Notable

For as many people you say there are 'not getting out of bed for less than 25k', I can promise you I know a whole load more who regularly get of bed for 25k a month. Get real or you'll turn in to one of the arrogant d##ks the op is talking about.

120k is a very good salary in Thailand, it's irrelevant if you are a falang or a Thai, if you're living here the salary itself is way above average. The cost of living here is much cheaper than the UK, people back home are struggling to pay their electricity and gas bills, what's the average electricity bill here? 1000 baht a month maybe, if that. The OP is right, Thailand seems to attract arrogant moaning ex-pats. Learn to speak fluent Thai and ignore the falang energy vampires. Hopefully one day they will expect all foreigners living here to be able to speak, read and write Thai or leave the country. Much the same as we are doing with immigrants in the UK. That would weed out plenty of the scum element the OP is referring to.

I am from the UK and there are very few jobs for graduates there now, you're sadly out of touch if you think differently. The average Thai will be lucky to make 30k a month, so my friend is doing OK at 4 times the average pay. Qualifications and experience determine if you're a 'real teacher' or not. You need to read a few more educational books, judging by that comment.

As I said you're just the kind of arrogant idiot he's talking about. To suggest that 120k a month here is a poor wage when well educated qualified people in the UK and USA are taking jobs for much less, just makes you look even more foolish. Go and have a rethink and come back with something relevant.

What will be the eventual outcome of all this? I just can't see it ending without a massive street fight!

If you make a really concerted effort with the language you can earn very good money translating documents. I make upwards of 1k an hour with private work and there's plenty of demand.

So teaching for the British Council making 120k a month (as a friend of mine does) is considered the last resort to support yourself here is it? Sounds like we've found another jaded know it all ex-pat to avoid.

It's mostly the opposite scenario, people who don't have anything to do here spend most nights drinking and talking b/s in ex-pat bars. I work as a translator so I can't go out late during the week, it's more of a normal lifestyle. Just sitting at home while your ex bar girl wife spends your retirement fund must be quite stressful. No wonder most of the older ex-pats don't smile!

I agree with the last post, teachers if anything are more friendly and approachable. Most only come to Thailand for one semester so they don't have the bitter jaded opinions of your average ex-pat. Just steer clear of those small bars where they all sit talking about visa runs and exchange rates. I sat in one 8 years ago listening to endless b/s, 4 years later I returned to see if had changed. Same people same conversation, if someone over 50 tells you they are married to a Thai girl from up north, steer clear.

If I travel up north I go and stay with a Thai family I know and avoid foreigners. Thailand seems to attract the least intellectual forms of humanity, they start off in pattaya or Phuket and spread out.

That last comment about making a large fortune into a small one sums up the kind of negative ex pat attitude you're going to get on here. There are plenty of people who've come to live in Thailand and made a good living, by working hard with a good business idea. Mac Walen for example, whatever you do research it as thoroughly as possible and remember, nothing ventured nothing grained!

I've lived and worked in BKK translating documents for 5 years now. Each time I go away (mostly up north) it makes me realise how bad it is here. I'm talking from a social standpoint, it's a rat race much as you would expect in any metropolitan city. I find the Thai people up north a breath of fresh air, they're actively seeking contact with foreigners whereas in BKK you're just another unwanted falang. You'll never experience the real Thailand in tourist areas.

The best thing to do is live in the most rural location you can where there are very few ex pats. That's my ultimate plan, the Thais will accept you if you can speak Thai and you won't have to listen to the constantly moaning falangs, visas, girls, culture you name it you wonder why they're here really. Oh yeh it's cheaper than their own country, where they used to sit and moan about everything also.

The best thing to do is live in the most rural location you can where there are very few ex pats. That's my ultimate plan, the Thais will accept you if you can speak Thai and you won't have to listen to the constantly moaning falangs, visas, girls, culture you name it you wonder why they're here really. Oh yeh it's cheaper than their own country, where they used to sit and moan about everything also.

You only need to look on here at the number of negative posts regarding Thai/ex pat relationships to see why ex pats might be unhappy. They realise it isn't the land of smiles after all, consequently their own smiles diminish.

I find the teachers mostly friendly, it's your 50+ ex pat married to a bar girl who's usually worth keeping clear of. They've been here for years and claim to know everything about Thai culture, despite the fact they can't speak a word of the language. They sit in small bars with other ex pats and moan about Thai culture. It's worse if you go to pattaya (blackpool with hookers) and you'll see this vest and flip flop wearing Neanderthal in abundance.

Once you've tried out the Zoomer X you probably won't like the feel of other scooters anymore. The wider Tyres and bigger handlebars make it feel very solid to ride. Hitting bumps and potholes with those wider wheels is a much more pleasurable experience.

Jealous bus hopper, I'll stick with the Audi

You can't really say "I've met him last month". It needs to be "had", which is the past of have and has. Or just "I met him last month". Or "I've met him, last month!".

Has he been seen climbing the stairway to heaven above?

You could be deported. But yes.

If you want to take a cheap online TEFL course I've just been told that love Tefl are offering a 120 hour course for £99. The offer ends at 7pm tonight though.

Do a CELTA if you can and ignore the comment about "being done before you start" if you don't have a BA in education. Absolute BS, you'll need a BA in ANY subject to be legal, but you'll still find plenty of work even without a degree.

You can hardly blame people casting assumptions, how many times have you walked around Big C and seen the obligatory fat hairy falang with a 45kg Thai girl. You can't help but find it funny. It's hilarious!