abrahamzvi

In a nutshell.. Probably, no.

Chiang Mai has no "first-tier" international schools. And even the non-religious second-teir schools that pay barely above subsistence need to hire certified teachers in order to keep their accreditation.

Same in Bangkok. Schools that are accredited only hire certified teachers.

As a certified teacher and administrator who has interviewed and hired teachers in Thailand, my advice is to stick with language schools.

Even some bilingual third-tier schools aspiring to be second-tier international schools want certified teachers even though they are inflexible with hours and can pay less than language schools that hire backpackers off the street.

I won't argue with you on the question of teachers certification. You are correct. What I most certaily can't agree to is your statement to the effect that there are no "first-tier" international schools in Chiang mai. I know of at least 3, one of which is so "first-tier" that quite a few parents living in Bangkok send their children there.

I saw some in Chiang Mai, but it's VERY rare. Youngish backpacker type chick and a younger (20's) hip type Thai with spikey hair.

I have also seen some strange single foreigner females sitting around that give off a lesbian vibe, usually younger (20's) types. And a good deal more Japanese female couples that look like lesbians.

Got to laugh at this comment: Lesbians ? Does any young female who doesn't look at you and smile look like a lesbian by any chance ?

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With the numbers of Western ladies in Thailand it would be only natural that many of them enter into a relationship with a Thai gent - Odds are that they are far more likely to meet a Thai chappy than a Westerner simply because there are so many more Thai chaps about.

Much in the same way it's only natural that many Western men meet Thai ladies... Lets face had the majority of males with Thai Wives / Partners been living in Spain (for example) they would have met and settled with Spanish ladies...

Thus: It makes plenty of sense that a Western Lady will meet a Thai Gent and settle down into what I imagine are very normal relationships, much in the same way many Western Men are in very normal relationships with Thai ladies (we only hear of the train wrecks on these forums, normality is very boring to write about !).

I see a fault in your logic!

Western ladies generally also marry to improve their status/lifestyle, very few will settle for a poorer male.

Same with Spanish ladies, most western guys don't have the cash (relatively speaking) to attract in Spain.

What a "macho" attitude. I don't know if you have realised that we are living in the 21st century, where in most countries and cultures there is such a thing as equality of genders. A well educated lady now a days can look after herself and does not depend on her partner's money. And so it should be!!!

One that I hear quite a lot is "Something like that". Phrases like that always makes me wonder how they entered into the vocabulary so widely.

I do not know if English is your mother tongue, but most certainly your grammer is not quite right. The second sentence should read either "A phrase like this always makes me...", or "phrases like this always make me..." Do you know the saying "if one sits in a glass house, one should not throw stones"????.....

Nothing stopping these girls going to the pigs where unlike Thailand something can be done nobody likes a wife beater Or going back to Thailand unless of course they are sticking it out for the passport and all the lovely benefits.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Your answer/comment is a disgrace showing your utter contempt to Thais. Can you please indicate to us what the "lovely benefits" are? You, as well as all of us, know what it means to Thais (not only to Thais, to a lot of us, as well) to lose face and that would be the case with most girls coming back. So please, be careful with your statements and if that is the way you feel about Thais, may I suggest that you go back to your home. It must be awful to live among people you despise to that extent!

Is interest on Capital earned outside Thailand and brought into Thailand, considered earned income and therefore liable for tax?

Last week in Germany, on a train bound for Switzerland, the German authorities arrested a German and took him into custody.

He was charged with carrying - wait for it - "a large amount of cash in the sum of 9,380 euros."

Following his arrest for this crime, the German police raided the apartment of his Father - and found a trove of art treasures stolen during his Father's time as an art expert for the Nazis.

The point to remember is that the crime was carrying cash.

Lastly, go to your Bank and ask them for a special rate for this amount of euros.

If you cannot do that then take the money as a documentary credit - a sight draft for example.

Much safer and a higher/better rate of exchange than cash.

What you are saying is absolutely false and incorrect. To start with it is allowed under German Law to export as much money as one wishes. The customs may ask you to tell them why you are carrying that much cash (particularly if you are going to Switzerland or Luxemburg and this for obvious reasons), and if you are unable to explain where the money comes from and why you are taking it out, the custom authorities are allowed to investigate.

In this particular case, in October last year (2012) the person concerned was investigated for carrying with him a vast amount of money (some EURO 800K), which he could not explain where he got it from (it was later established that the money came from a sale of a painting for EURO 850K). In the course of the investigations the custom authorities obtained from the courts a search warrant for the persons flat (not his father's - he had been dead for a long time) and discovered more than thousand paintings of famous painters with a value of about a Billion Euro (EURO 1,000 Million), such paintings having been declared as lost or destroyed during WWII. This is now a news item worldwide.

I am not suggesting to the OP to bring cash in, this could lead to complications if it is a sizable amount. However, I think when reporting, people should stick to facts and not to incorrect stories!

When leaving the Federal Republic of Germany for another EU Member State (for example Luxembourg) or when entering Germany from another EU country, you must verbally declare cash and precious metals or stones with a value of 10,000 Euro or more when prompted to do so. Securities (for example, shares, debentures, cheques, money orders, bills of exchange and due interest warrants), have to be declared as well.

In Luxembourg, they did even ask me were the money came from when I had more than 10K in cash to put on my account.

The imperative word here are : WHEN PROMPTED TO DO SO. Even in Germany, not only in Luxemburg, one is asked by one's bank to disclose the source of cash deposited in ones account, if the amount exceeds EURO 10K. This is part of the fight against "black money" and the rule applies in all EU countries, or at least should do!

Last week in Germany, on a train bound for Switzerland, the German authorities arrested a German and took him into custody.

He was charged with carrying - wait for it - "a large amount of cash in the sum of 9,380 euros."

Following his arrest for this crime, the German police raided the apartment of his Father - and found a trove of art treasures stolen during his Father's time as an art expert for the Nazis.

The point to remember is that the crime was carrying cash.

Lastly, go to your Bank and ask them for a special rate for this amount of euros.

If you cannot do that then take the money as a documentary credit - a sight draft for example.

Much safer and a higher/better rate of exchange than cash.

What you are saying is absolutely false and incorrect. To start with it is allowed under German Law to export as much money as one wishes. The customs may ask you to tell them why you are carrying that much cash (particularly if you are going to Switzerland or Luxemburg and this for obvious reasons), and if you are unable to explain where the money comes from and why you are taking it out, the custom authorities are allowed to investigate.

In this particular case, in October last year (2012) the person concerned was investigated for carrying with him a vast amount of money (some EURO 800K), which he could not explain where he got it from (it was later established that the money came from a sale of a painting for EURO 850K). In the course of the investigations the custom authorities obtained from the courts a search warrant for the persons flat (not his father's - he had been dead for a long time) and discovered more than thousand paintings of famous painters with a value of about a Billion Euro (EURO 1,000 Million), such paintings having been declared as lost or destroyed during WWII. This is now a news item worldwide.

I am not suggesting to the OP to bring cash in, this could lead to complications if it is a sizable amount. However, I think when reporting, people should stick to facts and not to incorrect stories!

We don't know the back story. For me it would be harder to bring my child back to the US and try starting up there than it would be to find something else in Thailand. He might actually have more roots in Thailand.

Don't be so quick to judge. Just be supportive and understanding and let him figure things out.

YOur job as a friend isn't to make decisions or even come up with a plan for your firends, it is only to be there during the process. YOur choices worked for you but don't think that they would work for everyone.

A real friend may, quite frankly should, give good advice. If it is accepted or not is another matter.

I don't know what line of business you are in, it may be easier for you to get a job here than in the US, but I can only say that if I were in a position of not being able to get a job here and running out of money, I would most certainly go home and then see what I can do to get back here, if at all possible. The gentleman concerned will have no choice if nothing materializes in the next few weeks and as a father he has to think of his child!

I'd rather be in Latin America but for a variety of personal reasons it is better for me to be here now... can't say I love it anymore though, especially after learning Thai language.

I am rather surprised at the last sentence. I love it here, the only disturbing fact is that I can't learn the language,. It is simply too foreign and difficult for me, although I do speak a number of languages apart from my mother tongue. It's a pity, but I still wish to remain here!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am not affected by any of the above limits (i would meet much stiffer requirements), nor would my wife and I wish to go (for me back) to the UK. However, I have to ask a very simple question: as far as I know it has always been upheld by courts of law that the family is the basis of any functioning society. If this is so, what right does any government (the British one is not the only one in the EU adopting this inhuman attitude) have to disallow a poor man, or woman, to establish a family in his/her own homeland?

Transport is another area of potential savings:

Living in BKK, I can get around as a retiree for everything I need through a combination of walking, BTS and MRT passes and occasional taxi trips... Total monthly cost, probably $30 a most.

In the U.S. where I lived, you really couldn't get by on public transit alone. A car was a necessity. So figure $300 a month for a modest car payment during the life of the loan, then maybe $100-$150 per month for car insurance plus $50-$100 a month for gasoline (depending on a work vs. retiree schedule). Not including maintence and repairs, that's getting toward $200 to $500 a month, depending.

Of course, in Thailand, these days, I pretty much won't take any van, tour bus or train due to safety concerns/fear of losing my life. And if I was living upcountry, I wouldn't have the same easy mass transit options as exist in BKK. But I'm pretty sure even the costs of owning/maintaining a car or motorcycle here would be less by comparison.

A couple years ago, when I was back for a visit, my car had to be in the repair shop for a day...and I needed to take a cross town trip, most likely by taxi... Here, the trip would have cost perhaps 100 baht or $3+... When I told the U.S, taxi company where I needed to go for the perhaps 20-30 minute drive, their quoted price was about $35 one-way.

Again, one compares apples with oranges. To start with depending on where one lives in the US. If one lives in NYC, it is not necessary to have a car. Is it? However, having a car in the US is not always that expensive. The cost of a car is by far lower than here. Running it, is more expensive. You are right as far as costs of taxis, which are extremely cheap in Thailand. A taxi ride from mid town Bangkok to Suvanphumi airport would cost a maximum of Baht 500 (app.$16). you would be lucky to get a ride to the airport (JFK, Newark) from Manhattan for less than $50-60, just as an example.

Yes...many places are cheaper than America. Also many places are inconvenient, as well. We all live here with our pants down...(no joke)..meaning more precisely that most of us have no emergency plan/government bailout, assistance, rights or privileges. So If it was not cheaper, we would be dam_n foolish to stay. Thats is why, exactly, people pay more in America...however unhappy they are with the present government.

Just one remark. Most Americans seem to be happy with their government, otherwise President Obama would not have been reelected last November!

...Have a 5 bedroom townhouse in Bangkok that cost me $92,000. (no property taxes as there are in America.) and my monthly bills are

Electric (air on 8 hours a day everyday)............3000 baht

Water.................................................................400 baht

Internet...............................................................400 baht

TV....................................................................free

Transportation (taxis for one month).................3000baht

Food (for 2).......................................................9000 baht

Miscelaneous ...................................................6000 baht

Quite frankly, I think I ought to take a course on cost of living from you. However before doing so may I ask few questions regarding the above costs which I have copied fro your mail:

1) Where in Bangkok can one get a 5 bedroom Townhouse for less than Baht 3 Million ($92,000). Even in places like Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Chiang Rai, leaving aside the more expensive places like Hua Hin, Phuket and Chiang Mai, one would pay double that price , provided the property is not in a slum, which I am sure it is not in your case.

2)with 5 bedrooms and I assume a living room , kitchen etc., aircoditioned for 8 hours a day - how do you manage to cut your electricity bill to baht 3,000?

3)Even using the BTS and /or MRT by two, let alone Taxis in the Bangkok traffic, would cost more than baht 100 a day, bringing the total to much more than Baht 3,000 a months. Of course, one can do it even for less if one wishes to stay home or walk most days.

4) Food - Baht 300 per day. If one likes eating cheap food , either in small cheap and not too clean restaurants, or buy ready food from stalls in the market or streets, then I can imagine living on Baht 300 a day. If one is satisfied with such nourishment, I don't think one would spend more than $10 - 15 in the US, or Europe.

4) What do you include in "Miscellaneous"? Theater, Cinema, Toiletries, simple medicines, clothing? I can hardly imagine that one could cover any of these items for Baht 6,000.

Having asked the above questions, even before getting the answers, I think that here one compares apples to oranges. On the other hand, I still think that if one leads a normal life here in Thailand, it is cheaper than in most western countries. I would estimate that a couple can lead a comfortable life here for app. Baht 100,000 p.M. a standard that would cost at least 50% to 100% more in western countries.

All this applies only to expatriates or Thais occupying top jobs (or very rich people). The average middle class Thai earns far less than in most western countries. Comparing cost of living and salaries in Thailand to western countries, results in the conclusion that Thailand is by far more expensive for the middle class Thais.

Can I reply?

I am Heavy drinker's wife. I am Thai but the thing is not to 'expect' anything. Just have love.

We married in London 22 years ago and our wedding vows were simple. It was to love and respect each other.

22 years on, we still have that love and respect. It is that easy.

Thank you for reading this.

Patsaporn

Has your uncle has left yet ?...

I don't understand either your English, nor your remark, which I assume (but am not sure) is nasty!

Well I admit to wanting to lobby my congress woman to introduce a bill hat would make all Thais in my county;

1) not be able to hold land

2) not be able to hold a majority share in their own business.

3) to be subject to having to leave the country ever 90 days, no matter how long the validity of a visa.

4) to accept outrageous racism and not object to being called "chink" or "slope" ( to their face, too!! )

5) to consistently get the low end of the internet spectrum.

6) to run around doing endless paper chases to get anything done, at all.

7) to have no rights of demonstration whatsoever.

8) to pay off officials to procure documents that should be free

Feel free to add

feel free to add

I think you have a good chance if your congress woman is of THAI ORIGIN !!

If you come from Chicago, you'll have one. A most courageous and wonderful Lady!!!!!

Why take coal to Newcastle.... get a Thai chick.. all the same with the lights out...

You are 100% wrong there and the lights are not always out and than you will notice the difference, believe me, I have been to lots of places in the world.

Bakseeda: What an awful and disgusting attitude. Is that the way you think about women in general, or does your abhorring attitude refer to Asian women only???

No ,it hasn't changed my attitude at all .

I am English , but lived in Italy for a number of years befor moving to Thailand .

I have no problem with people of a more advanced culture coming to my country , contributing through work or simply of independent means .

People who appreciate the culture of my country and willing to adopt the British way of life . In Italy I lived in a small rural village , lived as my Italian neighbours do and spoke the language fluently . In Thailand I have given my wife a beautiful comfortable home , I have financially improved her lifestyle and that of her family . I respect the Thai culture and lifstyle and do not try to force western culture on my wife and her family .

What I object to , is primitive people migrating illegaly , who have nothing to offer , but seek to be dependent on the social benefits of my country and other European countries . Leaving racism out of it , many of these people are Moslim , want to exercise their religion , introduce sharia law and have their women dressed in black from head to foot , that is quite different .

Leaving the religion aside (there are a lot of non Muslims who come to the UK and other affluent European countries) I entirely agree. If one comes to a foreign country one has to adapt to its culture, customs etc. and not try to force his/her culture and customs on the hosts. A country is like a private house. If I am a guest at friends I have to behave the way they do, at home, in my own place, I can act and live the way I like. That is what I have been preaching to foreigners here and other countries including he UK, who do nothing else but complain. All one has to do is to read the TV here or to spend few hours on a Sunday at Hyde Park , and you will know what i mean!

Must agree with Jasun!

In my country ( USA ) even ilegal forigners can work, earn a pretty good living, get government assistance if needed .

"Liberty and Justice for all."

In thailand it's " Liberty and Just us, that's all!"

But, I must State that I knew Thailand was this way long before I arrived, was this way when I arrived, and will reamain this way.

I still choose to be here!

If it is so, why do you choose to be here???

This is utter NONSENSE!!! I can only assume that your Thai "friends" are taking you for a ride......

you cannot compare these results...As the average Australian wage is so much higher than here.

If one refers to Thai salaries paid to locally employed (Thais and even some expats) you are right. salaries are by far lower here that in Australia, Europe or the US. However, if you refer to expats employed from overseas, or to retirees with a good pension, or other income from overseas, than their income is comparable to Australia etc., and living here in Thailand, even in Hua Hin, Phuket, Koh Samui and Bangkok is by far cheaper. Even property in Bangkok is cheaper, although compared to other above average locations in Thailand, it is app. double the price and still cheaper than in main cities/towns in Australia etc.

Off topic perhaps but the fact that even if you marry a Thai not just a party but through the legal system you still do not get permanent residence, I understand there might be some sham marriages but in most countries the earnest would be on the government to investigate. Even if you have children with a Thai a foreigner does not get PR neither mind citizenship. I think this fact shows really what the government and people think of foreigners. We are only let in for our money, how many jobs are we allowed to do! Need I go on. Having been here nearly six years I have recently thought there is little genuine future here, the chances of finding true love are so low.

What you are saying is incorrect. I really don't know much about being naturalized in Thailand (I can't do this, as my own country does not allow dual citizenship), if you are married to a Thai, but it most certainly is not as automatic as you seem to imply in most European countries and in the US, or Australia. . Most European countries and the US make it difficult, or at least subject to a lengthy procedure, for Thai spouses to enter their countries to join their husbands/wives. In most countries (see UK) the UK citizen has to show substantial financial means and satisfy other requirements to allow his/her spouse to join him/her. I personally do not agree and abhor these practices, as also poor people should have the right to unite with their families in their own country, but here you are. Here in Thailand, the requirements for a non Thai spouse are not that onerous. One can get a year's permit, which can be extended for as many years as one wishes (a year at a time), if one can prove an income of baht 40,000 (less that GDP 1,0000!) or have in the Bank in Thailand Baht 400,000. Compared to the UK, we are talking here about pennies!

The other possibility is for the non Thai spouse to apply for permanent residence, after a certain qualifying residence period and subject to other requirements.Admittedly, it is difficult, takes years and is expensive, but it is possible. In my own country, the requirements are different, but they still exist - 5 years residence and a test in the language, history and customs of my country. I am not criticizing this ,as it has its merits, but lets stop criticizing Thailand. How does the saying go - the one who sits in a glass house should not throw stones....

Don't expect the insurance assessor to submit his report based on facts. I once had a motorbike drive into my parked car, and my own insurance guy suggested I claim responsibility for the accident. They figure farangs are more able to take the immediate hit, but it gets complicated if the other party takes it further once guilt has been established. Good luck.

I am truly sorry to read the comments about discrimination. I do agree with the OP that driving in Thailand is dangerous, but I really can't share his or your views about the insurance aspect, and about the police. Years ago in Khon Kaen I had a similar accident with a motor cyclist, behaving in a similar way on the road. I had no Thai speaking wife with me and the police arrived within minutes. I could hardly speak with them, as my Thai was practically non existent, and the police stopped few Thais asking if they could act as translators. One of them did and the police advised me to call my insurance. Their adjuster, or assessor, arrived within half an hour and was most helpful. Luckily enough the motor cyclist and his wife and child were hardly injured, but were, of course complaining about my driving. I eventually agreed to come to the police the next morning and bring my passport, which I did. the police were most courteous and although I did not admit guilt, I was advised that in order to avoid the cyclist trying to lodge a claim against me (he, of course, alleged it was my fault), it would be best to try and settle with him amicably. The police officer was the mediator and it ended up by me giving the cyclist baht 1,000, against his signature that he had no reason to lodge a claim against me. My damaged car, was repaired with my insurance (I had an Own Damage cover) carrying the full costs without any difficulties. I do admit, things are different here than in Europe, or the US, but I must say that both the police and the insurance rep. were most helpful, and to speak about discrimination here would be completely out of place. I wonder what the situation would have been had the same accident happened in the US, or the UK and I was not able to converse with the police!

Again, I do agree that for us it would be best to try to either avoid driving or do it as seldom as possible. That is what i have been doing (I have moved away from Khon Kaen since).

You know, for years I planned on retiring in Thailand, I am presently living in China, but after continuing to read countless reports of violence towards foreigners, I have changed my mind. I would rather live some place that if I have to fight, it's at least one on one, and the general feeling I get from this forum, is that Thais hate foreigners.

I am looking at retiring in Panama instead. Thailand sounds like a dangerous place to live.

I really do not know Panama and therefore can't comment on your intentions. However, it is absolutely untrue to say that Thais hate foreigners. I, as a foreigner, have been living in Thailand for quite a few years now and have NEVER had even the slightest sign of hatred, or despise by Thais towards me. Of course, in the bazaars, or some smaller shops they will try and overcharge you if you are non-Thai and they think you are a tourist, but that is as far as it goes. There are, of course, exceptions - quarrels even killings, thefts, burglaries, motor accidents and the like. But, can you tell me where in the world this is not the case. Is Europe, the Us, Australia etc, free of such incidents??

By the way, if it were that bad in Thailand, why are there so many non-Thais here? Only in Chiang Mai province there are around 40,000 "Farangs" ( Europeans) and quite a few are not married to Thais, quite a few work here and some other (I assume the majority), are retirees, who really seem to enjoy it here. I have quite a few friends in this group and I can vouch for what i am saying.

Before entering a hospital you have to check if your insurance covers at their rates. Also many insurance companies won't cover certain treatments within the first 1 or 2 years of being insured.

Bangkok hospital is a total rip-off and they are overcharging in a way that they are banned by many European insurers too.

I've asked them for a quote on some minor surgery that I need to get done and their "at least, but likely more" quote was more than flying to the UK and have it done in a private clinic there, including tickets and hotel!!!

And remember for all insurances; everything can be insured but a risk...

I am more than surprised. I have been a patient of the Bangkok hospital for years and have had some major treatments for what my European (German) insurance company found very reasonable charges. I have met quite a few Europeans and Americans (as well as a lot of Arabs) in the hospital, who all told me that trey get the best treatment for about a 1/3 to 1/2 of what they would pay in their own country.

As far as your last remark about Insurance, I think one ought to ignore such an invalid (to use an elegant word!) advice!!!

I'm from the US and use Bangkok Bank as they have an office in New York. Never had a problem in 15 years. Money goes in one day and the next working day it;s avaiiable here.

Do you do any business with your BKK Bank's in Thailand and BKK Bank in New York? Do you do transfers via the NY branch?

I Transfer $ from my bank A/C in NY to the Bangkok Bank here and it goes via the NY Branch of the Bangkok Branch. The fees charged are normally $10 by Bangkok bank NY and some baht 100 here. Money never gets "lost" and there are hardly any delays. I can really recommend the Bangkok bank!!