How long has it been since you lived out of your native country

[Presnock]

4 hours ago, camper star said:

Many of us here have left the country of birth and I thought it would be interesting to have a little story behind how long you've live outside of the country of birth.

 

For me, the USAF took me to my dreams of going to Asia back in the early 70's. It was there I was able to see and be stationed in these countries, Thailand at Utapao, (sp) Taiwan, Philippines ( Clark Air Base ), Okinawa, Kadena and Japan Yokota Air Base.

I'm going on 33 years now living in Japan and most recently planting my feet (hopes) in Thailand (so far it is working out of how I'm managing it ).

In closing, for me there is something mystical about living in Asia. I think it is just in the air, like America, one feels the sense of freedom in the air. 

Yeah, I enlisted in the AF in 1964- Gulf of Tonkin occured while I was in basic so instead of studying Chinese I became a Vietnamese liguist.  Spent about 18 months flying out of Danang, VN, and many years in Asia, Myanmar when it was still Burma, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan (Fusamachi, Tokyo and Kadena), Philippines Manila, Cebu and familiar with Clark as a typhoon evac of our Kadena based acft and Pinatubo days.  But also spent many years in Europe, some time in Africa, and Central America.  Then I retired from civil service here in Bangkok as that was my first choice among those other countries that I had lived in.  I have been retired here for over 20 years and still consider it Paradise.  I spent some time each year doing taxes in the states but finally in 2015 got rid of my last house, several vehicles and split the money from those among my two daughters.  Life is still good, Thailand has changed since the early 1970's but so has the rest of the world - some good some bad.  Good luck to you!

[simple1]

Approx 40 years away from London, been back to London twice in that period. Have UK, NZ and Australian citizenship.  Lived in Switzerland, Holland, Spain, NZ, Australia & Thailand. Regret mot managing being able to live for a year or two in Israel and USA.

[pest]

26 years ago i left Perth

I go back every year to see the folks and may retire there 

[josephbloggs]

Interesting topic to read some of the stories.

I'm in my 30th year here, arrived just before Christmas in 1995. Left the UK aged 21 to accept a job offer in Hong Kong, thinking I would do a year then go back to the UK. After six months they asked me if I could help out at their sister company in Bangkok to cover for someone who was going on leave for three weeks - long story short he didn't come back and they asked me to stay.

The thing is I was in love with Hong Kong and had got settled, made some friends, and hated it here - dirty, smelly, dusty, no infrastructure, starting over again not knowing anyone. After some negotiation they persuaded me to stay (ie offered me a load more money) so I thought I'd give it a go. Within a couple of months I was in love with the place and the people and on trips back to HK to visit friends I found it cold and cynical. Here the warmth was incredible, I was so well looked after and the people were fun! In HK none of the guys in the office were friendly (well only one was and I'm still in touch with him), only the girls - here everyone was super welcoming. Also the work here was great - I work in advertising production and post production and the Thai industry back then was wild and creative and different. It still has its moments today, but not the same.

30 years later, still here, still in the same industry, married, kids. Visit the UK once or twice a year to visit family but it is not home any more. On visits back everything is the same, grey, dull, but here there's energy, excitement, a buzz, the city is alive. Asia is where it's at and Thailand is the place for me.

 

 

[CM Dad]

Thirty-six years - all in Thailand.

[wwest5829]

Retired to Thailand in 2011. No plans to return to USA even if I won the lottery and could afford to do so. Certainly not under this administration.

[Andrew65]

I live in Thailand for 20 years. After mum died I spent 5 years never setting foot in the UK, 2011-2016.

[Keep Right]

Very interesting posts. I have not been back to the good-ol-USA in almost seven years but now that Trump is President, I am really looking forward to going back. Hopefully this summer would be a good time.

[Photoguy21]

About 45 years

[KhunLA]

57 minutes ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

Arrived at New York in February, 1957 on the SS United States. 68 years ago.

Just talking about that, SS US, the other day, and used to be docked at Philly, now docked at Mobile AL

 

[newbee2022]

5 hours ago, camper star said:

think it is just in the air

Yeah, it's called pollution and smog and smoke😂

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

13 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Just talking about that, SS US, the other day, and used to be docked at Philly, now docked at Mobile AL

 

 

I think she'll be towed out a bit and scuttled to form a reef.  There was an effort underway for decades to try to restore her, but not enough money was raised.

[Burma Bill]

Born in Witney, Oxfordshire UK. 

Left 25 years ago to live in retirement, first 20 years in Northern Thailand now 5 years in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

[jvs]

Left home when i was 16,was the youngest merchant marine sailor in the country for a few months.

I am 67 now.

[FolkGuitar]

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

mystical seems like a strong word.

 

the more you stay = the more you hate your home country?

 

 

I think 'hate' is too strong a word as well.
35 years away from the US, I don't hate 'America.' I do hate what is happening TO America.
But... on the plus side, being away from the US, living in various countries, gives one a very different perspective about just what the 'United States' really stands for. These days, not very much still holds to 'American' values.
The 'America' that I grew up in is gone.

[jaywalker2]

2 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

He stated 33 years in Japan.

So, being fluent in Japanese is a no-brainer.

Except, from my experience, Japanese is more difficult than Chinese or Thai.

It's the grammar that is difficult.

 

Japanese writing is difficult because of the three writing systems: kanji, hiragana and katakana. The spoken language is much easier to learn than Thai. No tones and grammar much less complex than English

[Harrisfan]

1 hour ago, nightfox said:

21 years in Thailand for me. Came here on holiday at the age of 23, ripped up my return ticket and never left. 

So what work did u do?

[crazykopite]

20 years 

[camper star]

2 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Sorry.

To clarify, I meant that some countries will "stamp out" their citizens.

 

But, in the past, the USA never did this.

When you leave the USA, at least in the past, US citizens never were stamped OUT.

Whether or not they were stamped IN....I forget.

It's been a very, very long time.

 

First here in Thailand in 1971.

But then, returned to USA for uni.

Then back again to Asia.

Have not left Asia since....1979, except for a very brief interlude in Naples FLA.

That was a nice town....which is now....RUINED...judging from images and vids on the internet.

 

 

I visited Naples while stationed at Homestead AFB. Beautiful back then in the 70's

[camper star]

2 hours ago, nightfox said:

21 years in Thailand for me. Came here on holiday at the age of 23, ripped up my return ticket and never left. 

cool story 

[WDSmart]

I've lived in Thailand, outside my native country of the USA, for over 30 years. I haven't returned to the USA for about 20 years now. 

[camper star]

2 hours ago, Presnock said:

Yeah, I enlisted in the AF in 1964- Gulf of Tonkin occured while I was in basic so instead of studying Chinese I became a Vietnamese liguist.  Spent about 18 months flying out of Danang, VN, and many years in Asia, Myanmar when it was still Burma, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan (Fusamachi, Tokyo and Kadena), Philippines Manila, Cebu and familiar with Clark as a typhoon evac of our Kadena based acft and Pinatubo days.  But also spent many years in Europe, some time in Africa, and Central America.  Then I retired from civil service here in Bangkok as that was my first choice among those other countries that I had lived in.  I have been retired here for over 20 years and still consider it Paradise.  I spent some time each year doing taxes in the states but finally in 2015 got rid of my last house, several vehicles and split the money from those among my two daughters.  Life is still good, Thailand has changed since the early 1970's but so has the rest of the world - some good some bad.  Good luck to you!

Thank you so much for your kind and sincere words about life and the harmony we search for in our daily life

 

[klauskunkel]

3 years in Paris

16 years in Honolulu

19 years in Bangkok

[camper star]

51 minutes ago, FolkGuitar said:

 

I think 'hate' is too strong a word as well.
35 years away from the US, I don't hate 'America.' I do hate what is happening TO America.
But... on the plus side, being away from the US, living in various countries, gives one a very different perspective about just what the 'United States' really stands for. These days, not very much still holds to 'American' values.
The 'America' that I grew up in is gone.

Sadly, I'd have to agree with you. Too much comfort in peoples daily lives ruined the "cherish every day one is alive " attitude these days there.

[worgeordie]

38 years and have never been back to the UK , if I did go back

from what I hear it would be culture shock , especially with it

been a cashless society ,I think the only thing I  miss ,is the

countryside ,so much beautiful countryside ,not that far from

the Toon , Northumberland ,fishing upper reaches of the Tyne...

 

regards worgeordie 

[Presnock]

Just now, camper star said:

Thank you so much for your kind and sincere words about life and the harmony we search for in our daily life

 

At 78 I realized not a long time ago, that I am OLD and while I may have had some options and could affect some changes in situations, those days have passed.  Now when I see another sunrise, I am very happy and look forward to some more.  I eat healthy IAW Dr. WIlliam Li's books on food researches that enable us to have healthier bodies and agree with his research and glad that in Thailand, almost all the foods he has done research on are available.  Lots, of fruits, nuts, seeds, veggies with so many that he advises that one should go throug the list and pick out favorite foods,as any combinations are good for health and fighting diseases that the western diet has fathered.  No aches and pains, sleep very well, eat twice a day in a 4-5 hour period and fast thereafter, but never hungry either.  Maybe not for all but I swear by them now, without trying, lost those 8 pounds I had wanted gone a long time ago and did so in a short period of time.  plenty of energy and if you haven't figured it out yet, I am a big fan of Dr. LI!  Have a great day!

 

[camper star]

1 hour ago, josephbloggs said:

Interesting topic to read some of the stories.

I'm in my 30th year here, arrived just before Christmas in 1995. Left the UK aged 21 to accept a job offer in Hong Kong, thinking I would do a year then go back to the UK. After six months they asked me if I could help out at their sister company in Bangkok to cover for someone who was going on leave for three weeks - long story short he didn't come back and they asked me to stay.

The thing is I was in love with Hong Kong and had got settled, made some friends, and hated it here - dirty, smelly, dusty, no infrastructure, starting over again not knowing anyone. After some negotiation they persuaded me to stay (ie offered me a load more money) so I thought I'd give it a go. Within a couple of months I was in love with the place and the people and on trips back to HK to visit friends I found it cold and cynical. Here the warmth was incredible, I was so well looked after and the people were fun! In HK none of the guys in the office were friendly (well only one was and I'm still in touch with him), only the girls - here everyone was super welcoming. Also the work here was great - I work in advertising production and post production and the Thai industry back then was wild and creative and different. It still has its moments today, but not the same.

30 years later, still here, still in the same industry, married, kids. Visit the UK once or twice a year to visit family but it is not home any more. On visits back everything is the same, grey, dull, but here there's energy, excitement, a buzz, the city is alive. Asia is where it's at and Thailand is the place for me.

 

 

This is what I mentioned, it has a sense of "the touch of magical and mystical feeling".  I felt that even as a 19 year old being stationed in Asia back then.

[camper star]

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

Yeah, it's called pollution and smog and smoke😂

hey come on, think the way Buddha has taught you

[Blueman1]

9 Years ....

 

[BoganInParasite]

Left Australia in 2009.

Singapore 3 years for work.

Dubai 3 years for work.

Tried to settle in Aus for 6 months but got headhunted to...

18 months in Phoenix for work.

8 months world travelling.

In Thailand since May 2018.