Do you ever feel really accepted as an expat in Thailand?

[webfact]

 

Expat life is not for everyone, however, the millions who do become expats, tend to stay that way for some time, if not forever.

 

As an expat myself, having worked in the States, the United Arab Emirates, and now here in Thailand, I now think I have my own take on what it takes to being a long-term expat.

 

I always tell friends family and fellow expats that it is of course very much a nomadic life, whether you are in Thailand, the Philippines, or Vietnam.

 

You take your clothes and cash, but normally the furniture and your car stay behind.

 

Although in the UAE, we expats made up to 80% of the country’s population, the locals always had the final say.

 

 

You needed a sponsor who charged for everything for visas to insurance and upset them and you would struggle to find a new sponsor. 

 

As in most countries, it was all about who you knew.

 

Out in three months

 

Of course, in Dubai, many expats lost their jobs during the financial crash in 2009, and families were given just three months to pack up and leave.

 

The locals were ruthless!

 

When I worked there, I did make many friends, but that usually lasted on average just two years, as people tended to move on.

 

It felt like I was on one platform at the station, and they were on the opposite platform, waiting for the train to take them to their next adventure.

 

Asia dealing with uncertainty

 

Now having moved to Asia back in 2010, I am still dealing with uncertainty. 

 

Will Immigration grant me another one-year work permit?

 

Will inland revenue agree with my annual tax returns?

 

Do I really need to pay exorbitant fees for health insurance when the cover is extremely limited?

 

I expect these are concerns for many of us Expats, wherever we live in Southeast Asia.

 

Whether you are an expat with a work permit or a retiree with a retirement visa, there is always that uncertainty that the local government will amend the regulations overnight.

 

Of course, we can embrace the local lifestyle, most with a warmer climate than back home in Europe or America.

 

We can also create our own circle of friends, meet local partners, enjoy some incredible local meals, play five-star golf, or holiday in some beautiful resorts.

 

However, there is always tension in the back of your mind, whether you will be able to stay much longer.

 

These are my own observations, but it would be interesting to get your own thoughts on expat living.

 

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[jacko45k]

Honestly? No not really....

[Pravda]

I feel like 100% local especially when I write 555 after cracking my own joke or ting tong Farang when arguing about wanna be expat poster who obviously didn't integrate.

[kotsak]

My expat wallet is.. ????

[Tropicalevo]

"Do you ever feel really accepted as an expat in Thailand?"

 

Yes, but there is a caveat on that. I live on a tourist holiday island.

Also, I run a small business employing local staff.

Most locals are in the tourism business and we all work together.

Me - trying to bring them business and making my guests happy.

They - trying to give good service, making my guests happy and becoming more rich. We have a common goal.

I have been an 'expat' for just under 30 years, living in Thailand, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and back to Thailand for the last 21 years.

My wife died here nearly six years ago. She was a teacher at the local International school.

At her cremation, the head monk said that he had never seen so many people (local and foreign) at a 'farang' cremation before. (I had to feed just more than 200 guests.)

When my wife and I moved here in 2000, we decided that we were never going to live in our country of origin again (the UK).

Thailand is a beautiful country with some lovely people - warts and all.

It is my home.

[jonclark]

Yes and No. 

 

When dealing with government and officialdom is generally a No. They always seem to be quick 'difficult' (but then again this is also the same for a lot of Thais as well). With people in general yes. I have found that if you can speak the lingo, or at least make an effort to integrate most people will meet you half way. 

[Dmaxdan]

Do I feel accepted?

 

From a bureaucratic point of view?  No, absolutely not. 

 

Within the village I live in?  Yes, I'm very much part of the furniture. 

[TooMuchTime]

Thailand is for Thais.

[ezzra]

A foreigner is a foreigner no matter what country he/she will reside, it more up to the individual to make themselves accepted and blend in, sticking out like a sore thumb never helped...

[BritManToo]

3 minutes ago, ezzra said:

it more up to the individual to make themselves accepted and blend in

Why would you want to be accepted or blend in?

[petermik]

7 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Honestly? No not really....

Same here...we are tolerated by many but accepted by few.....farang farang is all we are.

[petermik]

7 hours ago, ezzra said:

A foreigner is a foreigner no matter what country he/she will reside, it more up to the individual to make themselves accepted and blend in, sticking out like a sore thumb never helped...

And how do you avoid looking like a westerner????

[DrJoy]

14 minutes ago, TooMuchTime said:

Thailand is for Thais.

So?

Are the expats 'stealing' their land?

[DrJoy]

11 minutes ago, ezzra said:

A foreigner is a foreigner no matter what country he/she will reside, it more up to the individual to make themselves accepted and blend in, sticking out like a sore thumb never helped...

Thai also never blend in.

 

I have met several Thais in Australia, most of them cannot speak English fluently even after spending several years.

They hardly have Aussie friends, they are like a 'Gaggle of Geese' who quack quack together.

[TooMuchTime]

Just now, DrJoy said:

So?

Are the expats 'stealing' their land?

No.  Thailand has done a good job on making it very difficult to become a citizen and then be able to buy land.  Foreigners who become Thai citizens are the type who should be respected in Thailand given the difficult process.

 

Average expat shouldn't expect respect or anything else just for existing.  If they aren't a sexpat, can speak/read/write Thai, have an educated family, provide for the community, and other things, they can then start to expect to feel welcomed.

 

Thailand protects their people and culture and aren't the type to import problems like your home country probably did.

[sanuk711]

35 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

Will Immigration grant me another one-year work permit?

 

Will inland revenue agree with my annual tax returns?

 

Do I really need to pay exorbitant fees for health insurance when the cover is extremely limited?

 

And there's even more life threatening stuff to worry about--:

 

Sitting in the middle of a row at the movie theater, where you’ll have to get past strangers to get to the bathroom.

Ordering at Maca's drive through . There are just too many questions to answer.

Accidentally making eye contact with someone.

My shiny forehead...............................etc ..etc...    

[shackleton]

Yes where I live the Thai people are very friendly always say hello with a smile on their face 

Love being here Enjoy the food culture weather its a great country to retire in ????

done my 90 day report a couple of days back very friendly Immigration staff  in and out 10 minutes ????

[CharlieH]

I would say "tolerated" but not much more than that.

 

Govt. immigration, police you are mostly invisible, or a mild irritant to be dismissed as quickly as possible.

[Hummin]

30 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

"Do you ever feel really accepted as an expat in Thailand?"

 

Yes, but there is a caveat on that. I live on a tourist holiday island.

Also, I run a small business employing local staff.

Most locals are in the tourism business and we all work together.

Me - trying to bring them business and making my guests happy.

They - trying to give good service, making my guests happy and becoming more rich. We have a common goal.

I have been an 'expat' for just under 30 years, living in Thailand, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and back to Thailand for the last 21 years.

My wife died here nearly six years ago. She was a teacher at the local International school.

At her cremation, the head monk said that he had never seen so many people (local and foreign) at a 'farang' cremation before. (I had to feed just more than 200 guests.)

When my wife and I moved here in 2000, we decided that we were never going to live in our country of origin again (the UK).

Thailand is a beautiful country with some lovely people - warts and all.

It is my home.

But still, you are not a citizen of Thailand, you are just on visa permission still after 20 years. 

 

I keep a foot inside my home country, still paying taxes for social security there and can move home and benefit from all social services from day one. I also have EU rights, and can travel, work and live all over EU and also have local social security in other EU countries. I also have a right to have reunion with my gf/wife from Thailand, and they also will have full social security coverage from day one, and after 3 years become a citizen of the EU country we choose to live in. 

 

Im a guest in Thailand, and I will always be a guest, nothing more. 

[Guderian]

Nope. They tolerate you because of your money. Don't kid yourself any other way, the old jokes about you being somewhere below the family dog in their affections are spot on.

[RandiRona]

15 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Why would you want to be accepted or blend in?

Exactly... Were these people were accepted in their's birth countries? Are Thai even accept other Thais? If yes then why scores of Thais wants to leave Thailand. The most important thing is that you accept yourself and be in peace and rest everything becomes irrelevant.

[DrJoy]

3 minutes ago, RandiRona said:

Exactly... Were these people were accepted in their's birth countries? Are Thai even accept other Thais? If yes then why scores of Thais wants to leave Thailand. The most important thing is that you accept yourself and be in peace and rest everything becomes irrelevant.

True.

 

They want to leave Thailand but ' No can speak English', hence , cannot.

[DrJoy]

6 minutes ago, Guderian said:

Nope. They tolerate you because of your money. Don't kid yourself any other way, the old jokes about you being somewhere below the family dog in their affections are spot on.

Bingo

[jvs]

Sometimes i feel accepted and sometimes not,it all depends of when and where.

I really do not care either way,i live my life the way i want and that is no different to where

i came from.I lived in a few different countries and i must say i feel at home over here.

Never cared for a lot of socialization no matter where i lived.

Thailand is great for me because of the weather and i can pretty well do what i like as long as i

do not offend any one.

I can do my hobbies here without all of the rules where i came from.

[bbko]

Some expats are accepted easier than others, just depends on the expat, I used to have a US expat drinking buddy that always had a hard time with the locals, he was a grumpy old guy unable to speak the language beyond his 10 Thai words and often times not willing to speak English at a level the locals can understand.  Whenever he wasn't around, more than a few locals from different establishments confided in me they didn't like him or care for his "jokes".  

I suspect Thailand and this forum has a fair number of people like him, som na na.

[Taboo2]

I do not care.  I pay my rent, pay my bills, eat great food, party and repeat every other day.  

 

As long as I have money to spend, they will accept me...or not.  Either way, my life goes on and I hope they realize that!

[Taboo2]

48 minutes ago, TooMuchTime said:

Thailand is for Thais.

Well said.  When you get that in your head, life is beautiful here.  

[Taboo2]

30 minutes ago, TooMuchTime said:

No.  Thailand has done a good job on making it very difficult to become a citizen and then be able to buy land.  Foreigners who become Thai citizens are the type who should be respected in Thailand given the difficult process.

 

Average expat shouldn't expect respect or anything else just for existing.  If they aren't a sexpat, can speak/read/write Thai, have an educated family, provide for the community, and other things, they can then start to expect to feel welcomed.

 

Thailand protects their people and culture and aren't the type to import problems like your home country probably did.

Agree...I love how the Thais protect their country and culture.  You will never see what happened to Sweden (when they imported those folks from another part of the world), where there are parts of the country that is a "No-Go" zone for Swedes.  I have much respect for the Thai people, police and military for ensuring that no one will ever come to Thailand and then make life hard for Thais in their own country! 

[sungod]

Yes, but I have no expectations nor do I spend most of the day moaning about the country I chose to work in, either on expat forums or with other expats/country experts at the bar.

[Gecko123]

I feel more accepted in my village than anywhere I've ever lived. I would say humble living, having a vegetable garden, and not causing problems are keys to success.

 

Certainly doesn't mean I'm loved by every last person in town, but I'm friends with a number of the puu yais, the gam nam, the amphoe manager, the postman, the local cops, quite a few farmers and most of my immediate neighbors. I have found older Thai men in my age range to be the most genuinely friendly. (We talk about farming, the economy, exchange health tips, etc.)

 

I talk to the local women (mostly about gardening and food, sometimes village scuttlebutt), but I have to say that another key to getting along and being accepted in a village is to avoid getting overly friendly or flirtatious with anyone's wife or girlfriend. ????

 

Edited January 13, 2022 by Gecko123