I do listen, but I also enjoy the attention.

So one of the reasons we get married is because of the fun we have together, maybe one of the most important, we play games together, we take care of each other, we tease each other, we tell each other everything.  It’s a way to reinforce and show that we actually love each other and care about each other on a daily basis.

I know there are a few things that my wife doesn’t like that I do, basic things, simple things that were never major concerns for me before in life because, after a year or two at each job, they were cleared and taken care of. For every new job, there are always going to be different standards for behaviour or dress, that's normal. Kindergarten will have different expectations from primary, and also secondary and then university. This will be based on their level of education, expectation and professionalism. You will never survive in a job for more than a year if you don't follow these basic expectations, especially in Thailand where image is so important. But there are some things that I still do to annoy her, and being this honest may hurt her, or make her feel negative or uncomfortable in some way. BECAUSE I never play games, I'm 100% honest, I speak 100% of what I'm thinking and feeling, and that’s perfectly fine at home, or in the bedroom alone with my wife. We have both shared secrets and stories about our lives that we would never tell anyone else. BUT in public, I need to be more careful that’s certainly true and something I never considered before. Sometimes when you spend so much time with someone, you forget that you are not at home, and that's definitely wrong.

     But then there are the small things that I've known for a long time, such as not buttoning my shirt all the way up, cause I know that gets my wife a little jealous and every time I'm about to leave the home, she runs over to make sure that every button is fixed properly. I almost feel sad about writing about this because I'm sure she won't do it in the future.

                The feeling I get from that small act, that small moment of care makes me smile for hours. I know for her it might be slightly irritating, but for me, it creates such joy. Another is sometimes I get a bit overzealous with the baby powder because this country is so damn hot. So occasionally it gets on my clothes, and again she gets upset and runs over with a wet towel to clean my clothes. I agree these acts are petty and lowly, and little ego games I play with my wife without her knowing. But the pleasure I get from her caring, from taking care of me is just amazing.  Sometimes her complaining to me or teaching me actually gives me joy, it shows she really cares. It's the small things we do every day that make a difference. It's the daily acts, the daily words, the daily expressions of love and care that can make us so happy and in love.

            I've been in this country so long, there isn't much left for me to learn about schools, education or playing games. I've lasted in places longer than most foreigners can stay in the country. For education in the West, image is meaningless, knowledge is all that's important. So if you don't accept this or play this game, you will not last in any job for a year, and you will have to change places every year. If you are serious about education or helping Thai children then you must play along. Sometimes it can be difficult, I know because I don't want to lie or cheat, but if I had done those things in the past, I would never have lost a single job. And my life now wouldn't be so difficult.

            There are still things I need to change, but I am working on them now and I am getting better,, and I will do it for her, she is everything I need, want, and crave, and I will do everything I can from now on to make sure she is my number one priority, always and forever.