KongThai, Inc. :: Meet Parichatra
Meet Parichatra
Meet Parichatra, Your Customer Advocate.
Buying unique Thai gifts online is anything but impersonal at KongThai.com. And to prove it, founder Parichatra Teeraprapa herself heads up the customer service department to make sure things are just right for you.
A savvy businesswoman and owner of 3 big rambunctious dogs, Parichatra dishes the details on what her name means and her favorite things about Thailand…
Full name: Parichatra Teeraprapa. My first name is actually pronounced ‘Parichat’. Everybody here keeps calling me ‘ParichatRA’. But that’s ok with me, too.
Meaning: I think it means ‘flowering tree in the garden of heaven, whose fragrance gives people the power to reincarnate’. At least that’s what I remember my mom telling me a long time ago.
Hometown: Bangkok, Thailand
Current residence: I now live in Tampa, Florida, with my husband and our three playful pups. The weather here is very similar to Thailand, and there are lots of fun things to do like sightseeing and sports (I’m into tennis at the moment). The downside is that I can’t find native Thai snacks anywhere and the grocery stores aren’t within walking distance.
Things you miss about Thailand: My parents and every kind of Thai food!
Favorite Thai food: Thai chicken with basil (Pad Kapao Kai), Thai curry noodles (Kanom Jeen Nam Prik - mom has a special recipe for this one. I have never tasted anything close to what she cooks!), and Jackfruit candy (Kanom Med Kanun - I only eat the kind my grandma made. Ever since she passed away, I don’t care to eat it anymore. I can’t find anyone who makes it just like her. Mom tried it a few times, but it’s still not the same.)
Pets: We have 3 dogs, which I love. But my favorite animal is actually cats.
Education: I completed a bachelor’s degree in Travel Industry Management at Mahidol University, Bangkok Thailand. Then I went on to a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Plans for the future: Probably the most realistic plan I have is to own and manage several businesses. And save enough money to retire with a good healthcare plan.
My other plan, which is nowhere near realistic (although I like to dream about it), is to sell everything we own and start traveling with no plan or destination, and no worries. That would be fun.
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