Rick the Scotsman

Rick is the only person that I recall meeting that had something bad to say about almost everyone. Mr. Negativity could have been an appropriate nickname. Whether English, American, Filipino, Burmese, Thai, Australian, New Zealander, no matter who you may be, or where your were from, he had nothing good to say about you or your home country. If you were not from Scotland you were shit in his most humble opinion. He had a particular dislike for the English though and would go out of his way to make remarks that were extremely rude and uncalled for. He looked for controversy. In general he just had no tact in dealing with others.

Rick was in his early fifties, had previously served twelve years in the Royal Navy but was discharged as a Lieutenant and gave up that career. That seemed strange to me. That close to retirement benefits, then give that all up. I never asked why, as any reply would have included a conspiracy theory against the Scots in the Royal Navy or some such non sense.

He was married to a Thai and had a child about four years of age. He also had a former spouse and several older children back somewhere in the UK. He never spoke of them much. Rick often talked about his youngest son’s education and was concerned about that. He indicated often that he would take him back to Scotland as soon as the child reach school age. Rick was well read and had a wide interest range. He was also one of the few westerners that I have met that could not only speak Thai but could read and write as well to some ability.

As you would guess Rick had an opinion about most things, and expressed them on a regular basis. He loved to inform Asians and Filipinos in particular that they were all subservient to westerners, had no backbone and never stood up for themselves. The English were berated at every turn. A familiar theme was the differences between the UK and Scottish education systems. He was thoroughly convinced that all Scots were better educated that their southern neighbors thus smarter. He also loved to tell the story of Hadrian’s Wall which, was a Roman attempted to keep the Scots up north. You would have though he personally erected the wall.

Even though many teachers had complained to administration about his abrasive personality and how it was not good for morale within the teaching racks, they did nothing, as he was a white face that they could display and they needed that. Besides he had not confronted them.

His downfall finally came over our lunch meals.

Our director has in addition to his schools a farm on which he grows produce. At this particular time there was an abundance of kale. Consequent we were receiving a kale dish daily for what must have been several weeks. Kale soup, stir fried kale, kale with garlic, boiled kale you name it, it was present at each meal. No one was any longer eating the kale and we were all complaining among ourselves, but no one as loud as Rick. On this particular day he announced to the diners that kale was cattle food back in Scotland and not fit for human consumption.

That was the opening needed. Norlyn one of our Filipino teachers picked up the bowl of kale, marched to the office and asked The Directors wife who happened to be at school that day as to why they were feeding us cow fodder. Kale hit the fan so to speak. Rick was called in to explain himself and things went down hill from there. As he did with almost everyone, he had finally managed to raise the ire of the owners as well. From then on he could do nothing right and was soon asked to leave.

As a parting shot, he wrote a long letter to The Director pointing out the dangers of a microwave tower near the schools kindergarten. How this was dangerous to children and that he was going to report this fact to the local English Language newspaper and as many of the students parents as possible. This enraged The Director who wanted to cause bodily harm to Rick. In fact he suggested how easy it would be to get several of the schools van drivers together and call on Rick at his home.

Rick had a new jobs, within days and remained in Thailand for several more months. As soon as he completed the immigration paperwork for his wife and child he returned jobless to Scotland and moved in with his aged father.

Rick’s wife called one of our neighbors a little over a year ago and reported that Rick was sick and could not work and that she was supporting the family by performing Thai traditional dances at some sort of venue for tips. That was the last I heard of Rick.