Scarpolo

Well,

is it as worthless as paying $200,000 for a US diploma, and then not be able to get a job?

Easy answer - they all do. The possible difference is that Thailand has generally had better economy to afford to do something about it - yet has not. Even when they have decided to spend money on education they come up with silly schemes that help no one, wastes money and makes companies big buck instead. Language skills are a disgrace for a country so reliant on exports and such a rich tourist industry - class sizes are positively Victorian. They don't need cheap knock-off tablets in one year, they need decent books, decent teachers and a conducive environment for learning.

It is not a fair argument to compare them to the UK, Europe or States sure - and it was only you that did - but it is not an excuse to hide behind either - this is not a poor country, it is no worse off than Japan was in the 50's and 60's - or India up until the 90's - or Brazil up until the 00's - and so on. A country that cares nothing for the education of its young deserves scorn - it's not bashing, it is facing the fact and owning up to priorities.

Thailand bought airplanes and many other technologies from Japan in the 1940's, 50's and 60's. You were the one writing about the Chinese, US and Irish above not I.

If you quickly increase Thailand's education among the poorer classes what follows might be similar to what happened in Laos and Cambodia. Pol Pot's regime targeted intellectuals - including anyone with an education, or with foreign contacts - as well as anyone from the middle or upper classes. All of the doctors, the teachers, the Buddhist monks and nuns, and the engineers died.

Before you reshape the culture of a country one should look at what happened when other cultures in the region were radically changed.

It was not sudden education that caused the issues in Cambodia etc, it was the French pulling out and leaving a power vacuum. It is a completely different scenario - there are already an educated ruling class here - and always has been - it is just that the poor are so willing to be fodder to earn those wealthy elite their ransom without some kind of payback now - some chance of lifted themselves up. This is the crux of the problems that have been happening here since the 73 uprising. Why has it not happened here yet? Simply because, IMO at least, other powerful countries have made sure that communism does not take root in Thailand and that has been the rallying call around which much of the revolution in Asia (and South America) was. Times have moved on - communism is a failed experiment and Thailand is far too consumerist to seriously move that way. The only real thing that changes with education (of the masses) is that economies tend to move from agriculture and production to services and design/invention.

I was referring to the countries you listed, " Laos, Burma, Cambodia and Vietnam" - i.e. neighbours with respect to "all of them should do better" and Thailand best of all due to their larger and more mature economy. I was also talking specifically of education of the underclasses (the masses) - there will always be an elite class of educated business owners to provide technology etc over seas - this only makes them wealthier as individuals and their shareholders most of which are not going to be those masses. Japan in the 50s had a largely under-educated masses (they had schools similar to Thailand well before the war - but only the Elite were properly educated) - as their economy rose and lead the tiger nations, so did their spending on education - they now have one of the best education systems and most literate people anywhere (yes they also have a high student suicide rate - but that is more to do with their concept of second place is failure). China too have been spending on educating their masses - and they have a lot of masses! For the amount of GDP spent on education here, it stinks! It needs to change if Thailand is to compete post ASEAN and in the future - agriculture is getting more competitive and will continue to do so - and as GM crops are accepted wider, then more countries will be able to grow their own and only shop for the cheapness.

There really is no excuse for not educating you own young when you can afford to.

I agree at least partly but would point out that I think what you mean is education that you think is adequate.

China also is experiencing a flood of graduates in its labour market, causing many of its graduates to settle for low salaries, some of which are almost on par with wages for labourers. Some experts predict that in the next 10 years, this problem will only become worse, making a solution difficult to find. The solution for China is to decrease growth in its higher education sector from 20% to 6 – 8% by setting more rigorous admission standards.

The latest news also reports that Cambodia has hundreds of thousands of unemployed graduates. The Economic Institute of Cambodia (EIC) reported that in 2007, only 1 graduate in 10 could find a job.

In Thailand, the Education Council estimated that the number of new students enrolled in bachelors programs between 2007 and 2016 will be approximately 500,000 each year, resulting in between 300,000 to 400,000 new graduates per annum.

http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/print.php?id=2435

The only problem is that Thailand’s labour market does not need this number of graduates with bachelors degrees.

And, therein lies the reason, to keep the people repressed and uneducated,

Many of those graduates will find ways of competing with the ruling business elite, and they fear that, more than everything

Which is why I don't understand whay so many ex pat's get married here?

I got married to ensure my 50% parental rights over the children we are busy producing.

"logical"

here in my LA hotel, was discovered, only a week ago, and my license expired while in Thailand

Your obviously on something then...as you are making not only illogical statements (guess the Thai's aren't the only ones)...but false and misleading ones

Let's recap....You were in Thailand for 6 months (With, according to you, a high end Prostitute!)....

On Tuesday (a few days ago) you flew back to the States and Yesterday you posted how well You Know San Francisco (obviously an expert after being there one day).....

AND NOW...you are referring to YOUR LA hotel....and finding your stash a week ago! (oh and by the way .......What does your license expiring have to do with anything?????)

Marijuana license.

Expired last month.

Yes, and I will be back in SF on saturday to see this band perform:

http://www.zepparella.com/shows.php

I stay at Fairmont properties, want to call me in LA, (after I return from the steam room that is) today

and on Saturday call me in SF?

It seems Nissan, Honda and Toyota dominate the area, and several Ford trucks, although the people getting out of them wear dress clothes, so perhaps it is status

Then I guess I misunderstood your statement.....as those ARE Japanese and USA Cars.....

Have you been smoking some Thai stick?

That does bring up an interesting point. If a car is manufactured in Thailand is it a Thai car? They buy the steel from the lowest bidder and cast the engine block in Thailand. So is it a Thai engine or an engine from where the steel came from?

I had never seen any of these cars before, so frankly I wouldnt know what they are

Her neighbors have mostly Thai cars

AND what brand would that be?

It seems Nissan, Honda and Toyota dominate the area, and several Ford trucks, although the people getting out of them wear dress clothes, so perhaps it is status

Then I guess I misunderstood your statement.....as those ARE Japanese and USA Cars.....

Have you been smoking some Thai stick?

I wish,

all I found was crappy Cambodian

and the good buds I buried in a planter with a pipe here in my LA hotel, was discovered, only a week ago, and my license expired while in Thailand

Her neighbors have mostly Thai cars

AND what brand would that be?

It seems Nissan, Honda and Toyota dominate the area, and several Ford trucks, although the people getting out of them wear dress clothes, so perhaps it is status

What girl doesn't want "NEW?"

She owns a scooter now, and a paid for car.

In Thailand, that and some home ownership makes you upper middle class.

Her neighbors have mostly Thai cars although I did see a few mercedes in the community.

I wouldn't go on a scooter here unless it was one of these, and it wasn't on a Bangkok vicinity road:

holed up in the north since Sept. waiting my return

It is more about the education system than anything else. It was the same in most western countries too when only the wealthy had any real education and everyone else was taught to learn by rote and never ask why. Educated Thais here are just as astute as their equally educated western contemporaries. When trained from birth to follow the rules given, never deviate, never think out of the box and never ask questions, it is not hard to see the problems going forward. Someone has already referred to the "American rednecks" , and it is likewise. Someone also said the same was once said about the Chinese - that was when the only Chinese we heard of were poorer classes working in restaurants or low paid manual labour - now we see the educated bankers etc, we can think differently!

We used to say it of the poor in the west, of the blacks, of the Irish, etc - because the only interaction was with uneducated ones (not though their own volition, but because they were either disallowed education or simply could not afford it). This is why it is not racism, and should be stated - no one here (I believe) actually believes there is a biological reason for it (or for the very low national IQ results), but a failed education system - hiding it does not make for impetus to change. The world laughed at Japanese products in the 50-70s, by the 90s all the best stuff comes from Japan (from suits to TVs, cars to robots).

There's a man talking sense! I agree. We are mostly born equal.

Ah yes, the education. Can't get enough of the education. It's all about the education. Wait a minute, aren't you the guy who got fleeced by the Thai ex-wife? She managed to take you for all your assets? A well-traveled, well educated (according to you) man-of-the-world, taken to the cleaners by a peasant farm girl. So now you're here to get back at the Thais....or at least in your mind. An axe to grind. The classic profile of the Thai-bashing farang. Wise up little man, it's time to move on.

Are you talking about me or Slipperx??? As I am the one that mentioned education, I take it you were referring to me - so I'll answer you, for what it is worth: Nope - never been skinned by a Thai women - been married to one for 17 years, she is the bread winner and I home school our teenage kids - see I put my money where my mouth is! I have taught here and at home - here I have taught mostly at college level - I have seen bright kids trying to get a decent education, when they are rammed into classes of 65 where half the class turns up 45 minutes into the lesson because their previous lesson is in another block and always over runs. I personally have post grad qualifications and teaching qualifications, so I do know a little of what I am talking about.

Yes, I do have a axe to grind - not the kind you allude to, but the kind where a fairly wealthy country wastes masses of money on unworkable policies that benefit very few, ignoring warnings from their own experts (academia), and pretend it will make a difference. When if they listened to their own people, they could instead spend that money on premises, books, a decent curriculum and teachers. If you call that Thai bashing, then sorry, you will do better addressing someone else as you clearly do not understand the difference between concern and attack!

It is clearly, fend for yourself in Thailand.

The focus is on foreign direct investment. There is no plan for improving the populace

This morning my wife passed up a job for the day because she couldn't find her way around town (CM)(4hrs, 1000bht plus expenses).

This afternoon I bought her a new m/c and phoned her up from the showroom to collect it, she found the Honda shop without a problem!

This evening she wanted 400bht to go shopping at the Friday market, I said no, and she went on a rant about me never giving her anything.

Oh well.

I can tell you that EVERY time we saw a Scooter sales booth set up at Fashion Island, she stopped and lit up like the lights of a baseball field, to see if I would buy her one.

I didn't

Basically what I am trying to say is that people who have trouble finding a partner in their native either because they are too shy or other reasons they will not have easier play in Thailand or anywhere else.

I guess by "have play" you mean "get it for free" - if so, then you are correct.

If you're willing to go about it the normal way for here, then even Quasimodo won't have any trouble at all, the challenge is remaining single.

Which is why I don't understand whay so many ex pat's get married here?

I have a friend I will see later today in LA, who admitted his fiance, was a bar girl in the Philipines.

he is just getting divorced from his LA bitch who took everything he built, (thank you CA)

and she has two daughters.

He has two kids in LA, 9 and 13

I almost choked when saying , congrats

When I mentioned that he may want to wait a while, and see if she makes the adjustment,

He said he knows he is "a goner"

Sometimes, I wonder

Just had a new experience at SFO,

allowed to keep shoes on,

didnt have to take laptop out of bag,

Virgin America

first time in years it was a breeze

What you see as genuine temper is often IMO just emotional blackmail, abusive manipulation to try to get her way.

Lack of temper; ie.

silence is also a favored weapon of choice for some females

depression, another

and my all time favorite, threatened self inflicted wounds

Education?

It would seem this is a generational issue, as,

Thai hospitals and doctors, dentists etc., all claim to be high on merits,

I have met my share of the wealthy, they were highly educated, and some, married to foreigners, although, I was unable to tell who was who, ie., whose mmoney made the wealth

I also saw my share of Lamborghini and Ferrari here, albeit, nothing compared to Miami

You can't walk two blocks without seeing ATM's everywhere.

There is money everywhere, malls flooded (selling mostly discounted good), but flooded.

Money management firms, other wealth indicators, all there.

It seems the education is same as it is everywhere else,

If the parents are uneducated, they hope at least their kids will finish school

Those kids will have kids that perhaps will go to college.

The advantage here is apparently, those who have been closest to the city,

the flood of thai immigrants to the city, causes the numbers to be inaccurate, and makes the division between have's and have nots, more extreme.

someone is buying into all those high rises, which also havent stopped rising

You've obviously had and interesting stay.

6 months only here ....and your first few months ...your ready to go home until you go to the high end soapy bar and meet the most wonderful whore of your life and you spend the rest of your time moving in with her and educating her as to a better life...

NOW...it seems your in the HIGH SOCIETY of Thailand knowing doctors and dentists....who own Lamborghini's and Ferrari's

I must say after my 10 years here ....you've done and seen more ...(and am obviously more of an expert on women and the wealthy of Thailand ) than anyone else I've read on TV

You are obviously an ASSET to this forum with your wonderful knowledge ....really don't know how to thank-you;;;;

Your six months knowledge of living in Thailand has left me in the dust....

Can't wait to hear the rest of you self centric BS....

Again,

you do not dispute the facts posted,

part of your personality disorder no doubt?

consider this,

you have one woman at table, who works for JP Morgan, and loses hundreds of millions for "customers" and provides no pleasure,

and then, a girl who works at a job she wishes she didn't, but provides real pleasure, for far less;

who are you attracted too?

be honest.

All your "friends" are watching you perform now

Education?

It would seem this is a generational issue, as,

Thai hospitals and doctors, dentists etc., all claim to be high on merits,

I have met my share of the wealthy, they were highly educated, and some, married to foreigners, although, I was unable to tell who was who, ie., whose mmoney made the wealth

I also saw my share of Lamborghini and Ferrari here, albeit, nothing compared to Miami

You can't walk two blocks without seeing ATM's everywhere.

There is money everywhere, malls flooded (selling mostly discounted good), but flooded.

Money management firms, other wealth indicators, all there.

It seems the education is same as it is everywhere else,

If the parents are uneducated, they hope at least their kids will finish school

Those kids will have kids that perhaps will go to college.

The advantage here is apparently, those who have been closest to the city,

the flood of thai immigrants to the city, causes the numbers to be inaccurate, and makes the division between have's and have nots, more extreme.

someone is buying into all those high rises, which also havent stopped rising

You've obviously had and interesting stay.

6 months only here ....and your first few months ...your ready to go home until you go to the high end soapy bar and meet the most wonderful whore of your life and you spend the rest of your time moving in with her and educating her as to a better life...

NOW...it seems your in the HIGH SOCIETY of Thailand knowing doctors and dentists....who own Lamborghini's and Ferrari's

I must say after my 10 years here ....you've done and seen more ...(and am obviously more of an expert on women and the wealthy of Thailand ) than anyone else I've read on TV

You are obviously an ASSET to this forum with your wonderful knowledge ....really don't know how to thank-you;;;;

Your six months knowledge of living in Thailand has left me in the dust....

Can't wait to hear the rest of you self centric BS....

Even you, with effort, can live in many worlds, and not have self image problems.

But it takes a certain amount of IQ.

It is possible, it will grow

Education?

It would seem this is a generational issue, as,

Thai hospitals and doctors, dentists etc., all claim to be high on merits,

I have met my share of the wealthy, they were highly educated, and some, married to foreigners, although, I was unable to tell who was who, ie., whose mmoney made the wealth

I also saw my share of Lamborghini and Ferrari here, albeit, nothing compared to Miami

You can't walk two blocks without seeing ATM's everywhere.

There is money everywhere, malls flooded (selling mostly discounted good), but flooded.

Money management firms, other wealth indicators, all there.

It seems the education is same as it is everywhere else,

If the parents are uneducated, they hope at least their kids will finish school

Those kids will have kids that perhaps will go to college.

The advantage here is apparently, those who have been closest to the city,

the flood of thai immigrants to the city, causes the numbers to be inaccurate, and makes the division between have's and have nots, more extreme.

someone is buying into all those high rises, which also havent stopped rising

Bottom line.

Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.............................

Does not matter what country we, or they are from. This simple fact still applies...............

And to anyone that thinks Thai Women are money hungry, or only after your money, or would leave you if you did not have any money.............I say go back to your own planeet...........................I am not sure what planet you are from as I am from Mars.

Men from Mars understand that it does not matter what country the "Beautiful" girl is from. Women/Girls from Venus are simply not going to be attracted to you if you do not have any money. Again, being Thai has nothing to do with it.

Based on this simple logic. It truly does not make any sense to bash on Thai Women/Girls for leaving or not wanting to stay with you if you do not have any money or have blown it all. (Even if you did blow it all on booze and hookers)

I honestly never understand these threads when they head into this direction. Meaning (Thai Girls are only after money Thai Girl Bashing threads) I am sure as heck certain that in most western countries you first are going to have one heck of a time finding a women as beautiful both inside and out as a lot of Thai girls are. You then are absolutely dreaming if you think this western women is going to stick with you once the well runs dry. I Mean Come On Already.......................... It is not going to happen.

Long Story Short. Bottom line. It does not matter if they are from Thailand or (pick a country)

If you have not money, YOU GET NO HONEY!!!!

There, I am done and feel one heck of a lot better. And Yeah, I get Honey..................... )

Insert: Brazil,

and good luck

I only know one thing and that is you don't find your future wife in a bar, neither in Thailand nor in your home country. Most Farang in this country are finding their woman, girl friend etc in the bar here. Unfortunately not many of us are working in a proper office, hospital, company, etc etc. So we never find a real good Thai girl who also is a very hard working and have good moral about everything.

Found my first wife in a UK bar, lasted 30 years.

Found my second wife in a Thai bar, 4 years, so far, so good.

If only I had been given your advice 40 years ago .........

Am pretty sure I know of a dozen guys in the States in the 80's who all met their wives in bars,

they werent bar girls mind you, they were office girls, like we were office boys, and every popular club was the "meet market"

Because you said Thai "girls"...I believe that you are referring to young women under 30, single, no children.....I cannot have any opinion about it, just because its have totally different motivation, financial situation, customs and family needs, than women over that age, probably divorced and with children, No way to do any generalization about women in general....Thai or not..and also the age of "farangs' commenting in this post makes a difference.

Girls are called girls by men who are older than them, regardless of age,

you will find, if you are under 30, that women, still want to be called girls, at any age

Told to me by a 34 year old chinese girl, who is a friend from the states when I asked her if she was offended when I referred to her, as a girl.

a 32 year old with no kids never been married? woman, yes, girl, certainly

the charcoal only rather than the BBQ grill

is pure genuis!

There are many things that men don't understand about all women (not just "girls" but women)

That is the case in all countries and it has been that way for many years.

But the one thing that many foreigners don't realize about Thai women is that they are Thai.

They were raised in Thailand, Thai is their first language, and they want to live in Thailand as their preferred home.

That's one of the main reasons why a foreigner married to a Thai who takes her "home" to HIS native country, even with all the best intentions on both sides, finds that such marriages often fail.

Quite often SHE will feel that HIS "home" is not where she wants to live long term.

Even husband and children in HIS home do not make HIS home country HER home country.

She may adapt, but sooner or later she wants to "come home" to Thailand.

Whether it is in the U.K., the U.S.A, or in Europe many Thai "girls"/women/wives usually come to that point in their life when they want to go "home" to Thailand.

Mine didnt want to leave, not on this trip anyway, and won't leave her mother in any case, even though there is an adult brother, with his own business, living (freeloading) of his sisters back, literally.

This was all I needed to see to know when to leave; so I did.

No way to take a thai girl out of bondage,when they choose it

I've been in Thailand a long time and I have long figured out that most Thai girls prefer a Thai guy about their age. I accept that. But there are plenty of Thai women who, by circumstance, are looking for foreigners. For example, single mothers. Just the other day, I advised a close friend that a single mother may be the best way to go. She'll be ready to settle and won't be "hard work," as the OP says. But if you want to compete with a Thai guy for a grade A hottie, a Thai guy who's got the culture and language advantage down pat, you've got no chance. Sorry, but that's reality.

I worked that out by my second trip - absolutely no requirement to spend years in the country, just go to a Thai venue outside the usual Farang haunts. It's a bit like telling us that hot 20-somethings in Oz are looking for guys with washboard abs, a BMW and a 6-figure salaries : it's only a discussion here because some of us are sufficiently deluded to believe that nature is somehow turned upside down in Thailand.

Where it IS different, IMO, is with women over 30, but apparently this is a discussion about 'grade A hotties' so I wont go there.

It's good that you "get it," but I can assure you that a lot of farang guys don't. I've got men visitors from America all the time and they're constantly smitten with the belief that "Thai girls love us!" Of course, they come to this conclusion after spending most of their time in girlie bars. I've met many farang guys who think that every single Thai girl wants to be with a farang. I would imagine you know guys like this.

But you do have a point about women over 30 (or 40, whatever that magical over-the-hill age is). Once a woman realizes that her due date is coming up quick, she's very open to different options.

And by then

it is usually, too late for them.

their ship left the port

Ok, that is confusing.

It is a multipe entry visa, or it is a two entry visa which is not a multiple entry?

I dont mind being wrong, but, does this mean, a mutliple entry visa has no limit, or is just more than 2?

I understand it is not a Non Immigrant O, which, is more than 2 entires? Or exit and entry, not required as often,

still confused

Multiple entry means there is no limit to the number of entries for one year. Non immigrant visas are issued as single or multiple entries.

Tourist visas are issued by the number of entries you request and pay for with 3 being the maximum.

I received 4 - 30 day tourist Visa's, all 4 at BKK Swannapum airport

and 1 - double entry tourist visa, which was due to be stamped at immigration on the 22nd, but I left instead, and may or not make it back before my 2nd entry expires on April 22nd, so

does that mean, I am already over the limit on tourist Visa's and could possibly be denied entry if someone actually counts them?

and, if I get thru BKK airport, which I imagine i would as they would probably only look at the Kingdom's already approved 2nd entry,

but, would that be my limit?

and, by maximum, is that lifetime, yearly?

consider me, no longer confused, but, now,

very concerned!

You do not get tourist visas on entry to the country. You get a 30 day visa exempt and their is no limit on those.

There is no limit on tourist visa entries. The only problem that can arise is when you apply for several back to back tourist visas at the same location. Vientiane is normally 3 or more.

Your 2nd entry from your tourist visa is already gone if you have already used it. What is the enter before date on your visa sticker? That is important not your permit to stay date you got when you used your visa.to enter. If your visa is still valid you can still get your 2nd entry if you have not used it yet.

April 22 is the date of the 2nd entry,

my concern was answered by your last post, thank you!

100,000,001, and people are still getting it wrong, so, ok

You've been here 5 minutes, lived with a couple of hookers, and think you know the lot.

No Thai language ability at all, give it a rest, you're just making yourself look daft.

Not to mention the anti-western woman comments, which are just wrong.

If you thought all western women were manly, maybe it was because you weren't.

I can accept that, mostly,

except the daft part.

I got around pretty good, and saw what I needed to see,'

I am not a Thai basher,

I started a thread that was fairly positive, it just slanted a little when a wiseass decided to parse words

Can much of these same generalization not be said of Czech girls, Romanian girls, Polish girl, Russian girls,

pretty much any country that was held back by their leaders as thailand continues to be today?