Richard Barrow has an informal discussion with H. E. Mark Gooding OBE The British Ambassador-Designate for Expat Life in Thailand

[webfact]

 

written by Richard Barrow 

 

Thank you for agreeing to answer some questions about your work and life here in Thailand. Can you begin by briefly introducing yourself?

Of course. I’m delighted to be back in this region. I’ve spent much of my working career here. My first job after university was as a French and German teacher at an international school in Sri Lanka. That was fun and rewarding, and really gave me a taste for life in this part of the world. Since I joined the Foreign Office about 20 years ago, I’ve done jobs in China, Cambodia, and back in Sri Lanka. So, I hope my regional experience will be useful in Thailand. Outside the office, I enjoy running, swimming and music (though running in the tropical heat is hard work). Outside pandemic times, I also love travelling to new and remote places. All recommendations for travel within Thailand are welcome!

 

Officially you are the Ambassador designate until you present your credentials to the king. Do you have any idea when that will happen?

I’m hoping to receive my letter of accreditation from the Royal Palace soon, which will enable me to arrange official meetings. I don’t yet have a date yet.

 

I hear that you have visited Thailand before as a tourist. What were your impressions of the country as a tourist and what were your favourite activities and destinations during your visits?

I’ve visited Thailand many times and have always had a warm welcome. Thailand has stunning scenery, a rich history and culture, and of course amazing food. It’s difficult to choose my favourite memories, but they include cycling around the ancient city of Sukhothai as a backpacker, visiting an elephant sanctuary, and trekking in national parks. I also love Bangkok for its bustling energy and dynamism (and I am looking forward to seeing that again soon!).

 

Obviously with travel restrictions in place since you came here which means you cannot travel much, what are your travel plans once restrictions are lifted? 

You’re right I’ve had to postpone my travel plans since I arrived. Once restrictions lift, I plan to visit the major centres for the British community across the country. My first stops will include Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Khon Kaen, Hua Hin, and other well-known locations. 

 

I know you have a Master’s Degree in Modern Languages, but how difficult was it for you to learn Thai?

Thai is not easy for an English native speaker. The tones and writing in particular are challenging, even after learning Chinese. One advantage of having learnt different languages is that I know what study techniques work for me. For instance, my attention span for listening exercises is much longer if I do them while walking round Lumpini park rather than sitting at a desk.

 

I can imagine most of the Thai you have been learning is the formal version for making speeches with a vocabulary list needed for the diplomatic world. But can you also speak street Thai? Can you, for example order food and chat about the weather?

You’re right that much of my training was designed for work at the Embassy, so there was a lot of political, economic and professional content. We also covered conversational Thai, so I feel like I can get by. Of course, as a Brit, my default conversation starter is about weather, so I feel well practised in that. 

 

Can you speak and understand royal language? This is not easy even for Thais.

This is one area where I really need to study more. My Thai course did include Royal vocabulary, but mostly for passive use (e.g. reading, listening). So I would definitely need some revision before trying to put my Racha Sap into practice.

 

One of your predecessors, Mark Kent, was a prolific tweeter and often engaged with the expat community in Thailand. He was much loved and admired for doing this, but he is a hard act to follow. I noticed you have been on Twitter since 2008 but you have only tweeted 80 times! Do you have plans on tweeting more while you are here?

Yes, indeed. Previously I’ve used Twitter mostly to monitor what’s going on.  Now I’m going to use it more. That’s why almost all my 80 tweets since 2008 have been posted since I started in July.

 

Since you have been here, you’ve done a couple of videos that were posted on social media. Are you planning on doing this on a regular basis? In particular about covid updates for British citizens.

Yes, definitely. I am planning to do Thai language videos for our Thai audience and English language videos for our English speaking audience. I think it’s important that we keep people updated, and am committed to doing this.  

 

Out of all the social media options, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and also youTube and TikTok, which are your favourites?

I mostly use Twitter and Facebook myself, but I think different platforms have different audiences, so sometimes we need to use them for different purposes. 

 

There was a lot of criticism when the British government sold the old embassy grounds in Ploenchit. Now the embassy is in an office building. Do you see this as a downgrade compared to what we had before?

The Embassy move was completed before I arrived in Thailand so all I’ve known is the new Embassy. But of course, I’m aware that the Embassy move caused some controversy and some people were sad to see us move out of our former premises. I like our new building. It is a modern, light office space in a good location, so for me it is a great base from which to operate. 

 

Full story: https://expatlifeinthailand.com/expat-life/richard-barrow-interviews-h-e-mark-gooding-obe-the-british-ambassador-for-expat-life-in-thailand/

 

 

-- © Copyright Expat Life in Thailand 2021-09-21

 

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[Gottfrid]

And all this will tell us what Richard? What use might we have of this fantastic information? Probably just looking for another 5 minutes of fame, right?

[Eff1n2ret]

30 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

And all this will tell us what Richard? What use might we have of this fantastic information? Probably just looking for another 5 minutes of fame, right?

The content in the linked article is slightly more interesting than the vanilla essence above, although nothing really new.

[Aussieroaming]

 Interview number two might actually probe some of the issues facing British Nationals in Thailand that the Ambassador Designate might be going to tackle in the future. It would have been interesting to learn what agenda or goals he has in mind to promote Britain and British relations in the region and whether he will improve lines of communication with the British Nationals that reside here. 

[Thingamabob]

Good effort by Richard to meet the guy, but this is so bland as to be pointless.

[cape]

How to contact our ambassador ?

[chalawaan]

Arise, Lord Barrow, OBN

[clivebaxter]

Complete waste of time

[zzaa09]

6 hours ago, Eff1n2ret said:

The content in the linked article is slightly more interesting than the vanilla essence above, although nothing really new.

Yes. The boy scout, Richard Barrow designing the standard for what expat life might be in Thailand. 

His material and working perspective became quite weary about ten years ago. 

And yet, there are many that slobber romantically over his presence and stature. 

To each his own.

[Deli]

Was expecting the question if he ( this Ambassdor ) also likes Asian boys, as his predecessor does.

[soalbundy]

3 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

Good effort by Richard to meet the guy, but this is so bland as to be pointless.

He seems like a nice boy.

[jesimps]

Is it me getting older, or are ambassadors getting younger? When I worked for the Brit Foreign Service, the Old Man of the embassy really was an old man.

[Keller54]

13 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

Yes. The boy scout, Richard Barrow designing the standard for what expat life might be in Thailand. 

His material and working perspective became quite weary about ten years ago. 

And yet, there are many that slobber romantically over his presence and stature. 

To each his own.

Spot on!….brilliant! ????????

[Denim]

23 hours ago, webfact said:

I hear that you have visited Thailand before as a tourist. What were your impressions of the country as a tourist and what were your favourite activities and destinations during your visits?

 

Yea. I originally came to Thailand with some mates to party in Pattaya. When I first visited soi 6 I thought ....OMG.....this is awesome. I gotta move here full time. So I worked hard and wangled the job of ambassador. Lady luck was good to me. Only downside has been the long drive from my official residence to Soi 6 but I manage it whenever I can. It was the girls there that gave me my nickname   ' cue ball '

 

 

 

[brianthainess]

11 hours ago, soalbundy said:

He seems like a nice boy.

Oh you are awful but 

[cyril sneer]

riveting