dlclark97

OK, she wants to live in the USA. You need to know that at the current time the USA has stopped processing visa applications for wives and others to become permanent residents in the USA. The only visas being processed at this time are for visas to visit the USA. Whether the processing of visas even for a wife married to an American will ever resume. Even when they were being processed it could take many applications before one is approved. My wife was denied twice and a friend had applied many times even through agents and a lawyer, never got approved until he got his congressman involved. It can take years even when it is working.

Having been here at Korat with the US military mid 70's I was familiar with many things Thai. The ladies beautiful 'come here' smiles, long flowing hair, cost of living, the year-round warmth, the foods, the music and traditions and so much more. I had worked in various countries, not living there but getting a general feel of what it might be like to live there. Over time numerous trips to Thailand for extended holidays including a 3-month long leave of absence from my work allowed me to experience much more of Thailand's many wonders. But the real and probably most important reason, as an avid SCUBA diver was the quick, cheap and easy access to some of the best diving sites in the world. The Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand itself. The flights were very cheap and often nearly free due to my frequent flyer miles accumulated during my last 20 years of working. And they were maybe 6-10 hours instead of the 32-36 hours from the USA. All my diving was done from a large ship with about 20 divers plus excellent crews and food on board. I lived aboard the ship for from 5 to 9 days a trip. I met some wonderful people on these trips, underwater photographers whose images and stories were published in international SCUBA diving magazines, one man on many of my trips was KING RAMA IX's personal photographer, another and once my roommate was a retired Thai Army General. Beautiful people. At almost 86 now my diving days have been over for about 4 years now. I surely do miss it. I do make an annual trip to Bangkok for the TDEX (Thailand Diving Exposition) trade show just to visit with vendors at the show that always includes the one I made almost all of my trips with. Vendors come from many countries, and I often meet with people I have been diving with from those countries. From recollections of my early days near my home, people maybe 55 and older read the morning newspapers while having coffee, meeting with friends later at the local Dunkin Doughnut shops discussing local issues but otherwise leading sedentary lives. For some time, I lived at Jomtien Beach. People age 55 and above were riding bicycles along the beach, many power walking, some still running 5K and 10K marathons. They were reliving beautiful and active lives again. Keeping one's body and mind active here once fully retired can be a challenge but it is very important. However, that's a story for another day. Thanks for reading!

This has been quite a thread. I am a white, Caucasian American. Am I racist? I do not think so as for me it boils down to the individual people I am associated with at the time and not their ethnic backgrounds. I left my childhood home in the USA in 1961 at age 21. After 28 years in the USAF. Then and in my second career they had me working in numerous countries around the world. In my interactions with people from other parts of the world, I find that I either like or dislike a person solely based on our interaction, and not his or her ethnic background. I retired In Thailand that at the time was influenced partly my previous military time spent in the 70's at Korat. That was a small part of my decision at that time. As a long time SCUBA diver, some of the best diving in the world was in Asia and other countries. Trips from America to these destinations usually took upwards of 30 hours and way too many dollars. From Thailand to the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt and others the time to travel to these locations was cut to less than 1/3 or 1/2 the time and cost than from the USA. In Thailand my diving was always from a liveaboard vessel where I lived 5 to 10 days usually making 4 dives a day (a few outside of Thailand were 6 dives a day. My favorite and only boat here was the Panunee, www.panunee.com. My first trip with them I had a roommate, a retired Thai Army General and what a fine person he is. At other times, I met King RAMA IX's personal photographer, another a Pediatric Cardiologist surgeon. The above were on board for many of my trips. Also on board were many UW photographers whose photos and stories were published in international diving magazines. Once there were 4 Russian businessmen on board and a translator. We sat at the bow of the boat every evening and had very interesting discussions. If you have done the math, I am 85 now. Once a year usually in May I drive to either BITEC or the Queen Sirikit Convention Center in Bangkok for the annual TDEX (Thailand's diving industry trade show) where I meet with the owner and many staff from the Panunee (now based in Indonesia) as well as many people from other countries I have enjoyed my diving days with. My diving has been a great international experience with many memories of great people from other countries and backgrounds. I loved them all. One recent highlight of my life where I live now was in meeting a 19-year-old Thai lady that works in a restaurant on one of the local bar streets. For whatever the reason I met her the first day she worked there and we began talking for hours a day at slack times for the restaurant. 95%+ perfect English supposedly learned from movies and music. Also, supposedly her hymen is intact. Beyond my ability to confirm but every reason to believe. No interest in short or long times, only her work and her future. Have met many Thia ladies in my times and of many ages but she appears to really have her head together. Some minor conflict with her Buddhist family she wears Christian jewelry and says she is much more aligned with Christianity than Buddhism. Mother works, says dad is typical Thai, drinks, smokes does not work. BTW, I smoke and drink but after the first beer my walking stick gets all wobbly. My drink of choice now is real iced tea. She also demonstrates that she is a very caring person. No matter where I park on the day she walks me to my truck with my hand on her shoulder for support until I am actually in my truck. All in all, I would rate her as a TEN. Did I mention beautiful? In so many ways! I am happy to know her.

In my 14+ years here I have been an inpatient at Bangkok Pattaya hospital to insert a prosthetic device to repair/replace the broken ball at the top of my left femur. At Bangkok Nursing Home (BNH) I was an inpatient twice, once for COVID and once for artificial arteries to be installed from the groin to the knees in both legs along with a bypass designed to balance the blood flow to the upper portion of both legs. My primary doctor at BNH is chief of the CARDIO METABOLIC and KIDNEY FUNCTION department and also the director of the hospital. Earlier I was seen bu Dr Nick Walters quarterly at MISSION HOSPITAL on Phitsanulok Road in Bangkok for management of my Type II diabetes. At one time my doctor at BNH referred me to a Swedish doctor who came to BNH quarterly for pain management mostly of the back and other joints. His treatment for me was injections to the spine. I went into the operating room midafternoon where going up through the base of the spine the doctor provided the treatment needed. An hour or so in recovery and then discharge from the hospital. I drove home pain free from Bangkok to Ban Chang, Rayong arriving around 8:00 that same evening. Dr Nooparat at BNH has been a true blessing. I would not trade him for any doctor I have seen in my 85 years of my life. My point for writing this is that based on what appears was an isolated incident, you cannot generalize that medical treatment in Thailand as inferior to other locations you may be familiar with. From my experience it is some of, if not the best treatment in the medical world.

I had similar surgery some years ago in the USA. A few days before the surgery a 2 piece cast was made that attached with velcro straps. Entered the hospital at 6:00 a.m., had the surgery and recovery rest. I walked out of the hospital in my 2 piece cast at 4:00 p.m. the same day. Did not even have to sleep in the cast but did sleep with the back half still in place. The usual no bending, no twisting applied but I was working 10 days post surgery. My work required driving and flying, quite a challenge at airport security. I think I had the cast about 4 weeks and continued with minimum lifting, bending or twisting another few weeks. As far as BNH and Dr Wicharn, you would be in very good hands. I have seen him at a later time but at the time I decided to delay the procedure discussed at that time. I have been an in-patient twice at BNH under the care of Dr Nopparat, Chief of Cardio and more departments, I would not trade him for any doctor I have seen here or in the USA during my first 85 years. i

I recently purchased a new 65 inch LG TV and added the optional sound bar. As I can turn the sound bar on or off, I can say the sound bar makes a tremendous difference in my ability to understand spoken parts of any program. I also have SONY Blue Tooth noise cancelling headphones that work well but become uncomfortable for extended wear.

burden for much of Thailand and next to impossible for foreigners to deal with. Many if not most visitors even those who come for 60 or 90 day holidays cannot get a local bank account. Seems like another good way to cause foreigners look for other countries to visit. Thailand shooting itself in the foot comes to mind.

Current acreage of Disney amusement parks ranges from 100 to 25,000 acres, 1,185 acres should accommodate a decent amount of space for a nice amusement park.

Dental work and other medical necessities are nothing you want done without complete confidence in the providers. I use the dental clinic at BNH (Bangkok Nursing Home) on Convent Road in Bangkok. In fact, I have been an inpatient twice at BNH for other issues. I can't compare costs but have always had outstanding service and care there. I am 85 years old and live in Ban Chang but the drive to BNH and the medical staff there to me is worth it for the outstanding results I have had. Excellent English also.

Controls wiring in my electric steering system were destroyed some time ago. Had to have car transported on a flatbed truck to dealer for repair. Rat spray available from many sources seems to work well. Fortunately insurance covered my cost for the repair which was quite high..

At Bangkok Pattaya Hospital there is an office just to the left of the old registration desk in the main lobby. I believe the cost is 100 baht. The last time I got these it took about 1 hour for them to produce.

I arrived in Thailand about 14 years ago on an O-A Non-Immigrant visa. I now have the 10-year LTR visa. I understand some rules may have changed but I have never had any issues with Bangkok Bank and their services. I do have a second account with Kasikorn Bank. They also were very easy to open an account with and I have not had any issues with them either. I once opened an account at a 3rd bank assuming they provided the same services. Too late I found they did not offer internet banking which is all that I use. Closed that one immediately.

I top up my DTAC SIM at 7/11. Usually, 1000 baht each time. Good for one year from date topped up.

I think a lot of issues with many things are related to the word defamation. It goes against society to tell anyone that they are doing something wrong or that it or they should be doing whatever it is better, correctly or in accordance with the law. It applies to service in restaurants, hotels, and even police not being on the roadways and stopping people for breaking traffic laws.

My stepdaughter in elementary school here was given an exercise in English language. 10 sentences in incorrect order to be changed to proper English. I did not see her paper until she received her grade. 9 of her 10 responses were marked as correct. In fact, it should have been 1 correct and the other 9 incorrect. Quality of teachers is a big problem here.