I was visiting a family in rural Surin, Thailand. I had wanted to go on a walk around the neighborhood and through the verdant rice fields, but I was concerned about getting lost somewhere, so I tried to get someone to go with me. It was quite clear that no one could figure out why on earth I would want to go strolling in the fields, but there was no way anyone would ever tell me “no.” So, in typical Thai fashion my neighborhood walk just didn’t happen. First there was lunch, then we had to go to the market, then we had to go to another market to get something that they didn’t have at the first one. Then we had to wait for someone to arrive, then for someone else to leave. When Thai people don’t want to do something, they never refuse, they just make the task perpetually “next.” “We’ll do that next, but first…” Finally around sunset it became clear that “next” was “never”, so I announced my intention to go out on my own. As I was leaving the house one of the daughters came running out after me to make sure I didn’t disappear.

It was really a beautiful walk; the sunset over the rice fields was spectacular. I got many great shots of the bright red sun reflected in the paddies. But this shot is a favorite of mine. Out in the middle of the fields there was this odd little house. I asked my guide who lived there. She giggled and said in her wonderful broken English, “Not house for person, house for duuuuck.” I wish I could fully describe how she said “house for duck.” Her Thai accent, combined with mirth and astonishment that I could be so foolish, made “house for duck” one of the most endearing phrases I have ever heard. Consequently this is one of my favorite photos from that trip.