CrunchWrapSupreme

I've said it on here many times, it's terrible seeing all these grandkids back in the moo bans since Covid began. Woe is me, the tourists are gone, the bar/restaurant/etc. closed. Gotta come back to village life. Gonna try marrying some handsome, young village boy, who tend not to do much but beg their parents/grandparents as well. Well, now Covid's over and it's time to go back. Yet they refuse. They think they'll settle back into village life and selling snacks by the road. Well, 200-300 baht a day won't put much of a dent into their grandparents' daily living expenses, let alone their debts. The tourists are back and the jobs are there, in BKK/Patts/Phuket. We know this well as there aren't enough Thais taking them, and rather it's the Cambodians, Burmese, and now Russians who are. The grandkids could certainly go back to help relieve khun yai/khun ta of some of that sugar cane cutting, basket weaving, silk weaving, or pushing carts around still into their 70's, as others play on their phones. Yet they aren't.

I've mentioned the BKK bargirl who's been in our village since Covid got started. She refuses to go back. Her fam keeps pointing at the news about all the returning tourists, the busy airport. It doesn't have to be back to the bar or sex work, there's plenty of other jobs, which she's been referred to. But no dice. She thought she was getting married to a local village boy, and getting a 50k sin sod, but those plans fell apart. Tatted up bargirls aren't worth so much apparently. So since then with the saving face business, she's been displaying maximum butthurt. Stomping around the village, scowling, barking various complaints at her poor grandparents, selling roadside snacks for a pittance. then hiding in her room right after dinner. If she would just get her rear end back to BKK, like most other Issan girls, she'd relieve a lot of the stress on her poor family. The money's there for the taking. But it's the pride I guess. Going back would be to admit failure. Point is, the fam has all been pointing at the tourist news, making suggestions, occasionally trying to nudge her along. But the answer ultimately is always "up to her". That's Thai style. Very passive, very indirect. Same thing in Thai education. If they want to study, great, if that want to goof off all day in class, oh well, up to them. Nothing's done about it. All these ultimatiums, "tough love", better shape up or pack your bags, that's all Western thinking, and it doesn't fly here.

My first GF in Thailand was an LB. We met on a dating site before I came, talked for a few months, then finally met in a Suk pub. She couldn't drag me back to the hotel room fast enough to give me my warm welcome to Amazing Thailand. Haha. She then became an excellent tour guide and ambassador to her country. Yes, as others have noted, they want an active lifestyle. Staying at home and taking care of you, uh uh. The next place I got dragged out to were the Silom nightclubs. They love to dance. More than others they have a persistent need to keep moving to maintain those figures. She was in her 30's, nearing the point where they're no longer that passable and have to "retire". There are a couple of retired LBs in my village, their English is quite good, I'd love to hear their stories about how they developed it so well but I'm sure the wife wouldn't approve. But here is where you'd have the best luck with LBs. The young ones, like all women, have had their egos inflated with all the attn they get, have high expectations, and command a high price. Older means more humble and mature. And as others said, indeed give the older non-LB Thai ladies a try. There are so many of them in their late 30's and 40's, lonely and neglected, looking for good companionship. My wife's friends keep asking me how to get them on the dating sites, where I've had to show them the competition is fierce. If your friend wouldn't mind a quiet, laid back lifestyle out here in the country, with a more sincere relationship, that'd be the way to do it.

Huge, beautiful payments. Believe me folks. Many such cases.

Already got started. We stay in the moo ban. Gonna be my last Songkran in the LOS for awhile.

Mmm, 16k baht. Not a bad take for 2 weeks of online teaching. USD goes to PayPal, then to my US bank acct, then to my Thai bank through Wise. Me and hundreds of teachers across Thailand are doing this, as we must supplement our meager public school salaries. The 40k baht my school gives me monthly isn't much, but along with the 32k above it makes for quite a respectable salary, with the low cost of living up here in Issan. I'm just a lowly teacher, and you'll probably be bringing in a lot more in tech. Just don't go bragging about it too much, not at the bars, and def not to the missus and her fam. And don't be like these AseanNow folks, who if you believe them are all secretly C-level managing directors of large multinationals, transferring in a million baht each month. Hah. Cheers.

Business opportunities in the LOS... RIP, my guy. Down the road from our village a Thai man opened a mini mart franchise. He had two ladies tending the front. Bright, cheerful, they lit up the place, made it seem like we now had a bustling town here. Then one day they were gone, and now only his quiet, surly cousin mans the register. Word around the village is that after he did his first sales vs cash intake tally, they had robbed him blind. Tough times. My wife's own words, "They get cash in their hands, and they cannot อดทน" (perserve, resist the temptation).

Not quite a simple affair. In the US, only one state I'm aware of, Minnesota, with a Master's degree allows you to simply take the exam for your subject, then be handed a teaching license. All other states require a slew of exams and lengthy, expensive courses, which mostly seem like a racket for states to collect revenue. CA, TX, and FL are the worst in this regard. Those I've spoken to who did them said they were a joke, there wasn't much to be applied toward any meaningful professional development. It's unfortunate considering how the US still continues to suffer from a massive teacher shortage, that with such BS they're still failing to address. On the other hand, Thailand offers a great opportunity for an aspiring teacher to simply hop on a plane, then be put in front of a classroom. Sure, this does result in all the backpacker, Hangman playing "teachers" everyone likes to trash. But there's also quite a few who really want to teach, make a difference in kids' lives, and grow from the experience. While working we also get to enjoy touring this beautiful country and enjoy its low cost of living, one that doesn't have to take nearly all one's salary. Your home country might pay more, but then how much of that will go to rent? Not to mention, how many new teachers back home will burn out in a few years given the MMA-like, body slamming environment, complete with flying bullets? The Thai classroom can be pretty chaotic, but compared to that of America it's really heaven. But yeah, you are right about long term teaching here, and a long term future with no savings nor retirement plans. Which is why after nearly a decade here I'm taking this experience back home with me to teach in the US, in a few weeks. It was certainly worth it. But given what I described above, it'll have to be with part time uni courses and tutoring centers, which piecemeal could provide for a decent salary. Again, it's not so easy. The full time, secure, well-benefitted teaching job that paid well, was from an America long ago. Anyway, back to the topic. I also teach many Chinese online, and they've told me of the many rumors being blasted about the dangers of Thailand, and not to travel here. Yet other than that one student murder incident, I tell them it's relatively safe, and the Chinese have been arriving by the planeload. We then both conclude that it's the Chinese govt trying to prevent their citizenry and capital from fleeing their country.

Ok, my little story. I once spent the night in a drunk tank in California. Quite a motley crew of detainees, ranging from the obviously long term mentally ill and some horrific rants, the drug/alcohol addicted, the guys still in shirts and ties who couldn't handle the company party, and the young wannabe punks, who got put in their place real quick for trying to mouth off the cops, then became whimpering little sissies. Quite an experience. For some it wakes one up to the fact they ought to do something to prevent such future situations, while others never learn. I heard some had records miles long for such situations, drunk in public, DUIs, and there's no long term solution other than to just keep dragging them in, then letting them go.

Mmm. Everyone best read up on this current 4chan Florida Sheriff issue: https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/03/31/2nd-4chan-user-accused-of-making-death-threat-against-volusia-sheriff-mike-chitwood/ A random guy on 4chan in New Jersey made threats against an FL sheriff, angry about some news article. The board claims to have total anonymity, no user names, random post IDs. Nevertheless, cops showed up at his mom's place where he stayed, dragged him out, and extradited him to FL. If that wasn't bad enough, the 4chan guys all laughed about it, thought it was fake, or that it wouldn't happen again. So many of them also started making threats to the Sheriff. So it happened again, this time to a guy in San Diego. Got his information, showed up at his house, now he's also off to FL. Surely FL's got a million other problems. Meth, fentanyl, ridiculous rent, homelessness, out of control schools. But they can go ahead and misplace their priorities all they want, and find you on the Internet on a whim.

Indeed. The line of farangs that often stretches down and around a few blocks from Jomtien immigration still hasn't clued those guys into realizing there's a whole rest of the country to be lived in. I'm in and out of my shiny new Issan imm office 5-10 mins, every time. And geez, if you've really gotta have bars, ladies, beaches: 1) other provinces got em, 2) you can live in another province, deal with their far more favorable imm, then go visit Patts if you really need to.

Of course. We deserve it as QUALITY TOURISTS. I recommend diversifying your flavours too.

Please, Your Excellency Mr. P. Come here to Issan. Round up all the 15 to 20-something HS dropouts here in the villages, laying around all day on their phones, swaggering around smoking and popping yaba, racing motorbikes back and forth, BKK bargirls who came during Covid and refuse to go back, pathetically putting their hands out to their grandparents. You'll easily fill a dozen buses with hundreds of them. Toss em all in an Army base for a 1-2 day English crash course, giving them basic phrases, Welcome to Amazing Thailand, right this away sir/ma'am, you must try this delicious food, etc. The bargirls of course already know quite a bit, and they can help the lazy boys. Boom, you got your Thai tour guides, and won't have to worry about those pesky foreigners taking their jobs.

Topless video call. You've seen what's been happening on TikTok, Twitch, Bigo Live, etc. She was probably trying to earn a little money for her family. Likely a lot more effort than he's put in lately.

Granted there's no oceanfront views, but lovely views of the surrounding mountains out here in Issan, which would be great for a rooftop balcony, sunsets, and stars. Prices have fallen during Covid and haven't picked up since. Wife's been eyeing 4 rai on a main road, electric access, 800k baht. Then just 1-2m for a decent house. I like those numbers. Thais who weathered the storm during Covid, some we hear back from working abroad, are now taking advantage of the situation, with rows of trucks hauling in the dirt upon which to build.

Yup. In nearly 10 years here, just a copy of the first passport page, but never the visa stamp. With vacancies at well over 50%, they want renters, and would prefer foreign renters they know have cash, will be on time, and not trash the place.

If you're prone to being easily agitated, suffer from anxiety and paranoia, and occasional bouts of "this absurd activity makes perfect sense, why not", stay away from the sativa. You must instead indulge in the indica, which will make you kick back, chill, and Praise Jah irie irie mon!

In my case, made perfect sense for a career change, and a change of scenery. Quit 10 years of sales. Went back to uni to get my MA in English. Saw the opportunity in Thailand. Numbers certainly weren't good, but doable with the low cost of living, vacation time, plenty of sightseeing including the women, one of whom I married, which I needed after 10 years of an also horrible dating scene. Teaching in Thailand means you're thrown in front of a classroom. Bad for some, but just what I wanted. Teaching in the States, hah. Run the gauntlet for certifications, extra courses, exams to finally get a K-12 teaching license. Then put on your Kevlar. Or in the uni world, get down on your knees to beg for those connections to squeeze your way into adjunct faculty, then beg again for enough classes to get somewhat a full schedule, to pay the bills. Well, after nearly a decade here in the LOS to put on my resume, it's got the attn of a uni back in the States who's been looking for just this sort of thing, given the increasing numbers of intl students now arriving. I've also had interviews with several tutoring centers which also increased in number, given that dire K-12 situation. And like in Thailand, American parents are more inclined to send their kids to such centers, when there's a uni instructor at them. No published papers or Fortune 500 here, but I reckon this makes for a decent career path, nonetheless. If you've already had an impressive career path in education, Thailand certainly won't be a stepping stone. But as others have said, if you've grown tired of your previous workload and expectations, research, publications, Thailand makes for a laid back alternative, and as many say can be like a working vacation. If not to build experience, as in my case, then that would be the takeaway, not more prestige or salary. I just turned in my resignation at my lowly Issan govt high school, where I had a decent few years at 40k, and was recently offered 30k at the local Rajabhat. But now it's time to go. At the end of next month I'll be in Kansai airport in Osaka, putting away sushis and Kirins for my 8 hour layover, then it'll be 14 hours to Los Angeles, then onward to the Midwest. Then a few months after, my wife will be joining me on her IR-1 visa, and we'll be back in the LOS someday again for vacation. Cheers all.

I'm about to do that myself. It's time for me to go home. There's a form you need to get from the labor office. Take that to the appropriate officer at your work. They need to sign it and specify your last day at work. Be careful, on that day you must either leave the country, or get another extension. So on the same day you go to the labor office to cancel your permit, then go to immigration. They'll give you an extra seven days, albeit expensive ones at 1900 baht, to leave. So do this a week or less before you've booked your flight. Alternatively, if you're married you could get the extra 30 day "visiting the wife" extension.

Will they please round up all these lazy young men in my village, and the few bar girls who refuse to go back post-Covid, and take them to go be Pattaya tour guides?

Aww, I see it's time for a puppy thread. Here are mine. Pic's about a year old, so they're now about 2. Mom and dad made these 5, so now we have 7 dogs. When they were young I pleaded with the wife to give some away, but it wasn't happening. Now we're stuck with em. Some are going out to the farm eventually. Rather than spaying/neutering, a guy in the village gives them periodic injections to stop pregnancy, or not want the boom boom.

Don't follow you with this one. My 74 year old mom is in need of help at her age, eyesight going, trouble walking, and will now be getting back her son and a loving Thai woman to help take care of her. Around the house, as well as with income, with I in teaching, and the wife in hospitality. Much better than the typical American way, which is to stick them in a rest home and forget about them. Much better than the typical AseanNow way, which is to burn all their bridges, and for some reason feel proud about doing so. Still have my grandparents' house in my home state as rental property. Mom bought the midwestern house before the exodus at around $120k, going for $600k now.

I'm very disappointed that this discussion of Russians and their obviously legitimate business dealings has failed to conjure any mention of this famous movie scene:

Indeed, in the US it's not really the foreigners, but their own countrymen. My mom escaped our certain overpriced home state for a cheaper midwestern state about 10 years ago. Others then caught wind of this, and the exodus began. The house she bought is now worth about 4x as much. My Thai wife and I will be going back soon. THANKS MOM!