cshort64

I would like to ask the author of the original posting - Do you truly believe that a sitting General will admit that he or his staff is planning a coup?

My next question to you is why do you even ask the question, a coup is an illegal act, so you are asking a ranking military officer if he is going to break the law?

May I ask you, what makes you think this person will answer you with and does his answer have any credibility?

Why do we ask such questions, are you implying that you are ok if there is a coup? Why should we tolerate the Military bully the citizens of Thailand again, don't you think the previous 20 coups are enough?

Just a few thoughts.....

Cheers

C

Hi Rossi

I have been working in IT here in Bangkok for some years now. I have worked for two firms and have recruited dozens of new hires for both of them and there is a bit of a challenge here trying to find the right people. The skills you find here vary dramatically from person to person even among people with the same number of years of experience. I find that it depends on what the prospect actually did and was allowed to do in their previous or current role and their desire to succeed. For example, I have hired a Sr. Developer, 7 or 8 years experience developing in .NET and C# that could barely use Visual Studio IDE or Eclipse effecitenly to write code with any type of effeciently. But have had Jr. developers with 1 or 2 years experience work cicles around the older guys just out of desire.

Also, to be candid I have found better and more creative developers that are women than men here, naturally not a very fair statement I know but just an observation.

For Systems people like you are looking for then locals can be had for 25K - 50K and if you are looking for a really Sr. guy/gal then look for 75K to 85K but maybe try hiring one or two of those and then get a few fresh graduates from school, they are eager, willing to learn and work hard, and they will save you some money. Many schools here teach Linux as well as Microsoft so I'm sure you can find some. On the expat side, unless you are willing to go over 100K/month you will most likely not find any.

Good Luck

C

Remobb; I sympathize with you! This is a terrible situation you are in as a teacher, I find many western teachers to this because they are passionate and want to teach, they love the kids smiles when they learn something new, they like it when the light bulb goes off in the kids head and he/she brightens up and smiles with an air of confidence. You are 100% correct, the adminstrators want money to drive the schools, to ensure the school looks good on paper, but they do not care as much if the child in that seat can actually read. This actually goes up through universities in my opinion.

For all of you reading that are foreigners and work for multi-national companies, how many of your companies accept Thai University degrees? How highly are they regarded virsus those Thai students that attend university in Australia, US, UK or other countries like HK or Singapore? We hire almost 100 people graduating university in Thailand every year, we put the best of them through a 2 year training program just to make sure they can compete properly with their peers. When I hire a Thai student who has been trained overseas, I skip the 2 year program and they begin working as a standard new hire.

In the 'real' world this is the difference, this gap has to be closed.

Remobb, keep trying my friend, keep pushing the system, don't quite my friend our kids need good schools.

Regards

C

The author of this piece is quite right, it is acutually a well written article and has several salient points in it. I am quite surprised by the educational ministers plan to scrap the 2nd language mandate, this makes very little sense. I find it hard to swallow how badly the educational system is being treated by the government and how the citizens are not able to push more for reform.

The wealthy Thai citizens can get a good eduction where the poor do not have the same advantage, this is nothing new here or in other countries. However, in many other countries the government at least tries to be more equitable in how Education is made available.

Recently I traveled to Islamabad on Business, I know an American in Pakistan, not smart, but I have did it and returned safely, anyways, while sitting on the plan I was placed next to a Thai MP, he and I struck up a conversation, his English was quite good he said that the education department did a study of graduating senior girls asking them what their career aspirations where after they finished school and their response was, "to marry a foreign man" , this would make them and their family feel safer about their future than going on to university. The MP I was next too shook is head and was completely shocked, his next concern was for the future of the contry and its traditions. He continued to talk about how the schools fail so many Thai students because they do not encourage thinking and hope and desire to achieve, this is what our schools need, money will help, the PM saying it is important is fine, but changing childrens perspective is key! Without this, we will be having this same conversation in 10 years.

Cheers

C

This is an interesting read and one that will be debated often, the reform in Thai schools is much needed, we all agree. Teachers are paid badly this it true, I agree with all the other comments that have been posted before mine. One item I find missing and not addressed is the style of teaching, the old and outdated version of memorize everything, don't think for yourself or be creative. Students here are taught to memorize everything but not to think creatively or critically. As a father of 3 Thai son's I can see the difference in my boys school and education, for example. I have a 6 y/o and a 14 y/o in the same school, one is in the all English program taught by foreign teachers, there are no more than 24 students in the class. My 14 y/o is in a class of 40+ and is in the Thai program, this means he gets 4+ hrs of study per day in Thai and 2hrs in English. He is 8 years older than his little brother and he gets no homework, for the last semester he did not have homework more than 5 or 6 times all term, where my 6 y/o had it 4 days a week and at last 1 hr of work each time and he is in the first grade! My 6 y/o speaks better English than his older brothers, is happier and is better adjusted in many ways. I have been given regular feedback from the English teacher and NO feedback from the Thai teacher! I have written her in English email and she cannot read English, I speak fluent Thai but am an American, so I speak to her in Thai and it is clear that she is uncomfortable with the questions.

One more point, my 14 y/o son I pay 25,000 baht per term for and my 6 y/o I pay 58,000 baht for per term to attend the exact same school! I have decided naturally pull my older son out of the Thai program as it is a waist of his time and my small amount of money. I will put him in the English program and keep him back 1 year and hire an English tutor to help him get caught up. I am shocked and dismayed at the level of educational differences between two systems in the same school. (This school by the way is quite well known and is 'suppose' to be very challenging for Thai as well as English students) I am thrilled with the English only program, the Thai program is pathetic.

Thailand is a wonderful place, without better education, better teachers, more money in the hands of teachers instead of administrators pockets or garrages (*wink*) they will continue to struggle. We as parents must do what we can to push the schools, they must change HOW they teach, WHAT they teach, and not be afraid to tell children and parents that they are not working hard enough, nothing will change, the system is set up for the poor children to fail.

My 2 cents.

Regards

C

Hi.

I have a similar question, I have a relative visiting shortly and she uses the Lantus insulin pen in the states, can she buy them

here when she arrives? I have heard they are available but not sure how much and where to go.

Thanks in Advance.

C

Hello My fellow Xbox Live users

My son and I like to play online and we are having some challenges to get Xbox live to work. The problem appears to be with our NAT on the Router we were provided by True intenet and we can make any changes to make working online easier. When in Singapore we were able to get a gaming router from the internet company, at least that is what they called it, that made it possible to play online more easily. Can anyone here shed some light on this problem? If you have experienced it and fixed it we would be most grateful to learn how.

Thank you

C

ONNUT you made a very interesting statement in your original posting, that "You can get finance on 2nd no problem", this is the first time I have heard it. I'm not questioning your statement but I would like to understand more as I was not sure you could get any financing for a car here in Thailand if you were a foreigner.

Any details you can share on how it works, documentation required, etc... I would be most grateful.

Cheers

C

I have been able to find a solution for this here in Thailand. Please send me a private message if you'd like to buy one as well, They are WoW online for Oceanic and US regions.

Cheers

C

Hi.

My question is slightly different, but maybe this audience can help. I am married to a Thai and have 5 children, 3 of them are born here in thailand, they are Thai as they have their passports. However, does it help me to gain a Passport easier? I have read the forum on how to get a passport and the work required and the time required, I was just hoping that since we have children together the process may have an option to move more quickly?

Any thoughts?

Cheers

C

Thank you both for your assistance.

C

WOW, I am very sorry I missed this post. Thank you for replying and sorry it has taken so long to get back to you.

The way I read this, my son can only get a Non-B visa, I am married to a Thai and have 3 other sons with my Thai wife, but I assume that my son cannot get an O-Visa because he is not married and is over 20 y/o, is that correct?

Can a ED visa and Work Permit be allowed?

Thank you

C

Hello All;

One of my boys is very keen player of World of Warcraft and I would like to start buying the 2 month or 3 month pre-paid cards for him to play instead of using credit car for unlimited access. I am curious where I can buy them, I have checked B2S as I read online that they were selling them but as of today I could not find them in B2S.

Any suggestions on where I can buy one?

Thanks

C

Hello All

I would like to purchase 60 day game cards for my sons to play WOW online. Where can I purchase them in Bangkok? We are registered in this region if that helps.

Thank you

C

Good Day;

My son is here visiting and we have identified a school for him to attend university, he will go to the Dusit Thani school for Hotel and Resort Management. I need to get him an educational visa from what I understand, however, now his visa will expire in 15 days. I am thinking of flying him to Hong Kong for a few days to collect a 90 day visa then when he comes back we apply for the educational visa. I'm not sure if this is the correct approach, what advice can you provide me?

Further details, I am married to a Thai living and working here in Thailand on an non-B visa, I have 3 thai children here as well going to school.

What is the right approach for getting my son the necessary Visa to attend university here?

Thank You

C

Hi Corkman;

I have been down this road myself and have done extensive searching on this topic here and in other places. Just for clarity, I am in a similar situation, married to a Thai, been here along time and have 5 kids so I'm not going anywhere and I doubt she is. With that behind us, here is a few things I have found out:

1. Bangkok Bank or UOB Bank can be the easiest if you work with their Singapore branches, they seem to be the most flexible. The best rate I was quoted was 70% financing and 30% down on the property. This is a bit expensive as well, going to Singapore with all the necessary paperwork does make it easier if you do it face to face but it may take 2 trips unless it all goes smoothly. AirAsia and Jet Star are not that expensive and it may be an option for you.

2. Our real estate agent is rather friendly with 2 seperate bank officers here, one with UOB and one with K Bank and they are willing to give a mortgage if you have all the documenation showing legal marriage, job, work permit, etc...a mountain of paperwork, plus the mortgage goes in your wife's name but they use your income as the income to identify how much you can borrow. This comes down to who you know I guess.

3. I have scoured the banks online and other sources and I have found out from my staff even that GHB (government own) will not help at all as they are a government bank, but K Bank, UOB, Kasikorn Bank have been willing to do mortgages but it comes and goes, the policies do have a tendancy to change base on the political wind or other conditions. This is pure annocdotal information and not first hand experience. On their websites some even say a foreigner can get a loan if married and everything goes in the wife's name, they may not offer a 20 year mortgage it may be much shorter say 10 or 15 years or even have other constraints.

The only thing for sure is that nothing is for sure, banks change the rules often and the policies are vague. If you have a banker that you have worked with for some time you may find him or her a good resource as they may be able to offer some personal assistance for you. I am working with UOB and find it ok, as long as everything is in my wifes name I have not been slowed down.

i'm sure others will have varying opinions on what is the correct thing or even if my information is accurate for today, but this is the most I have heard on the subject lately.

Good Luck

C

I have had the exact same experience with my cards, I travel monthly between BKK and LHR or BKK and NYC and the debit/ATM cards that say "electronic only" on them were not accepted anywhere, a regular visa was fine. I have Standard Chartered bank as BBK and both were the same. When I went to use them at ATM they were accepted no problem, just did not work for any purchases. However, in Bangkok they work anywhere, other than True store or payment center as they do not have an ATM debit card agreement and they refuse to treat the card as a visa, they see the Electronic Only and say "debit card" and don't use it. I was thrown out of one store for arguing so much with the cleck, because it will work as a visa if they try, they just don't do it on principle.

I have noticed that the expiration date on both of these cards are the year 2029, and that may have something to do with it as most CC's are only a few years in the future but not sure. Also I cannot buy anything online with the cards even though they say visa, I get an invalid expiration date or no option to put in my date because the site only goes up to 2015 for example. I broke down and got a VISA plat card from Standard Chartered because it was so hard to work internationally with it. And when I ask the staff at either back they smile and then laugh thinking it is funny that we have this problem. One Suggestion - AMEX never leave home without it.

Cheers

C

I live a stones throw from the Udom Suk station and I find it amazing that there is these continual delays in the activation of service, I'm not sure why I am surprised I have lived here long enough to understand that that this is such a thing as "Thai Time" and that things happen only when the right people say they should happen. The latest news I heard was that these were to be open before Christmas this year, but that is yet to have any weight. I have read these posts and many of you think 2011 will be the date, so I guess there is nothing clear. I have checked the BTS site and no news there of any value.

Its so western of me to think of a schedule and sticking to it... oh well.....

Cheers

C

Hi WhyBother;

No I'm not suggesting that at all, many of them are very wealthy, they are on the 'haves' side, but the Red Leaders do happen to say they represent the have-nots. This is yet to be determined however, if they were in office again, would they do any better for the people they say they represent, would they help them with jobs, education, and the other basics to move forward. I am not sure I am drinking their cool-aid either.

Cheers

C

Very interesting discussion, Loz shares a good story on the difference between Thai's and us Farang. I am here a long time, on and off since 1992 and now perminately here. I do my level best to judge people on first impressions and on the merit of their own character. However, I will admit that I have met some farang that have made my skin crawl within the first 5 minutes of meeting them where most Thai's I meet have never given me that same feeling...

Regards

C

As was stated above, both sides should be punished for the laws that they broke, I believe they both have a right to protest and state their grievences, they both have a right to make their case that they are being misrepresented, but if they broke the law, they should be penalized. It is obvious that many different laws were broken and PAD did not have the violent and caotic end that the UDD did but if they were wrong then they should feel the consequences.

This is part of the issue we have, people of different education and different status get different treatment, it is common in most counties, the rich can buy their way out of problems or pay better lawyers to help them get out. Here in Thailand it is a bit more basic and primitive than some countries but the difference is the same, the haves vs. the have-nots. Those in power wish to keep in and those who feel misrepresented want to be part of the system and can't get in.

This saga is long from over unfortunately.

Regards

C

Hansum;

Thank you for the advise, it is an interesting idea. I am actually American and not British, but the idea is still an interesting one. I had been leaning towards puchasing 1 or maybe 2, 2 bedroom condo's here in Bangkok as this is my residence for the duration but I was not sure if the market was down enough to make money over the long hall. I also see a great deal of building going on and reading about sales on condo's so I'm not sure if there is a market clut right now....

Again, Thank you

C

One suggestion is Eva Airlines, I have flown them many times and like them, they even offer a premium economy seat offering which is rather reasonable, even more so than Thai Economy tickets. So going to London, Vienna, and Amsterdam from Bangkok this is a viable option. The service is very good, flight attendants are pleasant and lovely, and the check-in process is usually very smooth.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

C

Good Morning;

What is the rental market going to be like? If I wish to puchase a 1 or 2 bedroom condo for rental and long term investment, say 10+ years, does this still look like something that makes any sense at all? There are many many condo's coming available and renting a 2 bedroom may be easier than a 1 bedroom and easier to resell but I'm not sure. What are the general thoughts some have on this, buying for long term investements.

Cheers

C.

Hint Hint - The Military knows best so no questions please.....we have the matter well in hand