A little overdue, but better late than never - this story is from our last month in Thailand.

We had just tucked the kids in, I'd read Fern a story and from the living room I could see the adults settling in for a game of Monopoly. I asked to join and soon, Eric and I were competing in one of the most interesting games of Monopoly I have played to date. We went around the board, properties quickly made their way into various ownership's and the game was on. I managed to acquire the first Monopoly (let's hear it for Baltic and Mediterranean) and soon Eric had the yellow ones and I also gained the Purples (my personal favorite).  Houses and hotels emerged and the money began to roll in. But somehow, though the four others we played with kept landing on our properties, they always managed to have enough money to pay us off.  And soon I realized, they were selling their own properties to one another for $20; or just passing around $500 bills.  And then it dawned on me - I am in Thailand, they don't do capitalism here. In fact, they don't really do the whole "individualistic" thing.  No, in Thailand, and Asia in general, it isn't my money, or my computer. But rather, the money is with Talia or the computer is with Talia. So while Eric and I had geared up for a little world domination - our opponents had geared up for a friendly game of "share and share alike".  Needless to say the lack of rivalry (being the competition-monger that I am) quickly diminished my interest and I, after a hefty fine, abdicated my position.  Eric however, embraced free enterprise at its best, and quickly found himself king of Monopoly (if there is such a king).  All in all, it was a fun, albeit educational evening.

Side note:  Attention all other racers, a new version of World Raceopoly has recently emerged.  Eric Retterbush can be contacted for a private copy.

Eric and I playing the World Race version.