IssanDM

Interesting topic as I have just returned to the US myself after 8 years in Issan. Strange as I though I would have reverse culture shock, but that hasn't been the case so far. We've only been here 3 days, but it feels as though I never left?!

Being here in on the east coast of Florida is still much like issan just more muggy. It's a hell of a lot cleaner here and technology seems to have crept into everyday life. Seems there is an "app" for everything here. Walking into fast food places I see you can order from your cell phone then pick it up. One thing I really liked was going to a hardware store to ask a question about what paint I need to repaint our condo and the lady was knowledgeable and very helpful unlike what I experienced back in LOS.

One thing we won't miss in LOS is the godforsaken Teachers Counsel and their never ending incompetence. I enjoyed my time teaching there, but never again. My wife has the 5 year licence, but I hate the way the Filipino teachers are treated there so she will be applying here in Florida. At least here she has many more opportunities than in either the Philippines or Thailand. I will return to our family furniture business.

As life restarts for me and my wife here I wonder what else is in store for us?

You're partially correct.

Yes, went a car becomes disconnected from the locomotive the air rushes out and the braking system goes into emergency stopping the train. Each car has its own air reservoirs to apply the brakes in event there is a loss of "line" pressure.

On each car (carriage) is a bleeder valve that removes the air from the cars air reservoir tanks and this releases the brake for yard switching (shunning). So it is possible the train crew though it would be too much trouble to connect the braking system and in a since use only the locomotive the stop the train. This would account from the runaway cars stopping only after they ran out of momentum.

"Bleeding off of air doesn't make a car available for shunting."

And why would that be?

The air pressure holds the brakes OFF. Bleeding off the air puts the brakes ON.

This is the fundamental principle of the Westinghouse Air Brake. It is a fail safe system, where loss of air pressure (the failure) leads the safest alternative, the brakes on.

She has a Non B stamped on her passport from Thai immigration office and will expire next year in April and she also got her US immigrant visa this month. We are planning to go to US next month. Does she need to cancel her Thai visa first before leaving for the US or just leave Thailand without cancelling her Thai visa via the airport?

I'm going home to the US and taking my Filipino wife with me. She has her US visa and we're leaving June 24. She presently has a Non-B visa and I've heard word that she will next to cancel the visa first and get a letter from the school for her last day of employment or she will not be allow to leave?

My question is if she leaves through Swampy will immigration want that letter or not? Some of her friends have left and no mention of wanting a letter. Is it only the border crossings looking for the end of employment letter?

My contract/visa ends April 30 and I would like to do a turn around at Nong Khai. What paperwork will N.K. immigration need for me to do a simple turn around? I.E. letter from my employer, canceled work permit, tax receipt?

I am heading back to the USA and I need to do a tun around to wait for my wive's visa to the US to finish.

Big changes have happened even outside the ring road where the wife and I have a farm. Over the last 2 years we have had our road paved from the main road to just passed our house. Street lighting has been added and just last week city water mains were put in and connected to the house . Just in time too because the water from the farms well is becoming contaminated with iron.

Over the last 13 years I have seen this town explode from the sleepy place it was to a very busy town. It has about everything an expat needs to live a comfortable life. I'm just happy I'm only 10 km. out of the city center in a peacefully part of the jungle...for now .

I work in a government EP high school. All my classes are capped at 30 students. My old non EP high school 40-45 students.

Very cool cyberpunk style short film

I live here in Issan and less than an hour from Ban Phai I can tell you this is very uncharacteristic of this area. This is the type of news you would expect to hear from Bangkok, Pattaya, or Phuket, not rural Issan.

One thing I'm curious of is why does this school or agency feel it is necessary to hold back 20% of your pay for you to finish your contract? Oh sure, the argument of teachers doing runners and breaking their contract early comes to mind, but I would ask why did the teacher feel the need to do a runner in the first place? Could it be the school or agency has working conditions so poor or their exceptions are completely out of touch with reality that the teacher saw that it was an unworkable situation?

My boss has been getting calls from schools all over Issan asking if "his" foreign teachers are available? Just today he said he my farm us out on the weekends to these schools if the teachers get a large cut of the pie. I may be busy for a couple of months as long as the cash flows, but goodbye weekends and hello to 50+ kids in hot sweaty Issan classrooms .

Government schools can get a waiver. Most private schools cannot, but as others have said they can get things passed through with connections or bribes.

This doesn't seem to be true anymore because at my government school we had a teacher that worked here for over 5 years and was denied his renewed licence. There seems to be a new policy that has closed the waiver of not having a degree. My school tried everything to keep him to no avail as the MOE will not except anyone without a degree.

On a side note all the non-native English speaking foreign teachers must take a pass the TOEIC with a score of 600 or better.

If you ever make it up to Udon we have a D&D 3.5 gaming group.

Yes, I know the eye doctor across from Serm Thai and he is a good guy. I have tutored his children and some of the teachers at my school have used him and they are satisfied with his service. His English isn't the best but he and his wife will be able to speak with you. His shop is right across from the lavender wearing ladies shop.

Forget the gambling den, check out those fine looking VW's sitting out front

I was just talking to a friend in Udon and she said that Udon has about a weeks worth of gasoline before it runs out as fresh supplies can't make it north. Is this scare mongering or is there a bit of truth to it? I haven't seen or heard of any problems in the Maha Sarakham area. Also so far everything is pretty much dry here but the klong behind the house is higher than usual and many of the rural roads are in worse shape than usual.

I'm happy to say the meet-up is still going strong. There is also an "unofficial" meet-up happening on Friday nights. Tends to be a bar running a beer special or bowling at PJ Bowl. PM one of us and we'll keep you informed.

Oopps spoke to early as a couple of kids on the main road have started testing their throwing arms and trying to improve their aim. At least they waited till it warmed up.

Be careful out there and enjoy yourself as it's

It's the run up to Songkran and in some places the locals like to start early. I'll start my report from Maha Sarakham.

Monday: All's quiet and no water is being thrown in town or the villages yet. There is a heavy police presence at all the major intersections in town and check points are going up on the main road. I have seen the large stereo/karaoke equipment heading to the village party house so I'm guessing they will start tonight.

Let the games begin

I have lived in the Udon Thani province for over 10 years and I'm doing the same as I have done for the last 3 years ---- Taking my annual holiday home to Australia.

Not a problem with the Thais. It's the highly embarrassing performance of the Farang population. The effin idiots have absolutely no idea what SongKran is all about and spoil the occasion for everyone giving us "ba ba babor" Farang an ever increasing bad name!! :ph34r: :ph34r:

Quite right, bdenner... it's the farangs are the problem, not the locals.

Yep. Seconded here!

Are we attending the same Songkran? I have been from the deepest Issan village to the middle of Udon during Songkran and the locals are by far worse than the MAJORITY of the local falang expats. Now in the big tourist areas you'll find the falangs acting like fools but almost everywhere else it is the locals drunk out of their minds and groping the girls. The majority of expats do know and understand what and how Songkran is traditionally celebrated.

Like it or not its the Thais that have turned it into a 3 day drunken water war.

I have been in Udon for the past 3 Songkrans and each one was very much fun. The 2 main party places are all around the park in the center of town. You can expect gridlock for at least 2 or 3 hours making your way through the madness. The other is City Center and it had a kid friendly area for the kids to play and your son may find this place appealing.

In the City Center there are stages set up blasting out music with the wet coyote girls dancing

Don't suppose there's anymore pics from this night. I happened to be in town and attend. Can see my btl of 8 yr old whiskey and my empty chair. After N&N we ended up in a cocktail bar by the uni getting hammered on shots. Would like to see more pics if available.

Oh man I still remember that night! Not sure if I would want to see any pictures from there

Good to see this thread alive again. I now live in Mahasarakham and its quite a change from living in the bush. The get togethers are still very popular. As it was posted earlier Tidsun is becoming the Friday night falang hang out spot. The band is even play a good selection of western music.

I am happy to say the Udon D&D club is up and running. Meetings are still a bit infrequent but there is a small core group of players. Also a number of visitors join the game when in town.

This is a public invite to anyone who would enjoy playing. Doesn't matter if you have never played as the group will help you and the only thing necessary to play is your imagination. We will be meeting the 13th or 14th of this month and most likely will be gaming for 10 days. (schools out for the teachers working here)

Post here or PM me for more information.