Olivier planned his second visit to us two years ago. Last October 19th, it came to reality when he came home to our place with Little Boy Blue, fresh from their half hour's drive from San Francisco International Airport. Olivier touched down to SFO from a long haul flight from Bangkok.
As usual, I was franctic about his arrival. I cleaned our flat, cooked and baked way ahead of time.
In Thailand, in the international school, he was head of the Modern Language Department, and I, as department chair for Visual Arts (K to 12). Aside from our curriculum task, we taught as well. There, our close friendship was borne. We rode in the same school bus in the morning and the afternoon. Occasionally, we went to school on cab together. We were like a brother/sister team. And we had meals together!
In January 2007, Olivier met Little Boy Blue once more with me in tow, while we were on tour of the tourist destinations of Bangkok. Likewise, we met his mom and had dinner with her and Olivier at Bayoke Hotel.
When I was in France in summer 97, Olivier met me and my tour group in my hotel in Nice, France. It was funny. Everyone thought he was my boyfriend! But he was not! And never was! It is a platonic kind of friendship that grew deeper over the years. Olivier and I have a long history as friends that binded the birth and deaths of our loved ones. For instance, he had seen my nieces and nephews who were born at the time I was posted in Thailand. In photographs, their developmental stages as children were captivated in films. He had seen ANN, YSSA, PACO, LORD and MICHAEL in photos. He was with me looking cheerfully at those cute little photos of them as they learned to crawl, walk, talk, and write. At that time, the internet was just emerging so there was not a lot of photo sending attachment features in the email. It was all in text. Their photos were sent as snail mails.
For one, OLIVIER had seen MURIEL (Sugar Pie) in photos from the time her fax caricature was sent to me by my brother-in-law up until now when she just turned 13 last October 20th! We used to call her ZUMO WRESTLER because her photo as an infant, born with a 9.5 lbs attached to her name was not typical for a Filipino child to have that weight. Not this kid! She looked like a zumo wrestler and was like 4 months' old at the time of her birth! So the name was born, ZUMO. Up to this day, he still refers to MURIEL as the zumo! Mamamia!
As I moved to teach in other international schools under the European Council of International Schools (ECIS), we kept in touch. So although we were far by proximity, we are still abreast of what's up and about with each of our life. Emails help that and chat, too.
Having Olivier here in our domicile brought back lots of memories. Yet, it was a delight that he etched some more fond memories with me and Little Boy Blue.
In North Beach where we live, we brought him to places he didn't visit in October 2005. So far, one of the highlights of his visit was his shopping gallore at ROSS where he bought tons of clothes for him and for his family and friends. Olivier is kind, thoughtful and generous. In coming to SFO, he brought us a lot of Thai spices that I find useful in my Thai cooking. He brought vases, purse, hair ornaments for me, and many more. Can't believe how he had thought of those things to bring. His visit was short and sweet, a good 5 days away from his hectic schedule at school in BKK.
He will join us in Oregon in summber 2010 when we fly there to attend our annual reunion with Little Boy Blue's siblings and that happens each time at a cabin by the Oregon coast.
Thanks, Olivier! We love you!
And thanks to Emily, my comadre for sending the beautiful candles and Thai art- they are gorgeous! Thanks as well to Weena and Wasinee for the photos of them in CD and to Lalita for sending goodies!
Ciao!
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