks every car arriving there (for bombs).

My third day here is the 19th of July - my twentieth anniversary. I do have my new boss feeling very badly that he is the cause of Jacquie and I being apart, and I told him that I was blaming him. It is very lonely being here alone on this day. I bought a bottle of wine and had a toast to us. I imagined the clink of glasses. That will do.

By now Jacquie knows about the surprise I planned for her to tell her how much I love her and miss her. Here’s to us sweetheart.

One more day here in Bangkok, then Friday I head south. Can’t wait – I’ve had enough of the big city – it’s no fun alone.

Every day I go down to the lobby at – around – 9:00 am, then sit around for an hour or more waiting for the car (the 9 o’clock car) to arrive. Now that I have a cell phone Kris (boss) calls to tell me they are late. It’s a big surprise. I take something to read and my new iPod so I’m not bored. (The iPod is also perfect for the long drive home with the non English speaking driver).

Time for bed – I’ve got to get up early and go sit in the lobby.

My fourth work day also marks one week since I left my old life. It started well, with reports from the anniversary surprise arranged for Jacquie. She has lots of wonderful friends there; I thank everyone involved from the bottom of my heart.

Now I sit at the start of our second twenty years together. Now my bags are packed and I’m ready to go – I leave in 5 hours at 4 am, for the lobby. From there the driver will eventually take me and Kris to the airport for a 6 am flight to Koh Samui. Oh boy. Time for part 3.