Thailand Reflections: Me at the Annual Chula-Thammasat Football Match, January 1991:

Can you find the "farang" in the photograph? This a funny photograph of me attending the famous annual Chula-Thammasat Football Match (January 1991), representing the fierce rivalry in soccer between Bangkok's two most prestigious Universities, the venerable Chulalongkorn University and the renowned Thammasat University. This football match took place during January of 1991, an "interesting" year because the Persian Gulf War was in full swing and Americans had been advised by our embassy not to go out in public. But my Thai friends said not to worry, that one American wouldn't get terrorized in a crowd of so many friendly Thai faces, so we went to the ballgame anyway and had a really good time. Shortly after this ballgame, there was also a Thai military coup (a bloodless one, thanfully), led by General Suchinda Kraprayoon, deposing then Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan who was famous for dismissing criticisms and critics of his policies with the phrase, "Mai mii ban haa!" or "No problem!" A very useful Thai phrase that I still use to respond to my own critics.