I came to realize early in my stay in this beautiful country of Thailand, Thai, not only that women were perfectly prepared and graciously, but they were absolutely “slim”. I mean, how many other attributes they get? I felt like Gulliver in the land of Lilliputians.

As a newly arrived expatriate in Thailand, I was happy to see all the reclining Buddha, the temples of gold inlaid. But first, I told myself I had to do some shopping. to fight against the temperature to 100 degrees and high humidity of the poster, I thought the best place to fly two birds with one stone in an air conditioned mall is metaphorical. Shopping has always been a way of lifting my spirits oversized. I had hoped that cute dress that my 38DD breasts, could transform, and my size 30 inches in something that seemed to “get thin.”

But it was not just for me, this basket business. No, no. I always a prerequisite for using the local economy. I was told by our concierge to try Robinson’s Department Store in downtown Bangkok. “Beautiful clothes that cover you, ma’am.”

Wow, Robinsons? Right here in downtown Bangkok? He spent thirty minutes on a tuk-tuk ride hot in the heat of piercings, but I did it, intact and ready to spend, spend. When I was in what I’m walking, was the Ministry of Women, I stopped short. Oh, no, it must be the Teen clothing. They are much too small for an adult. I scanned the door. Who wears a size 2? Where am I, in the Barbie and Ken department? I could not have created these styles in my thighs, let alone my back.

I could see someone walking towards me, but it looked like a teenager. This is certainly not the seller? She stopped before me. “Gootmoanin.”

“Oh.” I felt my face warm. It looked like a Sprite. It was not a little girl, after all, it was at least in their 20s and of course the sales girl in this department. “Uh, I, uh, was there … a ministry of women in this store?”

“Vui. She smiled and waited anxiously.

“Oh. Well, I, uh, could you do that?”

“May Kow jai ka.”

I tore my book Thai-English conversation from his pocket and handed it to him. She insisted on a Thai word and gave the book back to me.

“Oh, you know that?”

She smiled.

“Okay. Sure. Sorry. “I said to my body well fed, looking expectant. I then pulled my dress size and said:” clothing. For me. ”

“Vui,” she smiled modestly, while on their feet, “foroow prez me. “

She led me into a small niche, where some well-fed tourists eat. Approaching a client more rounded, I asked if she knew why we created this separate area. “Because we are foreigners here?”

She twisted her mouth as if sucking on a sour gumball machine: “Yeah, honey, cuz we’re strangers is all right, foreigners larger than life!” She threw her head back and began to laugh at his cleverness.

“Huh?”

“The only size available, you will find, she said the head clockwise clothing little I had left excited,” for two to four feet, the size and honey, which is not us. ” She had another good laugh.

I glanced around the room, while she laughed, and I realized that everyone was standing in this room proportions in recent years.

I knew I did not have before, this sleek, neat little like women. You have to bulimia – that’s all. Binge Purge, purge excess alcohol – they are not wrong. Dream on, lady.

As I shopped and visited the city in the following weeks I came to understand that the Thais were also clean and tidy in other aspects of their lives. Every store I went to Bangkok was incredibly empty. Shirts and pants, towels, sheets and sports clothing were folded and stacked, not only, but in fact, looked as if the automation folded. All clothes hidden cardboard to make them. No pins do not have jagged edges, as if it were an image on the screen. The dresses, blouses and shirts hung on hangers perfectly fine size and color. Surprisingly, in view of the litter, I had seen in the streets of Bangkok, where every nook and cranny harbored a kind of earth.

For us, ahem, larger sizes, I noticed that nothing has been imported deplorably high. A brand name could be imported to Thailand four times higher than we pay in the United States. Ironically, Thai clothes are very cheap and very stylish – if you have less than five feet tall and weigh are between seventy and ninety pounds.

I made a decision then and there: Before leaving this country, I do the diet, stop quickly, eating, stop breathing, what Whatever slim as they took the women Thai.

Another revelation I found was that every place that I bought, there were at least three suppliers hovering above me, smiling – Thai waiing a hello. So useful! I will be very irritable if I go back to the States and do not receive the same service.

But – back to reality. Having lived in Thailand for a few months, I learned the secret of clothing separate. Sellers have the perfect solution for us to greater heights. This is called “Won Sigh” – means HUGE. They give the clothing department, and if you like Twiggy were built, the sweet, smiling, always good sellers – who see pre-pubescent all you fight against the “Won Sigh” department. Find all looking for loose, baggy, hippie held Beachy, thin, and all claims, suits a size 8 to size up to Mama Cass. This is true to his nature to face – yours. They would never dream of getting involved is big, fat, overweight or chubby. You just happened to fall into the category of Won Sigh.

When I died in my caftan Robinsons again, almost tripping over the hem, I had a look at my reflection in the window. Warning! Hilo Hattie sandals with thongs image.

(Coming from a broad abroad in Thailand by Dodie Cross extracted, with permission).

Dodie Cross is a freelance writer who has received numerous awards for his writing and poetry. Dodie has traveled the world writing about their lives abroad. For more information: A broad abroad .