Basically Just Oreos

I mentioned earlier how it’s hard to find any cereals in Thailand except Corn Flakes.  When I go to a local grocery store (not an open-air market which is more like a Farmer’s Market) I get curious about the import products available.  As an American, I now have to think of American products as “imports,” which was a bit of an adjustment at first.  There seems to be a decent selection of products from Australian, England, and Germany.  When I find the “American” or “USA” section, however, it’s basically just Oreos.  God bless that yummy chocolate cookie with the cream center – it really is everywhere in Thailand.  The other item I find a lot and not sure why is marshmallows.  I don’t recognize the brand actually, but the package sure does say “Made in the USA.”  Of course, there is Coke and Pepsi.  Soda manufacturers did a good job of universalizing their beverages around the world.

And if I go to the “Import” specific grocery store, I can find a few other American products – like maple syrup from Log Cabin - but at a premium price.  Grated Parmesan Cheese, for example, is close to $20, and that’s for a small jar.  Now what am I going to put on my spaghetti?  By the way, Thailand likes to also use ketchup on their pizza and spaghetti as opposed to marinara sauce.  Just gotta roll with it.

While I do enjoy the occasional Oreo cookie, the lack of food products that I was so used to in America has triggered a new talent in me – baking!  I’ve taken to baking my own cookies and now make a killer chocolate chip cookie (by the way, there are no decent chocolate chip packaged cookies in Thailand.  They used to sell Chips A’Hoy! but now they are nowhere to be found).  And my wife has started baking our own bread.  Let me tell you, there’s nothing as good as smelling that fresh loaf of bread coming out of the oven.

So, I guess my epiphany here is that good ol’ saying is actually true:  Necessity is the Mother of All Invention. I’ve always heard that saying before and knew it’s meaning, but it never became a reality for me until I started living in Thailand and began missing some of the simple comfort foods I took for granted in the USA.  One aspect of my life – necessity, caused another aspect of my life to awaken – creativity (in the form of baking!). Or as the song by The Fixx goes, “One thing leads to another.”

To put a spiritual spin on that thought:

    •  …Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 
(2 Peter 1:5-7)

    •  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22-23)

    •  Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body, you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
(Colossians 3:12-17)