THE WEEK THAT WAS On newbies in Thailand and getting your Siamese wings!

[The Cipher]

Quote

With over 30 years here the most important thing I've learnt is not to heavily socialise with other farang. If I wanted to do that I'd be back in UK. 

I see this sentiment on here a lot but have always found it a weird blanket statement to make. I'm not technically a farang myself, but some of the best people I've met here have been young farang guys and girls. And others have been foreigners of non-European ancestry. And yet others have been Thai. It seems inappropriate to generalize, based on my subjective experience.

 

Maybe the generalization is more true of the older guys I see around? I can't be sure, as I pretty much never have the opportunity to interact with that demographic here, nor do they seem to pay me much mind. What sorta problems are you guys encountering by interacting with other non-locals?

[Noah K]

I get it! I have been living here almost nine years now, and I still learn things. But, the last year and a half should count for more than just one and a half. I live and hang out mostly with my Thai girlfriend, and her Thai friends. I was playing golf weekly with a bunch of farang, but it just reminded me why I left the US in the first place. The best litmus test to check  to see if some is a newbie is to ask them to explain why you can't buy alcohol between 14:00 and 17:00 hours. I have learned long ago to accept the Thai answer, which is "because you can't" which is a perfectly acceptable answer.

[BostonRob2]

38 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Like to point out that we know more about Thailand after living here for 3 months than the average Thai knows about the outside world in 50 years of life. 

And there speaketh the newbies first lesson: Thou shalt be xenophobic to hide one's lack of experience. 

[Thunglom]

38 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Personally, after living here for decades, I think I know a lot about Thais in Thailand. But mostly I know that I will never really understand many of them.

 

I.e. I could try to explain why it is a good idea to avoid socializing with Thais who like to get drunk. Maybe I could explain part of it. But if a newbie just learns: Don't socialize with Thais who like to get drunk! that has the same effect. Just don't do it, it doesn't matter if you can explain it or not.

And unfortunately there are many of those situation which are the way they are. Why? Don't even try to understand because even after decades you won't understand.

 

Another example is the property market in Thailand. Have a look at the property forum here on Thai Visa (or whatever it's called now). Some experts try to explain the prices and ups and down with logic which they learned in other countries, maybe even in business schools and universities. But do all those rules apply to Thailand. They should, but in reality they don't. Why? That's a good question - without any meaningful answer. TiT. This is Thailand.

None of that is specific to Thailand.

[Thunglom]

16 minutes ago, BostonRob2 said:

And there speaketh the newbies first lesson: Thou shalt be xenophobic to hide one's lack of experience. 

Unfortunately that is carried on for decades. Many of the immigrants settled in Thailand that I have met don't have the illectual capacity to even begin to understand any foreign country.

[rott]

1 hour ago, Keesters said:

Didn't say communicate. You're proving to be the typical farang I'd never have a beer with. 

 

And did you not read I said 30+ years. It is not about the covid years. 

Well that is apparently the majority of them.????

And I'd be happy to find a place where we would not have a beer together. 

Actually I do know a few but....... 

[Speedhump]

Thailand? Any expat who has spent a decade or more in SE Asia (excluding the Little Red Dot bubble) knows the ropes. Thailand's not so special. I'd even throw in experience of the Subcontinent and parts of the Middle East. You're only talking about people fresh off the banana boat. Also only people who are arrogant and bigoted, the barstools brigade, certainly not the majority. I actually think you've been here too long... ????

[Thunglom]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

Like to point out that we know more about Thailand after living here for 3 months than the average Thai knows about the outside world in 50 years of life. 

A classic mistake. After working here for nearly 20 years I realise Thais actually have a pretty good knowledge of the world outside - but those who judge are usually using they own Western-centric criteria..... e.g. They may not know who Elvis or the Beatles are but they will know "Big Bang". The name of the PM of Laos, 

 

there is a parochialism in Thai culture but no worse than Brexitism in the UK.

 

[BritManToo]

2 hours ago, Keesters said:

Didn't say communicate. You're proving to be the typical farang I'd never have a beer with. 

I would never drink with anyone that uses racial slurs.

[BritManToo]

4 hours ago, Keesters said:

With over 30 years here the most important thing I've learnt is not to heavily socialise with other farang. If I wanted to do that I'd be back in UK. 

After 10 years here, I learned to drink at home by myself  and not socialize with anyone.

[overt2016]

2 hours ago, Doctor Tom said:

Lost interest after a few paragraphs of this overly long treatise that is, well, just a load of nonsense. 

And he can't spell. Colour and humour not that american version.

[BostonRob2]

4 minutes ago, overt2016 said:

And he can't spell. Colour and humour not that american version.

Starting a sentence with "and" plus no capital letter for American? Congratulations, or as we youngsters say another pot belly calling the kettle black. 

[overt2016]

1 minute ago, BostonRob2 said:

Starting a sentence with "and" plus no capital letter for American? Congratulations, or as we youngsters say another pot belly calling the kettle black. 

DILLIGAF?

[BostonRob2]

36 minutes ago, overt2016 said:

DILLIGAF?

You come here to comment negatively every week without fail, so it looks very much like you do. 

[RichardColeman]

2 hours ago, BostonRob2 said:

And there speaketh the newbies first lesson: Thou shalt be xenophobic to hide one's lack of experience. 

 

 

 

 

Actually matey, my wife is a teacher, university educated, left education about 26 after degrees etc. She has folders full off certificates that would take 2 of us to carry.

 

She had never heard of what 9/11 and the terrorist attack, no understanding of wW2 and never heard if HItler, believed Australia was nearer to the UK than Thailand. Thai education is poor of the outside world in my opinion.

 

Thai's are not taught enough about the outside world, nothing to do with being xenophobic. 

 

[WhiteBuffaloATM]

UK Embassy does considerably help sick, broke & imprisoned Brits to return home. Refer TVF UK Embassy Posts here. If they didnt care no purpose having an embassy. If Embassy present, it has to perform very well with its expected duties. It appears to mostly do that....... Embassys do not initiate policy, only report back to UK Govt. ... Embassy staff are Not Politicians.

 

I’m no UK Bkk Embassy fan btw, they illegally denied my lady (mother of our Brit Son) a UK Tourist Visa which cost me GBP 6500 in legal fees to correct. But that was the Consulate section..... so credit where credit is due....

[The retired guy]

5 hours ago, rott said:

At the moment there are not too many farang about to heavily socialise with, not even for those who choose to live in heavily farang populated Pattaya. 

It does seem strange to read of people who do not want to communicate with other farangs but come on here to tell about it. 

He probably have a thai brain ???? 

[WhiteBuffaloATM]

Newbie status I submit is gone after one or two solid years resident here.

IF properly or fully invested here.

 

Living like a hermit upcountry in a shack probably means you will always effectively be a newbie, with very narrow life experiences. 

But someone who throws themself fully into a new life here from the start; 

Property / Business/ Family/Schooling / Sports / Charity / Travel, etc.,will certainly be an Expert within a year or two.

 

intelligence, actual & emotional, plays a large part in Knowledge / Culture Acquisition. Smart entrepreneur types after one year have learned exponentially fast & well. 

 

Others after ten years appear to learned barely the minimum, like favourite bar or closest Seven or best route between cheap room and beach.Guys with outdated paper DL, driving illegal uninsured sidecars, with terrible health.

 

Individual Quality matters, not Time Elapsed.......

[BostonRob2]

8 minutes ago, WhiteBuffaloATM said:

Newbie status I submit is gone after one or two solid years resident here.

IF properly or fully invested here.

 

Living like a hermit upcountry in a shack probably means you will always effectively be a newbie, with very narrow life experiences. 

But someone who throws themself fully into a new life here from the start; 

Property / Business/ Family/Schooling / Sports / Charity / Travel, etc.,will certainly be an Expert within a year or two.

 

intelligence, actual & emotional, plays a large part in Knowledge / Culture Acquisition. Smart entrepreneur types after one year have learned exponentially fast & well. 

 

Others after ten years appear to learned barely the minimum, like favourite bar or closest Seven or best route between cheap room and beach.Guys with outdated paper DL, driving illegal uninsured sidecars, with terrible health.

 

Individual Quality matters, not Time Elapsed.......

Interesting that in your quite long post you do not mention Thai language. Very revealing.

[BostonRob2]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

 

 

 

 

Actually matey, my wife is a teacher, university educated, left education about 26 after degrees etc. She has folders full off certificates that would take 2 of us to carry.

 

She had never heard of what 9/11 and the terrorist attack, no understanding of wW2 and never heard if HItler, believed Australia was nearer to the UK than Thailand. Thai education is poor of the outside world in my opinion.

 

Thai's are not taught enough about the outside world, nothing to do with being xenophobic. 

 

Australia is nearer to the UK if you go west. Perhaps your wife, who you seem to revel in disparaging, was thinking outside the box. 

[Bobydog]

4 hours ago, Thunglom said:

I think you've missed a point there - Thailand is actually looking at other sectors of the economy they might expand to replace the gap left by tourism .They hope that tourism will change as a result of Covid and not necessarily be such a big part of the economy.

I doubt very much the Governments ability to replaces Tourism,  they can't even manage this fkup, Tourism is gone along with retirement prospects, oh i forgot, the "Space Race", what a bloodt joke.

[The retired guy]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

 

 

 

 

Actually matey, my wife is a teacher, university educated, left education about 26 after degrees etc. She has folders full off certificates that would take 2 of us to carry.

 

She had never heard of what 9/11 and the terrorist attack, no understanding of wW2 and never heard if HItler, believed Australia was nearer to the UK than Thailand. Thai education is poor of the outside world in my opinion.

 

Thai's are not taught enough about the outside world, nothing to do with being xenophobic. 

 

They are just stupid. I have a daughter here, 14 years old, and I’m shocked about what they’re learning at school, only BS. Look at the government and so on…, ????

[Doctor Tom]

5 hours ago, Thunglom said:

how do you know?

As with us all, I was new to this country once. I remember very well how I felt and thought at that time, and not as characterized by that article. 

Edited July 18, 2021 by Doctor Tom

[Doctor Tom]

47 minutes ago, WhiteBuffaloATM said:

Newbie status I submit is gone after one or two solid years resident here.

IF properly or fully invested here.

 

Living like a hermit upcountry in a shack probably means you will always effectively be a newbie, with very narrow life experiences. 

But someone who throws themself fully into a new life here from the start; 

Property / Business/ Family/Schooling / Sports / Charity / Travel, etc.,will certainly be an Expert within a year or two.

 

intelligence, actual & emotional, plays a large part in Knowledge / Culture Acquisition. Smart entrepreneur types after one year have learned exponentially fast & well. 

 

Others after ten years appear to learned barely the minimum, like favourite bar or closest Seven or best route between cheap room and beach.Guys with outdated paper DL, driving illegal uninsured sidecars, with terrible health.

 

Individual Quality matters, not Time Elapsed.......

'Newbie' is such a stupid word, totally irrelevant as an indicator of knowledge of a culture  and people and used disparagingly by those who believe, usually wrongly,  that they themselves know it all, have done it all and are the font of all knowledge   Its rather pathetic really.   

[The retired guy]

4 hours ago, Noah K said:

I get it! I have been living here almost nine years now, and I still learn things. But, the last year and a half should count for more than just one and a half. I live and hang out mostly with my Thai girlfriend, and her Thai friends. I was playing golf weekly with a bunch of farang, but it just reminded me why I left the US in the first place. The best litmus test to check  to see if some is a newbie is to ask them to explain why you can't buy alcohol between 14:00 and 17:00 hours. I have learned long ago to accept the Thai answer, which is "because you can't" which is a perfectly acceptable answer.

The answer is “because then the school kids are going home” So you should know that, I’m only been here for 15 years ☺️ You live with idiots, as 90% of us are doing, but you maybe don’t notice……

Edited July 18, 2021 by The retired guy

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, WhiteBuffaloATM said:

But someone who throws themself fully into a new life here from the start; 

Property / Business/ Family/Schooling / Sports / Charity / Travel, etc.,will certainly be an Expert within a year or two.

Sharing you life and bed with the local ladies is what makes you an expert.

Until you live with them, you know nothing!

Learning to speak/read/write one of the local languages and listen to the music probably helps a bit as well.

Edited July 18, 2021 by BritManToo

[rott]

1 hour ago, WhiteBuffaloATM said:

 

someone who throws themself fully into a new life here from the start; 

Property / Business/ Family/Schooling / Sports / Charity / Travel, etc.,will certainly be an Expert within a year or two.

 

 

As you feel that you did and you are. Good for you. 

With the exception of the travel part and property for a while they are things I never wished to get involved in. 

[roo860]

6 hours ago, rott said:

At the moment there are not too many farang about to heavily socialise with, not even for those who choose to live in heavily farang populated Pattaya. 

It does seem strange to read of people who do not want to communicate with other farangs but come on here to tell about it. 

I tend not to socialise with westerners who call other westerners farrangs.

????

[rott]

3 minutes ago, roo860 said:

I tend not to socialise with westerners who call other westerners farrangs.

????

That is obviously because you're superior and have a deep knowledge and understanding of Thai life and culture. 

My hero. 

 

And I do not pronounce it farrang, but falang with two flat "a" as in hat. 

Edited July 18, 2021 by rott

[kingstonkid]

8 hours ago, rott said:

At the moment there are not too many farang about to heavily socialise with, not even for those who choose to live in heavily farang populated Pattaya. 

It does seem strange to read of people who do not want to communicate with other farangs but come on here to tell about it. 

I found that out in the burbs   Expats would walk across the soi to avoid talking.  2 expats that live on the same soi and probably taught at the same school standing waiting for a scooter and did not even notice each other. 

 

I say sawadii khrap to all the Thais and get a polite response or a smile.  Say hello to an Expat and be prepared to get ignored or scowled at