==THAILAND==

When my doctor tells me that I will live only six months before I die, I don't believe him. I need time--a few days--to think about this. I feel better and go back to the doctor and tell him that I want to donate parts of my body after I die. Five days pass. I list all the activities that I want to do in six months. Certainly I need time for my friends, family, and myself.
The first month, I will spend with my friends. I will do the best for everybody that I want to meet. In my class I will study hard and enjoy time with my friends without sadness. At the end of this month I will tell the truth to them and say goodbye.
After I resign from the teachers college where I am a student, I will go back to my hometown in Ubon Ratchathani in northeastern Thailand. I will spend four months with my family. I will tell the matter to my parents and my younger brother. I think they will agree when I will tell them I don't want sadness. "Please do with me what you are used to doing." I know that my parents will be sad, but I think they may feel better when I come back home and live with them. They hoped that I might be a teacher and come back to work in my hometown after I graduated. Sure, I love teaching. A good way to start is at a school near my home and work with the English teacher without salary. I remember my mother said she wanted to hear children call me "teacher". I want it, too. I will devote my life to teaching and writing a short story about the value of life and how I feel when I knew of my time to die.
While I stay at home I will decorate my house by myself, look after the trees, flowers, and find a suitable place for them. I will play games with my brother and teach English to him every day. I will teach him how the son should look after his parents when they become old people. Although it is my duty, he must do it after I die. I will show him how to clean the house, wash their clothes, help them with their work, cook in the kitchen, go with them when they go to the temple, and stay home when they go out. I never talk back to them when I disagree with them. My mother does not like it when I argue with her. I think my brother will look at all of my activities and my behavior and learn to follow me. I am sure he will believe what I teach him because he is a good boy and he always respects me.
One thing that I want to say to my parents is that "I am very lucky to be born in your family. If the spirit comes true and I can be born again, I wish to live with you. Thank you for giving my life and giving your love to me. It is the best thing, a special thing, that I can touch it. I love you."
In the sixth month, the last thirty days of my life will be devoted to a man who is very kind. He has a warm smile. Every time I stay with him I feel happy. He looks after me better than myself. I will tell my mother that I want him to live with me without a wedding. Although it is very different from everybody in my village, I need him before I die. I know I will break the rules of our culture, but it is the last time to do anything that I want to do. I will stay with my boyfriend when the last day of my life comes. And I need to say to him, "I think six months or sixty years to live is equal. Thus no one can escape from death. The best of love that you give me is good enough to compensate for the time that I lose--many years which I can not spend with you. When you remember me I will stay with you always."

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