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desi

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    Converting .pdb Files To Text

    in Thai Language

    Posted

    I downloaded a collection of Thai vocabulary lists awhile back for Palm - .PDB files.

    I need them in excel. Does anyone know how to do this?

    I'm back to compiling that top 3000 list and this is the last step on collecting.

    Ta in advance...

    Thai Women And The Question Of Money

    in General Topics

    Posted

    Have i strayed off topic,i dont know. What i do know is, is that there is no correct or incorrect formula to a couples success,to each there own,what ever makes it successful.

    Many posters here bemoan how much it costs them to support their relationship(mostly us older guys with younger ladies)and we forget the costs back home,that we thought nothing of at the time,that we incurred during our usual western style arrangements.

    Absolutely. I was partially supported by a boyfriend years back. He was not much older than I was, and wanted to help out until I got on my feet again. Sometime after we split, I found myself in the position to pay for the living expenses of a younger boyfriend in need, as well as a best friend in a bind. Life happens, then it changes, and we roll with it.

    Thai Women And The Question Of Money

    in General Topics

    Posted

    1) I agree with you to a certain extent. There are a few Western women who will support their man (that they met at University) through medical school etc.

    2) Western women having babies? They're normally back at work v quickly as either they don't want to give up their career or, the family needs the money. Admittedly, v poor families are different where neither party earns enough to pay for childcare.

    3) Looking after parents? Yes, as long as the partner staying at home can't earn enough to afford support whilst they are at work.

    Most times (i.e. 99%) of the time, when a Western couple shack up together, both work and contribute to household income. Its different here.

    4) Things change after time and for one reason or another the lowest earning partner (in the West) may give up their job for a while. But they generally go back to work for the reasons I've mentioned.

    The vast majority of Western men (especially at the beginning) would expect his new partner to make a financial contribution to the relationship.

    5) As soon as your partner is not interested in contributing, you HAVE to know that someone is looking to you for money.

    I HONESTLY don't know any Western women (and I only moved here 3 years or so ago) that didn't work to contribute to the family income.

    I've added numbers because it's easier to answer than breaking everything apart.

    1) We agree then, as it's not an unknown. And I do know women like this (my stepson's wife, for one).

    2) I've known both. In the west (as anywhere), having enough money does come into it. I can't go go into percentages but I do know of a fair number of wives with degrees who stayed home to raise the kids (enough money so it was about not keeping up with their major). I also know wives with professions who didn't. For those making less, some I knew went for a limited lifestyles over having more stuff. It was a big issue in my group... some lived in bad neighbourhoods in order to have the wife at home. And in Houston, that was not a choice I was willing to make for my son.

    3) Admittedly, this one is rare in the west. Only one comes to mind and the agreement was that mum did not go into care but offered financial allowances in order to stay with her son and daughter-inlaw.

    4) I agree. The women in the west that I know personally do like to work. Staying home is not mentally challenging unless you are working on a degree, writing a book, raising a child, taking care of a home business, or doing some sort of studying on your own. It is boring and mind-numbingly tedious to not have an outside interest. And shopping? Horrors...

    I came to Thailand knowing that I would not work, so I made my own provisions. Yeah, I'm a work-a-holic in a country that is not really conducive to what I'm good at. So I deal. Just. But I do not contribute (and yes, it does drive me bonkers at times).

    BUT.. to add to all of the above... age does come into it. Retirement age, for instance.

    5) After almost 20 years of marriage, I do believe that I've saved up some points :-D

    Relationships cover many flavours so I've had a hard time answering some of your points. And I can only give input on the relationships I've known and observed. And obviously, my experiences are mostly one-sided. Western.

    Thai Women And The Question Of Money

    in General Topics

    Posted

    If you behave the same way you would with a Western woman (expect her to pay half the mortgage/rent, living cost etc.) you're unlikely to go wrong.

    Apologies in advance, but that statement is far too broad. For instance, if your western wife put you through medical school and it's now her time to sit at home and have babies or go back to school, then it does not apply. If you made the decision to go on a foreign posting and your western wife had to give up her career to follow you, it would not apply. Or even if your western wife was on a foreign posting and the jobs on offer paid piddly squat and usually meant that she couldn't vacation when you did, it would not apply. If one of your parents or your child were sick and one of you needed to stay home to care for them... see?

    Exchange western for Thai and my explanation still works.

    I do know the subject matter under discussion, but it's more complicated than the black and white I often read about here.

    For instance, in the west, I had to stand up for my right to work (my wife WILL NOT join the work force!!!) But a lot of men moan about their money grabbing western wives (and I do feel sorry for those who lost their shirts).

    No matter in Thailand or in the west, it is down to individual relationships, the situation, etc. Because no matter where you are, one person may take advantage at a certain time, another will not. And in relationships, there will be swings and roundabouts. Nothing is equal (or fair) all of the time.

    Online Dictionaries & Thai Language Resources

    in Thai Language

    Posted

    Thanks desi, that's pretty close...maybe now I just need to spend some more time trying to remember/pronounce the sounds...so far I can only remember about 6-8 characters but would like to be able to be able to read thai even if at first I don't understand what I'm reading:)

    If you are struggling to remember the alphabet, then perhaps break it down?

    To learn the Thai alphabet you need to memorise what each one looks like (an innie or an outie, or just plain weird), which ones have different sounds at the beginning and the end (or no ends at all), who is low/med/high tone, and finally, their Thai names... (is it a chicken, or an egg?)

    I used to stare at a Thai alphabet wall charts for kids (mine has been everywhere in my house - mostly gathering dust). I'd even flip a stack of alphabet cards back and forth. No luck. Then I bought 60Min Thai Alphabet and it worked right away. The site explains it so I won't.

    But, a given, it all depends on how you learn languages.

    Other fabulous books for learning how to read Thai:

    Reading Thai is Fun by James Neal

    Introduction to Thai Reading by Rungrat Luanwarawat

    And you can find more stuff here.

    Bangkok: Price Differences For 7d

    in Photography and the Arts

    Posted

    Me too! But first I have to drag myself through the lengthly instructions. I have a tutorial video for the 7D and (knock on wood and the Red Shirts) I'm picking up a book tomorrow. After I get comfortable with the camera, I'm heading out with a photography teacher (one on one) to get my skills honed (there is a lot of honing to do). Btw - my photos will be going up here - the present photos were taken by a Canon Kiss X2.

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