Snake Snake Fish Fish is an ongoing series based around Thai idioms/phrases/colloquialisms written about and illustrated by Cloé Fortier-King and guest contributors.
Cloé Fortier-King, YinD 134
“You see, some things I can teach you. Some you learn from books. But there are things that, well, you have to see and feel.” – Khaled Hosseini
My first weeks at site were a blur. I moved into a new home with new family members, introduced myself to countless community members, attended seemingly endless events and celebrations, surveyed my village by bike and car, visited 6 schools, 2 community health clinics, and 2 preschools and began working at Tessaban (the village municipality office)—all while tuning my ear to a new Northern Thai accent and dialect. Considering this massive influx of information, coupled with leaving Don Chedi (a brief home that holds an immense part of my heart) and missing my Group 134 friends dearly, it is no surprise I felt pulled in a thousand different directions.
I wanted desperately to give my attention and my energy to every single person I spoke with. I sought to hear every possible challenge the community struggled with. In response, I hoped to present witty and well-informed strategies to apply existing resources and skills in a reimagined way. I intended to be an asset to my village.
Lofty aspirations aside, the truth is that I understood little that was said to me those first several weeks. My questions came out garbled and nonsensical. My confusion overshadowed my wonder. In many instances, I left social interactions knowing less than when I entered them. It was as if my eyes and ears had gone rogue—for all their work, my brain could not make sense of my surroundings. Understanding and being understood are foundational—a lack of understanding is deeply destabilizing.
About a month after arriving at site, I attempted to express this feeling to a coworker. I was unsure where to start, so I told him I wished I had more eyes and ears with which to see and hear more, and therefore understand more of what I was experiencing. He laughed in surprise and kindly said that my understanding was very impressive having been learning Thai for only about 4 months, but we both knew my Thai was undoubtedly “snake snake fish fish” (see last week’s article). After a pause, my coworker explained that what I wanted was pineapple eyes. Seeing my confusion he clarified the Thai idiom ตาสับปะรด (dtaa sàb-bpà-rót), which references the appearance of eyes in a pineapple and describes the ability to see everything, in all directions.
The existence of this idiom highlights the importance of pineapple in Thai culture. It is enjoyed daily as a refreshing snack or cooking ingredient, and is associated with a number of anti-inflammatory and digestive health benefits. In fact, Thailand is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of the sweet golden fruit. As essential as it is to enjoy this staple treat in Thailand, I believe it is crucial for me to take in as much as I can while on this incredible Peace Corps journey—within the constraints of my two eyes, of course.
Sticky Rice 