ExpatInCM

I lived with undiagnosed and untreated SIBO for over 2 years. I really had to push my gastroenterologist specialist in the US to diagnose my very upsetting and distressing problem. But finally he had me perform a SIBO breath test at home using a test kit he had in stock at his office and I mailed the test samples produced to the kit's manufacture to determine the results. Wow! The results were almost 100% indicative to having SIBO, which was something I knew nothing about. The Xifaxan antibiotic he then prescribed eliminated the problem. SIBO can be difficult to cure permanently for most people I am told and have been observing. I just finished my 4 regimen of Xifaxan during the last 2.5 years. Each time , the Xifaxan has eliminated it for me anywhere from 3 to 9 months before I needed another Xifaxan Rx from my doctor.

So many English speaking people find it very difficult to learn Thai, so it is not really surprising that so many Thai people find it difficult to learn English. I've been watching this annual reports come out for about 15 years now, and Thailand's ranking has not moved very much overy this time period.

"Seems like this guy had some bad luck." ???

Thank you very much lopburi3 for posting the 2nd link below, the Bloomberg article! It explains the serious debt problem that so much of the Thai population and the country's economy is facing much more clearly than the very vague AseanNow article (which was focused on the Thai policemen's debt) that we read here and are all commenting on. lopburi3 had posted: "Which, if my math is right (often is not) makes the average amount about 1.3 million baht per officer. Wiki puts officers between 210,700 and 230,000. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Thai_Police Other sources place one million baht debit at less that 14% of total individuals. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-30/why-thais-have-high-household-debt-and-why-it-s-risky?embedded-checkout=true"

This is a serious question that I need help in understanding having to do with Thai culture and Thai communication behaviors, but I am sure I'll get some non-serious, unhelpful replies mixed in with hopefully some helpful, well-intentioned and insightful comments also. I honestly want to understand what is going on culture-wise so I can better deal with these experiences. Thank you in advance for your helpful, insightful comments. I am English speaking only. My Thai wife is very fluent in both Thai and English. Many times in stores like Home Pro or with waiters/waitresses in many restaurants we go to, if I am active speaking just a sentence or 2 to my wife so she will be able to translate what I want or what I am looking for to the Thai person, they interrupt me quickly when I begin talking by starting to speak themselves. Their interruption talks over my talking and it prevents my wife from hearing any of my words. Many times I am trying to answer the Thai person who has asked me a question that I need to answer. But as soon as I begin talking to answer, they begin talking again as if I am not even there or as if I am not talking. Sometimes they are very much waiting for the answer they need from me, but every time I begin talking they also begin talking preventing me from possibly communicating and answering their question. This can happen 3 or 4 times in a row sometimes with me repeatedly trying to speak a sentence or 2 to answer their question, but I am just not allowed to speak in front of them and therefore no effective communication takes place. Sometimes we just give up and stop trying to buy what I need, and we either look for another employee to deal with who lets me talk just a little and we then have success with them and buy the item needed, or go to another store where communication is allowed/possible. I witness this same thing happening to other foreigner customers also in these same businesses, so I don't feel it is personal. Does anyone else who is a non-Thai speaking foreigner who is with a Thai interpreter (wife, girlfriend, friend, other) experience this frustration in Thailand? And why does this happen? What is happening? Is it because they know they can't understand my language at all, and they know the person I am with does understand them, and they are just really impatient and can't resist talking in Thai to the Thai person who is with me instead of allowing me to speak a few sentences that can translated for their (and mine) huge benefit? Something else? And most importantly, how can I better deal with this situation when it happens and do something that will allow or facilitate effective communication when they keep interrupting me? Thank you again in advance for any helpful responses and insights!