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

[garyk]

If in Thailand just learning to say No and keeping your finances in order goes a long way. Maybe not completely accepted but I have to say I respected myself and lived a nice life. If not for the air pollution I would still be there. Or in SE Asia somewhere. Personally I liked Malaysia allot also (and I know all the cons of living there). But, I liked Georgetown much better than BKK, for big city living.

Edited January 14, 2022 by garyk

[Glassjaw]

Not an ex pat, but have enjoyed spending a few months here for a number of years. In the last ten days I’ve been stopped three times and searched by police just for daring to be foreign while walking at night which is bordering on the ridiculous. If I did live here it would make me think twice about my future here as it makes me feel unwelcome. Hopefully it’s just a pandemic thing that they’ve been told to crack down on (with racial profiling). 

[jacko45k]

13 hours ago, CANSIAM said:

Bake in the sun 3 hours a day, lose your white skin, voice several Thai words and numbers or better yet a full sentence, they will take that hesitant extra 'look' at you..... you are blending in........

And for heavens sake, stop wearing socks with sandals!

[pedro01]

21 hours ago, Chris.B said:

English is not your first language then?  ????

 

"Falung" - hahaha

It may interest you to hear that the word "Farang" is actually Thai.

 

Transliterating  Thai to the latin alphapbet is not an absolute science, either.

 

Epic backfire.

[pedro01]

17 hours ago, Chris.B said:

WOW! you spent all that time on research and concocting dribble to flame a one liner I wrote. I am truely flattered!    

No - I spent 0 time in research. Some of us retain information in our heads via a mechanism called memorisation.

[scorecard]

20 hours ago, Whale said:

To answer the thread title question ...... NO. In some things yes but in many other things a definite No. Saying that I am not so sure any other country would be any different. 

There's also the fact (repeat fact) that foreigners coming to live in any country face some level of rejection/concern from the locals. And it can be racial bias.

 

Fifty + years ago Australia started assisted migration from a number of Europen countries. Quite a few folks came but were labelled w.ith unpleasant and derogatory words. 

 

In more recent decades quite a few Asian folks migrated to Australia, some with economic assistance, some paid their own expenses, some came as refugees with a large amount of assistance.

 

Today Australia is a multi-cultural society.

 

Some elderly Australians still not so happy with this.

 

Much younger generations went to school/go to school with kids from numerous ethnic backgrounds and most born in Australia and plenty with parents from migrant backgrounds but also born in Australia. Today in school they are (in most cases) well/quickly integrated and enjoy each others friendship.

 

It takes time. Thailand has never been a multi-national/multi-cultural society and it's not that long back regional wars happened and that contributes to lack of desire to see foreigners as locals.

 

I've been here 35+ years, nowadays I speak pretty good Thai, My Thai family and colleagues accept and respect me quite well, and I accept and respect them. 

 

It takes time. 

 

 

Edited January 15, 2022 by scorecard

[jerrymahoney]

On 1/14/2022 at 2:01 PM, spidermike007 said:

I tend to create my own reality.

Wow. That's very New Age. Does aromatherapy help?

Edited January 15, 2022 by jerrymahoney

[bdenner]

Been in the village for 20+ years and today was just typical. TW received a call from a doctor at our local Govt. clinic asking if @bdenner wants a Pfizer booster. I initially said no as I'm only at 4 months, she says no worries that's OK - so I go 300 meters up the road and have my booster. Will be in the MOPH Monday after processing at our Amphur Hospital.

 

Get that into you Anutan!! He doesn't respect me.

[Boomer6969]

On 1/14/2022 at 4:49 PM, pedro01 said:

They probably get the use of the word "Alien" because of the largest English speaking country, where foreigners are described that way.

 

"Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of the United States, "[t]he term 'alien' means any person not a citizen or national of the United States."

I thought the largest english speaking country was India, while the US is on its way to become the US is on it's way to become the the largest Spanish speaking country.

 

Something to be proud of, isn't?

[Boomer6969]

2 hours ago, bdenner said:

Been in the village for 20+ years and today was just typical. TW received a call from a doctor at our local Govt. clinic asking if @bdenner wants a Pfizer booster. I initially said no as I'm only at 4 months, she says no worries that's OK - so I go 300 meters up the road and have my booster. Will be in the MOPH Monday after processing at our Amphur Hospital.

 

Get that into you Anutan!! He doesn't respect me.

Ok fine, but I am marginally worried about "TW".

[spidermike007]

6 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

Wow. That's very New Age. Does aromatherapy help?

No. I practice a form of masculine reality creation. No aromatherapy or potpourri for me. 

[JensenZ]

The answer to the question is yes, as long as you live in an area heavily populated by foreigners. I would not want to live in a Thai village in some rural area. You need to be in an area where the Thais are familiar with foreigners and you can at least get by with English. It's Pattaya and nowhere else for me.

 

In Pattaya, you're seen as a tourist, even if you're an expat. That's fine by me.

[jerrymahoney]

8 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

No. I practice a form of masculine reality creation. No aromatherapy or potpourri for me. 

Whatever. But that's not what you said. You just posted a New Age slogan:

 

As far as masculine reality creation, that sounds like the late and not lamented Mr. Epstein:

 

Jeffrey E. Epstein, the wealthy financier who is accused of sex trafficking, had an unusual dream: He hoped to seed the human race with his DNA by impregnating women at his vast New Mexico ranch.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/31/business/jeffrey-epstein-eugenics.html

Edited January 16, 2022 by jerrymahoney

[jonwilly]

Yes.

john

[scorecard]

17 hours ago, bdenner said:

Been in the village for 20+ years and today was just typical. TW received a call from a doctor at our local Govt. clinic asking if @bdenner wants a Pfizer booster. I initially said no as I'm only at 4 months, she says no worries that's OK - so I go 300 meters up the road and have my booster. Will be in the MOPH Monday after processing at our Amphur Hospital.

 

Get that into you Anutan!! He doesn't respect me.

What's your point?

Edited January 16, 2022 by scorecard

[spidermike007]

3 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

Whatever. But that's not what you said. You just posted a New Age slogan:

 

As far as masculine reality creation, that sounds like the late and not lamented Mr. Epstein:

 

Jeffrey E. Epstein, the wealthy financier who is accused of sex trafficking, had an unusual dream: He hoped to seed the human race with his DNA by impregnating women at his vast New Mexico ranch.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/31/business/jeffrey-epstein-eugenics.html

Wrong again. It is about maintaining and preserving our vestiges of manhood in the face of a war on masculinity being waged by the me too extremists, and the feminists. Fortunately for alot of us who still have some testosterone, Thai women seem to love a real man. One who is not afraid to make a decision, one who has a sense of himself, one who is not emasculated, and powerless, and one who is comfortable being the man of the house. Especially when he is with a healthy Thai woman who is innately comfortable manifesting the immense amounts of dignity within femininity. 

 

It is about men comfortable being men, and women comfortable being women. A very alien concept in the West, and in other very weak, emasculated nations like OZ, and NZ. It has nothing to do with the new age stuff you are totally hung up on. It is just a phrase I made up for fun. 

Edited January 16, 2022 by spidermike007

[spidermike007]

3 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

Whatever. But that's not what you said. You just posted a New Age slogan:

 

As far as masculine reality creation, that sounds like the late and not lamented Mr. Epstein:

 

Jeffrey E. Epstein, the wealthy financier who is accused of sex trafficking, had an unusual dream: He hoped to seed the human race with his DNA by impregnating women at his vast New Mexico ranch.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/31/business/jeffrey-epstein-eugenics.html

 

Edited January 16, 2022 by spidermike007

[jerrymahoney]

6 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Wrong again. It is about maintaining and preserving our vestiges of manhood in the face of a war on masculinity being waged by the me too extremists, and the feminists. Fortunately for alot of us who still have some testosterone, Thai women seem to love a real man. One who is not afraid to make a decision, one who has a sense of himself, one who is not emasculated, and powerless, and one who is comfortable being the man of the house. Especially when he is with a healthy Thai woman who is innately comfortable manifesting the immense amounts of dignity within femininity. 

That's Ok. This time you left out that my responses were lame and that I didn't think before posting and that you have a high level of self-esteem and a discerning mind, but that's Ok.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NanaSomchai]

13 hours ago, JensenZ said:

The answer to the question is yes, as long as you live in an area heavily populated by foreigners.

But then again these areas are not really Thailand, are they?

 

13 hours ago, JensenZ said:

I would not want to live in a Thai village in some rural area.

Same here, I can't fathom guys living all their life in an urban (or at least suburban area) in their own country, ending up moving with some uneducated sex worker they met in a sleazy part of Thailand back to their village. That's just beyond comprehension for me.

 

13 hours ago, JensenZ said:

You need to be in an area where the Thais are familiar with foreigners and you can at least get by with English.

Correct and that severely limits your options, Pattaya, Phuket or Bangkok it is.

 

13 hours ago, JensenZ said:

It's Pattaya and nowhere else for me.

Same here, proud (ex)-resident of Pattaya City. I'd rarely ever need a reason to leave the city, even a trip to Jomtien south or Banglamung north felt like sailing in uncharted waters.

 

13 hours ago, JensenZ said:

In Pattaya, you're seen as a tourist, even if you're an expat. That's fine by me.

Fine as well. Even using visa on arrivals or extensions back to back all year around including the occasional visa run to a neighboring country and then... all of a sudden they started cracking down on everything and on everyone for "no reasons"...

 

[bdenner]

19 hours ago, scorecard said:

What's your point?

I thought it was obvious! The thread is about being accepted into the Thai community, I gave an example of just that after so many negative posts.

[GinBoy2]

Interesting question.

 

 I speak both Thai and Lao, so I can understand with the entire population around me.

 

Now the question of am I accepted is a rather difficult one

 

Folks interact me me, but there is always a certain distance

 

My wife is Thai, but an odd duck. She grew up in the US, before moving to Singapore, where we met, then back to her home in Thailand.

 

She'll openly admit that even as a Thai, as someone who spend many years overseas, she's never quite seen as Thai.

 

So for a farang go figure!

[jerrymahoney]

21 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

It has nothing to do with the new age stuff you are totally hung up on. It is just a phrase I made up for fun. 

How can you say  "I tend to create my own reality" is a phrase you made up for fun when you can buy it on a T-shirt? 

 

[Nickelbeer]

I will never be accepted here, but it doesn't matter because I came here for a lower cost of living, not to make Thai friends.  There is no active persecution, so I'm good.

[spidermike007]

15 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

How can you say  "I tend to create my own reality" is a phrase you made up for fun when you can buy it on a T-shirt? 

 

More distortion of the facts. Masculine reality creation was the phrase I made up. 

 

My last reply. I know when I am being baited. This exchange stopped being useful a long time ago. 

[relax33]

Humans usually crave freedom n having control of their lives.
Their happiness index will  significantly increase ( n they will have a greater sense of belonging n assimilation) if they do not need to constantly report to people in authority .. 

So in this aspect, an expat staying in Malaysia with the 10 year MM2H visa will of cos have a better feel of acceptance than the one in Thailand as they only need to visit the immigration office once in 10 years n are not subject to continual 90 day reporting that serves to bring them down to earth n remind them that they are just temporary guests in a place that is listed as a Kingdom on the immigration form , not a country .

There is no perfect place, only good n better ones.
Every place provides a unique user experience n its up to the individual to choose what best fits his unique circumstance  ..

 

Edited January 17, 2022 by relax33

[jerrymahoney]

38 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

More distortion of the facts. Masculine reality creation was the phrase I made up. 

 

My last reply. I know when I am being baited. This exchange stopped being useful a long time ago. 

It never was useful. Just a chance for you let others know how is life at the top of the food chain

Edited January 17, 2022 by jerrymahoney

[bignbad]

On 1/13/2022 at 1:20 PM, Hummin said:

What did they change? 

They wanted a bank statement, as well a bank book, and letter date on the day!

 

[Hummin]

48 minutes ago, bignbad said:

They wanted a bank statement, as well a bank book, and letter date on the day!

 

I know some have been asked for bank letter, proof of 65k transfered a month, additional to embassy letter proof of income.

 

For us who still have embassy letter, it is the only proof we need, but they seem to be able to choose the rules themselves, and do what they want. As far I know, the rules is not changed, the practice is changed some places

[Pique Dard]

Of course, as long as I can exhibit  a 1000 baht note!

 

[Thunglom]

Most expats in Thailand make their own beds. Their condescending attitude, stereotyping of the locals and refusal to learn the language, how would they ever be accepted?

Edited January 17, 2022 by Thunglom