Chiang Mai/Fairbanks Lemon Grass Connection

J2, the film editor (end of linked post), suggested we meet at a restaurant near her place - the Lemon Grass. The waiter's English was, literally, remarkable. I was wondering if he was even Thai. English is hard for Thais - they put tones on individual syllables, while English tones are related to the whole sentence (questions rise at the end, for example); Thai words can end in only nine final consonant sounds (or vowel sounds), so English final sounds are a real challenge. But this guy's English was almost Native level.

Finally I asked him why it was so good. Turns out Gaw (my spelling) lived in Fairbanks where his dad went looking for gold and he'd had two years at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. His dad runs the Lemon Grass restaurant in Fairbanks, Our waiter was also the owner of the Chiang Mai Lemon Grass.

We also had a good talk with J2 who will be going back to LA in mid May.