KuhnPaen

I accidentally hit the "follow post" button and now my email is getting spammed with replies to this post. How can I un-follow this thread from an iPhone?

Absolutely nailed it. Now if I can just figure out how to use this quote feature properly I'll feel better about not living the dream life on the Florida coast.

I also vote for this as post of the year.

I think a lot of people who commented on this thread in a less than laudatory fashion were legitimately put off by some of the comments the OP made in the process of sharing his story about his transition back to America. Because many people, some of whom I have a degree of respect for, seem to not understand why some reacted this way, I would like to say a few words in defense of the vulture club, even though I do not consider myself a card-carrying member of said club.

Tim Robbins in the house?

The OP makes several comments which suggested he saw his post as a sort of motivational pep talk for other expats who may have lost sight of or perhaps forgotten all that America has to offer. For example, he starts out by saying, The decision to return to the USA after 10+ years living in Thailand was not as hard as what I imagined, and concludes by remarking, For those contemplating moving back or starting over, it is not impossible.

So far, so good. At first blush, this all sounds encouraging enough. But once the gist of the OPs story is fully digested, the reader quickly realizes that in order to do what the OP has recounted, a person would more than likely need to be relatively young (in order to restart his career, pay off the mortgage, earn money to support his family in a suburban lifestyle, etc.), as well as have highly marketable job skills (mostly gained through higher education), and have had a way to have maintained these skills while on a 10+ year sabbatical in Thailand. The number of expats who enjoy all of these life circumstances is fairly limited, and for those who are fortunate enough in this regard, I seriously question whether they need the OPs guidance as their self-appointed life coach in deciding whether returning to their home country is the best course of action. For those who dont fall into this niche, they cannot easily emulate what the OP recounted. A person obviously cant turn back the hands of time or acquire advanced degrees or in-demand job skills over night. I think that this is why some readers perceived the OP as doing something other than giving us a collective pep-talk.

Does somebody need an ego-boost?

When you set aside the OPs claim that he was just innocently sharing his story in the hopes that it might inspire others to consider following his example, the tone of the post did strike my ear as, if not outright bragging, certainly a little too self-congratulatory, at least to my ear:

.my own business doing quite well huge SUV

I have an advanced education in engineering easy to find a very high paying job in the USA. bought my wife a brand new car live in Florida about 1600 feet from the beach my mother, who is a retired doctor.

The OP also posted a picture of a youthful, attractive Thai woman who was impeccably made up (hair highlights, meticulously plucked brow line, sophisticated mascara and lipstick, perfect teeth, maybe even wearing colored contact lenses? Its hard to believe that that picture wasnt calculated to instill envy in viewers. I also asked myself If everyones so blissfully happy and adjusting so well, why no pictures of the family together? Why just the wife?

America good; Thailand bad. Americans good; Thais bad. (yawn)

The OP doesnt have much of anything positive to say about Thais and Thailand and glorifies America and Americans in an unbalanced biased manner.

Thailand is the land of insufferable heat, floods, water shortages, power outages, grinding poverty, and low educational standards. America is just the opposite: no extreme weather, crime free, a social paradise where anyone can grow up to be President. The land of no hardships.

Thais are scam artists, corrupt, poorly educated, dishonest, and criminally inclined. Americans are warm, friendly, welcoming, non-judgmental, better educated, just plain smarter, hard-working, and well bred.

The OP may be fortunate enough to be able to largely insulate himself and his family from the realities of what day to day life is like for many Americans, but as we all know theres two sides to every story, and the OP does seem to be in need of being reminded of this.

Should I head to Mukdahan to look for my next wife or not???

The OP at first describes Isaan as a mecca which anyone hoping to find a wife in Thailand should make a beeline to. But then the OP says stuff like: Many of the people working or even owning the restaurants appear to me to be the same types as you would run into in Isaan with the same behaviors. or poverty and lack of education in Isaan. The OP also opined that: Honesty is not a common trait in Thailand. Isnt Isaan part of Thailand? I dont understand why the OP is recommending Isaan as a good place to look for a wife, when he appears to hold everyone else in Isaan aside from his wife in quite low regard. I mean, why would I look for a wife in a place where everyone behaves badly, is poorly educated and dishonesty is part of their genome???

Newsflash, OP, were not all emotional retards in need of marriage counseling from you.

If theres one thing in the OPs post which really had me gagging it was the insufferably self-congratulatory rhetoric about how the OP had grown up and unlike some men saw his wife as his equal and how it takes a special kind of person to put his family first.

Just, FYI, OP, what you describe here is the norm, and nothing special at all. I dont know any family men who dont put their family first. As far as treating your wife as your equal, I am curious to know ---beyond buying her a car and setting her up with ATM and credit cards--- the extent to which you encourage her (1) to embrace her Thai culture (music, religion, art, customs, heritage, decorating the house, etc.), (2) to develop a social life independent of you (perhaps with other Thais), (3) to improve her English skills, (4) continue her education, and (5) seek employment? That would be the real test of your true commitment to helping her fulfill her full potential, not just providing things such as a car and ATM cards to facilitate her role as a housewife. Frankly, some of the comments you made about your wife being Americanized (de-Thai-ed, if you will) and the negativity you have expressed about Thailand and Thais (which is after all your wifes homeland) disturbed me, and I hope that you will give this a great considerable thought, for the sake of your wife and future domestic happiness.

But, again, I genuinely wish the OP and his family happiness ever after, and it was informative to read his story.

You have my vote for best "Post of the Year"

Hey chuckles. Wow, you laugh pretty easily apparently. Is there "hating" going on? Of course there is. Why? Because the OP was a douchetastic post. Why again? Who the hell wants to read about someone's self-perceived "perfect life" whatever that may be. Most people I know GO TO Thailand for richer or poorer and stay there regardless of the hardships because they love the country no matter if they are a junkie hippie, a go go bar owner, an English teacher, or a missionary.

This OP was trying to sell LEAVING Thailand for the greener pastures of the Flor-duh coast. Florida is a dump, and just about every bizarre news story in the USA starts with "Florida Man"...as in "Florida man ate bath salts and cannibalized a homeless man", etc.

I'm not against personal happiness. I'm not even against penis wagging. I'd just rather hear about penis wagging from someone GOING TO Thailand or living there, not giving up and then trying to sell the abyss of Florida as Shangri La. A beach don't make paradise.

I am not poor either, but I have been...and yes, the absolute happiest time in my entire life was living in an Isaan shack with the girl I loved more than any other before or since. I now have money and I'd trade everything for that shack with the girl again.

So in the future if anyone here wants to sell me the merits of moving to Aspen, Miami, London, Sydney---keep it to yourself. Not interested in your failure to endure hardships in Thailand and giving up for an easy life in the West.

It's jut boring.

I'm still laughing about the poster who prefers "an Isaan shack" to the Florida coast.

As usual, TVF posters have taken the topic off in a thousand directions, mostly misguided. If the OP is honest, and his story is true, then I say "Good for you. You have found the joy that we all seek, whether it's in Thailand or the USA." If he is a troll, he's a damn good one!

No offense to the op but your story is a "teensy" bit masturbatory. Dropping your education, status, doctor mom, etc. No different than when Tim "sharky" Ward poses with pics of his Lambo and gold chains--just doing it your way.

I get it: people need to document their awesomeness and even more importantly--make other people know it too. No matter what--Id take an Isaan shack over the "redneck riviera" any day. I'd also rather read about how well off folks kept the dream going til their dying day instead of going to the retirement Hell of Florida (my dad lives there and I know it well).

Other than that--"cool story bro"

Good luck to you sir. Your wife is cute.

Thought it was one of those paid for trip advisor articles. Maybe they are all part of the same cabal. Thailand seems to win a lot of these polls.

Wow, had no idea about trip advisors pay for positive reviews angle. They are a toxic joke to me now. Probably to a lot of others as well. Things like this can kill a company.

If you think this is bs which it is, and you want to show solidarity, everyone should wear a red wristband. Can't believe this is actually being implemented. I know Thais are fond of hitler though.

My favorite drinking game in Thailand is just sitting at an outdoor bar, and taking a shot everytime a ladyboy walks by.

I seem to play this game by myself for some reason.

"For my money, it doesn't get any better than when Michael Bolton sings when a man loves a woman"--office space, Bob

Seems they have most of the English speaking cops by terminal 21.

I only speak Thai with them during their "spot searches".

When they are done with their bag search and attempted shake down at least they remember me. I've never been shaken down by the same cop twice.

if this was the USA, I would fear the worst. Since its Thailand--I fear the the Thai equivalent (ending up with a trafficking ring). Hard to keep kids off of social media, but not hard to tell them to never disclose their age.

You mean people who routinely strap babies to gas tanks and then pile on 5 relatives, a monkey, and their groceries, timber, etc. Will now require a license?

Good plan.

+1 for the "life free" Tshirt. Anyone wearing a "live free" shirt would have been suspect.

So...what happens if u refuse the urine test?

Ok, now that they are all safe and sound, they should fire the flight attendants for crying and carry on like that. They are only human, but what if the pilot acted like that? Instead, the pilot heroically managed to land the plane. Kudos to him

"Was your daddy a meat burglar? Cause it looks like he took two fine pieces of ham and shoved em down the back of yo pants"....The Ladies Man

Normally I would advocate anything that gives hippies a hard time, but the toddler thrown in is just cruel

Oddly enough, I enjoyed the power outages whenever it rained in Sisaket. Sometimes it came on in a few hours, sometimes a few few days. 30 years though...

a lot of these guys were suicidal back in wherever....LOS was just one last fandango.

God bless the Aussies for joining the eradicate ISIS party.

Exactly how many farangs have been killed in all of the Thai coups?

Balconies are far deadlier to farangs than any internecine violence.

Rip good man

That said, If some of you could please stop using the "quality tourists" comeback---for everything on Thai visa, that'd be great.

They obviously didn't include ladyboys in their measurements.

A few cartel members missing from this list.

"When one realizes his life is worthless, he either commits suicide or travels"...Edward Dahlberg

Some do both