Brandon Twp.- When Kay Hunt arrived in the United States 20 years ago, she remembers saying, ‘This is America?? in disbelief.
Hunt and her cousin had just taken a 20-hour flight from Bangkok, in their native Thailand to Chicago, and then traveled to Kalamazoo, where they would both attend Western Michigan University.
‘We came in the spring,? recalls Hunt, whose first name has been Americanized from Kruaymas. ‘There were no leaves on the trees and we saw fields, but after Chicago, no cities. We were like, ‘no buses?? We were surprised. ‘There is nothing here,? was our first impression.?
In the movies, Hunt was used to seeing New York, Los Angeles and Chicago represented, large cities more similar in size to the one she had just come from.
Hunt was born in Bangkok and grew up attending school there from the fifth grade on, living with her three older sisters, an older brother and a maid. An aunt lived nearby. In Rayong, a province two hours away, was her second home, where her parents lived on a fruit and rubber tree plantation. They also produced sugar cane and tapioca. Her parents still live there.
Hunt notes education is very competitive in Thailand. When students finish high school, everyone takes the same exam with the goal of getting into a public university. Only the top students are chosen, and they select a profession when taking the entrance exam. Hunt was not chosen for a public university, but wasn’t disappointed. She attended private Bangkok College, earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing, and then prepared to come to the U.S.
Thai students are taught English as a second language, but at the time, she didn’t have much opportunity to practice it. She wanted to come to the U.S. to get a master’s degree and learn English.
‘If you have the money, you go to the U.S. or England (to go to school),? says Hunt. ‘It is harder to get a master’s degree in Thailand than here.?
Hunt went to the U.S. Consulate and did all the application paperwork herself to come to America. Her mother wouldn’t help, as she didn’t really want her daughter to go.
When Hunt arrived in 1986, she initially shared an apartment with her cousin, but they would speak Thai to each other all day long and she soon found an American roommate to enable her to learn English quicker.
Although Kalamazoo was much different than Bangkok with its high-rise buildings and traffic jams, she soon adjusted.
‘Everything here is easygoing and small buildings,? says Hunt. ‘I like this now. I hate Bangkok because of the traffic, but it’s nice for shopping.?
She met David Hunt at WMU and although she returned to Thailand after she graduated, he would send her a plane ticket to come back to America. They were married by a judge on Dec. 26, 1988, without her parents present.
‘My mom thought I’d come back to live in Thailand after I graduated and cook for her in her old age,? says Hunt. ‘It took a long time to prove to them we could make it. I’d always had a maid, they didn’t think I could make it here.?
She notes that Thailand is more conservative than the U.S. It was frowned upon to marry a foreigner, and girls that hung out with American G.I.s did not present a good reputation. Now, she says, there are half-American, half-Thai children everywhere.
The Hunts built their home in Brandon and had two children, Alisha, now 11, and Ethan, 7.
She loves to cook for them, particularly Thai food, which she explains is not necessarily hot, a misperception she frequently encounters. She does, however, show bottles of sauces she has made and is starting a business with. They are labeled ‘Anytime Thai,? and show different strengths, from mild to ‘back fire.?
The main difference between Thai and American food, says Hunt, is that Thai food is more balanced. In Thai stirfry, there are vegetables and meat, but more of the former than the latter, whereas Americans prefer more meat. Rice and curry are common to meals.
Hunt is a Buddhist, the majority religion in Thailand, but celebrates Christmas with her family.
‘Anything to cook and have a party,? she laughs.
She likes living in America, saying the people are nice and always say ‘hi? when walking by, and in Ortonville, everyone knows everyone else. She notes Thai people are very friendly also, and always want to feed you. They go back to Thailand at least every other year, around Christmas, and she says they always gain weight from all the food.
Her children like Thailand, although they sometimes complain of the heat. Her husband loves Thailand, especially the food. Hunt misses the shopping there, saying she always has to buy another suitcase there to bring back what she buys? fashions that are ahead of the U.S., and great deals, such as jeans for $5 or $6 a pair. She also misses the variety of fruit, like 10 different mangoes and three different kinds of bananas.
She would not want her children to attend school there, however, noting there is too much pressure.
Someday, after retirement, they may buy a house on the beach in Thailand and live there six months out of the year. But although she misses her family, Hunt is happy here.
‘I like living here,? says Hunt, 42, who plans to get U.S. citizenship one day. ‘This is my home now. I just wish I had my family here or a sister to go shopping with. I consider myself more an American now.?