Life as a coyote girl
The so-called "coyote" dancing girls are popular at country fairs and in clubs throughout much of the country. Although the money can be reasonably good, the job is not without its annoyances as Amy explains in this excerpt from a story in Sunday's Spectrum magazine published with the Bangkok Post. You can read the full story and see the accompanying video here: http://bit.ly/fHkQjs.
By Terry Fredrickson
A top Bangkok coyote girl like Amy earns approximately 30,000 baht a month, but her job is not without many annoyances.
Life as a coyote girl
Story and photos by Jetjaras Na Ranong
Click button to listen to Coyote and rightclick to download
Amy
A top coyote girl like Amy earns approximately 30,000 baht a month.
''With that money I can support my mother, my grandmother, my sister and myself. It's pretty good for a poor girl like me.''
The university student used to have a job selling fried chicken at a fast food restaurant, but left because the working hours were not flexible and the wages were low.
When asked if this is her dream job, she burst out laughing. ''Are you kidding? I've got dreams ...
''I wanted to be a dancer. You know, a proper dancer. I love dancing. I love to get up there and lose myself through the music. But, like I said, I'm only doing this to support my family and pay for my education.''
Then Amy click-clacks back to the dressing room, her tiny costume soaked in sweat.
In the dressing room, Amy looks tired and, of course, less glamorous than when on stage. ''I hate to sit with the customers at their table. They try to get us drunk,'' she sighs.
She says she feels dizzy because of the drinks, and tries to stand up, but then runs to the toilet to throw up. At times Amy has to contend with borderline sexual assaults from drunken or obsessed customers.
''Sometimes customers try to grab me or call me names, but it's a part of my job. Trust me, I know very well how demeaning this job can be. I am also aware that some customers have no respect for me.
''It doesn't matter who I am as a person; they only want to undress me with their eyes. So when someone approaches me for sex, I flip my hair and dance away.''
Are such offers tempting?
''No. I earn enough to make ends meet. Once I finish my education, I want to work from nine to five or open a restaurant. But I need to save up. It's a long-shot dream. For now I dance for the money because I know it's a means to my goal.''
You can read previous article at www.bangkokpost.com/learning/all-article.
Vocabulary
popular – a situation in which someone or something is liked by many people เป็นที่นิยม, เป็นที่ชื่นชอบ
annoyance – something that makes you feel slightly angry สิ่งที่รบกวน, ความรำคาญ
excerpt – a part of a longer speech, song, text, etc. บทคัดย่อ
coyote – a N American wild animal of the dog family, but here in Thailand “coyote” is used to describe certain dancing girls สุนัขป่าชนิดหนึ่งอาศัยอยู่ทางตอนเหนือของทวีปอเมริกา
approximately – used to show that something is almost, but not completely, accurate or correct โดยประมาณ
flexible – able to change to suit new conditions or situations เปลี่ยนแปลงได้,แก้ได้
wage – an amount of money that you earn for working, usually according to how many hours or days you work each week or month ค่าจ้าง
burst out – to speak, laugh, cry suddenly, loudly and with strong feeling โพล่งออกมา, พูดออกมาทันที
kidding – joking; saying something that is not true for fun พูดเล่น, แซว
click-clack – the sound of high-heel shoes walking on a solid floor
costume – the clothes worn by people from a particular place or for a particular job เครื่องแต่งกาย
soaked – very wet เปียกโชก
sweat – the tiny drops of salty water that form on your skin when you are hot เหงื่อ
glamorous – especially attractive and exciting, and different from ordinary things or people ซึ่งดึงดูดใจ,มีเสน่ห์,เต็มด้วยความตื่นเต้นและการผจญภัย
drunk – having had too much alcohol to drink, i.e., drunk or intoxicated มึนเมา
sigh – to breathe out slowly making a long soft sound, especially because you are disappointed, tired, annoyed, or relaxed ถอนหายใจ
dizzy – feeling as if everything is turning round and being unable to balance and about to fall down เวียนศีรษะ
throw up – to vomit คลื่นไส้อาเจีย
contend with – to have to deal with a problem or with a difficult situation or person ดิ้นรนต่อสู้กับ
borderline – not clearly belonging to a particular condition or group; not clearly acceptable ไม่แน่นอน, ก้ำกึ่ง
assault – a physical attack on someone ทำร้าย
obsessed – considering something as so important that you are always thinking about it, in a way that seems extreme to other people หมกมุ่น
grab – to take or hold somebody/something with your hand suddenly, firmly or roughly จับ,ฉวย,คว้า,แย่ง
trust – to believe someone is honest, fair, and reliable เชื่อใจ, ไว้วางใจ
demeaning – putting somebody in a position that does not give them the respect that they should have เสียเกียรติ
aware – knowing that something exists, or having knowledge or experience of a particular thing ทราบ
respect – a feeling of admiration that you have for someone because of their personal qualities, their achievements, or their status, and that you show by treating them in a polite and kind way ความเคารพ, ความนับถือ
flip – to turn over into a different position with a sudden quick movement สะบัด,พลิก
tempting – making people want to have it, do it, etc ล่อใจ,ยั่วใจ
make ends meet – to have enough many to pay for your needs มีรายได้พอประทังชีวิต, มีเงินพออยู่รอด
long-shot – an attempt or a guess that is not likely to be successful but is worth trying การเลือกแทง ที่มีโอกาสถูกน้อยมาก
means – methods; ways วิธี, วิธีการ
goal – aim; purpose เป้าหมาย จุดมุ่งหมาย
