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Foreigners - young and old - can still be highly successful in Thailand: Wannabe celeb Rooster meets US YouTube sensation

 

OPINION | by Rooster

 

When I first came to Thailand Carabao’s “Made in Thailand” - an iconic song about Thais selling out to foreigners - was top of the hit parade.

 

I learned the lyrics to help me with the Thai language and I can sing it to this day, albeit atrociously. But this week's column is not about being made here but rather “Making It in Thailand”.

 

I’ve heard it said a lot recently that things have been tightened up these days and younger visitors to Thailand don’t have the advantages of the older hands. There are more rules that the older crowd managed to circumvent, they claim.

 

This is nonsense. Thailand is still a land of boundless opportunity especially if you can find a niche. Learning the language is often key and just as important is appealing to the Thai psyche. Moaning and overburdening Thais is a recipe for disaster.

 

Appreciating this in bucket loads and getting very rich and famous as a consequence is YouTube sensation and content creator “My Mate Nate” whom Rooster caught up with this week at his filming warehouse and offices near the Rama 9 park in Prawes, eastern Bangkok.

 

My kids have been glued to Nate’s channel for months so they tagged along too with Mrs R. The wacky videos featuring escapes, hide and seek, experiments and the like may not be to older people’s tastes but younger Thais are lapping up Nate’s work. And a slightly older crowd are appreciating his efforts in boxing and promotion of Thailand and foreign destinations. All done in the Thai language. 

 

Nate Bartling with the author's children

 

Nate, now 29, was born Nathan Bartling the youngest of four siblings near Salt Lake City in Utah though he was brought up in California. 

 

He was a Mormon and although now lapsed he said he still believes in a higher power.

 

That higher power may have helped him make it big….right now he is the second most popular YouTuber in Thailand with a staggering 12.2 million subscribers, about one in seven of the population. His videos have been viewed well over two billion times. 

 

Nate and Ava get Rooster's take

 

Nate was at a loose end after high school in the US and so applied to a Mormon outreach program that teaches English and religion in the US and worldwide via a buddy system.

 

“When I applied I had no idea where I'd be sent,” he said. “I’d heard of Laos because of the Vietnam War but not much about Thailand”.

 

A course in Thai by American teachers and how to do missionary teaching followed and Nate found himself in Bangkok and then Yasothon in the NE aged just 19.

 

It was a two year program but Nate soon fell in love with Thailand and particularly its people and ended up staying. 

 

After returning briefly to the States he found himself in Vientiane the Laotian capital where proselytizing is illegal. He started promoting an English school online with a colleague in the Lao language. Yes, he speaks that too though is a tad rusty. Numbers rocketed and Nate found himself asking for more than a salary - he wanted a cut!

 

Returning to Thailand he taught himself how to operate a camera and make quality videos about travel and festivals in Thailand for foreigners in English along with some Thai language tips. 

 

This was a crowded marketplace so the idea for a dedicated content channel was born. Not surprisingly it was an Aussie friend who hit on the “My Mate Nate” name and the rest is history. 

 

“My top fan base is 18-35 year olds,”  “followed by younger teens down to 13”, said Nate as he showed me around the large warehouse he rents and offices for editing and other merchandising that he has built himself. 

 

There’s a professional boxing ring where Nate trains after taking up the sport two years ago. Extremely fit as well as highly intelligent, the likable American’s had a couple of victories in the ring and will be taking on another celebrity in three months time. All for the channel of course.

 

With his front of camera team of talented, mostly Thai men who are gaining stardom in their own right, Nate employs a total of 30 people. 

 

The channel nets him 2 million baht a month in Google ad fees and a further 2-3 million in sponsorship deals every month. Hanging on the walls were power tools from a company that sponsors his “breakout” videos.

 

“It can be a little up and down but the overall business is an upward trend,” he said. “The pandemic didn’t affect us much”.

 

He said that he has a lot of overheads and plows capital back into the business as well as donating money to charitable causes. He’s mindful that there is a lot of upcoming competition and no patent on what he does so he is sensibly seeking other revenue streams by starting a men’s cosmetic brand called Manly that he has invested 7million baht in already.

 

He lives modestly in Thailand renting a house nearby and has a business visa and work permit. His next step is applying for Thai Citizenship that will enable him to purchase a large area of land opposite. He plans to build many warehouses for rent making a filming hub in the area. 

 

Diversification is the key and helping in this regard is his new love interest Pawornwan Verapuchong or Ava, 25. Ava remembered Rooster from her days at Harrow International School where I was head of the Thai department for 15 years. The pair are hoping to film there soon, promoting the school as well as their own interests. A professional business proposal outlined the multi million baht benefit the school could expect as well as customer and student interest. 

 

Ava is a well known celebrity actress and influencer and granddaughter of a Thai billionaire who owns hotels in Phuket, Krabi and Siam Reap, among others. They are a match made in heaven and as Mrs R said “pen gan eng” (friendly) and “may theu tua” (no airs and graces, just down to earth).

 

How Thais - often criticized for ostentatiousness - warm to such attributes that come across in the videos! Ava is now a key player in the team. 

 

Nate didn’t mind at all when she took his modest Pajero sport and plastered it in her image - a real eye-popper for the Prawes locals!

 

Nate's Pajero - not to everyone's taste!

 

Rooster's achievements in Thailand have been more modest but I’m proud to say I could “retire” at 52 after coming here with nothing, have raised four Thai/British children and played sport for my adoptive homeland. Many of my friends have done similarly or better. Two former British teacher friends started a recruitment firm from nothing and recently sold a small portion for many millions (that’s pounds sterling!). 

 

But like everyone who has lived long term in Thailand there have been ups and downs along the way and the same is true for Nate.

 

His first videos were more of the prank variety leading him to get into hot water after being criticized for belittling Thai students’ attempts to learn English - a story picked up by Rooster in Thaivisa days. 

 

Then there followed a scorpion and cat video - an accident according to Nate - that incurred the wrath of animal lovers. It was a learning curve.

 

But one incident that threatened his very existence in Thailand was when he decided to film his team putting coins on the tracks behind his house. 

 

Those infamous coins flattened on the railway

 

There was uproar even though Nate told me that the coins were collected abroad and did not have the picture of the Thai monarch. “I’m not that stupid” said a contrite Nate.

 

But the railway authorities and then immigration called him in saying this was not the kind of behavior to be showing the public. Definitely “mai mohsom” (inappropriate).

 

Nate learned his lesson and moved into less controversial and higher quality offerings that now have the potential to make him a very rich young man. 

 

A recent divorce from his wife Look Mee is now amicably settled and marriage and children with Ava could be on the cards.

 

I knew the answer to my question about the key to his success before I asked it.

 

“The Thai language”, he said. “As well as understanding what appeals to Thais and just enjoying what I do and the relationships I have with my staff.”

 

He explained it was not about speaking Thai perfectly, in fact just like with Rooster some of our most memorable times are when we fall flat on our faces when it comes to the Thai language. My faux pas are in private, Nate’s get him online laughs and more subscribers. 

 

He said that he speaks English 70% of the time with Ava who is of native speaker standard after her expensive international school education.

 

Next up for Nate is taking his entire team on a tour of the United States. There they will surely meet his parents who were initially skeptical about his YouTubing. His father wanted him to go to Brigham Young uni rather than waste his time online.

 

Now they are converts watching all his content and admiring his success from afar. 

 

(Incidentally readers and fans of Survivor will spot Rooster’s t-shirt, observant Nate missed that! I post on AN under the name of Boston Rob, a star of the CBS show).

 

So what was there in Thailand that the very positive and effusive Nate found negative. There was a lull, a glance of confusion to Ava as we sat on the floor, before he spoke of the toxic online environment that prevails everywhere. The internet has made this young man but like Rooster he is appalled by the trolls and negativity.

 

(I’d told him that he’d get few customers from this forum, but my angle was more about foreigners achieving success. There would be detractors but mostly those are just losers, plainly envious of anyone doing well in Thailand).

 

All smiles at Nate's warehouse in Prawes

 

“Apart from that the Bangkok traffic,” he suggested as he struggled to find anything miserable to say about a city “where you can eat any kind of food imaginable”. A city that, like the author, he loves and that has been very kind to us both. 

 

Armed with signed hats and waving cheery goodbyes my kids had had a wonderful experience. So had I.

 

Back in 2010 I had come very close to securing a deal for a daily segment teaching English using Thai on network TV after I made a pilot called “English Knockout”. I was paid an initial fee but ultimately this wannabe celeb was knocked back, one of few regrets in Thailand.

 

I lacked the drive and youthful expertise that Nate clearly possesses and can see only success for this eminently likeable character who embraces all the characteristics and positivity towards Thailand that I hold so dear.

 

Nate, you may not be teaching religion anymore but you have a new, older convert to go with the other 12 million!

 

 

And so to a brief roundup of this week’s news:

 

A U-turn bridge under maintenance collapsed on Rama 2 killing two last Sunday. It reminded me that the entire construction of the first phase of the Green Line BTS killed just one - a taxi driver. 

 

 

Big Joke - Lt-Gen Surachate Hakpan - was all over the news all week. He called the Pattaya police station dirty then featured on TikTok. He wasn’t mentioned in an INN report on the next RTP commander when Suwat retires in October. Three are in the frame but it is only a matter of time before BJ is considered. The face of the RTP needs him, no matter how many toes he’s stepped on. 

 

 

Thai media continued to bang on about the wonderful tourist police post-pandemic. They reunited a Japanese tourist with her phone. I wonder if Thai journalists are taking back-handers at times. 

 

Anna Suengam-iam won Miss Universe Thailand. Her parents were BMA garbage collectors creating “rags to riches” headlines. 

 

 

A Nok Air 737 flight skidded off the runway in heavy rain in Chiang Rai and got stuck in the mud. It took days and several cock-ups before it was removed. It also took 90 minutes to evacuate the passengers. Maybe they didn’t have enough umbrellas. 

 

A horrific fire after explosions were heard claimed the lives of at least 13 people and injured more than 30 at the Mountain B pub in Sattahip. It was one of the most devastating fires in recent years in Thailand. 

 

 

A “depressed” woman went on TikTok to advertise for three mia nois (mistresses) for her husband’s needs. Not surprisingly he seemed quite okay with the idea.

 

The statute of limitations on Red Bull Boss’s cocaine charge ran out leaving only reckless driving that expires in 2027. Maybe he’ll come back arm in arm with Thaksin one day. 

 

In international news England’s ladies’ football team won the Euros beating the Germans 2-1 AET. The match winner Chloe Kelly removed her shirt revealing a sports bra in a move seen as empowering women. In my day they used to burn their bras, standards are slipping.

 

 

A record (for 2022) UK TV audience peaking at 17.4 million tuned in. Rooster might have been a tad misogynistic in past columns. Fair play to the Lionesses, I might tune in next time. 

 

Liz Truss became a strong favorite (1-9 on Betfair) to be next UK PM. Rishi Sunak tried to woo Tory voters with a 4p tax cut. He’s getting desperate. Ms Truss is no Maggie….maybe that’s a good thing.

 

A US drone strike with a couple of precision Hellfire missiles saw the end of terrorist Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama’s right hand man. He just went out on his balcony in Kabul. Well done to the Americans and good riddance to the Egyptian. 

 

CNN reported that virtual influencers using computer generated imagery are giving real people a run for their money. Especially a “comely lass” in South Korea called Rozy who earns millions. Maybe Nate and Ava need to be worried!

 

 

Back in Thailand the ASEAN NOW forums went ballistic after a medical council member suggested that Thais should limit sex with foreigners to avoid getting monkeypox. So many posters, especially on Facebook got in a lather; relax people and stop screaming ‘xenophobia’ every time an idiot opens his mouth.

 

 

English print media reported that wrestling entertainment along the lines of WWE is gaining traction in Thailand. In one bout a wrestler dressed in the orange of a motorcycle taxi guy hammed it up. What’s next? Probably a tag team event between a mia noi, mia luang (main wife) and a hapless hubby. 

 

Six people are facing charges in the death of actress Tangmo in the Chao Phraya back in February. Among the charges are recklessness and making false statements. 

 

Finally Mrs Rooster told me this week that a Loei relative who is forever asking to borrow money had won 84,000 baht in the lottery on Monday.

 

“At least she won’t be contacting me for a while,” she said. 

 

Rooster

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-08-05

 

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[BritManToo]

27 minutes ago, webfact said:

When I first came to Thailand Carabao’s “Made in Thailand” - an iconic song about Thais selling out to foreigners - was top of the hit parade.

All about selling out to white folk ..... not foreigners.

Worse, calling white folk animals (farang) compared to Thai people (kon Thai).

Racist song by xenophobic bigot band.

 

As for 'Nate', surprised to see Rooster idolising a guy I view as a complete tool.

 

Like Rooster, I arrived in Thailand with nothing, and I still have most of it left!

Edited August 6, 2022 by BritManToo

[RandolphGB]

It was all over Thai media a few months ago when Nate separated from his wife.

 

Now he’s with the daughter of a billionaire. ????????????

 

Wonder what motivated that switch. 

[Denim]

45 minutes ago, webfact said:

He was a Mormon

He still is.

[findlay13]

He nearly got kicked out of Thailand for the  idiocy and in fact cruelty of his videos but now he's reinvented himself and is a good guy .

 

 "he spoke of the toxic online environment that prevails everywhere. The internet has made this young man but like Rooster he is appalled by the trolls and negativity."[quote]

 

He was toxic until the Thai police pulled him into line.

 

" There would be detractors but mostly those are just losers, plainly envious of anyone doing well in Thailand."[quote]

 

In other words anyone who disagrees with the white wash is a loser.

 

I used to look forward to Roosters column.

 

Edited August 6, 2022 by findlay13

[Photoguy21]

Once a moron always a moron

[Gecko123]

Surprised the recreational cannabis roll back didn't make the news summary.

[off road pat]

As usual,...it's all about Rooster,....

[Mark mark]

Yes, Really nice Read this week R !!! ... (Yes I am just starting it !!!)

 

.... Like My Mate Nate is Obviously a very nice, AND successful man !!! … and still young !!! … So a Long way to go also !!! … like if we all could be so lucky !!! .... Good Auzie Rhyming Slang, like, Mate, and Nate ... The rhyming slang concept actually being stolen from the London Cockneys right ? … or other UK people I guess ...

 

… And well not specifically picking out Mormonism, the Concept of Growing up with an Understanding, that there actually IS, something outside yourself !!! … and then the discipline of Living with that, and with the other People who also do !!! … Like people Who are also focused !!! … …

Well this must be one of the best (Though possibly Difficult at times ???) ways of being set up, to be able to Conquer the Inns and outs, and pros and cons of this World !!! … and coming out of it a success !!! 

 

... and well also with Moderation !!! … I have not got to that bit yet, but Nate obviously would have thatas well, as well, That is probably what helped him rise, … with his back ground, and become so successful !!!

 

... YES My Mate Nate !!! Like great !!! … just showing us how good that Americans can REALLY BE !!! If they put their minds to it, and get out on to the right paths !!! (Like for my US portion, of my self managed retirement fund, I invest almost exclusively in their boots on the ground, like, actually making or developing "Thinks", technology, ... after using it off shore on the Exploration boats for 20 Years, … and I know that it is, without question the Best !!! (With I think, … … Added, and thanks to my Councilo,r for fixing me up, after all of that also !!!)

 

… Yes, there used to be Volunteers (From a Religious origin in the states ??? ) at our Local Primary school, but I have not seen them for quite a few years now ... I hate to say it, but maybe the Thais there, have got smart, and cottoned on to the "There is no such thing as a free Lunch" Concept pretty well ??? … Unless it was the Immigration Dept. I suppose ! ? …

 

Like they all disappeared well before "19" as the locals call the dredged Logy around here now !!! ... And well they are still recovering from that at our school now,  ... I have 4 there now, from my extended Family, and do the school run every day ... now on a motor bike now, as two of them ride their bikes, as the road there is quiet. And safe. !!! ...  Cross our fingers and so help us all God. !!!  …  But well, No Dancing Foreign monkeys there now also, officially on the premises any more !!! ... (And Phew !!! a good thing to !!! ... Like me at 67 … almost now !!! ... )

 

Thanks Rooster.

 

And well, On On !!! as the good Old hashers would say !!! (Like have you ever tried doing that in a spinifex filled Dessert !!! ???) (I do not know if the Telfer N. W. WA, HHH still exists any more though ??? ... but if it does maybe Nate would like to send a reporter out there with them one day and film then all jumping over Great clumps of spinifex, in Shorts, and work boots !!! ??? ) 

 

And thanks again, Greatly R. ... Nice Photo also. 

 

Mark mark

.. 

Edited August 6, 2022 by Mark mark
Edits and upgrade.

[damian]

Nate. Lose the socks mate. 

[islandguy]

Mexicans have a very colorful pro wrestling tradition , Thais might love something like that 

[sqwakvfr]

So this is what a “Digital Nomad” is?  

[Mark mark]

7 hours ago, BritManToo said:

All about selling out to white folk ..... not foreigners.

Worse, calling white folk animals (farang) compared to Thai people (kon Thai).

Racist song by xenophobic bigot band.

 

As for 'Nate', surprised to see Rooster idolising a guy I view as a complete tool.

 

Like Rooster, I arrived in Thailand with nothing, and I still have most of it left!

Rubish, ... Farang is just a label, not an Insult. (Isn't it a shortening of Flangset, ? = French a pretty big Colonial power around here back in the day ! ? ...  or the seeds of Bird dropping's germinating, ??? all over the country ??? e.g. the Illegitimate children lefs !!! and I say LEFT by Foreign Interlopers ??? Though well the woman probably also did put them selves in that harms way !!! as we well know ??? ) But both versions really only factual, as Thais often can be about basic Boots on the ground stuff.

 

And well GOOD on Calabo ... Att Calabo right ? ... From some where up East of Udon I think, ?? Where he used to have a great, Huge rock and role beer hall I think ??? ... Where they used to play ??? ... and Good on him, and them for actually being correct !!! ... and having a Go !!! ..... Like I am Australian, so ??? .. So Maybe ??? "Made in Australia" well <Deleted> !!! ... We do not make very much at all any more do we !!! ... So good on Att and Callabo for having a go ... Like maybe it could have been "Dug up in Australia" ??? Right ??? ...

 

Calabo NEVER sold out White people ! as far as I could see. ... You are right off the Mark here mate, I think. ... Like well, Brown people have just been Screwed (So to say ? right ?) for centuries now !!! ... So well about time that they had a turn at being winners for a change I think. ... (Still, I do not live in America I guess ??? do I ???) ... ??? 

 

... I am not to sure about Nate the Mate ??? So will just do a bit more research on that one ! ... But I WILL back up Calabo, ... and the Thais...  (And Rooster)  any day.

[Mark mark]

2 hours ago, off road pat said:

As usual,...it's all about Rooster,....

Of Course it is All about his ideas !!! !!! ... It's His Column !!! ... 6 words from you ! ? ...  and well, ... that is probably all, about you !!!. ... Right ???

Edited August 6, 2022 by Mark mark
Edited

[Mark mark]

32 minutes ago, sawadee1947 said:

This was the story about an outcast or Godsent Mormon from Utah to Thailand.

Sure with Rooster's usual bragging. He can't stay away from that attitude.

As a Mormon sent out of religious reasons there was no way of return. He had to survive. That was initially the start.

There are other fanatics sent to Thailand on a missionary path.

Jehovah's witnesses e.g.

Maybe you might offer the story of one of those?

Both had in common to learn Thai language in a very short time and also most of them came without education. So learning Thai was essential. One JW told me he had to learn Thai within one month. Lessons paid by superiors.

Well, even with saviour's help might not be possible. But who knows? One could walk on water.....ages ago.????

Was he Really outcast ??? ... He was sent here in a missionary role wasn't he ??? ... Like a thing that I think that Mormons, and other fundamentalist <No comment from me here> religions do !!! ... Like possibly he has made quite a good thing !!! out of quite a difficult start !!! ??? 

 

... No, regardless of his real status, I like Rosters story of, success !!! ... Some thing that I do not see exhibited very much in some of these Posts here today, ... "Like Religion" !!! ... Like Rooster !!! "Jeezzzz You should not have gone there Mate" !!! ... Har Har Har !!! ... Har har !!! ... and I am looking forward to your rebuff next week .."Maate" ... Right Har Ha !!!

Edited August 6, 2022 by Mark mark
Edited

[cowellandrew]

Ask her if you can borrow some of her money and see how far that goes!

????????????????

[Marpa47]

Loving the new format with pictures.  Seeing Rooster with family was a treat.  Also the impact of the bridge collapse story really sunk in when seeing that actual photo of the damaged structure.  Thank you very much for adding these photos in.  As always enjoying your posts immensely.  Please keep ‘em commin’!

[RobU]

Another entertaining read, nice to see your face at last, beautiful family they must get it all from their mother though.

[stoner]

21 hours ago, BritManToo said:

As for 'Nate', surprised to see Rooster idolising a guy I view as a complete tool.

never even heard of him before i saw the name here. a quick view of his channel and you are spot on.

 

what a putz. 

[DJ54]

Thanks Rooster … really enjoyed the “Mate Nate”…. Subscribed… although some of us are long in the tooth we’re young at heart…. Nice to see others success….. 

[Freddy42OZ]

Great article about Nate.  

Of course the miserable old brigade have to crawl out with their negativity.

 

 

[Mark mark]

Good on you Rooster !!! You CAN write !!!  ... Though it probably does help me being an Auzie, as well We have English, and the English ways, also, pretty much at the front of our Existence !!! .... (Whether you like it or not !!! ... Like even the Immigrants over there now !!! are basically, .... Doing it in English. ...

 

... And YES ! Great to see your Pictures !!! at last ??? (Has any one googled Rooster !!! ??? ....  Like you do not get very much ??? ... Well not when I tried it a couple of Years ago ???) ...

 

... You and Your Family ... And Positivity ! And Success !!! ... Very Nice Job Mate !!! ... 

 

(You know that I often write my One or Two shot stuff, about your Blog, after only reading the first few paragraphs !!! ??? Right ... Har Har !!!  Yes naughty Boy Mark mark !!! ??? ... But well so far I have been a pretty good Guesser !!!  ...  So well, I think ? I have writen them all properly, and on topic also as well !!!  ... Right. ... )

 

... But Positivity ? and hoping for Success ... ...  Got to get on with it mate !!! Right ??? .... So I write it when I feel it. - And Thanks for giving all of us that opportunity.

[The Hammer2021]

Hard to understand the unbridled enthusiasm for the channel.  Its embarrassingly bad and lacking in any kind if critical awareness. Its a pity the government  didn't  kick him out