skylar

I was meaning to contact the Consulate in Sydney today for some more information, but being a hectic work day... well. Maybe tomorrow. In the meantime, has anyone received one of these visas or know anyone with one of these visas? I'm under the impression you don't need a work permit, but you have to do visa runs... of course, if nobody knows anything about it, it doesn't matter

Where they specify tertiary education of no less than 3 years, that's either a degree or certain Advanced Diploma from TAFE, I think.

I think you can use nai kwam jing laew too.

We're planning to retire in Thailand in 3-4 more years and thought it might be good idea to adopt or foster a few thai childs, hence giving them more opportunity for higher education....in Thailand. Because we valued the higher education at upmost prerequisite thing in life.

I think it's meant to be the ability to love your children as well as want the best for them. Adoption or fostering is not solely about providing material means.

There's another post on adoption. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...=0entry607875

Good luck. Interesting that you mention the poverty aspect... as there's plenty of poverty in the US too and I'm wondering why nobody seems to notice.

Cha in a very nearly similar pronounciation also means "darling".

Only if you are extremely hard of hearing.

Sure smart guy:

Tea = ชา

Darling = จ๋า

You say that out loud and listen for the difference. Remember to turn on your hearing aid

The two words don't sound alike to me.

'Jaa' & 'Cha'...

Eh.....?

redrus

They start with different consonants and have different tones. How much more different can you get? Unless you miss those elements and go straight to า..... าาาาาาาา It's like saying you can't hear the difference between goat and coat.

If you use this word with somebody you do not know well, it is fight talk.

"guu" and "meung" are old pronouns in Thai and in Sukhothai times they were used as everyday pronouns for "me" and "you" with no impolite connotations.

Today they are used among close male friends and among females and khatoey who like to joke around and want to sound streetsmart or tough.

In a close relation, it is a bonding pronoun, showing that "we are close enough that we can use this word without it being offensive", but in all other situations it is extremely impolite.

By Thais it can be used for comic effect, but the appropriate time is very hard to judge unless you are already completely fluent in Thai and can read situations correctly. As a learner you should avoid using it, because it will typically sound even more offensive coming from a farang than from a fellow Thai.

I know the guu meung thing already. I just wasn't sure about the chaps on the margins of society. And I'd never ever use them, fluent or not. Not my style.

well, it was such a rude conversation she made. But, I couldn't help laguhing. I wouldn't want to know if I were you. But here you go.

Mariah_Carey | --- '' The Emancipation of Mimi '' The New Album's Mariah Carey --- | dice:

อืม  (umm)Mariah_Carey | --- '' The Emancipation of Mimi '' The New Album's Mariah Carey --- | dice:

เออ  (yeah..)

Mariah_Carey | --- '' The Emancipation of Mimi '' The New Album's Mariah Carey --- | dice:

มึงจะเล่นอันไหนกันแน่  (Which one're ya palying?)    (She used "maeng" as for "you" in Thai, but considered as a rude word for "you".)Mariah_Carey | --- '' The Emancipation of Mimi '' The New Album's Mariah Carey --- | dice:

กระแดะอย่างหนัก (f*ckin showing off..)  My guess was she thought you were a Thai who showed off how good at English you were.Mariah_Carey | --- '' The Emancipation of Mimi '' The New Album's Mariah Carey --- | dice:

ไทยยังไปไม่รอดเลย เสือกคุยอังกฤษ  (You coulnd't even make it in Thai, now ya're f*ckin try to talk in English)Mariah_Carey | --- '' The Emancipation of Mimi '' The New Album's Mariah Carey --- | dice:

โอย  (ooyy......)  A Thai expression said when one gets bored.Mariah_Carey | --- '' The Emancipation of Mimi '' The New Album's Mariah Carey --- | dice:

เฮ้ยรำคาญแล้วว่ะ  (Hey!!..I'm annoyed!)Mariah_Carey | --- '' The Emancipation of Mimi '' The New Album's Mariah Carey --- | dice:

มึงเป็นใคร  (Who the <deleted>'re ya?)    ==Every single word for "you" was used as "Maeng" on her conversation==Mariah_Carey | --- '' The Emancipation of Mimi '' The New Album's Mariah Carey --- | dice:

Thai ว่ะ  (Thai waa')  She was pretty sure you were Thai

Mariah_Carey | --- '' The Emancipation of Mimi '' The New Album's Mariah Carey --- | dice:

ตอแหลว่ะ  (such a liar)Mariah_Carey | --- '' The Emancipation of Mimi '' The New Album's Mariah Carey --- | dice:

คุยกวนตีนกูบล็อคมึงแน่  (If you talk obnoxiously, I'm definitely

gonna f*ckin block ya)

PS. "มึง" pronounced "Maeng" means "ya", but extremly rude. Use it when you want to picka fight!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thai dye, cheers a million for the clarification of that conversation. Very interesting for me, because I am still not that good at understanding 'guan' language and most Thais are reluctant to explain it to me because it is "mai suphaab". I have no intention of using it but I want to understand what people are saying at least.

There is so much extra meaning you need to read into the few words actually used in a chat conversation in Thai.

Excellent explanation! I hope you come back to the forum often.

I think the female is trying to present herself as a tough person when using มึง - don't bargirls use this word? I also heard that katoeys use it but they have never used it with me when speaking with any (limited contact with either of these situations). Answers anyone?

You normally have both. You will be pretty tired after the day is over!

Different strokes for different folks, maybe? My Asian partner likes me because I don't "need" him and I quote "It's because you're independent". "Need" sounds a bit desperate. I do want him in my life though, and he wants me in his too. And because he has grown up with the Aussie sense of equality, I'm expected to pull my weight, which I do willingly (it helps having a job you love). We do things together as well as individuals.

A real man should be wanted, not needed. I can depend on my man to help me out financially if I "need" it, but thanks to my situation and opportunities I don't. That is not to say that this may change in the future, but he's lucky in that he can expect the same from me.

ignorance is bliss..lol

If you want to buy something/anything at a good price in Bangkok the last place you want to go is Siam Paragon and Emporium... lol

Yeah?

Where do you go for a good product? Chatuchak market?

Use your common sense for heaven's sake. If you're looking for brand name stuff then Emporium and Paragon are the places you're after. I don't see why should brand name retailers be cheaper just because they are in Thailand than Japan, apart from the cheaper OH and VC - it means the retailers just make bigger margins. Although I heard that luxury accessories are cheaper in Japan than a lot of other countries because demand is just sky high for them. I won't buy trainers/runners/sneakers in Bangkok, because they are more expensive than anywhere I go normally.

If you want an Ovaltine mug, go for it. Personally, I love the free utensils that come with certain goods. If you want a 'unique' product, no matter how futile it is, it will be more expensive in a location that costs considerably more than your average supermarket's space.

I'm a Mormon and pedal around on my bicycle all day in a freshly ironed white shirt. How about you?

Which soi du you live in Bangna ? I might have seen you before

I can be found on most sois around Bangkok, me and me mate.

La Salle 105, La Salle College kids have those shirts.

Re 'darn sarf'.

If you look at a very simple road map of England, you will see that about two thirds of the way up from the South Coast to the border with Scotland, there is an east-west Motorway, numbered M62.

It goes from Liverpool at its western end to (well, nearly to) Hull at its eastern end.

Going to any destination to the south of the M62 is going 'darn sarf'.

It is, of course, inadvisable to do so.

In the interest of staying among proper fowk, remain oop norf.

I am English and therefore aware of what constitutes north and south. Obviously I am missing something in this sense of social heirachial awareness that I care enough about to want it explained to me.

If I couldn't speak any, I'd just say pood thai mai dai - it's gentler

.

Actually, I'd say "pood passaa thai mai pen" - I can't speak Thai, but by saying this i would be showing that I could.

I like to say "Pood passa Thai Nit Nit noi noi", kinda show a bit of humility. I do actually speak a bit.

I like the second one - it's a positive statement and shows the speaker is open to learning... or nguu nguu pla pla maybe... hmm.

darn sarf = down south.

I know the literal meaning of the sentence. I don't know the implied meaning - would you be able to translate that for me too?

For precisely the same reason that English is so hard for the English.

Those English who are able to learn to speak English mostly remain in England, being so well paid there. Those coming to Thailand, having ever failed to learn Received Pronunciation at home, cannot possibly be expected to master a tonal language like Thai.

Received Pronounciation is for Big Girls who live darn sarf

What is that supposed to mean?

If I am on my own and have to get understood, I always say (jokingly slowly and woodenly) "Poom Mai Poot Thai". Then give an apologetic smile. Then try my few words of Thai.

I don't think I would say it like that. It literally means 'I don't speak Thai'... but aditionally sounds like 'I don't want to speak Thai'. Sounds a bit off. If I couldn't speak any, I'd just say pood thai mai dai - it's gentler.

Not Areeya/Ariya please. Reminds me or Areeya Chumsai/Sirisopa or whatever she calls herself. She gives me dry retches.

The result is that I am terrified to use Thai at all because the certainty that I'll not be understood, or, worse, completely misunderstood, is enormously high.

Well, if you don't make mistakes, you won't learn anything. I was laughed at for more than a year as I got used to the way things were pronounced. Of course I was offended - who wants to be laughed at? It's not encouraging at all!

I grew up in Surrey speaking a very clear version of English. My dad on the other hand gave up his free company Thai lessons after 6 months because he didn't get the tones. However this is not suprising as his piano teacher gave up on him when he was six, complaining that my father is indeed tone-deaf, a common trait in English people. And it is well known that English people have time and time again demonstrated an inability to master any language, be it French, German, whatever. (Have a look at the GCSE papers - the level of French expected after 4/5 years of learning is pathetic - a German student knows more French in 1 year than even a A-level/IB student)

Personally, I don't know why some people say it's so hard. It takes practice, time and commitment.

Pretty badly researched - but it just means that there won't be a glut of old northern hemisphere farts clogging up the beaches as it makes Thailand look fairly undesirable to a retiree Can you imagine living without a Wal-Mart?!

MICE Hub ?????????

Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions. Not the furry kind

However he's got bad teeth and not very well mannered ( favourite english phrase "stupid idiot" )

What a cutie. Did his parents feed him too much Yan Yan and Hello Panda to get the teeth he has?

markuk - I find your comments extremely offensive. You seem to be someone who finds customs or practices that differ from your own as primitive. Perhaps once you've reached puberty you will view the world differently?

I wouldn't want to live in Thailand without at least trying to understand Thai values and culture, but each to our own. Filial piety has a major place in Thai society, yes. He doesn't have to agree with it. It sounds like he doesn't feel he even has to understand it. Maybe he likes being on the circumference of Thai society. It's convenient to take a look inside once in a while from the farang bubble and throw a few airy-fairy comments out about things he doesn't understand, but it means he doesn't have to conform and fit in, either. Sounds like a lot of people I used to know

I read an article on intercountry adoption in Australia's Madison Magazine, January issue - I'd quote from it except I left the magazine at my parents'! Thailand was given a small section - apparently preference is given to couples adopting locally rather than internationally, the child must keep its Thai given name, and if you want a girl, you may have to wait longer than normal. It is much easier to adopt locally than internationally, and costs less too (and a lot less legal crap with your home country's immigration authorities when you apply for the child's citizenship). The article also mentioned that there are more Chinese children up for adoption than demand.

Cha in a very nearly similar pronounciation also means "darling".

Only if you are extremely hard of hearing.

Bread, milk, cheese? Can any western farang live without them? We'll see.

Gary

quite easily, if said farang has dietary intolerances to gluten and lactose

I really don't understand why everyone keeps banging on that us Brits are Soapdodgers

It's not US it's the FRENCH

The French have always claimed that the English dont wash.

The English have always claimed that the French pee in the streets and their women have hairy armpits

No you are wrong. We never say that the French girls have hairy armpits.

Thats the Germans

A French teacher at my local Alliance Francaise had hairy armpits. But I maintain that it's the Germans who don't wash and compound their BO by eating weird food like bratwurst. And you can spot an English backpacker from miles away from what they are wearing, which is either a) a football t-shirt 2 or more pieces of Adidas clothing c) horrible velcro sandals d) dodgy, unfunny 'same same' t-shirt or e) all of the aforementioned. Ask a backpacker about Sukhothai. Chances are they'll never have even heard of it, much less even been there. So much for Lonely Planet's guidebook!