Ajarn

Call me stupid, call me a troll, but I still don't believe it. Up to me I'd say.

Troll

Well, a phone call is no official statistic i would say  and i have my doubts that I can just call the US Embassy and ask them about the crime statistics of Thai Tourists? I hardly can believe that they are authorized to make such statements over the phone. So if you do not have any more evidence then a phone call that may or may not have happened, I prefer to stick to my first impression that this figure is way to high to be true.

cheers

Live in your own chosen clueless world, sir.

Hmmm - so I am clueless because I doubt your word? I would say I am highly intelligent because I do not believe everything that somebody says on an internet forum You don't expect anyone to believe that any Embassy official will tell you on the phone that 66.6% of thai tourists to the US are criminals in some way?

cheers

Instead of even trying to learn/confirm the truth, you choose to shoot the messenger- and call me a LIAR , and also continue to stay ignorant in the process, assuming your own fantasy figure... Doesn't seem to reflect much of your 'high intelligence'. You're sounding more like a troll now, I think

Well, a phone call is no official statistic i would say  and i have my doubts that I can just call the US Embassy and ask them about the crime statistics of Thai Tourists? I hardly can believe that they are authorized to make such statements over the phone. So if you do not have any more evidence then a phone call that may or may not have happened, I prefer to stick to my first impression that this figure is way to high to be true.

cheers

Live in your own chosen clueless world, sir.

I am talking about a tourist Visa - tourists usually spent money in other countries and do not break the laws

Maybe for many, but not for Thais...US Embassy says most Thais (2/3) on tourist visas to America DO break the law. Hence, the reason for the policy of assuming first that the Thai won't return to Thailand unless they 'have' to...

And, if Thailand gets tough here, I could care less. No problem for me in any regard...

I question that 2/3 figure. If true the Consular Officers have a lot to answer for as it is their duty to prevent this from happening.

I seriously believe the figure would be less than 30% and probably under 20%. I have not seen the stats in some years but believe that what used to be posted on the Embassy web site was in that range.

So, Lop, why do you think the US is so tough on first time tourist visa applications for Thais?. Why is their stated policy to assume the applicant won't come back?

Anyway, as I said, call them yourself and ask. That's what I did.

I am talking about a tourist Visa - tourists usually spent money in other countries and do not break the laws

Maybe for many, but not for Thais...US Embassy says most Thais (2/3) on tourist visas to America DO break the law. Hence, the reason for the policy of assuming first that the Thai won't return to Thailand unless they 'have' to...

And, if Thailand gets tough here, I could care less. No problem for me in any regard...

well, fine that you are entirely legal, but if you have been in thailand for a while, you sure know that may are not. and i also have serious doubts that 2/3 of the Thai Tourists to teh US break the law. But if you can offer a official statistic on this, I am the first to admit it if I am wrong.

cheers

Call and ask for yourself. That's what I did.

Just come back from sailing around the andaman sea

Afraid to sail through it, Dave?

I am talking about a tourist Visa - tourists usually spent money in other countries and do not break the laws

Maybe for many, but not for Thais...US Embassy says most Thais (2/3) on tourist visas to America DO break the law. Hence, the reason for the policy of assuming first that the Thai won't return to Thailand unless they 'have' to...

And, if Thailand gets tough here, I could care less. No problem for me in any regard...

It might be useful to start a thread on the Thai names for various household and common plant tools.  My Haas edition 1964 makes for a good read if you know the initial Thai word!

For example, what are the names for screwdriver (flat-blade & Phillips), hammer  ค้อน , crescent wrench (adjustable spanner in UK) and hacksaw etc?

Cheers,

Boon Mee

Hello BoonMee,

Here are a few I've compiled...

1.crescent wrench (spanner)=กุญแจเลื่อน "kuhn-jae leu-an"

2.hammer=ค้อน "koorn"

3.Phillips screwdriver=ไขควงสามแฉก "kai ko-ang saam chaek""

4.flat blade screwdriver=ไขควง "kai ko-ang"

5.saw=เลื่อย "leu-ai"

6.hacksaw=เลื่อยตัดโลหะ "leu-ai dtat lo-ha"

7.circular saw=เลื่อยวงเดือน "leu-ai wong deu-an"

8.handsaw=เลื่อยลันดา "leu-ai lan-daa"

9.pliers=คีมปากจิ้งจก "keem paak jing-jok"

10.bench vise=ปากกา "paak-kaa" (ปากกาสำหรับจับของ "paak-kaa sum-rup jup koorng")

11.pincers=คีมปากนกแก้ว "keem paak nok gaeow"

12.nail=ตะปู "dta-poo"

13.grinder=เครื่องขัด "kreu-ang kut"

14.file=ตะไบ "dta-bai"

15.electric drill=สว่าน "sa-waan"

16.blowtorch=เตาฟู่ dtao-foo";or,เครื่องพ่นไฟ "kreu-ang pon fai"

Cheers.

Snowleopard.

Thanks so much snowleopard for the very useful vocab.

Pizza Company is superior I think. I understand they use locally produced mozzarella cheese, so maybe their prices won't go up so quickly.

The mozzarella cheese in Chiang Mai is pretty good, but the Cheddar sucks.

I used to go to that wat quite often when I lived in Phanat Nikom. What a mass of humanity at that place. I loved all the action going on, and all the gold leaf flying around..

Speaking of which, I remember a story some years ago of a gang that put some chemical on a piece of cloth which would somehow dissolve (?) the gold leaf and the cloth would absorb it, and this wat had already been hit a couple of times...

I've been told the gamelan(sp?) music is there to encourage the fighters...and with the tempo rising and falling in time with the action.

Wai run is very close to 'teenager' and would serve as an appropriate translation, but it is arguably not as exact as 'teenager' which points directly at the age of a person. People aged 18-23 are sometimes referred to as 'wai run' by Thais I know.

Turning to English - Thai dictionaries (admittedly not always the best source to look in, but an indicator all the same), not a single one of my English - Thai dictionaries (4 in total) lists "wai run" for 'teenager'.

One Thai-English dictionary does however list 'teenager, adolescent' for wai run.

A very reliable source, Mary Haas' Student's dictionary lists three alternatives - 'to be young, adolescent, in ones teens'.

Frankly, in my experience as a hs teacher here, and in the experience of the 4 Thai people I just phoned and asked, it is used normally exactly the same use as teenager. Dek, Wairoon, PuuYai...Never had any disagreement on that, or the age starting at 13, though one friend suggested that maybe when the age changes from 'kuap' to 'pii' at age 10 would be wairoon, too. I sensed he was grasping at straws, though

I would suggest that your friends who referred to PuuYai as Wairoons were likely commenting more on their character...

Yawachon, in my use, and the use I've seen it used in, is ageless, but does mean young person. In real use, it is used exactlly the same way as in English, also being used somewhat humouresly to mean relative to one's age, eg, Someone 25 years old, to me at my age, is a yawachon, mostly.

I love Mary Hass, and I'm glad she covered a few words in her definition, likely because of the obvious age overlap.

Does anyone actually know of someone using a degree bought online and it working? Or not? Any stories?

Of course they can work, since the vast majority of schools don't do anything to verify the 'degree'. After that, it's just up to luck and karma, I'd say.

If I sound too much like a stick in the mud, my apologies. I have, in fact, knowingly hired teachers with fake degrees. Mostly it's a desperation move by someone, and I might very well do the same myself, being a very good survivor- sometimes it does seem better for you to break the rules for your own immediate survival.

But, for someone in a position to do things the right and legal way, but choose the fake degree route simply to go the easiest route and end up cheating people into paying you money for some bullshit qualifications, I have zero good feelings. I take this as a serious character flaw in someone, and I would do nothing to support them.

For the teacher who wants to enter the profession for a long time (at least not as a temp gig for a few months), it's best to do things the accepted way. Among your teaching peers are some pretty smart people, and they're always sniffing for other Ajarns with fake paper. A couple of choice academic questions that you can't answer, and your cover is blown. Once word gets out, your rep, and maybe your job, is gone. If you live in Bkk, you'll have no problem getting another gig, bur outside of Bkk, things can be quite different. Word gets around quick when it comes to this kind of 'gossip'

The rest is up to you....

If she hasn't finished M6, then she needs to get that out of the way. But, she's not going to be able to do that part from home, I believe.

In Thailand, after age 16, anyone can take a High School Equivalency test to get a HS diploma...

In every large city, and most other areas are (government) 'Gaw Saw Baw' schools which specialize in offering evening and weekend classes to help study for the test for each grade level. Contact any local school and they are sure to know where the closest is to you. Figure two school terms to pass 3 levels, on average.

By the way, anyone can go study in these schools. You don't need to be a Thai citizen, either. The Thai government, in a moment of Wisdom, decreed that education be available to anyone, free, up through grade twelve. And it's been operating quite successfully for many years already...

The only difference is that only those legal, identified, people will receive a diploma or official recognition. All others study purely for the sake of learning, still a valuable tool even without the paper.

Please promote education with everyone you know. It's easy, cheap, and available to anyone. And education does have value here...

She has finished M3....

Where do I find out more about the GED equivilent? She is not so hot on the idea of actually going to classes while she's preggers, so maybe that is a better solution.

Also, any thoughts regarding whether to study English language books or Thai books? Her enlgish is pretty good, although not totally fluent. Studying Elgish books would help out her English skills, but will be more difficult to learn the material...

While we are on the subject of education, does anyone know how to go about getting a job teaching drum lessons at an international school? Thanks

Re: education - i wholeheartedly agree. That Thais provide it free is quite admirable - IMHO college should be, at least, quite cheap as well - the benefits to the standard of living would be huge. Not just the economy, but crime, health, etc.

Please excuse my straightforwardness, but experience tells me that If you're going to accept her refusal to go out, then I'd say stop wasting your time. She knows everything I've just told you, and pregnant women in public are a dime a dozen in Thailand. Sounds like she's telling you she doesn't want to go to school, or some other manipulative game going on, quite possibly.... Until you can get her to ######' lift one finger herself, back-off.... Don't drive yourself nuts trying to get around her self-created and unnecessary roadblocks.

Pardon me for saying this thread lacks some substance, but the title of this thread ends "confirmed". Besides normal discussion, have the reports contradicted themselves about Poipet and said nothing certain about Mae Sai, where the initial warning signs were posted in September?

Apparently there's no info as to whether people crossing at Mae Sai are being asked to show cash, nor how they're dressed when they cross, nor what visa or stamp they're asking for.

I'd like to buy a ticket for the bus, 24 hours from now, and make the trip on Friday, to Mae Sai. I've got a plan that includes being well dressed, showing current bank book and ATM slip, and 20K in my wallet to cleverly show to the officer without also revealing it to every thief in the neighborhood.

So, what's the report from Mae Sai?

Whatever the report, it seems you've covered your ass nicely

I invite everybody who whines about Thai Visa regulation to travel to the US with his universityeducated Thai wife. Now that is a pain in the a** - I would not blame the Thais if they decide to revoke the Visa Free entries for all americans (we had similar experiences with british and canadian visas but no such problems with any Schengen Traety member in Europe). What makes these counties so special that they must interview tourists before giving them a visa, my wifes family makes more money per day then the consular officer in a year, so what is that, a power trip?

Thailands Visa regulations are very liberal compared to some more "developed" countries, and for any legitimate expat in thailand the cash rules probably do not even apply.

While I am still interested if these cash rules are for real and are really enforced now, I would not see it as a big trouble compared to the inconvinience for thais to get a US Visa.

cheers

An American Embassy official told me that the reason for the hassle for Thais getting visas is because, according to their stats, 2/3 of all US visa holders from Thailand violate the conditions of their visa, and many simply don't return. Due to privacy laws (pre 9/11?) it's not difficult to escape notice in America once you're in...

Makes sense to me that Thais would get more attention when applying for their first tourist visa to the States, My experience is that after the first successfull visit, future visas are no problem...

What about the foreigners abusing the Thai visa rules ?

Okay, fair enough. What are the stats to back your implied hypothesis?

I saved a teenagers life by resuscitation who later went on to kill 2 kids...

On a happier note, the best thing I've ever done for myself was to build a swimming pool for my health. It also is great for my soul...

I invite everybody who whines about Thai Visa regulation to travel to the US with his universityeducated Thai wife. Now that is a pain in the a** - I would not blame the Thais if they decide to revoke the Visa Free entries for all americans (we had similar experiences with british and canadian visas but no such problems with any Schengen Traety member in Europe). What makes these counties so special that they must interview tourists before giving them a visa, my wifes family makes more money per day then the consular officer in a year, so what is that, a power trip?

Thailands Visa regulations are very liberal compared to some more "developed" countries, and for any legitimate expat in thailand the cash rules probably do not even apply.

While I am still interested if these cash rules are for real and are really enforced now, I would not see it as a big trouble compared to the inconvinience for thais to get a US Visa.

cheers

An American Embassy official told me that the reason for the hassle for Thais getting visas is because, according to their stats, 2/3 of all US visa holders from Thailand violate the conditions of their visa, and many simply don't return. Due to privacy laws (pre 9/11?) it's not difficult to escape notice in America once you're in...

Makes sense to me that Thais would get more attention when applying for their first tourist visa to the States, My experience is that after the first successfull visit, future visas are no problem...

Hmmm............I note that you have talked about helping her with the little tyke....paying for her education and etc....but no mention of marriage.

drummer, this is TH and if she is not "married" she would be........considered a.. and the kid would be considered a ................I think you know what I mean

Absolute rubbish. Many many Thais don't register their marriages, like Chuan LeekPai for example, for many reasons, including tax issues. And the father is listed on birth certificates, whether married or not. There is no 'bad' implication, except in your own mind, it seems

We are reading about the "Vai-roon's". (Thai) Youths making problems, I understand.

What is the correct definition?

I take it George is interested in the connotations of the word "wai roon" in Thai...?

Anyway, thank you Snowleopard for further enriching my glossary. Keep em comin'!

I think a fair English equivalent for the word "wai roon" might be "youngsters". The Thai word in itself has no explicit negative connotations per se, but it is less formal than 'yawachon'.

youngsters was the word I think match Vai-roon's

I am writing an article, and was just curious.

Thanks!

I still say it's best for teenagers, not other ages outside 0f 13-18. Confirmed it with Thais plenty of times.

And there is no 'v' sound in Thai, so you can help the confusion by using 'W'...

Yawachon is for 'youngsters', but it's not age-connected, really. It just means literally, 'young person', but it is not the same as Wairoon, which does have age connotations, as I said above. Teenager is the best common translation for Wairoon.

I think it is very commendable that she wishes to finish high school. Does Thailand have anything similar to the GED they have in the States? This is a high school equivalency certificate meant for adults who dropped out of high school. There are fewer class hours and generally the classes are held at night so adults can attend the classes after work.

Answered already, above. Please pay attention in class!

21.  She just never went back. Yall have dirty minds    In terms of going back to school,  it is as much a matter of being educated as it is having a degree.  Sure the degree is important,  but IMHO, being educated is more important - especially as it will make a difference in our relationship.

If she hasn't finished M6, then she needs to get that out of the way. But, she's not going to be able to do that part from home, I believe.

In Thailand, after age 16, anyone can take a High School Equivalency test to get a HS diploma...

In every large city, and most other areas are (government) 'Gaw Saw Baw' schools which specialize in offering evening and weekend classes to help study for the test for each grade level. Contact any local school and they are sure to know where the closest is to you. Figure two school terms to pass 3 levels, on average.

By the way, anyone can go study in these schools. You don't need to be a Thai citizen, either. The Thai government, in a moment of Wisdom, decreed that education be available to anyone, free, up through grade twelve. And it's been operating quite successfully for many years already...

The only difference is that only those legal, identified, people will receive a diploma or official recognition. All others study purely for the sake of learning, still a valuable tool even without the paper.

Please promote education with everyone you know. It's easy, cheap, and available to anyone. And education does have value here...

...  Look for the powerful Ajarns and make them happy! ...

There's more than one way to skin a cat...

That's the only way I've seen those cats skinned...

Content=stagnation.

Maybe for you Young Turks

Hi Ajarn:

I have the regulation - it's a three page document, but in Thai.  If you are who I think you are, that should not prove to be a problem.  Would you like me to email it to you as a .pdf file?

SM 

Thanks, SM...Not sure if you know me, but I'm pretty transparent, I feel. My website listed at the bottom really expresses who I am, and what my interests are. I pride myself on being a teacher, and I accept the responsibility quite seriously, hence, the transparency I offer....My reason for being in these forums is to learn, and hopefully support others through my experience in Thailand and life.... Frankly, I'm greatly impressed by the quality of the minds here in this forum, even the evil ones

Anyway, appreciate the .pdf But, my reading skills are no match for government-speak...I'll get a friend to help me with it...

My email address is [email protected]

Cheers

Lawrence