Chiang Mai III

The last two times I went to the north, I was upfront about looking for a job. My approach during this sequel was less direct. I asked people at health-related organizations if they had considered teaming up with the CDC. I reasoned that if a small collaboration grew and took off, then they would have to hire me to manage it.

I know, I know, you’re thinking, “he’s dreaming WHAT?” I agree, the “information interview” strategy will take a long time to bear fruit, assuming it ever does. But I’m not in any hurry. Jip rarely talks about wanting to move to Chiang Mai anymore, having settled into her Bangkok schedule.

Also, salaries that would support caregivers and our other special needs are rare in Chiang Mai. I visited a former housemate of mine from the refugee camp days, who now lives there. She says she can afford a cool teak house and a new baby mostly because her husband works in Bangkok and commutes home on weekends.

Speaking of commuting, one potential collaborator I called on pointed out that considering Bangkok’s traffic jams, he could probably get to CDC faster by plane and cab from Chiang Mai than I get there via my daily combination of sky train, shared van, and motorcycle taxi.

So who knows where we’ll be living and working at this time next year? I’d still like to find a way to take advantage of Chiang Mai’s cooler weather, higher hills, and emptier roads. But if it takes us a while to pull it off, then as the Thais say, “mai pen rai” (never mind, don’t worry about it)!