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If invited to a social event by Thais, It would not make any difference whether there were farang guests there or not.
 
From experience, especially here in Chiang Mai, the chances are if there were farangs present you have not met before and don`t know them, these farangs will not be sociable, inhospitable and will blank you anyway and if approached maybe vague, or curt, brush you off or ignore you completely, especially if they are with their own cliques or a part of some of the Thai groups.attending..
 
In such situations I have found that many farangs who we may meet out at social events will be unapproachable and will often make that absolutely clear even just by the expressions on their faces and deliberate behaviours of totally ignoring the other farang, giving them a wide berth, hardly making eye contact.

Beetlejuice, you really know a very different group of foreigners than I do in Chiang Mai! But, the ones I know don't deliberately isolate themselves in a Thai village, thinking they're somehow better than other foreigners who have chosen to live here.

I must say, the type of event described could be equally painful even if everyone speaks the same language. I'm thinking about how my own dear husband grinned-and-beared-it thru holiday celebrations of my extended family in the U.S. Way too long, too much discussion of events long ago and people he didn't know, topics of no interest to him, to much consumption of heavy food and too much alcohol, interfered with his afternoon nap time, etc, etc. Of course, I loved it, but I knew he went to these events just to keep me happy, the sweetheart that he is. (Once wifi came on the scene, he appointed himself the official umpire for disputes of fact that came up in conversations. This just served to deflate much of the endless speculation my family loved to do about questions of fact, when he'd pipe up with the real fact to settle a family dispute -- the rat!)

 

I have to agree with Nancy - I live in Hang Dong and have found multiple friendly people, some of which have turned into - or in the process of turning into friends....a ready smile helps.....I have seen some that don't acknowledge people as they walk down the street but you see that everywhere - especially in the latest version of USA.....here we get to experience from different backrounds that we would not in our home country.....I have a bad habit of taking for granted everyone farangwise speaks english which is a bad assumption on my part.....I do notice if I say hi or smile and nod it's returned maybe 60/40......

As for being the only farang? It happens semi-often...some Thai's like to show they can speak a little english and will approach and have a limited chat - some have an angle - others seem curious on the friendly side....after all we're all pretty much the same individually around the globe....I find a sense of humor works as a great barrier reliever and am aware that I am on display and more than a few folks know nothing about us so try and be the best ambassador possible.....once they figure out we're all pretty much the same the vibe is good.....good manners are noticed so I try and exibit them at all times deferring to the elders, lending a hand when possible, accepting something that might be handed to me instead of asking an explantion from my wife first....generally being as real and diplomatic as possible....the Thai people are very keen and observant and pick up verbal and non verbal communications - they know when something they see is the real deal......

Neither my wife or I are the type to go out and "work" a room, or be loud and boisterous or force or try and make instant impressions/friends - those are the type we avoid until we either are introduced or somehow connect with......neither of us are scene stealers or attention mongers......more on the reserved side here and my wife is naturally shy but we do not have the problems the first poster seems to with CM.....

That being said we are not bar frequenters either.....no sense going to the places where the odds are problems could fall out of the sky.....

Correction on Tiger Air there are direct fights from BKK to Cebu - I just ran a test and the round trip is about 15,000TB - you can move days and the costs will go up or down depending on the days.......

There goes the neighborhood.....

Before she became Mrs. she lived in the typical Thai style. Room - no AC small porch that went to the bathroom 2000B month - the place had CCTV and was fairly safe.....a few times I looked around and thought - you know - add AC - put a stove outside by the sink and put the fridge there and it would be livable  - but the small size would have worn thin quickly....at that time she worked in management for a Japanese electronics firm (huge company) doing the typical 6-7 days a week at untold hours - no social life just eat at the food place next door and work.....I guess under those circumstances it would be OK but not if you didn't have to work - the small area would simply catch up to you.

I, on the other hand had what I considered to be an adequate place at about 80SM with all the comforts in a gated community but to me it was smaller than what I was used to in my life plus it was a transitional neighborhood, nice, but nicer areas were around. When the lease was up I looked around and found for the same cost (within 1,000B) a 210SM house in a gated community with 4 bedrooms + a bonus room (we're converting to Gym + karaoke room), Thai and western kitchen with room to spare for the two of us.......

Before overthinking this - her folks house is about 25% bigger than our house (but less "polished") so she was not from a tiny home or inpoverished to begin with.....they provided university educations for their two children + very good "life" rules and advice. One piece of advice I am thankful for was she was told not to spend big money on big things - save money for food....she keeps the spending toned down.....good life ground rules were instilled.....

Had I decided to remain single I still would have made the same move and lived in this house and felt completely at home and comfortable.....before when rhaving a family I'd had a couple of houses that were 2+ times larger (4500-5500 square feet on property) than the one we are in now so, to me this is a comfortable size - not too big and not too small..........

Glad to say - no.....

From time to time she will follow a soap - the last was Forget Me Not.....other than that, it does not seem to interest her.....

Try checking Tiger Airways......I believe they do as well as Boracay.....just in case you want to go there thinking to taxi it from Cebu....long drive.....if you do that either do not stop anywhere - or - make sure everything goes in the trunk intially and the taxi is parked close where you can watch and they can see you minding/watching - there's a lot of smash and grab that goes on there.....

Take some pics of some of the local bamboo houses some are positively a work of art.......

@ Asia 2000 as an ex sailor for 17 years and working with a lot of filipinos according to them it has nothing to do with respect of the elderly but about money concerning pinoys getting married to elderly foreigners thats why so many of them are getting offed there every year by some pinoy ladies families .I have nothing against age gaps but i dont like people spouting nonsense.

 
I talking from personal experience, in a relationship with a Filipina, with education and a full time job.
 
My friends and myself found a decent good lady who is working full time in a normal job. She support siblings and parents. Every times I said I can help, she politely decline, says she manage herself. Last evening she insisted to pay our 12$ dinner, which I of course denied.
She don't want any support from me monthly, and never ask for 1 peso.
 
Many Pinays have education, honor and decency enough, to not depend on a man. Same goes for Thais.
 
Fact.
 
and our age gap is 31 years.

There is a reason - or many good reasons people like it better here than their home country........to me it's a lot better and friendlier place than what the home country offers.....complain as you will - if you wish to enjoy life this is a nice place to pursue your retirement.....whatever pace you decide you wish.....

My prior gal was 59 - had a smokin' hot body (think 25-30) as she worked out a few hours every day and had a nice face.....that said - she was a bitcher and a fault finder and clinger and it lasted about 4 months - if she had the personality of my wife (much younger then me) I would have been happy that way also.

It just happens the my wife and I match well and she happens to be younger........

I'll take happiness over unhappiness and comdemnation any day - regardless the source.....

What would have preferred them to sing....I rather like it.....

The eyes have it and have moved for closure.........goodnight

Say....hello - do you read Thai Visa Forum?------ there's a thread there that makes me think of you.......

Pick up some som tam or sweets and ask if he would like to share.....

Mention - I see you every day - where do you work? - - - I work ______________

Stumble into him and drop something so there is contact and eye contact.......

Wasn't it last year or year before that two guys were given an exit from LOS for building their own boats....they were judged to be taking jobs away from Thai's...

Might want to check out the negative possiblities - the wrong words mentioned to the wrong person could cause you a world of hurt.....

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Not wanting to cause offence but why did you feel the need to tell us your girl had graduated and is from a middle class family?
 
Good luck to you both but having lived with a farang girl years and years ago who was a company director I certainly didn't tell my friends and didn't really communicate with her. She was obsessed with her social standing. 
 
I don't know you nor do I wish to criticise you but why add those two little details. Was it to elevate yourself above the guys here who have met bargirls or even ladyboys as their life partner.

It's only in Thailand that people feel it's necessary to say their girlfriend/wife is "educated" or is a "professional"!
 
 

 
Lots of jealous young guys who can't get these types of dimes!

 
Does Stickman know you've used his photograph - unless of course you are Stickman!

 

A prototype of what is wrong with many of the Farangs in LOS.....spooky lookin' dude........

The Mother's milk thread is much more titilating and nourishing....wish there were pics.....

As for stank eyes it may be because they think your wife is a prostitute/potential immigrant/visa marriage and any jealousy may be the thought about 'where is my retirement plan?"

Good thought for a rejoinder - but - at that time I was walking with a 59 year old woman and her sisters - she might have looked 10 years younger but she was 59......this was in west coast USA but not atypical of many experiences....you may be right in one respect - US women feel it's an all you can grab buffet (entitled) and they do not like to share with Asian women who are 60+ lbs less their size and treat their man well - it upsets their scheming and programming..... 

I am from the US and have a low opinion of the women there (well earned in spite of their pedigree - the ones on the prowl have proven themselves unworthy over a long period of time) one of the biggest insults hurled at my ex-Thai GF from other Thai ladies was "you're not Thai - you're American" - they were right and she earned it. I have no idea who's on her fleece and release program now - but she did introduce me to Thailand for which I will ever be greatful.

I heard one American say "as long as he's not dragging a leg he's OK" --------- don't be SO FAST to condemn the Thai women...they are easy targets on this forum but for the most part much better than their sisters elsewhere - at least they are not sophisticaded as to hide what they and their intentions really are....

God bless the good ones one and all......

I am looking for a system that has a balanced amount of Thai and English songs.....I have two systems - one from the PI that has 20,000 songs but 50/50 English/Tagolog - doesn't work well here (no Thai) - the second is a Magic Sing which has a Thai chip but everyone says the Thai songs are ancient & there are no new chip updates - this system has about 5,000 songs available.

Does anyone have any knowledge of a system that has a good balance of Thai/English songs that contains songs that are not hip-hop/rap (trash - not music - lucky to be trashy 3rd grade rhymes).....

We went to a place that had M Box in Ayuttaya which was pretty cool because you could sing along with the original artists and videos matching the key (Armstrong/Credence/Croce/Animals, etc) but the selection was limited on the English side of things....

Anyone have information on a killer system they are willing to give info about?.

I believe it still is - someone that has the drive and ambition to succeed can still do it - it's a rags to riches country as opposed to an over regulated country that has to support the ungainly weight of "government" cost/license/intervention just to get a business started.....

There is a reason Thai's and other ethinic groups go on to do better than well in other countries - 1- Where they got their start and the freedom to do so....2- the children are not taught in school to get a job and work for someone else that is already successful....I see many learning free enterprise from an early age....glamorous = no ......... a good education in life and the pursuit of success = yes.......

Forget the cig costs...the other I like.....

I don't think I would like to be one of the people that have built on government land (in Mae Rim around here) all the while planning some day to receive a owner's book or land title.....like a homesteader.....

Looks like those days are gone.....

Define wasteful - the categories are almost unlimited......