CWMcMurray

If you are talking about the brand name Pampers, then as the above poster advised you need to contact P&G. You also may want to check if they already have an office in the country you want to ship to. I believe they have offices in around 100 countries...

P&G Manufacturing (Thailand) Ltd.

20th-22nd floor, the Emporium Tower

622 Sukhumvit Rd., Kwaeng Klongton

Khet Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110

Thailand

Phone: 66-2-664-5000

Fax: 66-2-667-5068

Just took a quick look at the website and edited to mention that they have a B2B section on their website: http://www.pg.com/b2b/index.shtml

Of course it all depends upon the owner's attitudes, but I would think that the phone interview with the owner will not be a huge difference from what youy may expect from a phone interview back home.

This is someone owning an american franchise, who most likely is very well educated and has a lot of experience with westerners and western management styles. The fact that he is recruiting an American Manager from overseas just reinforces this opinion.

The culture issues will be more challenging if you get the job. From what I have learned, it is better to come in quitely and spend a bit of time watching, learning and building relationships with your subordinates before making any sweeping changes (this doesn't mean becoming their best buddy).

Give it a couple of months of assessment and then work toimplement changes. If you come in like a bull ready to shake things up, you will most certainly have problems.

If you want to give advice or disagree with your boss, best to do it in private, not in front of everyone. The same should be done with people under you as well.

This is just a rough guideline and like all other stereo types, could be completely incorrect for this specific owner and this specific company...

This shouldn't be a problem, the amount you quoted would be plenty for most folks to take care of the family even with the normal bills. (Rent, Car Payment, internet, phone, mobile phones, electric, water, cable).

That is unless you have expensive tastes and like to splurge on big ticket items or if your wife likes to be pampered and go to salons and buy brand name everythings.

Or if you want to live in an overpriced house/condo or drive a benz...

For most people just looking for a normal middle class lifestyle and not have to stress over every baht, it should be more than enough.

I would recomend Thailand for the birth. The medical costs will be significantly cheaper and I think you wife will have a much "Happier" pregnancy.

I remember the cravings and things my wife wanted during her pregnancy and I can't imagine trying to find those things back in Farangland or if I could find themhow far I would have to drivetoget them and how much they would cost. Then she would most likely say "never mind it doesn't taste the same".

Not to mention if she was here she would have her family support network with her during the pregnancy and after the birth. She will miss her family teribly during her pregnancy if she is in Australia.

If you situation allows you to. I would recomend staying in Thailand for the pregnancy and at least the first year or two afterthe birth.

You are charged the normal price. The Thais are given a well deserved discount.

Any farang making 150 baht a day?

Any Thais making more than 150 baht a day?

Yep, new years eve and new years day are the norm for most companies.

I do agree with you; if you try, maybe change will take place, but if you don't try then you can be certain that nothing will ever change.

I love my wife, but I know her well enough to know that she would not be willing to take a lead role in this.

I wish you the best of luck and I am very interested in following this.

I think the PAD overstepped the mark, the government can't do anything about it and so naturally, the army will have to step in.

[scratching my head in confusion yet again]

Why does everyone seem to think that the prerequisite of the Army doing their job is overthrowing the government???

Why can't they just come out take care of the situation and go home????

Why do they need to have a coup first????

The army in Thailand has a rather strange job description, but obviously protecting the viability of their country and its economy, does not come under that description.

In any other country the army would be carrying out the orders of the govt. but not here.

PAD have known the army will not act against them from day one. They are on the same side, although as it gets more far fetched it must be embarrassing for them.

Army is happy to keep quiet only if the government is under their control. This govt. is most frustrating for them, as it doesn't always do what its told. It even dares to talk back!

Are you saying is that in Thailad the governemnt is "supposed to" take the orders of the Army not the other way around and the problem is that this government is not letting the Army pull the strings behind closed doors???

I used to drink with some motorcycle guys in different parts of Bangkok many years ago when I was a drunk.

They see these rich farang travelling all round the world with high-paying jobs and taking back girls to their apartments many nights yet try to get off with 10 baht with them for a ride. These are hard-working good guys generally, who work 7 days a week to get 5,000 of which half is often sent to their family up country.

They are poor but very proud and will beat someone up without an hesitation if they deserve it.

Often it's the expats lack of communication skills that is the problem.

Imagine if you were tax driver in London and some Oil Shiek flagged you down and tried to get it 1 quid cheaper than the meter , babbling away in Arabic - you'd think he were a real <deleted>, wouldn't you?

Yeah, that makes sense... taxi fares should be based upon the income level of the passenger not the distance of the trip???

If I was the Oil Shiek and the taxi in London tried to charge 1 quid over the meter I probably wouldn't pay either.

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The best bit of advice is to always ask the fare before getting on the Bike. If they are overcharging, try to negociate and if they won't reduce the price don't get on.

I can't count the number of times I have asked and after doing some quick estimations in my head figured a meter taxi would be cheaper.

If it is a route he doesn't travel often, he should have paid the amount asked and chalked it up as a lesson learned. There is no reason not to try and haggle, but this should have been done before getting on the bike.

I think the PAD overstepped the mark, the government can't do anything about it and so naturally, the army will have to step in.

[scratching my head in confusion yet again]

Why does everyone seem to think that the prerequisite of the Army doing their job is overthrowing the government???

Why can't they just come out take care of the situation and go home????

Why do they need to have a coup first????

As I understand it, all the parties buy votes. How is that some get dissolved and others don't?

Maybe you understand it wrong.

No, I think he's got it right... some parties have been disolved and others haven't .

I am completely surprised that so many seem to favor a coup!!!

It should not require a coup for the police and army to do their job and maintain the peace. Their job is to maintain the peace, not take out the government. There has even been a court order for PAD to leave the airport, just go and enforce it.

People should also start suing the PAD leaders for damages caused for the disruptions to businesses, the estimated quote I heard on the radio was around 1 billion baht a day. I wonder if they would be willing to foot that bill.

This is just getting ridiculous...

Hi Ruth,

Thanks for the reply. My daughter and I will be there on Sat, I sent my email to you via PM. If I remember correctly I think the the Tesco Lotus is on Naratiwat RD???

fyi

I will be coming from downtown and I will be getting off the highway at the Rama III exit.

Hi my name is Charlie and I am interested in attending a play group with my 14 month old daughter Jasmine. I work M-F and a half day on Saturday, so the only time I could make it would be either Sat afternoon or Sunday.

I am willing to go to either Rama III or Bang Na for play group. Any chance for Sunday?

that's your experience and it's good you share it with us. One point worth expanding on, about people who heavily tattoo themselves, say at young age, and then regretting it later on in the years. Why is it? Could that be because they faced ostracism and prejudice for years? Dunno, just asking...

Don't necessarily regret it (still like my tats), but sometimes it can be a pain having to wear long sleeve shirts at all business functions...

Most times not a big deal, normally have to wear shirt and tie at work, but on Sat (casual day at the office) or if we have a social outing for work then I still have to wear the long sleeve polo and long pants.

I know a few Thai people that will purchase things on-line from Amazon or Ebay, but these are folks that have spent quite some time overseas living/studying in the US. From my understanding they are the exception rather than the rule.

I remember when I was going to university here in Thailand, this topic came up in more than a few classes. When the question was asked, "Who has ever purchased anything on-line?" The response was the same in each case. The international students all raised their hands and none of the Thai students raised theirs.

When the field was widened by asking, "Who knows somebody who has ever bought something on-line?", it received the same response.

These were students in their 3rd or 4th year in Unversity almost all from very well to do Thai families. Not sure if things are changing...

round the back of pink lao central there is a hotel called bankok noi village , they have a pool , separate from the hotel.

I second this. I believe they charge 50 thb for people not staying in the condo (this was a few years ago, not sure if the rates have risen). It has a nice pool and usually was not to busy. If you are coming from Central, it is the first soi past Central by Bar Kung Pow.

Bangkok Noi Village is all the way at the end of the Soi.

Once you go into the Soi, after about 100m it will turn to the right then after about another 100m (at the 7-11) turn left again. THen just go straight until the end of the Soi (about 300-400m).

CWMcMurray:

Thank you for your lengthy post. I am sorry but I will not follow up since we are drifting too far away from the OP thread which is called Thai Crisis Exposes Class Struggle.

It's about Class Struggles between local Thai groups. It's not about the right or not for foreigners to intervene in Thai politics.

LaoPo

You are correct and I apologize for getting side tracked and straying off topic.

Thank you for the lively discussion.

That's not up to me to answer that question. It's up to the laws of the country but if you would ask me (as you did) I would say YES, it's based upon the immigrations laws to have the right to try and/or influence politics in the country he/she is guest in, or not.

But, it seems you do not agree. So, let me ask you a question: do illegals from South America to the US or Africa to Europe have the rights to try and influence the politics in the US or European countries they entered illegally ?

So: yes, the rights are based upon the immigration laws; if they are legal and fully integrated and read write and speak the language and are naturalized than they have all the rights in the world to try and influence local politics.

But, normally, foreigners -just- living in another country (like Farang in Thailand) do not have voting rights. Discussing politics or having an opinion is nothing wrong with of course.

Example: there are 2 million foreign house owners in Spain, together having families of maybe -at least- 4-7 million people.

Do they have the right to influence local politics ?

NO, they simply have to adapt to the laws of that country and -in my own opinion- they have NO rights to try and influence local politics because they are guests in that country, nothing more, nothing less.

So, why would Farang have the right to try to change and influence the politics in Thailand ?

I bet you would like to have that right, but you don't.

LaoPo

I deleted the previous posts to keep the post a bit shorter...

I disagree (I am guessing this doesn't surprise you). I think that the laws of a country can determine the right to vote, but not the right to participate which are two very different things. Participation only requires freedom of speech.

As to your question about do illegal immigrants have a right to influence the politics in other countries.... that is not a valid comparison given that I am talking about people with legal visas who are not breaking the law. Some of which may have been living in Thailand longer than they lived in their "home" country, but given the present immigration laws may not qualify for PR. (Do you think PR should allow you the right to participate, or only citizenship?)

But I will bite anyway... yes even illegals have a right to enter into the public forum, but as they are breaking the law they may subject themselves to arrest and deportation if they do so.

As for the Spanish example, I say yes... they absolutely have a right to try and influence the local policies of the country they own property and live in. Why shouldn't they have a right to do so?

I think that our fundamental disagreement is that I believe that if you live some where long enough that place becomes your home and you have not only the right, but in some cases the obligation to make your community a better place if you can.

On a less altruistic point... you also have a right to protect yourself and your family and your economic interests (even if you do not have citizenship in the country you are living in).

My life is generally happy and to be honest I don't have any desire to involve myself in Thai politics. That being said, I still believe I have the right to if I wanted to (I just might not be able to vote).

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Let's say a Thai student went to study in the US and has been there for his undergraduate degree, masters degree and he is now pursuing his PHD. For what ever reason he has never tried to get US citizenship and is still on a student visa. So now he has been living in the US for around 7 years and he has married a US citizen and they have a 2 year old daughter.

In the past election in the US he liked Obama and he decided that they would like to volunteer on his campaign with the rest of his friends. He believed that Obama would make the US and the world a better place and provide a better future for his daughter. Let's say he also has some money in the stock market and owns a home in his wife's name and believes that if Obama is elected the economy will be better off. He is also having a hard time making his mortgage payments and he believes that Obama is more likely to come up with plan that will not only help Banks but also home owners that are in danger of having their homes reposessed.

Is this wrong? He only has a student visa, he is not a US citizen, he can not vote. By your argument he is only a guest and should not be allowed to work on his campaign or support Obama in any way shape or form. What if he just wanted to put a campaign sign in his front lawn or put a Obama for president bumper sticker on his car.

We -as Farang- however do not have the right (as if we would be able to in the first place...) to the intervene in Thai politics and/or the Thai classes struggle (where this OP is all about).

Yes, we do not want to violate the prime directive, we are only here to observe...

I agree that there is little chance that any farang(s) could effectively intervene in Thai politics, nor do I personally have any desire what so ever to do so.

But... I think that any Farang that makes his home here in Thailand has the right to try if he likes.

I believe the same of any of the Mexicans or any other immigrants that are living in the US, they have the right to try and influence the political discussion there. I would never make the comment to any of them, "This is the US if you don't like it too bad, go back to Mexico!!!" and I would also never make a similar comment to any of the foreigners living in Thailand who would like to get involved in the polical discussion.

Interesting views and opinion.

But I think that -legal- Mexicans, working and living in the US have a different status than expats, living in Thailand.

Most Farang are not allowed to work and it's also quite difficult to become a Thai rather than American.....right or wrong ?

LaoPo

True that immigrants in the US may enjoy a different legal status than most foreigner's who call Thailand their home.

But let me ask you a question.... should someone's right to try and influence his community's policies and enter into the political discussion be based solely upon the immigration regulations of his host country?

Voting rights can be based upon these things, but is it fair to say, "You are not allowed to have an oipinion or enter the political discussion unless the the Thai government changes their immigration policies?"

I would venture to say that most Farangs are here legally on one type of visa or another. Most are not breaking the law. Many have made their homes here and what happens in Thailand can and will effect their lives and the lives of their families. Have they no right to an opinion? Have they no right to try and make their opinions known if they choose?

I would say yes, they have every right to do so if they choose, but I am sure that just like in most other countries politicians are not teribly concerned with any segmant of the population that can not or does not vote.

We -as Farang- however do not have the right (as if we would be able to in the first place...) to the intervene in Thai politics and/or the Thai classes struggle (where this OP is all about).

Yes, we do not want to violate the prime directive, we are only here to observe...

I agree that there is little chance that any farang(s) could effectively intervene in Thai politics, nor do I personally have any desire what so ever to do so.

But... I think that any Farang that makes his home here in Thailand has the right to try if he likes.

I believe the same of any of the Mexicans or any other immigrants that are living in the US, they have the right to try and influence the political discussion there. I would never make the comment to any of them, "This is the US if you don't like it too bad, go back to Mexico!!!" and I would also never make a similar comment to any of the foreigners living in Thailand who would like to get involved in the polical discussion.

Sent you a PM, but the short answer is "yes, people are doing exactly as you described every day" and "find a freight forwarder you trust."

They are not in the business of steeling your ideas (or they would be out of business pretty quick), they just want to help manage your supply chain and move your freight.

A freight forwarder could also help to answer all of the questions you have raised about import regulations.

Yes, that should do, but if it's not for a marriage extension I don't know whether you can have another person go to immigration for you. --

Maestro

You definitely can let someone go on your behalf.

In my working days I never went to Immigration, the company always

handled it on my behalf.

I second this, my HR manager told me that he used to send one of our companies motorcycle messengers every year to do this for a previous employee who was here on a non-B...

I extended under Thai wife, so had to wait in line all day myself

I don't there is any max for Charity, but I was told by my university instructor (also works pretty high up in the tax department here in Thailand) that if you claim 10,000 thb or more per year it will raise red flags and you should make sure you have the receipts to back it up.

Under 10,000 thb there should not be any issues.

Sounds smart to me... no one has to face any fx risk and both sides get what they need.