Dalat History: Thailand

"It was the worst of times" is how most people would describe our eight-month stay in Bangkok. The American Club was not built to be a school. Triple-deck beds made it possible to put 8 students in one room. That worked until the electricity went off, and there were no fans or air-conditioning. It never did work for 50 boys to have only 3 bathrooms. The teachers and students would often face flooded classrooms. The children were more interested in catching frogs than in doing schoolwork.

The newly hired Thai cooks had no experience in cooking for Americans. When doughnuts were served, too tough to eat, the students soon learned that they bounced and made excellent balls. Memories of Bep, their Vietnamese cook back in Dalat, came flashing back. He could prepare French, Vietnamese, and American cuisine fit for a king to eat.