Taken for a Ride

I enjoyed the Norman Sklarewitz story, “The Accidental Tutor Plays a Big Role in Japan” (Feb. 12). However, the story had a happier ending than ours in Bangkok, Thailand. While walking around the city my husband and I were approached by two young men about 17 or 18 years old. They were very modest and polite and we were charmed by their courteous manners. What they wanted was to walk along with us and practice their English while they showed us some of Bangkok.

We admired beautiful shrines and temples and learned a little about their religion. We even bought some fruit and drinks and shared them at a rest stop. Afterward we agreed to go in a canoe with them for a ride on the canal. After rowing us to the middle of the canal they said it would cost us $100 to get back to shore or we could swim. When we told them we could swim and to forget it, they rowed us back to shore. However, we gave them $20 and learned our lesson in international relations.

NEVA SMITH

Palos Verdes Estates