phetpeter

My daughter is now 4 yrs old. and thanks to the Thai postal sevice, she has not recieved one of her 4 yrs worth of brithday cards or christmas cards, Why? because the postmen are nearly 100 per cent certain they are of value. (cash inside)

The sheer greed on anything that could represent some value. They could at least open it find nothing and still send it on!

Why not smile and just go and ask ? and there are many very good looking girls working all over Thailand , many who are not interested in catering to the overweight -smelly farang .

Too true, we won't want them to come visit us upcountry, or the prices might go up!

Wrong! where do you think the beautiful gals get their in house training? Mum and dad still hope there is a chance they will find someone to marry. And having them home ecah day makes sure the neighbours don't start slagging of their daughters and still can get an income.

Later when the cash is coming in, they let them go further afield for more income.

They have them trained well!

What is up with these people, In Thailand there are adults both men and women who will be happy to cater for their needs with playacting. dressing up and for so little baht!

First the amercians, then the canadians now the Brits! Watch out germans it's moving your way soon! LOL

Its quite simple to start the ball rolling by having a petition....Have the wives(10000+) all sign a petition, get the support of the womens group then get some MP's on their side and bingo the ball is rolling.

Whats it cost not a bean. it is their right to ask the government to talk about it and hopefully change the rules.

If you get a stunner from Issan in your room, become scared tell her" You are scared of ghosts at night" and she will stay all night for free!"

Unless you are a Yank or wank or German!!

400 seats full,

Business class has 40 seats sold at let say 100,000b rtn, thats 4000000b

Standard econ seats sold 100 at 35000, thats 350000b

Total 4350000b at 64b to the pound total gb 67968.75 / 2= 33984.37 one way

Plus cargo double it each way.

And And, Following the motorbike with the gal on the back being "cheeky" If u know wot I mean?

Dressing up to go shopping at Big C, when in fact in any other country we would call it dressing down! 'cause seeing all those girls in very tight short shorts and little T shirts, keeps the temp hotter than the weather! ( Oh! I love Thailand!)

[

Strange, when I married my wife in UK, and our baby was born in the Uk, we went to the Thai embassy in London, filled some forms in to record the marriage, and to confirm our baby, paid for a Thai birth certificate. At no time did we have to produce Thai translations, nor when arriving back in Thailand have we ever had to show Thai translations, from English. The reason... Thailand 2nd and international language is English. (by the way our baby has dual nationally, with two passports).

[/qStrange, when I married my wife in UK, and our baby was born in the Uk, we went to the Thai embassy in London, filled some forms in to record the marriage, and to confirm our baby, paid for a Thai birth certificate. At no time did we have to produce Thai translations, nor when arriving back in Thailand have we ever had to show Thai translations, from English. The reason... Thailand 2nd and international language is English. (by the way our baby has dual nationally, with two passports).uote]

Like most things in Thailand is how can you educate people to take more care. When in the UK it has become very hard to get a motorbike lience, until you can prove that you can drive a motorbike well! Then the farang come here jump on a motorbike and think that know it all! then with cash in their pockets they go out and by a big truck or suv. and the truth is most have the skills to drive well, but lack the skills for driving big trucks, and think that everybody else is driving out of their way. In the car they think a car seat is a wasted expense, when they see and know, that the wife will go on a motorbike, baby hanging in her arm like jackson photo call. and holding a conversation on the mobile while jumping the lights.

Go figure! just take care with kids in the car, give yourself pently of room and distance and read the road ahead. Be perpared to take actions if a situration occurs.

And hopefully the kid will grow up to care for you in your old age!

We have just heard from Immigation in bangkok, that Phetchabun will have its own office next year, this is from the big boss via my School director.

When next year not known yet will update when I get the info.

I have her about convinced, that at least with me, "I do not know" is an acceptable answer

MY GOD!!! how did you THAT?!?!?!

have you also taught her how to say "I don't understand" insteading of just smiling and pretending?

I took the following approach. When I would ask a question and she would not immediately answer "Yes" or "No", and I could tell that she was not thinking considering her answer, I would simply say, "'I do not know' is an acceptable answer". It took a while but it seems to have soaked in. I am always careful to say, "If you do not know it is ok, tell me and we will see about how we can find out". I think giving her an out made it happen.

"I don't understand"...that is improving as well. When I explain something or ask something, if an answer or "ack" is not forthcoming, I will usually ask, politely, "Do you understand?" The response is usually "Yes" (= yes), "Not sure" (= I am close, please explain or ask again), or "Maybe" (in a light-hearted tone, = I do not have a farging clue).

tried all that... maybe just takes longer than 3 years...

response "yes" could mean anything... sigh... still... gotta love em

We are at 4 years 2 months...still in training.

I have her pretty well dialed-in on the responses. "Yes" truly means "yes" better than 90% of the time. Once in a while I will even get a "no" or "not understand". She is a smart girl and has figured out that I will not take the "let it slide" approach to avoid a bit of unease, and that when I am asking a question or explaining something it is important...I really do not like to talk all that much. At least not as much as I write/type.

I think the most and I mean the worst action they do, is to get up, wia and say we go now! I'm sitting there looking like a thick c**t, saying "why whats wrong?" and they say nothin! until you get outside and they say paper wrong, have to do it again' Wot paper! they say, 'No sign" and as I grab her round the neck hissing" I could have signed it at the desk?" she says "No darlin, lady too busy you come back tomorrow!" AGHHHHHHHHHH! thats after sitting there for 5 hrs. Thank god I trained that out of her! LOL (ps: now I can leave her to pay all the bills with the ATM, and she doesn't touch a penny more! I must be very lucky)

You raise a valild point. We have no intention of ever selling what we have acquired. The major investment aspect was for their future not my security. I already receive one pension and will be entitled to another in 20 years time plus we have a few long term investments for security. But situations do change and only time will tell if I/we screw it up. Our boys are very young and I have quite a bit of working age left in me before I go to pasture. Big thing for me to do is to stop buying land but with many of my neighbors going dink on their loans it's hard to resist the acquisition and then sharecropping it back to them.

Eric

The rule is if a Thai wife changes her name to that of the farang, she loses all inhertance rights to family land. But that can be easily put right by changing her name back on her ID and passport. There is no legal reason why she cannot be known by the farang surname in all other cases, unless to is to do something illegal!

But you insisting she changes her name on everything! is this a big dick prob? A pride thing! Does your Ex back in Uk etc, still use your surname?

Don/t worry any children you have with her HAVE to take your surname. so the line will carry on! Do'nt forget you never call her Mrs !!!!!!, but by her nickname (Shout yar big trap! PING!)

As to buying up the land her nieghbours default on and rent sharecropping back, can cause a terminal problem, classed as death by accidental jealously!

LMAO

Funniest thread on TV for ages. It reminds me of the visa change thread 2-3 years ago in which the same thing happened - moral outrage, fear and petty griping by those here on tenuous grounds.

It's a shame. It really is.

Funny to hear those who want to leave because of the changes . . what's stopping you all?

Agreed...remember the puling and hand-wringing when the "90 days in 180 on visa-exempt stamps" rule was implemented? All we heard about was how *every* farang was leaving for "better places" (Cambo, Laos, PI) and Thailand would be a ghost town, "we are not wanted here", "I will take my money elsewhere", brah brah brah, waah waah waah.

Two years on, it seems like there are just as many farang staying long-term as ever.

IMO, that rule was a good step...although companies like Jack's Golf certainly did not like it. Those of us who want to do things the proper way are welcome here...Thailand has enough so-called "English teachers".

We can delude ourselves however we want, but we truly are guests in this country. Those of us who truly want to stay, as opposed to "stay if it is easy", will take the necessary steps to legimitize our presence. Yes, it is a bit of a nuisance, but really...does/did anyone truly enjoy doing "visa runs"?

In the four years that I have been here I have done one visa run to Laos (I was transitioning from Non-B extension to Non-O, had not had time to go to USA for the Non-O) on a 30-day stamp...what a pain in the ass that was, to me anyway. I cannot imagine doing that nonsense on a monthly basis for years on end. Given my recent experience at Northeast Immigration (Korat), I would much rather go there 5 times per year (Extension application; extension "grant"; 3 90-day reports (which can also be done by post, so I understand)) than do monthly, or even once every 3 months, visa runs.

Before someone comes back with the "I am retired with limited funds" argument, or any other financial-based excuse...so what? Either you can afford to be here legitimately or you cannot...end of story. We are all subject to "limited funds"...granted, some peoples limits are higher than others. Thailand, or any other country for that matter (other than your home country), is not obligated to take you in because your circumstances have not allowed you to provide for a comfortable retirement. And again I would ask...is doing several visa runs per year really cheaper than doing things the proper way? 1900 THB for the visa extension and 3800 THB for the multiple re-entry permit (if needed) seems reasonable to me.

Same goes for those who would say "My circumstances do not qualify me for a visa extension"...either you can be here or cannot.

I have lived here for five years now, Never done a visa run. never gone back to UK, have been on hols to other asian countries with a re-entry stamp. have my standard pack still from first applying, updates everyyear, tax returns, etc. down to BKK each year two runs as I am married. post my 90 days 2 weeks before due.

No not big money,just enough! also work as Teacher to keep my self active.and help to sort out tax returns a big 1500 per year, plus helps towards making sure my funds meet the requirements, (previous years tax returns do that!)

Follow the rules of my new country. follow the updates, take most of what I read on blogs with a pinch of salt, pop to the various offices and get it from the horses mouth!

GUESS WHAT? NO PROBS!

My advice find out yourselves and then ask Thai's for help, even through you know the answer! make them feel happy that they help you, and everything will be fine! But, stop underhand payments and treats, even the police who stop you , don't give in! most fines are in the 200b region! pay it and get a receipt! and of cause never show weakness by shouting etc., and more inportant train your other half, not to wind you up, by going dumb, when you need help to speak about your requests at that important interview!

There is and always has been a very very simple answer to this problem, delete the word Teacher, and replace it with a simple title such as 'Native English language advisor' or 'Native Language Advisor' or 'Native Advisor'. Problem solved! It is a job that CANNOT be done by a Thai. Because you are not teaching but, merely advising students on the correct format of English to use in Conversation, plus many teachers are only involved in conversation and listening skills.

There is and always has been a very very simple answer to this problem, delete the word Teacher, and replace it with a simple title such as 'Native English language advisor' or 'Native Language Advisor' or 'Native Advisor'. Problem solved! It is a job that CANNOT be done by a Thai. Because you are not teaching but, merely advising students on the correct format of English to use in Conversation, plus many teachers are only involved in conversation and listening skills.

Something more about RESPECT this people.(how many ordinary Thais know for this?How many of them disagree with the new regulations about teaching job here?)

The Thai Culture Course (How to scam, exploit and demoralise foreign teachers)

I was away from work when the news was delivered, but of course I was already aware of all the rumours. Still, I told everyone: "This is Thailand, don't listen to rumours, believe things when they happen".

But when I received the phone call telling me: " The Teachers Council of Thailand has decided all foreign teachers are required to attend a course in Thai culture, and you will pay for it yourself", I knew I was wrong this time.

Naturally, the news went down like a lead balloon amongst my teaching colleagues. I think the administration at our school knew that, which is why they broke further details into little pieces and fed us day by day rather than in one big hit. The details kept on coming.....the course is eleven thousand bhat, you won't get your work permit renewed if you don't attend, and you'll be doing the course in your free time.

Like everyone else, I protested. I have lived and worked in Thailand for nearly five years. I have a Thai wife and son, I am a member of the Tourist Police and I own property here, surely I must be exempt from the course? Other teachers raised similar protests.

The responding message was delivered in a Thai style but it was clear:

shut up and take the course (PDF link). We (The Teachers Council) don't care how long you've lived here. We don't care what qualifications you have. hel_l, we don't care if you can speak fluent Thai, drive a tuk tuk, eat som tam and sing Bird Tongchai all at the same time. You will come to the Thai culture course, you will do so in your free time, and you will pay for the privilege. You don't like it?

Get out of Thailand.

Oh and by the way, that thousand bhat you paid for your teacher's licence two months ago is now invalid. No refunds.

We tried to keep our spirits up. We planned some pranks and organised a social event after the course. After all, at least our employer said we could wear what we liked. Or at least they did until three days later, when the announcement came: "Actually a phu yai is attending the course so everyone must be dressed in business atire". Like my colleagues up and down the nation, I gave up protesting and accepted the inevitable. I would miss two days of weekend work, take the darn course and forget about it. At least my school was good enough to cover some of the cost.

Day one of the course began with the typical smiles and greetings. The venue laid on a nice little breakfast pack for each of us and well wishers waited at the doors to greet us with: "Hello, thank you for coming!". (Like we had a f***ing choice!)

Included in the impressive bundle of worthless documents we were handed was a collection of CV's for those who would be speaking in the course. It was certainly impressive. Today's speakers included two lecturers from a well known university, tomorrow featured a Thai graduate from Harvard. At least these guys should be red-hot teachers.

So first up on the agenda for day one was "Thai language". Now, I must confess I was feeling optimistic for this. My spoken Thai is below par and I cannot read Thai atall. At least I might get something useful out of this morning.

On comes the lecturer, but her assistant takes the microphone, greets us in Thai and then announces "This is (professor's name) but I will be doing the speaking today". Our "professor of languages" is obviously so unsure of her English that she doesn't want to speak.

The course begins, the first few minutes goes quite well as we run through the different Thai tones and learn how they are expressed in written form. I desperately try to take in and store this complex information. We are fifteen minutes into the class.

The teacher (or rather her assistant) moves on to consonants. We orally repeat every consonant (yes, every last one) three times each.

My mind is swimming.

Then we move on to "special cases" (I forget the exact classification). We go over each and every one of them, too. Three times each. My head is hurting. We have now gone at least ten times over the daily quota of new information for the adult language student.

But the professor is far from done. She moves on to different letters of the Thai alphabet that produce the same sounds. You guessed it, we have to repeat them three times each. My spirit is broken, I am prepared to tell my captors any secrets they want to make this torture stop as I mindlessly repeat the alien sounds. I have a magazine in my bag, but all the while our boss is walking up and down the hall, checking we are obedient.

For the next hour I fix my eyes on the statue of the Virgin Mary at the end of the hall, reminding myself that this isn't really hel_l.

Mary finally answers my prayers an hour later as we break for lunch.

That was the end of the language session. We had "learned" the entire Thai alphabet and all its idiosyncrasies in one morning.

The afternoon was a little easier. We were handed a leaflet published by the TAT (yes the Tourist board, not the Teacher's board) about Thai food. We had a seminar on Thai cooking, its history and ingredients. I was missing my Saturday job (which helps to pay my many bills) to learn about the ingredients of pad thai. How was this going to make me a better teacher?

Day one ended at four PM. Too deflated to go out, I went home and dreamed of halls full of zombies, repeating letters from the Thai alphabet.

Day two could only get better. Our lecturer (the Harvard grad) was going to use this extortion of our money and time by the Teacher's Council to teach us "professional ethics". A bit like Ronald McDonald teaching healthy eating, I guess.

In fact our lecturer was a nice guy, though I noticed on his CV he was working for the Education Ministry which struck me as a coincidence (we can only guess how much these lecturers were being paid). We started off by being introduced to the Council's code of ethics, highlights of which included "Do not form mafia style groups in school" and "Do not gossip".

But the bombshell was about to come. We were about to be introduced to the new qualification requirements of the teaching council. To the lecturer's credit, he did it wisely. He broke the news ambiguously and slowly so it took us a while to work out was happening, allowing the shock to dissipate.

We were told we had two years to pass a one year course. The course would be done in our free time and cost at least sixty thousand bhat.

The only other option was to pass four teaching exams, at two thousand bhat each. The only problem was, from the first batch of people that took the exams, less than five percent had passed.

"This is the rule for all teachers"; said our lecturer, "The Thai teachers must do the same". He neglected to mention how much the Thai teachers had to pay. And what was this one year course? A PGCE? A master's degree? No, it was brand new course dreamt up by the TCT and totally unheard of outside the nation.

I sat in disbelief. As we broke for lunch, my colleague held a piece of paper up to my face. It simply said: "BS".

The afternoon was actually quite interesting, we were given some case studies about ethics and had to offer our own opinions. Still, many people found it hard to concentrate. That was all for day two, our weekend was over, and we had one day still to go.

So after another week at work (guess what the main topic of conversation was?) it was time for the final day, and many of us predicted it would be the worst: Thai dance and music.

Yup, you guessed it, they made us dance. They made all of us wear long golden fingernails and dance around the hall whilst singing the 'Loy Khatong' song. If I were on a drunken night out with Thai friends, or if I were at least making a fool of myself by choice, I would have laughed. But as I looked around the hall during our dance, I realised this folly was part of the plan. By getting us to dance around and act stupid, these people wanted us to forget we were being scammed. In a building with at least two hundred people paying eleven thousand bhat each to take a compulsory course to improve us as teachers, we were dancing around in fake fingernails. It was truly surreal.

As three o'clock came and the dancing stopped, my colleague turned to me and said: "Now they are done humiliating us, they're going to let us go home". And they did, after mentioning that the certificates we had been promised - and which were the entire point of the course - were not actually ready yet, and they couldn't say when they would be available. Thanks and goodbye. I went home feeling violated.

The next week at work more news came out. It seems highly likely that the four exams we had been told about were .....ahem...."purposely difficult" to the point where it seems that the only real "choice" is to take the 60k+ course. Yes, Thai teachers had to do the same course, but at a tiny fraction of the price we were given. Thailand's foreign teachers are in a fix.

Now, I want to make something very clear. I've said before many times that Thailand's foreign teachers are, on the whole, a very imperfect bunch. Any attempt to improve them is most welcome and if I were given a test of my teaching ability and knowledge, I would tackle it with relish.

But I hope I've made clear that I am certain this latest set of events has nothing whatsoever to do with improving foreign teachers. The way the news was broken to us and the incredibly quick set of agreements that have been made between the Teacher's Council and various educational institutions were not hard to figure out. The staff involved in the courses, the dual pricing system and the fact that every teacher had to pay for his/her licence only to have it invalidated without refund by the new rules told its own tale. The ninety five percent failure rate of foreign teachers in the four new exams - in a nation where every student in my school passed a university entrance exam (even the students who cannot understand "Good morning, how are you?") after paying the exam fee - fills me with resentment.

If this was about improving teachers, give us a break. Allow us to take the course of our choice, charge us the same prices as the Thai teachers, don't insult our intelligence with compulsory courses in dancing, take experience and prior qualifications into account, make the exams fair so more than two people out of seventy can pass them and refund the money that every teachers paid for their licence about one month before the new requirements were announced by the same people.

I have to pay tribute to the Filipino teachers. They are paid less than half of the salary we get and nearly all of them send it home to their family in the Philippines as soon as they get it. If the new "requirements" were a kick in the teeth for us, it was a bombshell for them. Yet they handled the course and the further shocks far better than we did, and unlike us Englishmen, they spent a dam_n site less time complaining about it!

Still, the morale of the teachers has been hit hard and those of us with families are in a very tough position. We either allow ourselves to be blackmailed or we leave.

That said, I can't see how this will work out for the Teacher's Council. There is no doubt that a huge proportion of teachers will leave rather than be pushed into taking the new course and who will replace them? Better qualified teachers? Why would they want to pay for a totally unrecognised course to work in Thailand when other countries will pay them? Travellers and loose cannons? Not likely, and the few that do will be unqualified and untrustworthy.

The only people that are going to feel the squeeze are those with roots here. Most if us work weekends to help with those extra bills and forcing us to give up our free time is impossible.

My message to the Teacher's Council is this: you've had your little money spinner with the "Culture" course, but don't push your luck too far. This game of "Who needs who?" works both ways. We will allow you to toy with us to a point because we love Thailand and want to stay, but as much as you hate to admit it, you need us too. If you insult our intelligence and continually try to milk us like this, it might be you that ends up losing face, families that suffer and the student youth of Thailand that pays the cost of your greed.

This is what the man says. How about this?

There is and always has been a very very simple answer to this problem, delete the word Teacher, and replace it with a simple title such as 'Native English language advisor' or 'Native Language Advisor' or 'Native Advisor'. Problem solved! It is a job that CANNOT be done by a Thai. Because you are not teaching but, merely advising students on the correct format of English to use in Conversation, plus many teachers are only involved in conversation and listening skills.

Giving Thai officials the finger on arrival on Phuket and elsewhere will become customary if Cabinet approves a proposal from Thai Immigration officials to make fingerprinting compulsory for foreigners arriving at Thailand's international airports.

The proposal would enable officials to also keep track of foreigners as they travel around Thailand.

- Full report at www.phuketwan.com

How! would they be able to keep track of your movements??? perhaps there are plans to put scanners in every 7/11, karaoke and noodle stall around Thailand!

Get real, they will only know your movements if you are picked up by the 'old bill' (English slang: Police) everytime you have a skin full and start trashing the local karoke 'cause she won't go with you for 200 baht!

Theres some wrong doin farangs around, Wot the hel_l is a farang doin in Phechabun driving a brand new hummer on red Pattaya plates!

Even us farang here don't want that!

It would have been nicer if he used that money on a childrens wing at the hospital!

We should crack down on prats like that! You don't need that to get a gal!

Sure a bit of me is green? LOL But, the rest of me isn't stupid!

Promotion time is round the corner and this man is aiming for something higher, It a nice little earner for him to get in the papers as a saviour of Thai morals and interests.

Nothin more!

Same as police inspector in the met needs a sponser to rise further, and to let people know wot a jolly good fellow he is!

one first class ticket is rough the value of 20seats, business class roughy 12 seats. on old VLM route LCY -ANR 2 business class tickets flight paid for, consider 5 business and 45 ecomony, a good profit,, no wonder Air france /KLM bought the company.

On long haul it the same type of maths, Thats why airlines, can offer 99b tickets, thats why there are different classes and ticket codes its a maths system, to HK 2 busines, 5 E class to d class then 100 99b tickets available. Thank god, a maths expert and computer work it out, but it goes along those lines.

Its not really that expensive to fly a plane in real terms.

2nd floor to los Gringos amongst us....

See the above mentioned lady at Window 25.

For additional info, see this very informative page from the CM Expat Club: link for complete info re: cost, location, etc.

It appears the rules might have changed slightly since this info was written; according to some posters, a 1 year residence visa is not required.

However, the info is very comprehensive nonetheless.

It is quite clear, If you are driving in Thailand for more then 14 days on Uk ticket, you are required by law to 1/ have an international driving permit or 2/ apply for a Thai driving licence.

They know what you are qualified to drive on your UK ticket, and like most of us, ('cause its very hard and expensive to get) you don't have a motorbike ticket, you take the test! The written exam is in English, but I believe it is now in most places on computer. you fail you take it again , and again , and again until you pass. (but don't throw your toys out of the pram! they want you to pass and will be very helpful). You will take the driving test and I know you will be the only one following the signs and rules. ( Do not rush off in the lead 'cause the Thais will smash into you when you stop at the junctions) pull away last. don't fall off and bingo you have a motorcycle licence. When you get you 5 yr ticket in Thailand you can apply for international driving permit, pop to the UK and drive that 750/4 your mates got legally for a couple of months (3-6) (get stopped for speeding, the old bill will not know where you will pay the fine or turn up in court. 'cause you are not a resident.

Now where did I say that?

"Now this naturally escalated into wild fights on a regular basis ..."

Before telling me to read carefully, perhaps you should construct your narative so.

I can only read what you write.

Your post started as almost titillation in atmospehere but ended all defensive.

Who's fooling who?

Pardon my observation but you suggest we should deal with nothing short of facts regarding a girls genuine circumstances yet retreat behind innuendo regarding your own.

Merely my observation. Apologies if I've read your situation wrong (but I only got your half of the story).

Relationship broken down! She wants out! Funny thro, you don't mention she wants to go home to Thailand?

But wants to stay there....? interesting

True only one sided story, not saying he didn't do it, but, having been with my wife for nearly 8 yrs , I know Thai womend have a flip side, that can become very bad! they can push push smash smash and take you over the edge very quickly, and like any man I will put up with nearly all of it. But< I have on three occassion in 8 yrs had to go on the defensive, then it becomes 'the mans fault' but we keep going 'cause we do care for each other very much.

She should go back to Thailand, start again. Not use the situration to feather her own nest. If she needs money to get home, then she should seek legal help. But, if he is on SS, only how the hel_l did she get here in the first place....? someone is not telling us everything! sounds like he is working cash in hand.