Foreign Husbands Bring Big Changes To Isaan

[george]

CROSS-CULTURAL MARRIAGES

Foreign husbands bring big changes to Isaan

KHON KAEN: -- Somtam is out and hamburgers are in as more Northeast women adopt husbands' customs, according to a survey of the cultural impact of increasing Thai-Westerner marriages

Many Thai women in the Northeast who have married foreigners are now keener on eating pizzas and hamburgers than somtam and prefer celebrating Western holidays like Christmas and Valentine's Day to traditional Thai holidays, a Khon Kaen University study has found.

Cross-cultural marriages have caused major social changes in the Northeast, including less family participation in community activities, the study - released yesterday - said.

A mix of various aspects of the two cultures was on the rise, the study found. It cited the example of many Thai wives now being keener on eating Western food and almost forgetting somtam - the region's popular papaya salad dish.

The head of the study, Asst Prof Supawatanakorn Wongtha-nawasu of the university's Faculty of Nursing, said her team interviewed 231 Thai wives in Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and Roi Et and found that foreign son-in-laws had caused the community-oriented Northeasterners to become the more individualistic and give less attention to social interaction.

Cross-cultural couples had less interaction with neighbours because foreign husbands faced language and cultural obstacles, while the wives tried to adjust by becoming "farang" rather than helping their husbands to be more 'Thai', Supawatanakorn said.

Thai culture in these families was thus overshadowed by Western culture, with the families' own consent, due to the pride of having foreign sons-in-law, she said.

The researchers also found most wives interviewed were either not interested or less enthusiastic about traditional Thai holidays - such as Buddhist Lent and Makha Bucha Day - compared with Western holidays like Christmas Day or Valentine's Day.

"In some Khon Kaen villages, with dozens of women marrying farangs, Christmas Day is no different from the movies with real traditional Christmas celebrations, while many Northeastern festivals were forgotten," the academic said.

On the other hand, many foreign husbands enjoyed celebrating the Songkran festival but did not understand the tradition and meaning behind it, she said.

The wives still ate somtam, which they grew up eating, but also ate pizza, hamburgers or fried chicken as a symbol of their adjustment to Western culture.

Many ended up eating both local and Western dishes, while their husbands found it harder to adjust to local food and stuck more to Western food.

Supawatanakorn said that since the wives found it more convenient to cook once for all family members including their husbands, Northeastern food - especially somtam with fermented fish - had gradually disappeared from their meals, she said.

The study found that most Northeastern Thai women married to foreigners were over 30, with an average age of 35, and had education below secondary level. More than 70 per cent had previously wed and divorced Thai husbands and most had one child from the first marriage.

Supawatanakorn said most wives saw their cross-cultural marriage as turning over a new leaf.

The average age of farang husbands was 50, and most came from Germany, Britain and Scandinavia. A fourth of those over 60 had brought their retirement funds to settle down with Thai wives who took care of them, Supawatanakorn said.

The foreign husbands had an average income of Bt60,000 a month, but most of their wives didn't know their husband's work or educational background. The wives were mainly interested in whether their husbands had enough money to support the family, she said.

The study also found that Isaan families whose members had married foreigners had changed their views on choosing spouses. From the traditional practice of parents choosing spouses for their children, the decision is now made by the individual and is based mainly on economic security. Some women agreed to marry foreigners they had never met before the wedding day as they felt that if the man had money, the villagers would eventually accept and respect them.

With the obvious increase in wealth of wives married to farang, due to their husbands' financial support, some 90 per cent of residents surveyed said they wanted their daughters to marry foreigners, Supawatanakorn said.

Some girls told the researchers they were prepared to fly overseas to marry a foreigner when they grew up.

Cross-cultural marriages were also supported by the older generation as these couples took care of their own children instead of placing the burden on the grandparents, or could afford nannies.

However, the cross-cultural marriage weakened the children's language skills as parents spoke to them in a mix of Thai and English, which confused the kids and made them less fluent in the Thai language, she said.

The children's English skills were limited to basic daily communication due to the parents' limited educational background or a less stimulating social environment.

In areas with many farang residents there was the phenomenon of shops putting up signs for their goods in Thai and English and of English being spoken between vendors and husbands, Supawatanakorn said.

-- The Nation 2006-11-17

[Neeranam]

Sad - I preferred it the way it was.

[Pink Mist]

Sad - I preferred it the way it was.

the price of progress you think?

It's not a sudden thing, probably predates Vietnam conflict.

[aqua4]

Thi is an old reharshed story.

[Pink Mist]

Thi is an old reharshed story.

It's a topic that was alive before, this one comes from an article published today in the nation

[charlesfrith]

I was wondering if anyone has done a study on the latent racism that say Bangkok and particularly Thai Chinese have had on Isan?

[qualtrough]

I have the opposite experience. My wife has zero interest in farang food, although she will eat it if she has too. Not from Isaan, but that shouldn't make a different.

[Mr_Pedantic]

So what Western 'delicacies' does your Issan wife enjoy?

Mine enjoys a roast dinner, mince and mash, fish and chips, Spaghetti bolognese, hot dogs with loads of fried onions and British breakfast (sausage, fried eggs, mushrooms, fried bread, baked beans etc).

What is annoying is she doesn't put any weight on at all.

[legendarysurfer]

Never saw a survey that wasn't skewed in some way. Note this one was done in some of the major cities in the Isaan. I'm sure the results would be different if it had been conducted in the countryside.

[britmaveric]

My experience for the most part what I have observed thai ladies will eat western food if they have to, but if given a choice thai/lao food all the way.

Edited November 16, 2006 by britmaveric

[jrincon17]

Never saw a survey that wasn't skewed in some way. Note this one was done in some of the major cities in the Isaan. I'm sure the results would be different if it had been conducted in the countryside.

Great now they are going to be fat like us americans !

[Foggy Bottom]

Many Thai women in the Northeast who have married foreigners are now keener on eating pizzas and hamburgers than somtam

> Most can't afford it unless a farang is paying

and prefer celebrating Western holidays like Christmas and Valentine's Day to traditional Thai holidays

> farang holidays are about being given gifts instead of paying penance to make merit

The head of the study, Asst Prof Supawatanakorn Wongtha-nawasu

> Now there's a real immigrant Chinese-Thai name if ever i saw one (more than 13 characters in the spelling means Chinese immigrant a reliable source once told me) .... leads to the validity of their entitlement to discuss westerners changing the cultural traditions in Thailand - Chinese have done their fair share of that too ..... think noodles - first made in China and brought here by the Chinese. Ditto for fireworks at Loy Kratong time - adopted from the Chinese New Year practise.

found that foreign son-in-laws had caused the community-oriented Northeasterners to become the more individualistic and give less attention to social interaction.

> More accurate would be that the spouses chose to more closely associate with their husband and the spouses believed their husband did not want to join in with community events due to language issues and feeling awkward when they didn't know what to do at events.

Cross-cultural couples had less interaction with neighbours because foreign husbands faced language and cultural obstacles, while the wives tried to adjust by becoming "farang" rather than helping their husbands to be more 'Thai', Supawatanakorn said.

> More accurate than the preceding statement?

Thai culture in these families was thus overshadowed by Western culture, with the families' own consent, due to the pride of having foreign sons-in-law, she said.

The researchers also found most wives interviewed were either not interested or less enthusiastic about traditional Thai holidays - such as Buddhist Lent and Makha Bucha Day - compared with Western holidays like Christmas Day or Valentine's Day.

"In some Khon Kaen villages, with dozens of women marrying farangs, Christmas Day is no different from the movies with real traditional Christmas celebrations, while many Northeastern festivals were forgotten," the academic said.

> It's the gifts I tell you !!!

On the other hand, many foreign husbands enjoyed celebrating the Songkran festival but did not understand the tradition and meaning behind it, she said.

> Might be true in Issaan, but not in Chiangmai - many farangs living here despise Songkran and even leave the country for a holiday to escape it ..... 10-12 days of it is way too long.

The wives still ate somtam, which they grew up eating, but also ate pizza, hamburgers or fried chicken as a symbol of their adjustment to Western culture.

> No, not as a symbol of adjustment, but to show off the status of being able to afford it, in the same way that low paid government servants put themselves in debt for life to own a Mercedes. Same paradigm, different price tag.

Many ended up eating both local and Western dishes, while their husbands found it harder to adjust to local food and stuck more to Western food.

> Yup - the longer you're here, the more you want an increase in western food in your diet - even if it's what you'd class as junk food back home.

Supawatanakorn said that since the wives found it more convenient to cook once for all family members including their husbands, Northeastern food - especially somtam with fermented fish - had gradually disappeared from their meals, she said.

> Not in my household - the wife BUYS her Somtam 4-5 times a week. She ONLY cooks Thai food and all western food is bought in rather than made.

The study found that most Northeastern Thai women married to foreigners were over 30, with an average age of 35, and had education below secondary level. More than 70 per cent had previously wed and divorced Thai husbands and most had one child from the first marriage.

> Can't help feeling the survey sample was biased in order to reinforce social stereotyping here - education below secondary level ..... meaning they never finished High School? Exactly whose fault was that? And why were the parents not punished for permitting the truancy? I've always found a very high percentage who marry farang have not only finishjed high school, but have also finished college or university, and many of the college students have also returned as adults and done vocational courses as well. Regardless of the qualifications, Thais married to westerners quickly acquire a much wider knowledge of global history, geography, and current affairs than their peers, and they get their eyes opened wide about the same topics related to Thailand itself. They quickly become "Pee" even to their own elders simply because of the wealth of knowledge transferred from being married to someone with a different perspective.

Supawatanakorn said most wives saw their cross-cultural marriage as turning over a new leaf.

> See my comments immediately above ..... trying to be positive here - I'll ignore the stereotyping about money digging.

The average age of farang husbands was 50, and most came from Germany, Britain and Scandinavia. A fourth of those over 60 had brought their retirement funds to settle down with Thai wives who took care of them, Supawatanakorn said.

> Again - very different results in Chiangmai where the average must be nearer to 38-40 for the husbands.

The foreign husbands had an average income of Bt60,000 a month, but most of their wives didn't know their husband's work or educational background. The wives were mainly interested in whether their husbands had enough money to support the family, she said.

> I'm trying to stay off the gold-digger cliches, but it's getting difficult.

The study also found that Isaan families whose members had married foreigners had changed their views on choosing spouses. From the traditional practice of parents choosing spouses for their children, the decision is now made by the individual and is based mainly on economic security. Some women agreed to marry foreigners they had never met before the wedding day as they felt that if the man had money, the villagers would eventually accept and respect them.

> Or, to put it another way - if the man had no money, the villagers would never ...... ?

With the obvious increase in wealth of wives married to farang, due to their husbands' financial support, some 90 per cent of residents surveyed said they wanted their daughters to marry foreigners, Supawatanakorn said.

> More fool the husbands for letting the wives be obvious about the wealth - fastest way I know to empty a wallet is to give the wive carte blanche on buying - in ANY country.

Some girls told the researchers they were prepared to fly overseas to marry a foreigner when they grew up.

> But some of them never do grow up, even after having kids and a string of different husbands.

Cross-cultural marriages were also supported by the older generation as these couples took care of their own children instead of placing the burden on the grandparents, or could afford nannies.

> I'm also trying to stay away from stereotyping about laziness. However, this is maybe the only genuine positive thing said about farangs as spouses for Thais in the whole articvle. Why should retired grandparents get lumbered with their grandkids day-in-day-out ? But then, that's farang thinking for you.

However, the cross-cultural marriage weakened the children's language skills as parents spoke to them in a mix of Thai and English, which confused the kids and made them less fluent in the Thai language, she said.

> Not accepting that. It's up to the parents as to which language they want to be dominant in a mixed race household. Besides, the academic's statement is absolving the educators from ensuring the children reach the minimum standard requiored by academic testing. She's blaming the mixed marriages for the failures of her colleagues in the classroom.

The children's English skills were limited to basic daily communication due to the parents' limited educational background or a less stimulating social environment.

> Absolute twaddle and blame shifting from the teachers in the classroom - my parents didn't teach me my language - my teachers in school did that, and my own intelligence and aptitude then allowed me to expand on that teaching and refine my skills for speaking, listening, reading and writing, building my vocabulary based on those skills, not on what my parents said to me.

In areas with many farang residents there was the phenomenon of shops putting up signs for their goods in Thai and English and of English being spoken between vendors and husbands, Supawatanakorn said.

> And so they should if they want non-mixed race kids to learn enough English to allow Thailand to compete in the global marketplace - everywhere in Thailand should be doing it, just as they do in Malaysia, Singapore and China.

Ever seen an interesting TAT promotional banner, but the whole thing is in Thai? Really makes you feel wanted, doesn't it?

Is it just me, or does the write up of this study not sound just a tad more xenophobic and condemning of foreigners than similar ones over recent years?

Gaz

[basjke]

So what Western 'delicacies' does your Issan wife enjoy?

Mine enjoys a roast dinner, mince and mash, fish and chips, Spaghetti bolognese, hot dogs with loads of fried onions and British breakfast (sausage, fried eggs, mushrooms, fried bread, baked beans etc).

What is annoying is she doesn't put any weight on at all.

She must be very brave as most of the things you mentioned even a foreigner,if not british,would not eat.

[GreatMaleOne]

nice bedtime story All !

Go well to your Sleep.

Nite.

[edh]

Sorry to be so not ''understanding"....

We eat what we are, so do not blame any one changing their culture to the west. Goverment is doing that on TV every day. I personally love my wife going to "another side" eating - that is when we are alone out without our toddler at 18 months...

Can eat burger, can eat you name it - as long as it tastes good RIGHT?

[egeefay]

One good thing is that the kids of these mixed Isaan marriages are having to learn English in order to communicate with their western fathers. This means that there will be more Thai children who will grow up have a good foundation of English as a second language.

Thailand really needs more fluent English speakers if they hope to compete with Malaysia or India for business from the west.

Like it or not, English is the language for business.

[alex3fold]

And why is it all the Thai women I know or have met aren’t thick, un-educated, money grabbing, materialistic she devils etc. maybe I am hanging out in the wrong places?

You moan about xenophobia - just talk a look at the sweeping generalizations you are making. Do you also moan about all the scummy farrangs too? I bet you do lol

[Hadrian1]

However, the cross-cultural marriage weakened the children's language skills as parents spoke to them in a mix of Thai and English, which confused the kids and made them less fluent in the Thai language, she said.

The findings are generally a little sad. But, the above quote is highly questionable. It's a fact that young children don't have a problem with learning not two but even more languages similtaneously. Those of you who live in a bilingual society will be able to understand.

[Blackandwhite]

Refrance the burger thing, what a crock of rubbish. I cant think that any respectfull Isaan lady will rather get fat and eat rubbish than eat Papaya Salad, maybe burger and salad !! They crave spicy food.

[Fraktalkid]

I wonder if these conclusions would be the same if a similar study was conducted in say Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai. Certainly I see a lot more westerners here making an effort at speaking Thai and eating the local food than elsewhere in Thailand, obvious exceptions permitting :-)

[Dakhar]

"""However, the cross-cultural marriage weakened the children's language skills as parents spoke to them in a mix of Thai and English, which confused the kids and made them less fluent in the Thai language, she said.

> Not accepting that. It's up to the parents as to which language they want to be dominant in a mixed race household. Besides, the academic's statement is absolving the educators from ensuring the children reach the minimum standard requiored by academic testing. She's blaming the mixed marriages for the failures of her colleagues in the classroom.

The children's English skills were limited to basic daily communication due to the parents' limited educational background or a less stimulating social environment.

> Absolute twaddle and blame shifting from the teachers in the classroom - my parents didn't teach me my language - my teachers in school did that, and my own intelligence and aptitude then allowed me to expand on that teaching and refine my skills for speaking, listening, reading and writing, building my vocabulary based on those skills, not on what my parents said to me."""

Holly cow....

OK folks, this section really shows how dense this research is. (BTY is it really research?) Where are the numbers, how many interviews, what age groups.... and on and on?

Real research has shown time and time again children in bi-lingual families actually are at an advantage. My EDUCATED wife knows this. Even though, I really need to learn more Thai, she speaks to me in English, because she wants our boy to grow up in a bi-lingual environment. She does not want her child to grow up under some rock like this idiot researcher.

Uhhh I am going to print this, and give it to my wife to read. Yea, believe it or not, she even reads! What can I say, she is a rebel!!!!!!!!!!

[sadako]

Absolute cak .................

cross cultural ?

wake up ................

u lot are possesed

weaken what ?

weaken urselves and stay weak

My half thai = farang will be strong

wonkers

all gonks

[pgs]

Aussies must have a different effect on country people. I don't push my Mrs to eat Western food. In Thailand I do most of the cooking at home - inc the Thai foods. The local kids seek me out for help with English homework and I am regularly invited to the school for various funtions & meals (we have no kids). The family don't ask for money - they aren't rich, but are OK.

In the few years we've been together, Nok has had her education broadened greatly & has been to far more places in & out of Thailand than before. The only one that has expected to get things each visit was the 5 YO nephew - this concept has been changed.

Quite likely this isn't much different for any other farang, but I'm quite happy with how things are in our area. I don't push ANY western 'holiday' - they are all too commercialised.

[pistonpilot]

What a load of crap. I don't buy that the bilingual kids were deficient in either language. It doesn't work that way anywhere else in the world, why should it be that way here.

It probably has more to do with the 2nd grade levels of the mothers more than the fact that the father is speaking English.

The article is slanted and you may pardon that pun.

PP

[lowerlakeside]

Hey legendary surfer......i am building a house right now in Village #1 Sokepradook,Nong Bua Raharw Chaiyaphum...will that make us neighbours in 2010?/

[dai ru55]

What a load of thomas crapper!! research??

[Cool Water Palace]

However, the cross-cultural marriage weakened the children's language skills as parents spoke to them in a mix of Thai and English, which confused the kids and made them less fluent in the Thai language, she said.

> Not accepting that. It's up to the parents as to which language they want to be dominant in a mixed race household. Besides, the academic's statement is absolving the educators from ensuring the children reach the minimum standard requiored by academic testing. She's blaming the mixed marriages for the failures of her colleagues in the classroom.

The children's English skills were limited to basic daily communication due to the parents' limited educational background or a less stimulating social environment.

> Absolute twaddle and blame shifting from the teachers in the classroom - my parents didn't teach me my language - my teachers in school did that, and my own intelligence and aptitude then allowed me to expand on that teaching and refine my skills for speaking, listening, reading and writing, building my vocabulary based on those skills, not on what my parents said to me.

I recall a suggestion that in families with parents with different first languages, if they both speak their own language all the time to the child from birth (even before?), the child will learn both can become fluently bilingual. This was referring to inter-European matches, eg French-English, and may be different where the languages are so different as European and asian languages.

I once met an extreme example: a woman with one Spanish, one Greek parent, brought up in Egypt, where she'd attended a French school. At the time I met her she lived in Basle. She spoke 6 languages well, including English.

Any with experience of dual (or more?) learning of languages as a young child?

But: "my parents didn't teach me my language - my teachers in school did that"

Now that was true for me, at least to talk as for reason(s) never fully established, I could not talk until I attended school at 5 (no nursery). Normally children learn language from birth - no teachers around then. I understand Einstein was late learning to talk.

Is not the lack of 'socialisation', including adequate talking by parents to young children suggested as a factor in causing later problems, especially for boys?

[m02]

>>On the other hand, many foreign husbands

>>enjoyed celebrating the Songkran festival

>>but did not understand the tradition and

>>meaning behind it, she said.

> Might be true in Issaan, but not in Chiangmai -

>many farangs living here despise Songkran and

>even leave the country for a holiday to escape it

(Gaz Chiangmai)

The problem with Songkran is that the Thais have forgotten the tradition and meaning behind it. It used to be a very nice time, where everyone would visit relatives and friends. For the adults the water aspect involved a very modest libation of water gently poured onto your shoulder, with the accompaniment of much smiling and good cheer.

The kids, just like I did growing up, got to chase each other and have water fights. They never threw water on the elderly and would only douse an adult they knew or who indicated it was okay. Most farangs, especially tourists, were fair game but even then if you indicated you didn't want to participate they'd leave you alone - generally . My wife could ride her scooter to work and never get a drop on her.

Now its been taken over by drunks and, how did Toxin describe them: hooligans. Its not the holiday I detest now, its the drunken rabble.

Regarding the preference of what to eat, Thai or Western. I gave up on Western food when I first came because then it was too hard to get and generally not what you expected. I'm glad I did because I love Thai food - well, not all of it, especially not anything with those ###### chilies in it... . My wife would die if she couldn't have her Thai food. When we first were in the States it was before the big influx of Thai restaurants and Asian food markets. We'd drive hundreds of miles every month and spend about that much to load up on supplies.

>>However, the cross-cultural marriage weakened the

>>children's language skills as parents spoke to them in a

>>mix of Thai and English, which confused the kids and

>>made them less fluent in the Thai language, she said.

>The findings are generally a little sad. But, the above quote

>is highly questionable. It's a fact that young children don't

>have a problem with learning not two but even more

>languages similtaneously. Those of you who live in a

>bilingual society will be able to understand.

(Hadrian1)

Hadrian1 is absolutely correct. The study's statement is a load of crock.

[Cool Water Palace]

Sorry. I didn't do the partial quotes very well in that post. I've always had problems with that. Must try better.

[coldcrush]

There is "NO WAY" my Wife would swap Somtam for hamburgers! 100% We are in England now and the pestal and mortar is well used...no puns please, but it is true. As for Thai holidays neither my Wife nor I would swap them for Xmas we are looking forward to being back in Thailand in the village or city to enjoy Thai life on the whole. Somtam Saap!