When
I was a little girl, my mother had a beautiful crystal vase that
was the perfect size for one rose. She usually kept it in the
kitchen window so that she could enjoy the beauty of the flower
while she prepared meals, and sometimes she let me replace the
rose. On those very special occasions, I would marvel at the
many facets of the crystal as the sun refracted through them. My
friend Nat reminds me of that vase with many facets to his
personality, all constantly evolving.
Manat Chowmuang grew up in Chiang Rai where
his father did many jobs, including driving a tuktuk, to support
his family of five sons. His mom cared for Noi, Nat, Nit, Nop
and Na, and I can just envision those five little boys and the
fun they must have had together. The family struggled
financially, but the children were loved in this very
“huggable” family. Childhood doesn’t last forever, though,
and Nat left school before graduating to help the family. The
only work he could find was selling ice cream, then drinks at
the bus station, watching the buses come and go. His options
were limited in Chiang Rai, but faraway Bangkok offered
opportunities.
At seventeen, Nat himself became one of those
bus passengers and set off for the big city. He had no idea what
he would find, but he was determined to support himself and help
his family. He frowns when he remembers his first impressions of
Bangkok – hot and sticky with polluted air and a lot of noise.
He yearned for Chiang Rai. He went to work for a company that
sold roti on the streets. The company provided the cart and
materials, Nat just cooked and sold the roti. He lived in the
company dormitory, crowded but a big savings. His next job began
to awaken his creative side. He worked for a company that made
and sold dolls. During the day, he made the dolls, which were
painted to look like a Japanese couple in traditional wedding
clothing. Then he packaged them and sold them at the night
market in Bangkok. He liked the job, it was a challenge and he
learned how to take a product from an idea to manufacture to
packaging to the customer. He was doing well when his 20th
birthday came along.
Back home to Chiang Rai he went to the Thai
Army lottery. Red and you’re in the military; black and
you’re not. He drew black, and started looking for another
job. He came to Chiang Mai and found work making jewelry. The
company imported old silver from Pakistan, refashioned it into
new products and exported it to New York. It was his first
contact with the export business. It was while he was working
for this company that he met his American partner, and that
changed his world.
His partner sent him back to finish his
education, and he decided to study English at the same time. He
didn’t stop with school; he took up sewing, clothing design
and even learned the craft of batik making. He was so nervous
reading his papers aloud in class that his hands shook. So he
took up singing on stage with friends to get over the
nervousness. Today, when he steps on stage, he changes from
quiet to self-confidently extroverted.
His education completed, he began to work out
of his home making cushion covers from a combination of Thai and
hill tribe fabrics. His first big customer was a very discerning
Japanese woman. She would turn every cushion cover inside out
and examine the seams. She showed him just what she wanted, and
he worked hard to please her. She sent more customers, and more
people heard about his work. He needed help and hired his former
sewing teacher. They moved their work to shop houses. Growth was
consistent. His partner’s business was growing and changing,
too. Through a series of changes and mergers, Lois, the cushion
company, became part of CDC Design Resource, and CDC became
known in this part of the world for its interior design work in
five star hotels.
Along the way, some of Nat’s brothers came
to work for the company. I was constantly confused. Was this Nit
or Noi or Nat? I gradually sorted them out. Sadly, Nit suffered
a long illness and died a few years ago. His family and friends
grieved. But life went on, and Nat began to make trips to
America. His partner’s family there encouraged him to prepare
Thai food for them, and another side of his personality
blossomed.. He took what he had learned helping his mom in the
kitchen as a child, and built on it. He became known for his
culinary skills, so well known that a local charity
“auctioned” him as a guest chef to raise money. He loves to
cook for parties.
The business continued to grow, and soon
moved from the shop houses to property in the country. They
hired people from the surrounding village and taught them
skills. Nat and some of his workers began to volunteer at the
local temples. They presented money trees to the temple, or
built float for parades or cooked. His spiritual side deepened.
Tragedy struck again. His beloved older brother, Noi, was killed
in a motorcycle accident. There was no illness, no time to
prepare for this loss. Nat says his brothers live in his heart.
I saw Nat Chowmuang’s many facets come
together at the party he held on the occasion of the 100 day
anniversary of Noi’s death. The entire village was invited.
The garden had been converted into a Lanna work of art. A small
temple had been constructed of bamboo, with candles lighting
every foot of it. They blazed in the darkness while Nat served a
feast he had prepared himself. Then he climbed on the stage to
greet his guests, and he was 100 percent performer. The poor boy
from Chiang Rai was in his element.
