jazzbo

from #40: 40 years ago I liked good looking 20 year old Thai women. I still do today... but these days it's easier because they come in a 12-pak at Makro.

Etymology of the word 'farang' aside, the OP's query was how to deal with children who are 'confused' and maybe at times upset about having parents of 2 different races ... Having first noticed this phenomenon about 25 years ago when traveling to China and being a bit haunted by some of those children's faces I would say the following:

I would tell the child that the most important thing is having a loving parent or parents ... The fact that you are of mixed race parentage is nothing of your doing but was a choice made by me and your Mother ... when you get upset at other persons who maybe stare at you and call you names do not get upset at them: Get upset at me and your Mother --

It was our choice; not yours but you are the one who will have that burden to deal with persons who just do not understand.

from #31 i'm not in the habit of deceiving woman to get some sex... and I'm sure they can spot such a true gentleman from a distance.

A five-month-on / seven-month-off arrangement is probably more than acceptable for the Thai girls ... maybe they'll even throw in a all-teary-eyed-at the-departure-gate show for free.

Yeah I know that one on the right of the picture... but when I got her home alone she was a real dud.

Ambien.

Yes -- and if you are very visibly teaching English in your home without a work permit separate from your school work permit and someone decides to drop the dime on you those dreams could all end rather abruptly.

However the Yank contingent should be advised that the last time I went in for an extension of stay based upon retirement the local IMM office insisted on using the highly unfavorable Bangkok Bank 1-2$ note rate which as of today is:

USD1-2 : 28.99

USD5-20 : 29.30

USD50-100 29.77

I nearly had a stroke when I realized what they were up to but I squeaked by with the $1-2 note rate... I do not know that there is any other country that has such multiple rates based on currency note denomination.

OK IF -- splash a little SongKran water on yourself for good measure... and please have a good and safe time there in the wilds of BC this summer.

BTW from My Cousin Vinny (for a slow SongKran weekend):

Vinny Gambini: (concerned about his hunting attire) What about these pants I got on? You think they're okay?

Mona Lisa Vito: Imagine you're a deer. You're prancing along. You get thirsty. You spot a little brook. You put your little deer lips down to the cool, clear water - BAM. A fuc_kin' bullet rips off part of your head. Your brains are lying on the ground in little bloody pieces. Now I ask ya, would you give a fuc_k what kind of pants the son-of-a-bitch who shot you was wearing?

from #96 I sometimes regret owning a home because the general maintenance of a home is an anchor tying me to one place when I'd rather be fishing or hunting. OK ditch the house unless that is where you store all the spectacularly beautiful duds.

Mid-Island Storage -- Located in beautiful Parksville , British Columbia -- serving Central Vancouver IslandSeservirving Central Vancouver Island, British Columbia

One way to do this as has been discussed here before -- and which I came close to doing myself -- is to find some consulting or other organization that is in the position capital/Thai employee-wise of supporting a work permit application, have them hire you, and then reimburse any taxes and out-of-pocket costs that they might incur in hiring you plus any commission if they so request.

However, you have to earning an amount substantial enough to cover all the above costs.

... the further adventures of K. Kamakashi ... looks like the next episode starts here:

I-130

Interesting to read of all these para-military suggestions ... I would think for some here who travel out of country leaving the family alone you might hire your own security guard to sit at the front entrance while you are away.

Beyond that this is all an interesting reminder as to why I am happy to rent an apartment.

#4 ..their crazy tempers ... as in plural ... how many do you have?

as per UG at #5 ... many of the prettiest Isaan girls never leave -- they don't have to.

Many Isaan women seem to age quite rapidly in their late thirties and early forties ... No problem just get another 24-year old.

Thanks GB -- I do use Skype and Skype-out but the call quality is not always acceptable and sometimes my Internet is just plain down ... However one great thing about having Skype-out is that calls to '800' numbers in USA are free...

This easy-card may be the best tip I've garnered from your posts since I decided to start buying Meals-ready-to-eat with 3-year shelf life ...

Everyone brings something different to the table but, personally, I never considered a move to Thailand until after several preliminary trips and the non-family-type 'bond' was already in place ... and is still in place 7 years hence.

Although I do speak (though now very rusty) Spanish I also started studying Asian languages 20 years before I ever set foot in Asia and that itself is 20 years ago.

Back in the days (1996) when 'Dolly' the Sheep was first cloned people used to joke about cloning Michael Jordan ...

My response was: What do get when you clone Michael Jordan? ... a baseball player who can't hit a curve ball.

Kuhn DB -- You have your experiences and -- though not in the same quantity -- I have mine. In the USA when I needed to purchase health insurance myself I did it directly with United Healthcare and a had very satisfactory experience with inpatient surgery with their network provider... and I have had excellent communication with the BUPA reps on the phone, via email, and in-person... it is a matter of personal preference when such options are available.

The only billing discrepancy I had at check-out time after 8-days in-patient following surgery here in Thailand is that the insurer refused to pay the hospital for the cans of CocaCola I drank in my private room's mini bar.

Whether there is any love lost between insurer and provider here in Thailand makes little difference as it will be the same whether a broker is involved or not... and at least to my knowledge and despite substantial investments on their part the Health insurers in Thailand have never suggested that you use their direct services instead of a broker while the reverse is true maybe ad nauseum.

For DB @ # 77 Yes ... whatever works for you and the wife but it sounds more like a UN Security Council Resolution

I did not intend to add anything other than a heads-up to others that after reading

... a pre-planned holiday

my wife contacted Immigration ...

... suffering from a family bereavement

and especially

Considering that the immigration office (were) directly responsible for my problems ...

that they should take note that -- barring the rare exception -- Immigration doesn't give a sh-t about your problems

When the relevant Immigration office supervisor says to you "Yes, Kuhn JAF, WE were responsible for all your problems and will grant you your new extension post haste" then I will agree ... else the person seeking the extension is always responsible.

Re: Posts #s 72 & 74:

Jazzbo (George Burns): 25 word comment

IanF (Gracie Allen): 204 word reply plus 5 pictures

George B: "Say 'Goodnight', Gracie."

Gracie A: "Goodnight, Gracie"

I am very sorry to read of the OP's and his wife's dilemma which is more than anyone should have to endure just to get an extension ...

However, on these pages many times one can read of 'It was time for my visa/extension but I had OTHER commitments, priorities, plans, etc.' ... SAY WHAT?

. Considering that the immigration office where directly responsible for my problems, it seems a little shoddy to suggest that I may have brought some of this upon myself.

I would say for the benefit of others that YOU were directly responsible for your problems, not Immigration ... Guys on here have said that they received an opinion over the phone or even in person with one IMM officer, and then when they later showed up that officer was not to be found and was given a different opinion ... Taking care of vital visa or extension matters should always take precedence over a holiday and -- with all due respect -- IMM is not about to make concessions every time someone says someone has died as long as it isn't you.