xenophon

Saw a Japanese tourist a couple of years ago being followed by the street (cigarette) police. He placed the butt into a tiny, closed portable ashtray he took from his pocket. The cops, to my surprise, actually laughed. Didn't expect that.

This has to be a wind up, right? Isn't it?

Ah.. Tooddumz, you've done it again!

This one picture tells so much about Thai education, including obviously higher education. You could use this image to paint a picture of the whole darn system. Its absurd and infuriating. Plus the "inventor" will probably get a prize.

Its a comment on the mentallity of the staff who devote their time to this sort of idiocy. Also on the culture of corruption and cheating. The treatment of students - weird, humiliating and ridiculous - absolutely no protest, just acquiescence to authority no matter what they do, the threat of punishment, childish treatment and mentality, etc.

Also ... who uses exams these days in higher ed? They are useful for sorting out the first years when there are too many students (and the university has got their fees reference chula) or to test memory. They are useful for dumb, uncreative, teachers with huge classes who are unable to provide interesting activites, problems, etc for students... and, of course, students whose levels of English are such that they cannot write a credible academic paper.

Another first for this country!!!

suspect this post is bs. But, if not, don't come to Thailand for a while or you may find yourself involved in lengthy legal/criminal proceedings, real or invented. He wrote to her parents!!! OMG who did you think they would support. Never get between a fiancee's family and a pot of money

Thais trust absolutely no one.

My partner would trust me with her life

And I trust my wife with mine !

There's quite a few of us who trust your wives - very discrete

One anecdotal observation which does get under my skin. I have never come across so many b_llsh_t artists (foreigners) before in my life or in any other country as I have over the years in Bkk. It is astounding what people expect you to believe about themselves. Their wealth, their status, their knowledge. This adolescent need to impress both annoys and amuses.

There used to be a British pub in Patpong. It was called Bobby's Arms. Perhaps it's still there; perhaps it isn't.

I went in there once and started talking to an English guy. This would have been more than a decade ago.

The guy looked at me and said ........... I'm a spy. I'm undercover. I work for MI6.

And he was completely serious.

---------------------------------

On another note, the impossible is not always a lie. You can usually gauge what's true from the way it's told.

My ex, for example, really did cheat on me. She had an affair with the Manager of ABC Football Team. Back in 2010, he really was voted Thailand's coach of the year.

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

Am I bitter? No. Am I cynical? No. Did I learn a lot from this? Yes.

Do I dislike every farang I meet in Thailand? Definitely not.

I actually quite like farangs!!

re the spy story ..... there was a guy in Kanchanaburi about 8 years ago who claimed he worked for the CIA. Use to wander around talking into his shirt collar.

In my younger days, I used to pick up tourist chicks by telling them I was a writer. One of those pick up lines that gets better as you become more practised. Also, as a writer, you have no dough - so they pay the bill.

OK, last post for a while, veering into the academic. I went to a research talk this week on what predicts successful expat adjustment in a foreign country (of course, focused on managers sent overseas). Turns out researchers have identified four factors that play a role in how well people adjust to a new cultural environment:

1. Their motivation and interest in interacting with people from the other culture
2. Their knowledge about the customs and practices (etc) in the other culture
3. Their ability to step back and understand their own reactions during cross-cultural exchanges
4. And their ability to adjust their own behaviour appropriately to the new environment

Interestingly, it seems that #1 plays the strongest role in adjustment. I'll say no more (for a while)....

This is one of a whole series of models. The best point to be gleaned from your post is that ex pats must have an intellectual framework (cultural knowledge, not just a bit of language) to settle happily into another culture.

There are also some personalty traits which are important, including, not surprisingly, a sense of humour and ability to laugh at your own mistakes - and use these to learn from.

If you send me your email, I can give you lots on initercultural interactions, cultulral knowledge, etc.

Unfortunately, many expats are too cynical, redneck, drunk, ethnocentric or stupid to learn what is required or, worse still, obtain their insights from pot-boilers written by drunks and lonely sexpats - or from well-meaning but not very culturally competent Thai girls.

OK, last post for a while, veering into the academic. I went to a research talk this week on what predicts successful expat adjustment in a foreign country (of course, focused on managers sent overseas). Turns out researchers have identified four factors that play a role in how well people adjust to a new cultural environment:

1. Their motivation and interest in interacting with people from the other culture
2. Their knowledge about the customs and practices (etc) in the other culture
3. Their ability to step back and understand their own reactions during cross-cultural exchanges
4. And their ability to adjust their own behaviour appropriately to the new environment

Interestingly, it seems that #1 plays the strongest role in adjustment. I'll say no more (for a while)....

This is one of a whole series of models. The best point to be gleaned from your post is that ex pats must have an intellectual framework (cultural knowledge, not just a bit of language) to settle happily into another culture.

There are also some personalty traits which are important, including, not surprisingly, a sense of humour and ability to laugh at your own mistakes - and use these to learn from.

If you send me your email, I can give you lots on initercultural interactions, cultulral knowledge, etc.

Unfortunately, many expats are too cynical, redneck, drunk, ethnocentric or stupid to learn what is required or, worse still, obtain their insights from pot-boilers written by drunks and lonely sexpats - or from well-meaning but not very culturally competent Thai girls.

Won't waste too much time on this .... but,

Given your moniker, I expected a better analysis. Although I am sceptical of those who offer culture as a universal explanation, in this case, Thailand has never been and never will be a law-abiding society - for very good cultural reasons - survival and development. To put it simply, as a Thai, you would not survive if you objected every time your rights were violated, were the only sane driver on the road, the only honest cop at the station, or did not participate, even minmally (paying a traffic cop, accepting money for your vote) in fraud and corruption - not to mention the politicians, 'legal' system and impunity.

I find the best solution is to keep head down, enjoy what is positive (which is a lot) and accept that it is a kleptocratic system by foreign standards. It is often annoying but not difficult to comprehend, not a moral matter but a cultural one. So, save yourself a heart attack.

In regard to TV, i agree. It is a home for cranky old gits, one of which i must be by definition. I just ignore most of the ill-informed and bilious comments and try to find a gem (not often successful).

One anecdotal observation which does get under my skin. I have never come across so many b_llsh_t artists (foreigners) before in my life or in any other country as I have over the years in Bkk. It is astounding what people expect you to believe about themselves. Their wealth, their status, their knowledge. This adolescent need to impress both annoys and amuses.

sick bastards. today he will be filminh skirts, tml he would drugging girls, next week he would be a full blown rapist

want to rephrase that?

"rub nong" 5555555

Why don't they just show the testing results they have?

Because they are damaging to the product's image, obviously, and so they would have to arrest themselves

leave the gf at home

It is really no consolation, but Thais of varying social classes complain about exactly this same subject. The difference is that their knowledge of the language and 'mai peng rai' gets them thru with far less stress.

I guess it is that wonderful education system

Australians do not have a clue when it comes to Thais.

they play Australian rules. Thais play a different game.

Obviously an intercultural sage, unburdened by ethnocentricity or fettered by learning. All germans are ... Brits are.. Americans are ...etc., etc.

A few ideas:

1. If relevant, turn off the money (to the in-laws) and let them know why. But after 10 yrs probably too late for that. May have been a good idea in the first 6 mths.

2. Just chill and then later, casually let a third party, possibly the yai, know about the chat your niece (?) had with your daughter. Let the family sort it.

3. Unless they are all a**holes, let someone senior know how upset you are. Let them sort it within their own culture. If they don't, well, consider the mental welfare of your kids.

But, unfortunately, I agree with earlier poster who said you need to establish your place in the pecking order earler.

Not in Phuket, given its growing reputation for slimy taxi, tuk tuk and jet ski operators. Your list did not include theft, abduction, assault and murder.

The pathatic little pri.k is probably out with his drinking/doper buddies this weekend , bragging about how he has everything taken care of, no more problems from that little snitch. Lets go find some new conquests and party.

If it was my daughter, sister or mother, he would seriously have to watch his back.

Exactly what sort of business are your mother et al in?

"considering a lawsuit against her for tarnishing his reputation by speaking out."

K Boonyashit, your reputation is well and truly down the toilet already. Cut his willy off, lady!!

What are the odds on the foreign boyfriend being charged with assault and, possibly, causing the deaths and, of course, damage to the restaurant

You mentioned that you felt like her dirty little secret at first.

How public did your relationship and, importantly, your break up become? If it was public, she would have implied or given expectations to friends and family about the future of the relationship.

You, being a logical, culturally uninformed falang, have brought all this tumbling down with great loss of face. Now, given that, in a face-based culture, one must never be wrong or embarrassed, the explanation she now has to give is that you are a no-good "typical falang ... blah blah blah". INterestingly, her friends and family will support her in this, even if they do not believe her. So, case closed ... from a cultural point of view. She can move on.

My experience is that women like her usually land on their feet. The challenge for you is to not take her face saving behavior too seriously, unless she threatens to have you killed. Oh, and get yourself an intercultural education, e.g. read Trompenaars' stuff or others. (Avoid the drunken ramblings of expat would be writers) And you also move on.

anyone know the "items in ECA's cost of living basket" used to determine this study.