Prem chose the word “สนุก”, pronounced “sanuk” and meaning “fun” in Thai.
Prem was one of the first friends I made in the slum. He is 12 years old and just knows a few words of English, but more importantly he really wants to communicate and always finds a way.
While I’m painting we have a lot of fun playing a very simple game. We take turns to call two footballers – usually who play(ed) in the same position – and the other chooses the better one. He started this game with “Ronaldo or Messi?” but Prem has studied the game and soon he was asking me “Iniesta or De Bruyne?”, “Scholes or Seedorf?”, “Cannavaro or Van Dijk?”
When I told him I was a goalkeeper he made a special goalkeeper series, and after eliminating Banks, Casillas, Cech, Neuer and Schmichel, I got stuck on the final question “Buffon or Lev Yashin?”. There’s often a point in the afternoon where we drink soy milk together and maybe have a kick of the ball before it gets too dark.
Football is hugely important in Thailand, like almost everywhere around the world. So many times it’s helped me make friends, giving me a common language with so many people.
Seb Toussaint 