Snack Time

In the public spaces at our office sits a great assortment of snacks to share. People here seem to enjoy furnishing food to others, not least because a community plate leads to a community conversation. Compared to places I’ve worked in the States, the “menu” is healthier, tastier, and quicker to disappear.

Food donations go way beyond the re-gifting of a fruitcake (as in, “Don’t worry, honey. Why don’t I just take it to work? It’ll disappear eventually there”). My colleagues bring in stuff they really want to eat, everything from cut-up mangoes to sandwiches hoarded from conference coffee breaks. A crowd gathers instantly and laughter breaks out. It’s all part of Thailand’s jobs-should-be-fun-or-else-they’re-not-worth-doing philosophy.

Food quality gets noticed. Word spreads fast when a rare brand of Thai treat shows up, or a cheesecake from a five-star hotel. Particularly fancy dishes get labeled as “hi-so,” short for “high society.” This term gets used to describe everything from deluxe accessories like brand-name watches to pretentious displays for the sake of flaunting one’s privilege.

The last time I brought in something, I got teased about how my contribution looked kind of “lo-so.” It’s true that boiled peanuts aren’t exactly hotel fare. But they disappeared in a flash. Most Thais prefer boiled over roasted, and a few people told later that they appreciate a snack that fills them up without being too fattening. Even the one who teased me confessed that she was responsible for eating at least half the bag. “I said the peanuts looked lo-so,” she explained. “That doesn’t mean they tasted lo-so.”