Amphoe Khemerat, Ubon Ratchathani

Saiyout on the far left, Newt in the yellow shirt.

12 December…today we visited Newt’s childhood home of Khemerat; she lived there from about 6 to 14 years of age. The town has completely changed from those times. For example, this private home was also a restaurant. It was one of Newt’s favorite hang-outs, and she called the owners “Auntie and Uncle,” and a daughter “Saiyout” was a “cousin or sister.” Well…

Sue, Saiyout and Newt talk about their shared childhood.

Saiyout and her husband still own the home, and here she is in the center of the photo! What a happy reunion the sisters had. Lots of reminiscing was going on…the rice fields that Newt’s father farmed have been partially replaced by houses. The distances she remembers as “that was so far to walk” can be driven by car in moments. A generation of children have grown up, and now have their own children (and even grandchildren).

First concrete building in Khemerat.

Newt remembers this as the first concrete building in Khemerat--then, it stood alone. The lower floor was a business that sold a variety of goods, while the upper floor was living quarters. A daughter in the home was one of Newt’s schoolmates. The place is now shuttered, and the family lives in Bangkok.

Large outdoor Buddha statue, Wat Po--added since Newt was a child there.

This outdoor Buddha sits near the front of Wat Po, which is within the town of Khemerat. The Buddha has been added since Newt’s childhood—it is near a well-head where the kids came to get drinking water (the well-head has since gone). The youngest children were afraid to enter the main temple in the Wat, as many scary stories were told about it.