PeaceBlondie

Since Bankokians often post in the Chiang Mai Forum about BKK, I'll suggest that y'all come to Chiang Mai for excellent checkups.

We withdrew 25,150 baht last night - at the same rate Yahoo's quoted all week, 33.03.

Almost every Thai I know walks in the street. It's their problem more than ours. We can't solve it. They could solve it but won't.

Chiang Mai has 6 or so well-ranked international schools, numerous bilingual schools, and countless Thai-only schools.

Let Thais take care of Thai dogs. Most Thais won't. It's not our problem. I got bit by a poorly muzzled rich man's dog. They paid for my shots. Thais don't kill dogs, or care for them. Maybe because they think they're Buddhists, or just don't care.

This discussion beats navel contemplation, but with similar results.

Are you suggesting to put a child who can't say 'sawadee crap' into a crummy classroom full of 50 Thais and a teacher who can't speak a word of English?

I started teaching 12-year-olds at age 60. Lots of fun in classroom. Later, seven year-olds were fine.

Thanks to Richard, for his contributions to the forum.

It doesn't really matter though because power doesn't sit with parliament or elected government in this country. Your question would be more relevant in a democracy.

BINGO.

Take off your red shirts. Disown your Chinese billionaire megalomaniac. Choose noncriminal leadership that believes in democracy.

Never missed a class in two years. I covered classes for sick or misbehaving Thais who were younger than me.

Likewise, never missed a class in seven years. Was only late once when my boss held me up to talk to me.

However, almost every month I have students of Thai teachers come up to me, "Ajarn, what should we do? Out teacher hasn't showed up yet. It's been a half hour. We were supposed to have a test (lecture, project, etc.)."

While most young Thai teachers in our area "toe the line," many middle-aged to older Thai teachers who skip class don't even bother to notify the students ahead of time, nor explain their absence after the fact. When it comes to questioning their attendance or punctuality, they are the "untouchables." One professor here, for two solid years before his retirement, and for all his classes, met his students once at the beginning of the term, told them to read the textbook, then showed up the last day of the term to give them the final exam. Because he was tenured "senior Thai staff" he was likewise considered untouchable.

Yup, some teachers get away with "murder" of the educational system and the principle of teachers modeling good habits and ethics. Be glad that some of your schools uphold a standard and students get what they (or the taxpayers) pay for.

Most of our ajarns were responsible. The one who slapped her ex-husband (a fellow ajarn) was reassigned. The sweet middle-aged lady was too sick. My point was that the very Thai ajarns who dared to compare me - a Texan with a BA degree in Christianity - to them would find me better professionally, if they were honest.

Boyfriend said last night how Thaksin was basically the savior of the North. I didn't argue, but I don't believe it. My opinion doesn't matter.

Winnipeg, Aberdeen, Miami....

I don't cook. Only eat fresh fruit for breakfast. Boyfriend buys sandwiches for lunch. I don't understand a Thai woman who won't learn to cook for her husband. My partner learned to cook delicious, non-spicy 'Chinese' food for me.

Students in Thailand are taught. Usually, wrong. We cannot change that except to try to do our job right, which is often almost impossible. This is a cheap country to retire in.

Maybe 30% of schools aren't racist. Maybe 20%. They won't admit being racist.

Congratulations. For not drinking or whoring. In the Bible Belt, there are millions of hetero men like you. Here, you're a 'catch.' Anybody who insists you have to drink or whore is a loser. You're probably not gay, tho there's nothing wrong with that. You're shy. Over 30, single. Find sober mates.

Very interesting discussion, by farang. But we don't have input.

I told him he can burn my body at the city dump. He knows whom to call here and there.

Never missed a class in two years. I covered classes for sick or misbehaving Thais who were younger than me.

Honda 110,731 units

Yamaha 34,570 units

Suzuki 4803 units

Kawasaki 1798 units

Tiger 1109 units

Honda outsold Tiger by 100 to one. Did that include Retro 110, the rest of the step-throughs, an ice cream truck; and police bikes?

We have only had good experiences with mechanics in Thailand.

Every day I walk for several KM through my Thai-Chinese village. Every day they burn rubbish unrelated to rice fields. Our village has trash pickup.

Thailand has never controlled dogs. They never will.