To my neighbors

You gave me strange looks when I first made the move,
most likely for all the times you've seen me baking in the nude.

But despite unintentional culturally insensitive behavior,
you continue to be kind, supportive, and entertaining neighbors.

There are times you bring me fruits from your abundant farms
and welcome me home with your sawadika charms.

You scouted out vets when my cat was ill
and helped me break into my house climbing over my windowsill.

You wake me in the early dawn with your lovely thai folk tunes
and provide endless entertainment when you drink too much on sunday afternoons.

And even though I was outraged when you cut down every last single tree,

I realized it was to prevent those evil little jins from descending upon me.

You make sure the entire village is kept abreast of my whereabouts
so that when I need anyone, or anything, all I need do is shout.

You let me practice my Thai and show no lack of patience
especially when I exclaim "my cat house orange!", making absolutely no sense

You invite me to whiskeys at 9am and karaoke at midnight,
You've even shown up at Thanksgiving with a dish that, well, I can't describe.

And at times you burn trash, smoking me out of house and home,
But it's no big deal, cause we all know I do that on my own.

But alas it's time to vacate my tree house in Hua Fai
And head for a high-rise apartment in that polluted Jakarta sky.

And with all your loud speakers and shouting to remind me I'm never...ever alone.
I'll never forget how for three and a half years, you made that house a home.