siamesekitty

Congratulations on finding your mother, moni!

I'd offer but I only speak Bangkokian. A lot of people in the provinces do speak it as well though, because it's the official dialect of communication. (used in schools, workplaces, on TV, etc.)

I might have more trouble with your Australian accent!

I know what you mean. I took a break for a couple of years. Now back but mostly just to help out on the language subforum.

I've found the folks at Central World (office) and Ploenchit Center branches to be very nice and helpful. However, have no idea about account-opening for farangs. (sorry, I'm Thai )

A bit hard to find, but some of the farang-oriented supermarkets might have 'em.

I was pleasantly surprised to find Cinnamon Toast Crunch at Tops @ Central Ladprao

I don't really care for Cheerios though, so didn't notice if it was there as well or not.

well, with the results it certainly wasn't a waste!

Congrats bina!

Your knowledge of animals is amazing and very much appreciated. Thank you for your advice on my dog 3 years ago..

My observation is that those with the least try the hardest to show they have more

I think Porky's a lot cuter.

I don't think luk krueng are really discriminated against, as individuals. In fact, a lot of people go gaga over luk krueng. However, I could understand how a young child could be ridiculed if it was known that he/she was the product of a bar girl/customer relationship though..

I've heard this expression in a few songs: เฝ้าแต่รอ. I'm not sure about the meaning, I guess is something like "looking forward to" or "longing for", but I've never heard it in real life.

because it's too เวอร์ !

ยินดีด้วยค่ะ! เก่งจริงๆเลย

Scanned the list, wondering which one of them was you..

I sometimes use "เสียใจด้วย" (I'm sorry to hear) with a wry smile.

My friends know I mean something like "Oh, what a pity..." (a tad bit insincere, indifferent)

You've pretty much got it there, David.

Alternatives? mm.. "informally", "as cousins/brothers", "as friends"?

Ok, here's my attempt. (not as poetic as the actual song )

ตลอดเวลา - ต่าย อรทัย

พักสายตาเถอะนะคนดี หลับลงตรงนี้ ที่ที่มีแต่เราสองคน..

Rest your eyes, my dear. Just drift off to sleep here, where there is just the two of us

ผ่านเรื่องราวผ่านงานผ่านคนสับสนหลายความ

Having been through so many things, work, people, much confusion..

บางเวลาต้องการสักคน ไว้คอยปลอบใจ เข้าใจ พูดคุย

Sometimes you want someone with you, to comfort you, to understand, to talk with you

ความรักเอยงดงามอย่างนี้ จนชั่วชีวี โหยหาความรักไม่เคยพอ

What a beautiful love, an everlasting love.. I always hunger for it, it's never enough..

อยากให้เธอเคียงข้างอย่างนี้ บอกรักอีกที อยู่ใกล้กันตลอดเวลา

I want you here with me, like you are now, telling me once more that you love me, together always

พักกายพักใจหลับตาฝันดี รักเอยรักที่เข้าใจถึงกัน

Rest your body, rest your mind, close your eyes and have sweet dreams.. Love, a love in which we understand each other..

Hopefully it snapped some sense into the lady. If not be careful of her getting back at the boy when you're not around.

Very sad, as abuse is no matter where in the world it is happening.

Dowry (May 2005)

Dowry in Rural Issan (Jan 2008)

hmm.. I might have to disagree with that?

I'm considering getting them as well. Any idea how much they would cost in the U.S.? (ouch)

Really wish I'd had them done in high school.

The power to absorb other people's powers! Oops, wait a minute, what if the people around me don't have superpowers..

Ok, invisibility then!

I need easy reading material to learn, and haven't been able to find such books here

But... there is always the internet!

- About Spanish is a good way to start.

- Check this for more easy short stories in Spanish that you can shake a stick at (the links are at the bottom of the page, in the section named "Enlaces externos").

- For listening and Speaking, there is nothing like a native speaker friend, but you can find quite a few podcasts for learners of almost any language, and there are hundreds of radio stations from around the world that have an internet stream. I would suggest you get this free Screamer Radio program that let's you save the streams to mp3 and comes with a huge database of stations from around the world.

I could go on and on, but I hope that's enough for a start.

Thank you ElZorro! That Screamer Radio thing is absolutely fantastic, I managed to find some Mexican radio stations to listen to, and the mp3 saving function is very very handy!

I've tried searching the Internet for online stories before, but it seems all my clicks end up at either dead ends, or expensive downloading sites (which I don't really trust). What I'd like is either a small elementary school storybook, or a downloadable pdf/word doc that I can print out and jot down stuff on.

Muchas gracias to all who have sent PMs as well, I really appreciate it and am touched by your readiness to help!

Depends on the context as well. If you mean "looking forward to" in a milder sense than "eagerly" waiting for something, then you might want to use a slightly different form.

I'm looking forward to seeing you soon! = แล้วพบกันนะครับ

I'm looking forward to working with you soon. (in the "hoping" sense rather than a given) = หวังว่าเราจะได้ร่วมงานกันในอีกไม่ช้านะครับ

ตั้งหน้าตั้งตารอ = eagerly await

yeah, sounds like she's reminding someone to go register to vote at the Thai consulate. The use of the word "ตัวเอง" shows the writer and recipient are buddies.

Anyway, I saw this phrase today, I think it's Chinese in origin, meaning, I think, an expert in brawn and brain.-มีความชำนาญทั้งเรื่องบู๊เเละบุ๋น

I'm more familiar with the บู๊ part of the phrase, as action movies are called หนังบู๊

LOL... คิดถึงเหรอคะ?