Tod Daniels

Sorry for the long post, just thought I’d throw out some observations ..

Given the novella the O/P wants on his shirt; I highly doubt ANY Thai is gonna take the time to read it in its entirety. I can read Thai pretty darned quickly but even I wouldn't waste the time it’d take to read it (and I’ll read just about anything written in Thai, lol). ..

It would appear to me that t-shirts are not all that big of a medium used to convey useful messages in Thai to Thais. Although the t-shirts the red-shirt protestors sell when they are at Rachaprasong do have some good sayings they’re politically based stuff and I don’t see ‘em worn anywhere but there..

I also concur with other posters, insofar as starting off a sentence in the negative, even when using please, just doesn't play culturally to Thais you don't know from "Somchai". The last thing I’d say first to a strange Thai in Thai is “Don’t blah-blah-blah because I feel unwelcome…”

I applaud your effort to try to get Thais to engage you in Thai. Then again, you are a foreigner here right? Given that SO many foreigners here are unable to speak more than ‘2-word-tourist-Thai’ or 'horse-peak', well you can't really blame the Thais for tryin' engrish on you first, can you? If anything, they’re tryin’ to be accommodating not condescending, no matter how it makes you feel inside ..

I think a simple and slightly self-deprecating shirt might play better. Something along the lines of;

กูพูดไทยได้ - โอเคมั้ย

I purposely left out the word language, used the engrish word 'okay' and the more colloquial spelling for ไหม too. Every Thai I know would understand it. After all this is a t-shirt, so you’re not gonna be wearing it at the office. If กู’s too low-so for you use ฉัน.

I think a smiley face, (I've seen one which even uses slanted asian eyes :jap: ), would be fitting under it to reinforce it’s a tongue in cheek message, instead of an ‘info-mercial’ about your feelings.

That's just me though. ... Oh BTW; I’m most definitely pursuing the acquisition of the Thai language, in case you're wondering .

Still if you insist on going with your overly verbose version of the shirt, let us know what you work out as far as the Thai translation, and how it plays for you.

Sorry again, this was a long and offered no direct translation for you. Dam_n these anonymous internet forums. How dare people have an opinion on things!

Now, normally I listen to KISS but I do remember hearing this song when I was quite young. ..

Who remembers this one?

Eve of Destruction?

Anyone else?

This song has a LOT of videos on YouTube. After watching many of 'em I think this one is quite good, possibly the best.

Lemme know what you think?

In 'chat sa-peak', "M-talk' or even colloquial Thai, it means

"Where are you?"

ไหน (nai^R) is a question word meaning "where", and อยู่ (yuu^L) is the word (which in this case) means “to reside” or to be somewhere.

So the phrase อยู่ไหน means kinda sort of like; Where are you or where do you live? ..

Hope it helped. ..

Sorry, I had to make the Thai bigger, I'm old already. ..

This isn't the first time you've gotten snitty with me on the visa forum -- please stop it.<SNIPPED>

Actually, in reading the previous posts of the poster known as real thing, they do post accurate and GOOD visa info.

I apologize and stand humbly erected <sic> errr corrected . ..

Sorry if I ruffled any feathers. ..

I just want people (foreigners) to have good info, not that spurious stuff out there on the internet!!

FWIW: I’ll say sorry once more to “Jingthing” SORRY

I TOTALLY agree with "lopburi3"; Singapore is definitely not "user friendly" for foreigners!

I'd try K/L, Vientiane or maybe Phnom Penh. From the reports on T/V, it would seem K/L is pretty ‘user friendly’.

Seeing as my experience is only with Vientiane, I really can't weigh in with an opinion about other places.

Still, good luck. ..

Where do you plan to apply for this? What country/embassy/consulate? There is no such thing as a single entry 90 day O "retirement" visa. There is a single entry O and there is an O-A retirement visa <SNIPPED>

Real-Thing:

You are correct there is no such thing as a "single entry 90 day O "retirement" visa", however there is such a thing as a Single Entry 90 day Non-Immigrant Type-O visa "for the purpose of retirement" .

You're tryin' to split hares (and animal rights activists the world over are up in arms over this!!)

Being the long time poser <sic> errr poster, that you are on T/V; you know visa terminology is, more times than not, mixed up, referred to in the wrong context, and with the wrong wording. Its just a fact. ..

I still stand by my assertions that the O/P (if he will turn 50 within 90 days) can certainly go to Vientiane and get a Non-Immigrant Type-O visa for the purpose of retirement in the glorious "Land 'O Thais". I did it when I was just over a month short of 50. Why did they do it? Because I would turn 50 BEFORE the visa ran out.

Don't try to muddy the waters talkin' about an O-A visa. He just needs a Single entry Type-O.

I also don't see where the O/P said he was in the US. Then again maybe I can't read. ..

If he's in S/E Asia, or Thailand already, he'll have no problem. Even if he happens to be in the US now, I think the honorary consulate in Houston would probably help him out.

FWIW: I tell acquaintances to AVOID both L/A and D/C when dealing with Thai Embassy/Consulates in the US of A. They both fall short as far as good customer service.

I forgot to add, this 'testing' only came about in the late first or early second quarter of last year.

Before that private Thai Language Schools (in Bangkok) would have you do an in-house test which they then submitted for you to the Ministry of Education so you could continue your in-country 90 day extensions after the first year.

I saw the in-house tests from several different schools and (may even have a scan saved somewhere in my p/c). The test was stuff like: write your first name in thai, write the thai number for the date, there was a word matching section; thai words to the engrish definitions, a section about putting the words of simple sentences into correct order, and then a brief conversation in thai.

Then for some reason, it changed I dunno why really. Now you (as a student of the Thai Language) had to start going and take the test out there at the Ministry of Education.

Now remember, this is after youve attended a YEAR of Thai Language school at just the Ministry of Educations minimum classroom requirements of 4 hours a week. If you were even half awake in class during the year, youll be fine.

They arent gonna ask you to write a short story, nor when they chat with you are they gonna talk about sequencing the human genome! They mostly want to see if you demonstrate some minimal level of basic thai. After all, if you could speak like a thai in perfect thai why would you be studying the thai language anyway?

Like I said, I knew of a coupla schools which actually sent a chaperone with their students when re-upping for their second year.

If anyone knows about this, Id imagine the poster known as macwalen and his chain of The Walen School of Thai would be dialed into what's actually going on currently with it.

Maybe hell contribute to this post!

Even If its only to tell me Im totally wrong , at least wed know, lol. . ..

This is really in response to another post on here where Rikker mentioned the Book Fair.

If anyone's interested; here's the link to the Book Fair being held at The Queen Sirikit National Convention Center starting tomorrow;

Book Fair at Queen Sirikit Center

You gotta scroll down thru the events to find it, as I couldn't get it to link directly

And the link to the English language page of the event organizers;

Bangkok Book Fair

It is a great place to browse for books (both in Thai and English). They have every genre, every category, and you can get some fairly significant deals too. Be warned, that place is a mad house on the weekends with people!

Just thought some of you guys (and gurls) might wanna know. ..

I make the trip to Changwattana 3 or 4 times a month. I've found even from Lower Sukhumvit Road, if I use the expressway take the DinDaeng choice (NOT the Changwattana one), then switch to the elevated 'toll way' (which hardly anyone uses) I've gotten out there in as little as 15 minutes. Sometimes it takes longer to actually get ON the expressway from Sukhumvit than the entire rest of the trip .

I'm gonna hafta agree with other posters; I much prefer spending time at Changwattana than the old Suan-Plu location, even when it was good (which I never experienced it to be). Theres more than ample parking, several restaurants, TWO Thai food courts, most banks have an office there, photo-copy shops, a 7/11; all accessible without ever leaving the building.

Compared to what Suan Plu was, its heaven on earth dealing with Changwattana. The office itself is set up WAY better, delineated into clearly marked sections, enough seating, the customer service people when you first enter are FAR superior to the staff at Suan Plu; who answered questions, handed out the forms AND gave you your queue number (which made that area a HUGE choke point).

Honestly I cant see a SINGLE downside to the new place, even looking with a critical eye.

I agree with other posters; you could have got there by a different route or gotten your re-entry permit a different way as well. That really WAS some heavy rain the other night, especially in some areas of Bangkok. It brought the entire city to its knees that morning.

At least you got what you wanted. Sheesh, I can only imagine how long this post woulda been if you didn't .

Oh to answer your question; Why is Thai Immigrations out there at Changwattana? You mean why is it located in the area where almost all Thai governmental agencies offices are located and why is it in a building called; Government Complex Building?

Hmm, I'll let you puzzle that one out yourself.

As was previously stated;

A single re-entry permit costs 1000Baht, and is good for a single exit/entry.

A multiple re-entry permit costs 3800Baht and is good for an unlimited number of exits/entries.

Howver BOTH of these re-entry permits are tied to your current "extension of stay" stamp as far as their validity.

You mention you're on an ED visa. AM I correct in thinking you're doing 90 day extensions of stay based on the initial Single Entry Type-ED visa which you received outside of the country? Like people do when attending a private Thai Language School in Bangkok?

Any re-entry permit you'd purchase would expire the same time as your current extension of stay stamp does. Unless you're winging your way outta the country a LOT purchasing a multiple reentry permit isn't all that cost effective when you're on 90 day extensions of stay.

As far as dates and places you're traveling to;

No, you just make up the dates the places, etc. They don't ask nore seem overly concerned about if you're really traveling. Also at least at Changwattana there're no copies of anything needed, just the application for the re-entry permit and the photo.

P/S: there are recent reports that you CAN purchase re-entry permits at Suvarnabhumi Airport from 6AM until midnite.

I do believe that a student (at least here in Bangkok) hasta go out to the Ministry of Education when wanting to continue receiving extensions of stay on their ED visa in country when their first year's worth of extensions run out when attending a private Thai Language school.

I know of one private Thai Language school which, due to its high number of students actually had a special class running last year which 'taught' their students how to get thru the 'interview/testing' at the Ministry of Education. They also accompanied groups of their students out there and helped em get thru the process too.

I freely admit I could possibly be reporting in error on this 'interview/testing' dealy at the Ministry of Education, as my information is from late last year, but I don't think so .

FWIW: I just tried to call several students I know personally who're on their second year's worth of ED visa extensions, but they're all in class now . Once I reach one I'll report back.

Then again the O/P could click on any of the Thai Language School ads by Forum Sponsors and ask their customer service people.

I had the exact same situation come up two years ago.

I got my first 90 day Non-Immigrant Type-O visa (for the purpose of retirement) issued in Vientiane two years ago when I was only 49. Seeing as I was gonna turn 50 before the 90 days ran out they issued it to me without a question, with just the standard documentation needed for qualifying for that type of visa.

I previously was on an extension of stay on an ED visa, but it was set to expire BEFORE I turmed 50, and Suan Plu wouldn't budge on the age requirement. That's why I had to go get the new visa out of the country to cover the gap in timing.

After that, when there was a month left on the visa I got in Vientiane; I went to Suan Plu (now Changwattana) and applied for a yearly extension of stay based on retirement.

Hope it helps.

I don't think Changwattana will issue you either a 90 Day Type-O or a yearly extension of stay because at this time you don't meet the age requirements. You could try it, but I honestly doubt it.

Having had an ED visa myself, as well as knowing possibly hundreds of people who also have them; I doubt the experience will be be as fraught with peril as you think.

Looking back on the scans of my docs I received from the school when I got my initial ED visa, it would appear there're about 4 or so different documents, (each with their colorful stamp).

The important documents seem to be;

*letter from the Ministry of Education (which the schools gets on your behalf)

*letter from the school stating you've enrolled in classes and to issue you a Single Entry Non-Immigrant Type ED visa

*document showing the schools registered/certified with the Ministry of Education.

*document which has the picture and I/D card, etc of school's principal (which will be a Thai national).

Then of course you'll be the application form, necessary copies of your passport pages and photos too. ..

It's pretty straightforward and given the plethora people staying in thailand on this type of visa I think you'll be fine.

True. .. You're the first student to try it from your school; but if indeed they have all their “ducks in a row” documentation wise, you shouldn't have a problem.

FWIW: I'd get the land line, fax and a mobile number from the school BEFORE you go. That way if there's anything not in order, you can call 'em and let them talk to the Thai Embassy staff while you're there.

FWIW: I many know people who've received their ED visas in both Penang, and KL from a couple of different private Thai Language Schools, without a problem.

At the worst case (if you can't sort it out, even with calling the school while you're at the Embassy); snap up a Tourist Visa. Then try it again when that winds down.

Good Luck.

This leads to a slightly off-topic question, (which the O/P may still find of marginal value) . ..

As a non-native Thai speaker; how do you know which preposition between สำหรับ and เพื่อ (the word "for") to use in which sentence constructs? And also how do you know when to use กับ (with) instead of for?

It is just something you glean via practice and usage or is there an actual thai grammar rule which dictates their use?

Sorry again for the off-topic post. ...

Actually, I thought this thread would be a ZERO, as in no replies.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only person here in the glorious "Land 'O Thais" who finds this problematic.

Now if I could just come up with a way to stop errant queue jumping at 7/11 and Thais tryin' to get on a lift or the Sky Train BEFORE people get off, I'd be in tall cotton, or maybe here, tall rice.

If you want to see t-shirts in poor taste try; tshirthell dot com.

You'd be hard pressed to find shirts more politically incorrect than theirs.

FWIW: I sent in my "Just Here For The Whores" idea and DIDN'T win their monthly prize.

Actually they did respond and said the shirt would only appeal to a 'niche' market. ..

Here's a pic from a shirt on their site (the message often times seems appropriate here):

Here's the link for the E-Visa for Cambodia and which border crossings accept them.

Cambodian E-Visa

FWIW: Aranyaprathet / Poi Pet even has a special line for e-visa holders.

Going off the info on that link it would seem the visa itself is $20US and there's a $5US processing fee, so $25US in all. At 30baht to the dollar that's 750baht. Some friends did it last year when they toured Cambodia, and it didn't cause 'em any grief at all.

In answer to the previous post by "dvc";

Here's the link to thai-language dot com's Gay & Lesbian page.

Thai-Language Dot Com - Gay / Lesbian Terms

If you use the site thai-language dot com; it's always better to go to the 'site settings' tab on the left side of the page (about half way down) click it, and then check the tabs marked "enable Gay content" & "enable Racy content" . (Don't forget to save your settings!)

You'll get far more contemporary slang and usage that way.

<SNIP> Hey! Tony Robbins says it's so -- so who is anyone to doubt <SNIP>

SORRY OFF TOPIC

Heck, if Tony Robbins says it; well by golly, I guess it's gotta be true!

After all, who could ever doubt the words 'o wisdom from the most well known, or at the least best promoted; "peak performance coach" (a term he prefers over "motivational speaker"). ..

I'm turning on my Thai Language c/d and taking a nap, right NOW! I’ll get back to you if I start speaking in tongues , err I mean in Thai. ..

I just finished 2 weeks of constant testing. I even went so far as enlisting two foreign friends to try it out too. I wanted to see if it was just me or it works for everyone.

I’ve been here going on 6 years and I certainly can't be the only one amazed at the near total lack of spatial awareness (where people are in relation to anything else in the known universe) . They amble down the sidewalk to the left to the right, almost as if on purpose. When approaching a Thai who is comin' towards you, invariably if you give them the slightest eye contact, we both end up 'veering' the same way, leading to a collision or a stand off where both of us hafta stop.

Honestly, I stumbled on this technique quite by accident but so far it's worked flawlessly, and my foreign testers concurred with its efficacy.

As you're approaching a Thai who is comin' towards you DON'T look at them EVER (as in NO eye contact at all)!!

Instead look at the ground, either to their right or left. In fact look slightly past them but still at the ground to one side or the other. So far I’ve found the approaching person will veer or move over the opposite way from your stare. It’s almost a psychic ability that they have! Look past ‘em at the ground on their right, they'll veer left, look past ‘em at the ground on their left, they’ll veer right. Yet all this is done without ever looking at the person approaching. Strange I know. ..

I haven't collided with a Thai since I've started running the 'clinical trials'. Although clearly more testing is in order before I apply for a patent or at least a trademark.

Just thought I'd share this meaningless bit of wisdom with everyone.

Try it and report back.

These examples aren't shirts I've seen Thais wear, but ones I had made up at MBK for 250baht each when I first moved here. I thought they might garner a chuckle none the less.

These are shirts are more tongue in check, but could be interpreted as also being in poor taste, (you’re forewarned)

Here's a pic of the one which gets the most comments from foreigners when I wear it;

I also made up ones which say;

NOT a Sex Tourist !!

(I Live Here..)

another one which says;

Thai Gurlz (Take TWO They're Small!)

one more which says;

It's ALWAYS About The Money !

The last one, which I’ve yet to wear (as it's too over the top, even for me);

Just Here For The Whores !

FWIW: going on 6 years here I've become a 'kinder-gentler' Tod Daniels. (Mostly I just stick to wearing my KISS t-shirts)

Note to the MODZ: if this post is too far off base; please delete it!!

I know of at least 3 or 4 private Thai Language Schools in the Bangkok Metro area which are currently offering this type of "Distance Learning" dealy. It seems to be working quite well. They seem to get you the documentation to get the first ED visa issued, get you your extension paperwork, etc, without a hitch.

As I'm a curious person (meaning "nosy" ); I observed one of those classes last week (sitting at an acquaintances apartment and watching him take a "lesson"); it's pretty much the exact same thing the school mentioned teaches in their classrooms.

I will say a BIG factor in taking lessons via the internet is "connection dependent". I noticed some time lag, frozen screens and a dropped connection during his lesson. (BTW: that was certainly NOT the fault of the school, but the student's iffy internet connection).

You've got your text books right in front of you. The picture and audio were clear; even on speaker versus headphones. I thought it was the exact same quality of class they teach at school, meaning I didn't see a down side to learning Thai this way (other than your internet connection).

I would imagine this type of "Distance Learning" will become more popular in the future for students. Especially ones who live up country and for ones who don't live close enough to a location to make it cost effective to travel back & forth every week.

Hope it helps,

Good Luck

Tod

WOW, I guess I was pretty far off the mark too!

I'd never heard the phrase เข้าเส้นเลือด which "a51mas" points out is the real phrase, with the abbreviated one เข้าเส้น being used in the book.

I guess it's kinda like her lesbian tendencies were 'ingrained' or 'hardwired' since she was a child. Also I'd imagine, if indeed it is "in the veins" or "in your blood" it's NOT a personal choice you can make. This meaning would seem to make it more a part of who you are and not who you choose to be.

I totally agree with "bhoydy"; even if we missed the nuance or the exact meaning; we were still able to figure out to one degree or another (for whatever reason) her sister was a lesbian since she was a child.

FWIW: I think it's a great practice book! Even just this single question gave us another idiomatic Thai expression; which we wouldn't necessarily learn the real meaning of by simply looking up the individual words in a dictionary. This book is FULL of expressions like that.

I did find the phrases; ตอนนั้น (then at that time), ฉะนั้น (consequently), จากนั้น (after that, From then on), and especially อยู่มาวันหนึ่ง (then one day), to be used quite a lot as the first words in new paragraphs.

However, this is a first person account of something, and the first I've ever read in Thai. So they could be "standard opening lines" when writing a narrative in the first person.

Interesting thread & and answers.

Thanx;

Tod

I think it's great you started this thread!

I know there're a few posters reading it, and if we keep the questions about the book here, at least people can ask things and more learned posters than myself could help provide answers.

With the phrase เข้าเส้นมา I took the second word เส้น to be more figurative in describing a progression or path in life. Unless I'm mistaken the verbs เข้า & มา are used to show directionality; as in having 'entered' that path at some time in the past when she was a child..

I've heard เส้น used in both normal speech and quite a lot in Thai songs like the phrase เส้นทางนั้น "that path", เส้นทางนี้ "this path" in regards to life choices.

I read thru the book once already. I'm now re-reading it, writing down the words I'm really not sure on and looking 'em up once I get back home. Most of the ones I didn't know, I was able to guess the meanings via context. However, guessing the meaning of a word, and actually knowing how to say it correctly or knowing how its used are horses of a different color.

I saw a thai girl the other day wearing a t-shirt which at first glance I thought was the standard "I (heart) Bangkok" one you see all over the country.

Something about it didn't look quite right and when I re-read it, it said; "I (heart) BigCock"

The font was exactly the same and I'm sure most people didn't even give it a second glance.