This whole industry-no this whole country- just seems to me to be defined as a big circle. No matter where you start, the girls, the bars, the government, the justice system, the corruption-it all just circles around and around. There is no end and no beginning. Every cause seems to lead to another cause never to a resolution.

This afternoon we had the privilege to sit and talk with a young girl who has been working in the bar for 3 months, she is the middle of 5 children-2 older sisters and 2 younger siblings. She has a mother and a step-father back home (12 hours south of Bangkok) that she sends money to. She spoke very highly of her mother and step father and how he is a very good man. She says that she knows of step-fathers that are very mean and “force to have sex” but her step-father is very nice. Her mother is a wonderful woman but she says that “her mom like older sister and youngest sister best” you can tell in her face how it affects her, but she calls her mother everyday to make sure her she is ok. Her mother and father think she is a cashier in a bar, not taking customers. If they knew that they would think very lowly of her, yet they continue to remind her that they need more money. She speaks very good English, is very health conscience, knows a lot about fitness and has a bachelors degree in marketing from the university. I asked her if she liked her job (fully aware of the answer I would get) and she says “No No.” “Then why don’t you work somewhere else,” I ask? “You could work at the spa or at a store?” “I make more money here.” she says What do you say to her????? When did money become such a God? How did we ever get to the point that we sell our dignity, self-esteem and pride for big homes, fancy clothes and motor-bikes??? She says she wants to have babies so bad and she oogles over my pictures. Her desire for true love and a family are enormous. What she would give (her body and self-worth) to find a husband.

-Stacey