Michael Moerman

Loy Kratong Festival

Som and his family went to the Loy Krathong Festival. A lot of people had joined the festival and the police lead the parade, which had been moving slowly. The people had been zealously waiting to see the parade and the krathong (floating banana-leaf cups), in the river.

November 1, 1968. A German professor who organized a seminar was disappointed that the talk about morals was ambiguous and there was a lack of analysis. After the seminar, he attended Khan Tok, dining in the northern style. He talked to some peers about his ideas from the seminar; for example, “we need to work on the ground rather than on the stars,” and so on.

Difference of social status

December 10, 1968. A friend of Thawee who formerly was a doctor actually was farmer. His plantation was lemon lime and bergamot. Moerman noted of interpersonal relation. For example people should not forget old friends and should come visiting.

Reputations and gossip.

December 11, 1968. Thawee talked about his friend named Smith, a librarian in Phrea. He was good at school and had good knowledge of English. So that he could have a good choice for a career. But he chose to stay in his hometown and worked in a low-wage job. Thawee, on the other hand, was the new governor of Nan province. He was good with people and traditions of the community, he attended various activities of villagers. He also invited them to visit his house. However he did not interfere with the authority of the police.

Events about David's son Jean Moerman.

Benjamin said that Eric did not come to school. He probably was sick. David said for him that he might have come to school earlier, so he did not see him.

Reactions in the Chiang Mai University

Moerman visited Rujirawan at Chiang Mai University. There was an appointment set up at the cafeteria for the faculty of the Humanities. Nithi and other people were waiting for Moerman. But no one wanted to sit beside Nithi because he liked to look down on the others.

Ethnicity

November 8, 1968. [Illegible hand-writing. - translator].

Respect for the monks

(?) 29, 1968. Usually, the monks in Songkha, would avoid giving away the monks ???? because approaching women might result in difficulties. To visit Phra Sri Thammkhun, I noticed that he would sit on a chair and Claire and I sat on the mat. People who come to give alms and do offerings were asked to give money to his followers.

The monk who lead the union

25 (?) 1968. Phra Sri Thammkhun was traveling by air to India. Old men accompanied him to Don Muang Airport by train.