When is a foreigner considered a local in Thailand?

[RSD1]

I see so many foreigners who've been in Thailand for a minute and who have a job, a work permit, a yellow book, a pink card, are married to a Thai, etc, and they suddenly think they are no longer viewed as a "tourist" by the locals in the land of smiles.
 

In my opinion, none of that changes anything, nor does the amount of time you've lived in the country for that matter. You can never change the fact that you are a foreigner on the outside and that you will always be viewed and treated as such by the locals.
 

If you think that it's truly anything different then I think you are sadly mistaken. Personally I prefer it that way and wouldn't want it to be anything otherwise.
 

Do you see it any differently? What are your thoughts on the matter?

[ChipButty]

Never, and dont you forget it, 

[tgw]

considered a local by who ?

that's where the difference lies.

[Will B Good]

Never...anyone who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves.

[mokwit]

Ir seems if you can just show your Pink Card.

[rocketboy2]

What, considered one of the master race.

I have a toke on that large one.  

[OneMoreFarang]

There are Thais, there are tourists, and there are foreigners who live here since many years, who speak some Thai, etc.

Some call this group "locals".

I am one of those locals.

 

We locals are often ignored by the people who like to rip off tourists.

We often get local prices like Thais.

There are many aspects to this.

[KannikaP]

42 minutes ago, RSD1 said:

I see so many foreigners who've been in Thailand for a minute and who have a job, a work permit, a yellow book, a pink card, are married to a Thai, etc, and they suddenly think they are no longer viewed as a "tourist" by the locals in the land of smiles.
 

In my opinion, none of that changes anything, nor does the amount of time you've lived in the country for that matter. You can never change the fact that you are a foreigner on the outside and that you will always be viewed and treated as such by the locals.
 

If you think that it's truly anything different then I think you are sadly mistaken. Personally I prefer it that way and wouldn't want it to be anything otherwise.
 

Do you see it any differently? What are your thoughts on the matter?

Not again!

[ChaiyaTH]

11 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

There are Thais, there are tourists, and there are foreigners who live here since many years, who speak some Thai, etc.

Some call this group "locals".

I am one of those locals.

 

We locals are often ignored by the people who like to rip off tourists.

We often get local prices like Thais.

There are many aspects to this.

That's the same for any seasoned traveller in general, even he/she never lived here.

[OneMoreFarang]

1 minute ago, ChaiyaTH said:

That's the same for any seasoned traveller in general, even he/she never lived here.

It seems to me that some travellers overestimate their local knowledge and acceptance.

Only because one or two guys in Khao San road recognize you doesn't mean you are a local.

I think for most of use it takes years to be considered a local by the locals. 

[Will B Good]

Just now, OneMoreFarang said:

It seems to me that some travellers overestimate their local knowledge and acceptance.

Only because one or two guys in Khao San road recognize you doesn't mean you are a local.

I think for most of use it takes years to be considered a local by the locals. 

....and then you will only be considered a local by the few locals who are actually local and know you in that specific locality.

[ChaiyaTH]

Just now, OneMoreFarang said:

It seems to me that some travellers overestimate their local knowledge and acceptance.

Only because one or two guys in Khao San road recognize you doesn't mean you are a local.

I think for most of use it takes years to be considered a local by the locals. 

You are not a local, it is only you saying that. You are talking just about people who by now know you, obviously, if you stayed here many years. Any other benefits i call it BS, I have plenty of well travelled friends who always get the right prices, simply recognize scams etc etc. What other benefits are then after that? Zero.

I can tell just as well, that this is correct, lived here more than long enough to know. These so called benefits are nothing more but a ego thing, to believe ourselves, we are nothing different than the tourists at the end of the day. Even better; a tourist most likely get better service and attention too.

[OneMoreFarang]

2 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Even better; a tourist most likely get better service and attention too.

If that is the case for you, then you do something wrong.

 

Enjoy the company of your will travelled friends. I am sure they will confirm to you that you are the man. 😉 

[MalcolmB]

Since learning the lingo I am being seen more as a local now.

i think if you never learn the lingo you will be isolating yourself from the 96% of Thais who don’t speak English.

[sungod]

How about if you got Buddhist tattoos and drink cheap blended scotch with soda?

[AreYouGerman]

Never. And that's one of the perks.

[bkk6060]

Never.  I cannot imagine why anyone would think they would.

[2baht]

Forever farang, khak, jek or Khon Thai!

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, RSD1 said:

I see so many foreigners who've been in Thailand for a minute and who have a job, a work permit, a yellow book, a pink card, are married to a Thai, etc, and they suddenly think they are no longer viewed as a "tourist" by the locals in the land of smiles.

 

I doubt any of my Thai friends or work collegues think of me as a tourist.

Foreigner yes, tourist no.

[Rhys]

The western-born Asian may have some advantage in this situation.... at times...

[biervoormij]

I am known as a local in most of the bars I visit.

[brianthainess]

I lived in Esperance WA for a while, you are only considered local after 20 yrs, you were then invited to sit outside the post office and drink a coffee and it makes headline news in the local rag.  trying to get a job there was almost impossible if you were not 'Local'.

Here after one month they accept you. 

[RSD1]

The responses are generally what I expected. And if people don’t like the word tourist, or to be called a foreigner, then you can call yourself whatever you like instead. Expat or even migrant if you prefer. Whatever. Your still not ever going to be viewed as one of them. As @AreYouGerman said, it’s one of the perks. So it’s better to be seen as an outsider and then you are more likely to be treated with kid gloves.
 

Sure, speaking Thai helps a lot. It is probably the best personal upgrade you can make. You will likely get treated better when someone is providing a service to you and there will be less misunderstandings. And it will also help a lot if you have a Thai partner, but that’s about it. But there are also times where you will be treated better if you don’t speak Thai and you need to know when to use Thai and when not to.
 

My point though wasn’t about being here longer and integrating making things better for you as a foreigner. Sure, that helps a lot. But my point was about being accepted as one of them and it is just never going to happen. 
 

In fact, I came here long before many young Thais were even born. So when they ask me how long I’ve been here, and I tell them since before they were born, it still changes nothing. They probably just think I’m fookin strange. 
 

 

 

Edited July 8 by RSD1

[RSD1]

1 hour ago, Will B Good said:

....and then you will only be considered a local by the few locals who are actually local and know you in that specific locality.

Fully agree. 

[RSD1]

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Never, and dont you forget it, 

But sadly many do. Thankfully Thais will still call you farang forever to constantly remind you of the reality. 

[RSD1]

1 hour ago, sungod said:

How about if you got Buddhist tattoos and drink cheap blended scotch with soda?

Then you should at least be able to get a job as a Tuk-Tuk driver. 

[PeachCH]

When I was working in Krungthep, I wouldn't be seen as a local. The falang is telling the locals how to do their work 😬👍

[JimHuaHin]

Put it this way - if you happen to be an ethnic Hmong, for example, who was born in Thailand, whose parents were born in Thailand, whose grandparents were born in Thailand, there is a good chance that you are considered an alien, without Thai citizenship.  If you are a white, you will most likely always be considered an alien, even if you as famous as the late Bruce Gaston.

[Andycoops]

Never

[CM Dad]

20 hours ago, RSD1 said:

I see so many foreigners who've been in Thailand for a minute and who have a job, a work permit, a yellow book, a pink card, are married to a Thai, etc, and they suddenly think they are no longer viewed as a "tourist" by the locals in the land of smiles.
 

In my opinion, none of that changes anything, nor does the amount of time you've lived in the country for that matter. You can never change the fact that you are a foreigner on the outside and that you will always be viewed and treated as such by the locals.
 

If you think that it's truly anything different then I think you are sadly mistaken. Personally I prefer it that way and wouldn't want it to be anything otherwise.
 

Do you see it any differently? What are your thoughts on the matter?

I agree.  I have been here for more than thirty years, have a Thai family, speak Thai, have a yellow house book and a pink ID card, yet I know that I will always be considered a foreigner.