ayayay

You have lived here 11 years, and you still refer to yourself as "farang".

On the one hand you complain about being discriminated for being the "other".

And yet, you happily call yourself "farang".

One thing is for sure, if you cant even stop calling yourself "farang" (an object, rather than a human being), how on earth are you going to expect Thais will view you in another way??

sad story , i think a common trait for thais is not being able to keep their infantile temper " in check" , when then green eyed monster of jelousy rears it's ugly head . RIP

Yeah, it is totally typical Thai, those Thais are very strange creatures indeed. Frustration, jealousy, murder, pride is a typical Thai thing. It almost does not exists in other countries.

Below is some examples of typical Americans. They are very violent in general, and have trouble dealing with

emotions, it is in their culture. Just look at these two examples:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/17/us/shooting-reported-at-washington-navy-yard.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

PLease also note a huge difference between Thais and Americans.

While Thais seems to always target one person that actually has something to do with the crime, see example above, the women who got killed, was the murderers ex girlfriend. Americans usually never target just one person, in American culture, it seems, from the example above, that often seemingly random people will be killed. That is, American murderers usually kills more randomly.

You are "farang" to them, that is, an object, rather than a human being. This is also why many Thais have very difficult to deal with the fact, that a white skin, a "farang", so totally different from a normal human being, can speak Thai.

In order for us to make ourself a little more human, less objectified, we should try to avoid calling ourselves "farang" all the time.

Hear hear!

Hear Hear again. The term Farang is nearly almost spat out as a curse word. It is I deem a derogatory racist term. I have said this before and have been taken to task. Fact is we are lesser beings in their eyes. Somehow flawed. We call them Thai. Not Asian, nouveau Chinese or black nipples.

Yes, one problem is though, how are they suppose to learn, when so many of us even refer to ourselves as "farang"? And even worse, some of us really enjoy being the dancing monkey, and happily call ourselves "farang".

What signal does it give the Thais?

Clue: It means it is not only ok to view us as a dancing monkey, an object, we ourselves actually enjoy being the dancing monkey, as we like to call ourselves "farang" all the time.

If you are 25 and handsome eventually you will be involved in a situation where a Thai girl who drank a bit much keeps looking at you or says you are handsome or whatever and some Thai guy who is drunk will want to stab you. This has been my personal experience at RCA.

But you have to remember, even if all of us like to think we are all "extremely handsome sexy man", not all of us are as handsome as you.

I do not look down on people because of their social station and I respect human beings. I do look down on what you call "culture" when it brings up the subjects I mentioned. I guess the nuance is lost on you.

As to "ignorance", I believe you are far more ignorant in refusing to see reality around you. Sorry fore breaking your charming illusions, but you may go on to live in them. I don't really mind nor care.

Meanwhile Thailand is very status aware, it is also true to most Western countries, the difference is, that it is less obvious there, than here, but that does not mean it does not exists. I guess that nuance is lost on you.

Good you respect human beings, just watch out for being too general about Thais and Thailand.

I find that just saying a little something in Thai will change their attitude.

You don't need to know much thai, just a few phrases that will apply to almost any situation.

Just enough that they will think you understand them.

My favorite ( I used it just this morning):

When you hear the word Farang used smile and in Thai tell them " I am not Farang, I am Saparot!"

They always pause for a second and then burst out in laughter.

Sometimes they even repeat it to their friends who might not have heard you.

You are telling them that you are not a Guava, you are a Pineapple!

Some will ask "why are you a pineapple?"

I tell them that I am brown and rough outside and soft and sweet inside. Again, they laugh.

If you can tell a little joke about yourself in their language you are ahead of the game and gain a little respect.

They are very careful about what they say about you in the future.

Now to some locals I am known as Mister Saparot!

Yes, very funny for a while, but in the long run, most people would rather want to be viewed as a human being, than a dancing ape/clown.

You are "farang" to them, that is, an object, rather than a human being. This is also why many Thais have very difficult to deal with the fact, that a white skin, a "farang", so totally different from a normal human being, can speak Thai.

In order for us to make ourself a little more human, less objectified, we should try to avoid calling ourselves "farang" all the time.

Been in Thailand for two years now, and don't feel any desire to learn the language at all. Thai colleagues at work talk only of soap operas, gadgets, movies and food. I feel I am not missing much not being able to talk about these subjects with them.

How do you know what they are talking about if you can't understand them?

Maybe they only talk about that mindless stuff with you as the intelligent conversations they have in Thai are hard for them to talk about in English.

Or maybe they just see you as a simpleton who doesn't understand anything else than these subjects.

Odd way of thinking you have. You land a job here and yet you think everyone else should go out their way to speak your native language?

If you come to Thailand to work or live it should be your job to integrate into the country. Others should not bend over backwards to accommodate you.

Unfortunately, I hear from English-speaking thais what they say among themselves (oh... and just if you wonder, some are the intelligent persons with whom I can discuss intellectual issues). I guess I am not the only one to find these people useless to talk with.

As to "simpleton", it is hard to do worst than these people in terms of lack of sophistication of thinking. I am often teaching them things about their own country which they simply do not want to see or are too indoctrinated to see. And language is not the issue in that.

As to "landing the job here", I did not choose to come here. I was sent here on expatriation, period.

Indeed, I don't have to bend backwards to accommodate them if they want my money. As for their conversation, thank you, but given as empty as it is, I like to keep it in English.

Finally, I do not have to integrate at all. From 10 cars, I was the only driver to stop when I witnessed a deadly accident. I respect and value the maid, the guards and the cleaners, where the Thais look down on them. So, sorry, that type of society I do not want to integrate into. Very happy to be out of it and not to hear these idiots talking of their latest holidays, or the last shopping and similar inane subjects.

You say you respect the guard, the maid, the cleaners, and yet you manage to post such an ignorant post which shows explicit disrespect for pretty much anything related to Thais and Thai culture.

Congratz...

You are "falang". Thais don't want to be friends with you. They may appear friendly as long as you keep handing over more money than you should, just like your cat will be so friendly just before you feed it and then will either ignore or bite you once it has a full stomach...

To help prevent this, or at least not buy into this way of thinking, that is, that we are so much different than them, first and most importantly, don´t call yourself "farang".

It will only consolidate the idea that we are totally different and rather objects than human beings.

Interesting. His wife says they can sell more when he prepares the food. Not sure if he speaks Thai though.

He is like most other French people, when they speak another language.

They continue to speak French, and then throw some foreign words in, every now and then.

As a foreigner, you are not allowed to work with jobs that can be done by a local Thai.

The skin color does not matter, it is rather a question of, if you are Thai or foreigner.

Yes, you need a work permit, as a foreigner, regardless of skin color

Stop referring to yourself as "farang", it´s just stupid.

Ahhh, one of those "farang" is a racist term people. A concept that is also " stupid"

I did not say that. And I think you cannot grasp the big picture of this whole "farang"-calling thing.

And besides, it makes you look ignorant to call yourself such a thing.

My buddy moved down to Pattaya, he himself, makes sure though, he always says Jomtien.

And everytime the subject comes up, with him living in Pattaya, he always correct me, no its Jomtien!!

Why did he move down there?

It was for the girls, at least he admits that.

My buddy moved down to Pattaya, he himself, makes sure though, he always says Jomtien.

And everytime the subject comes up, with him living in Pattaya, he always correct me, no its Jomtien!!

Why did he move down there?

It was for the girls, at least he admits that.

I do not know anywhere in Bkk where what you describe would cost that amount, and I am very familiar with all the top end hospitals in Bangkok. As I said previously, I think either there was an error in the bill or there were additional and unusually tests done beyond what you list.

It was Bumxxxgrad hospital.

It seemed to me, it was all standard tests, nothing out of the ordinary.

I am pretty convinced that hospital is over charging, and I am going to another hospital next time.

The tests you describe -- even assuming that there was also an HbAC1 -- would not cost anywhere near this amount even in a top end private hospital in Bkk. Are you sure there were not other, more costly tests in the mix?

And doctors fees, even for the very top specialists at top end hospitals, do not usually exceed 1500. However there is always a hospital surcharge (often called a "nursing fee" or something of the sort). Might the 1900 be inclusive of that?

Hospitals do make billing errors. Always get a detailed itemized bill ,check it carefully, and query anything that looks off, as a 6000 baht lab bill surely does. Wither they made a mistake or there were other tests done you are not mentioning.

no, no billing errors.

This is what I checked:

FPG, Uric acid, SGPT, CPK, HB A1C

Cholesterol,Triglyceride,HDL,LDL,. plus urine analysis

Cretanine (blood)

Hi ayayay

Yes .... to me that seems expensive. Very expensive. I do live in NE Thailand not Bangkok.

Over the last 9 months or so I have been having regular blood tests.

Originally 3 monthly -- but now 2 monthly

A Coronary Specialist (at private clinic) is changing me over from some BP Meds supplied in my home country --- to equivalent Meds more readily available in Thailand.

Firstly I attend the Pathology lab directly (no Dr. involvement)----- then with the results in hand I visit the private clinic of the Dr. He is the head of coronary care at the local public hospital.

Blood test : 300.00 Baht (Yes ... three hundred)

Tests conducted:

FBS,BUN,Creatinine,Uric acid,

Cholesterol,Triglyceride,HDL,LDL,HbA1C. plus urine analysis.

Dr. consultation: 200.00 Baht.

I believe that you can directly use Pathology Labs in BKK also. I would imagine that the cost shall be conciderably lower than via the hospital you have used.

Ok, thanks, I do think it is more expensive in BKK, where I live, but no to justify what I just paid.

Try and tell a Thai why it is inappropriate and wrong... and they will just tell you that foreigners have no right to tell them what to do because they were never colonised... their general benightedness knows no bounds...

I bet though, still, there are far more foreigners trying to tell thais what to do, and not do, than Thais going to a foreign country and approach total strangers on the street telling them what to do.

That is just proven by the law of averages.

20mn foreign visitors to Thailand every year. Only 60mn Thais.

View it this way instead.

There are far more foreigners percentagewise who goes to Thailand and try to lecture Thai people, than the opposite,

Try and tell a Thai why it is inappropriate and wrong... and they will just tell you that foreigners have no right to tell them what to do because they were never colonised... their general benightedness knows no bounds...

I bet though, still, there are far more foreigners trying to tell thais what to do, and not do, than Thais going to a foreign country and approach total strangers on the street telling them what to do.

Went to the hospital, I guess one of the expensive ones.

Did a Biochemistry test, checked my diabetes, blood sugar levels, Cholesterol, triglycerides, etc.

It cost me 6000 thb, and a doctors fee 1900 thb, for a 2 min chat about the results.

8000 thb for a check up and a doctors fee.

I think it is expensive.

Anyone else goes to regular check up and some consulting with a doctor about our diabetes, who can tell me how much you pay?

I think I want to change hospital next time.

Yes, you need a work permit, as a foreigner, regardless of skin color

Stop referring to yourself as "farang", it´s just stupid.

Looks 45kg soaking wet with not a hair on his chest. How is that sexy??

Yeah, I thought all Thai girls liked only big hairy and sweaty white guys who weight 120kg.

I was told I was very handsome, but I do not look anything like this guy!!

Now my dreams are kinda shattered, what about you!?

Yeah, I wonder why he had so much trouble finding a nanny who would want to work for him...

Are you sure it applies only to people with white skin?

What about a British, or French national who is not white? Are they still covered?

This is probably the most heinous crime, short of murder, that a person can do. It's sexual mutilation, causing severe injury and possibly death. Not to mention all the psychological issues that come along with losing your best friend. I see this as a hate crime against males. There are other, legal ways to deal with spouse abuse, or unfaithfulness. I hope she never gets out of jail. Sick to death of girls thinking the best way to deal with a man is to chop off pieces of his body, especially the best parts.

Great post!