Thai time and faloxing around...

I have grey hair. I'm surprised it hasn't gone snowy white in the last few days, but close enough. I found numerous grey hairs sticking out and proud in my fringe this morning! I'm getting the impression that building a house, or bungalow in my case, is not an easy task to accomplish (to make a grand scale understatement). Thais and farang (foreigners) think oh so mo so differently about how to achieve a successful outcome. In the past I've worked with many wonderful Thais and found them to be enthusiastic with a lot of ideas. It's the efficient streamline tactics that don't go so well. I am a multi-tasker (am woman hear me roar) which means efficiency...love to kill 5 birds with the one stone and I kind of have issues when I can SEE the outcome within an easy 2 step reach but must wait an eternity 500 steps turning corners and butting heads to get to the very same outcome.

Example: I have spent many an hour drawing up 3d bungalow plans on the computer to show the builder exactly what I had in mind. I said from the outset that I am only too happy to change things to make it easier and cheaper. Builder number 1 came back 2 days after looking at the plans and said "I can't do it". Half cement half wood = too difficult. I said "no probs, what do you suggest?". He said "all concrete, 100,000 baht". I ran off screaming in hysterics at the crazy man in my lounge room, pulling my hair out due to the thought of living with my MIL til I die.

Builder number 2 (gambleholic uncle) barely glanced at my professional looking plans before drawing up his own set that doubled the size of it, added 2 more rooms and a barely visable balcony! I'm trying to breathe while explaining the cost/budget factor and the fact it's a BUNGALOW, not a house. This was met with childlike laughter and "no problem, no problem!" Very typical Thai expression!

Although this dude is a retired architect and his isometric plans were visually very impressive, they left me a bit confused. I need a floor plan damn it, not fancy lines and arrows! So, when I finally convinced him to draw a floor plan, he couldn't explain how the person in bedroom 1 would go to the toilet without going through bedroom 2. His plan ended up having 5 doors... in a bungalow! and I was getting complaints that my one room, one door plans were too complex...puh-lease! After a couple of hours of meeting resistance from everyone regarding shrinking his plan and all of us walking over the property and me making subtle suggestions, I finally succeeded in using my plan (although he thinks it was his plan..hehe) but extending one side by a metre and adding an extra balcony down the side! It's unbelievable that about 6 hours were wasted when all he had to do was extend my plan out by a metre!

Thai time is a very famous phenomenon for anyone living in Thailand and this is a fine example. Everything in it's own time! It can be a blessing and a curse, but it's the way of life here and you'd think I'd be used to it by now! I just thought of something I can add to my resume: The Art of Subtle Mind Manipulation...oh wait, I'm a woman, completely unnecessary adage ;-p