wwest5829

Emeritus Professor of History and International Programs (taught US undergraduate survey courses in American/European History and directed our city’s “Sister Cities” program). I rather enjoyed a colleague having teasingly introduced me as a bon vivant, raconteur and man about town … but I was much younger then …

I apologize, not to lessen seriousness. Can't help myself from thinking he was only observing naval operations. I'll let myself out ...

7 hours ago, Pique Dard said:

a sign to indicate this  a dangerous bend and that the speed should be lowered might have helped, but in thailand drivers wouldn't pay attention to that sort of "details", it seems

My observation over my decade here is the Thai roads are well marked. Approaching curves there are the yellow, arrow signs. The closer the signs, the sharper the curve. My Driver Ed Teacher taught us to enter the curve at reduced speed, feel the curve and then you can judge the speed that you can safely accelerate. But ... just my thought.

My thinking for over the past decade has been it is just easier for me to go through an agency to deal with immigration requirements here in Chiang Mai. The agency keeps up with official changes, local office nuances, changes in political appointees, and knows who best to deal with/who to avoid. So, yes, I am willing to pay for the convenience (no need to “get around” any requirements in my case).

I used Nava many years ago. If the opportunity presents itself again I would use again.

It certainly can be a minefield but ... reflect on the ability to meet someone that you would never otherwise have the opportunity to meet. Retiring in Thailand, I was a fat boy in a candy shop and enjoyed it much for the first 8 months (plus four separate monthlong visits previously). I found that I would be happier with a full-time mate. Four years in the first relationship and after that ended, I went back to the online sites. I met a girl online from Chachoengsao (with a hair salon in Bangkok and a 12 year old Daughter). 26 years my junior (but you need to take in account my retirement age). Married on our 5th anniversary together this past April and both consider ourselves very fortunate to have found each other. My best advice ... take your time and think with the head on your shoulders.

2 hours ago, vandeventer said:

Most of us don't have loads of money but we can live on our pensions quite nicely here. And the weather is so good compared to the weather back home. I would think it would much higher up than fifth on the list. And that's not even talking about the greatness on the Thai people.

Agreed. Outpriced in theUSA on my monthly retirement budget of $2400 USD ($1385 from SS), I can live comfortably in Thailand.

23 hours ago, Paulaew said:

But if you're living here, you still need money to live. I spend about 1 million baht a year and I'm hardly a big spender. Are you worried that the Thai banks may fail?

 

I guess you could use a debit or ATM card to withdraw money from your home bank account for your monthly living expenses. But if the Thai banks actually fail, that may no longer work ...

 

Paul Laew

I use the monthly 65K income from abroad method. My thinking is that my retirement funds are invested and managed, making income for me. Financially, better than parking 800K in a Thai bank.

On 1/27/2022 at 7:11 PM, The Hammer2021 said:

Smart men marry orphans

Upon retiring here, my thought was that the best scenario would be a gorgeous barren orphan!

On 1/27/2022 at 6:29 PM, Neeranam said:

Why would anyone want to marry a 50 year old?

In my view, getting married is only for the sake of the kids. 

 

 

Granted you are entitled to your opinion. Retiring at age 64 1/2, I was out of any desire to create babies. In less than a year of playing, I found tha I wanted to have a partner o travel with, make love to, even to go to Big C with. To each their own. Knock on wood … I am a very happy camper with a Thai wife and her Daughter.

On 1/27/2022 at 6:14 PM, petermik said:

At 50+ she is long past her sell on date...wonderful person she may be but not worth paying any money for.....turn the tables and ask "how much you give me if I take care of her" LOL

Ha! Yes … cultural differences are great. I enjoyed explaining to my first Thai, permanent, long term partner that there is a bit of difference between Thai SinnSot tradition and the western tradition. Afterall, cultural expectations should be treated equally. The shock she expressed as I explained that as a westerner I would expect a dowry paid by her family if they expected a Sin Sot from me. Priceless … as it turned out, I paid for the village reception food and drink and everything was fine. I had explained I hard several books on Thai tradition, history and society before retiring here. She was older, had two Daughters already and so … no Sin Sot by Thai tradition. Yes, she was given a monthly stipend but that was my decision.

1 hour ago, IAMHERE said:

My speculation is more dire; they want Thai muslims attending their mosque's.

A question raised in my mind focused on easier recruiting of Thai labor for Saudi Arabia from the Moslem South of Thailand? Their going and getting exposed to the Wahhabi Islam outlook and coming back to Southern Thailand ... hmm.

I have my SS deposited automatically into my Fidelity Acct. While I had used the transfer to the Bangkok Bank NYC Branch, I was no longer able to do that as Fidelity does not conform to the international form required so ... Now, I monthly transfer $2200 from my Fidelity Account to my  Bangkok Bank Acct. via "Wise". Works well by my "checking" the reason for transfer is for long term living expenses in Thailand. This assures the transfer is directly logged into Bangkok Bank as an FTT transfer meeting immigration income requirements. I have used the monthly income method 65,000 baht per month for over a decade on my O-A Visa Extension of Stays. Why not 800,000 baht in a Thai bank? Because my funds are actively generating dividend and growth income for my monthly expenses. Currently, sustainable retirement income without end.

1 hour ago, arick said:

I have never met a Canadian in Chiayaphum I have never seen more the a dozen foreigners. The Canadian Embassy tells me there are over a hundred cm Canadians living in the province? ????????????????

Pre-Covid the US Consulate here in Chiang Mai had stated they provided service for some 40,000 Americans in Northern Thailand but, that covered all ... retirees, employed, married to a Thai. So there was no breakdown in the total. I am curious, one would think the Thai government would have the numbers of foreigner long term Visa holders and incoming short term tourists.

3 hours ago, Tony125 said:

Everyone has different tastes/ likes.  I checked out Ching Maiin early visits but was  raised in Boston,MA USA near the sea so Chiang Mai was too far from the ocean. Being  a city boy was not going to live  on a farm in Nahkhon Nowhere.  Bangkok was nice but too much smog /P2.5 , traffic so I have small condo in Bangkok and a 3 bedroom home in Banglamung 12 mins outside Pattaya.  Can enjoy the sea/beaches, malls, and entertainment but drive home to peace and quite.

Agree as to different tastes/likes. Grew up in South Jersey in the Philly area but spent my working life in Western Kentucky on the Ohio River. Contemplating retirement I made 4 trips to Thailand, spending a month each visit while traveling around the country. It was the mountain North for me, with annual pilgrimages to the sea. Did not want any big city but Chiang Mai felt right. After a total of 11 years in Thailand, I am a happy camper (oh, I recognize issues but they present only moderate issues ... knock on wood).

Hmmm, as always, subject to the fine print. On the surface, a ten year, long term retired resident Visa @ 10,000 baht a year is doable for me (no 90 day reporting and including at least one annual exit-reentry). Include an option to join the national healthcare system at an additional reasonable annual premium and I would definitely see a benefit. Financial benefit for Thailand and for this long term retiree with Thai family. Hmmm, nice plastic wallet card (stating name, issue, expire date) to be presented with my Passport when entering national parks (thus no dual pricing), exit & re-entry to the country, annual address reporting (or during the year if changing address), presenting for national healthcare service. Yes, I know dream on ...

1 hour ago, bangon04 said:

"It is common knowledge that international vacationers leave HUGE unpaid bills at local Thai hospitals, as their insurance cover was inadequate."

 

 

 

I do not think it is “common knowledge”. I am aware that it is commonly claimed by the Thai government and I allow it may be true bu we have not seen the documentation as to which groups are primarily responsible for unpaid medical bills. I do not know the facts but it appears to me, in the pre-Covid tourism, a good deal of potential unpaid medical bills were from those not having insurance covering motorbike accidents. In whose interest is it to keep the facts hidden? This is an issue which has logical means to be addressed … yes, I know … logical, not of financial interests …

12 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

You have a teaching degree?

And have taught in schools in your home country?

Yes and taught 41 years in US. Middle school, high school, undergraduate required history survey courses.

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

There is nothing wrong with non native English teachers....It is the whole system that is <deleted>....copy always  passing, don't do anything til you are graduated from the University.. low grades means that you are a bad teacher, so every teacher gves high grades.. Students are not stupid they know... and nobody loose face...because impossible to fail and impossible to have a low grade....That damage the education more than if a non English native teaches... Better a bit English than after 6 years still not knowing the answer on how old are you

After having taught US middle school, high school and undergraduate students for 41 years, I just make the observation that Thailand is not alone in this regard. It was rare but I recall having a Pricipal (my boss, if you will) explain how it was best not to hold back a failing student with a class of younger students. Another Principal who, bending to parental pressure suggested I change a student's grade ... I replied he was the Principal and if he wished, he could change the grade that I had fairly determined. Later, incoming undergraduate student, fresh out of high school were asked to evaluate our teaching, which was figured into pay raises ... no pressure there to inflate grades?! I loved teaching students to better understand the world around them but ... teaching will, at times, break your heart.

48 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Disagree,

Technology is generally a distraction from education.

All you need to educate children is decent text books for the kids and a blackboard with chalk for the teachers.

Why limit the greater knowledge to be gained through the use of technology. Having taught during the technological revolution, while I could tach history by the means you state, I could make history much more interesting for students having today's access to broader resources via computers/internet. I have certainly been impressed with Thailand's wide availability of internet access.

25 minutes ago, brian2f2f said:

I've met so many Thai English teachers with a BA in English yet they can't even begin to talk with me in English. I've had many Thais that study English as their degree program that the teacher can't speak English and 80% or more of the entire course is strictly grammar so they have little to no vocabulary and have no idea at all how to communicate. Yes that's all through a barely understandable Google translate conversation. 

I do think that throughout Asia when faced with, "a loss of face" students are very hesitant to practice using their English language knowledge. I was impressed when studying in Shianghai decades ago with a taxi driver listening to the government supplied English lessons over the radio who wished very much to try out his English while I struggled with the Mandarin I was studying.