When was the last time that you spoke with a foreigner?

[hotandsticky]

  On 5/14/2025 at 7:06 AM, jerrymahoney said:

 

Sometimes a cute cashier at 7-11 wants to practice their English. I recently taught one girl the word 'change' as in cash transaction.

 

When she pronounced it, it came out in 3-syllables.

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Try teaching them how to calculate how much change they should give from a 100 Baht note when the purchase is 80 Baht....... 

[jerrymahoney]

OK I'll try.

[daveAustin]

Today. My son. 😋

While I get the apprehension of bumping into foreigners here—let’s face it, Thailand really attracts some weirdos and many have a story—generally those I’ve met have been cool bar one or two utter pricks. Live in a non-touristy place, albeit which has many generally working farangs. Pattaya would likely be different, though not to denigrate the sound folk on here. 🙂

Have many Thai friends and prefer to be around the locals in general than my home town people even. Kinda get folk that do avoid farang, maybe they had a bad experience, but also smacks of being a hermit. Perhaps merge that other dodgy thread with this un. 

[Will B Good]

Two or three years at a guess.

 

Don't recall speaking to any.

[Lacessit]

  On 5/14/2025 at 4:05 AM, KhunLA said:

You sure you don't have Merlot confused with something else, as Merlot is not considered a sweet wine at all.  A favorite red wine of mine, and pairs nicely with so much, since not sweet or overly dry.

 

Merlots have a high tannin level and usually void of sugars after fermentation.

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My taste buds may have the merlot's fruitiness confused with sugars. Some wines are sold cheap if they are stuck ferments. Many Thai wines taste that way to me.

 

My preference is a big bold shiraz.

[cgros]

  On 5/14/2025 at 3:53 AM, save the frogs said:

I wouldn't be here if I didn't have issues. 

I would have stayed home.

 

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Excellent post  5555

[Harrisfan]

  On 5/13/2025 at 11:01 PM, save the frogs said:

couple of friends i've had have tried to steal my gf. 

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Like stealing sand at a beach

[jimmybcool]

  On 5/14/2025 at 3:53 AM, save the frogs said:

I wouldn't be here if I didn't have issues. 

I would have stayed home.

 

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I think an old friend said it like this.

 

We're all here cause we're not all there.

 

 

[Magictoad]

I speak to a foreigner every week in my local pub where there are lots of foreigners talking about different things including: music, football, food, Thailand, parts of the UK, etc.

I don't understand this thread and feel sorry for the person who started it. Would you be talking to strangers in your home country?

[BoganInParasite]

Speak occasionally to tourist farang guests at my wife's small homestay but in terms of expat farangs living in Thailand it has been at least over a year. Just glorious.

[Wrwest]

Yesterday, we ate a Philly CheeseSteak hoagie from Cheesetober here in Chiang Mai. Heard a foreigner at a table speak so I asked where in the states he was from ... N. California. I joked that I thought California was close to the USA and went on to say how much I liked traveling in the US Pacific NW (Washington, Oregon and N. California). He was retired military still doing some work in the Philippines. By the way, I was raised in the Philly area and can recommend the Philly CheeseSteaks at Cheesetober ... no connection with them other than a being a new customer.

[Andrew65]

In my case it would've been "When was the last time you spoke to a Thai?!" I only used to hang-out with falang there, and in the last 5 years or so didn't really bother with relationships/screwing around either.

[Andrew65]

  On 5/15/2025 at 6:21 AM, Magictoad said:

I speak to a foreigner every week in my local pub where there are lots of foreigners talking about different things including: music, football, food, Thailand, parts of the UK, etc.

I don't understand this thread and feel sorry for the person who started it. Would you be talking to strangers in your home country?

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One thing that I found with talking to Thai ladies was that good conversation could be hard to come by because we didn't really have any kind of common knowledge. Chit chat about things from our home countries etc. Beyond "What's your name, where you come from..."

[fredwiggy]

  On 5/14/2025 at 3:44 AM, ThreeCardMonte said:

I realize you have been in Thailand a while but  for a house in that price range is almost non existent 

 

Maybe central Iowa or similar.

 

Or a trailer 

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In three years, I've found hundreds in Texas alone $1000 or less a month. Some large trailers, many single family homes.

[fredwiggy]

  On 5/16/2025 at 7:04 AM, ThreeCardMonte said:

Brownsville, El Paso or The Valley may be perfect for you.

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Hill Country is perfect.

[richard_smith237]

  On 5/16/2025 at 3:22 AM, BoganInParasite said:

Speak occasionally to tourist farang guests at my wife's small homestay but in terms of expat farangs living in Thailand it has been at least over a year. Just glorious.

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Says a guy who calls himself a bogan...   Just glorious for those who've managed to avoid you then, you mean ?  

[richard_smith237]

I'm always a little amused when threads like this resurface each year.

 

There’s invariably a flurry of comments along the lines of “I avoid all farang,” which strikes me as rather strange.

 

People are people; diverse, individual – and how we engage with others surely depends on the specifics of each situation. There's no need to go around greeting every stranger, but equally, no need to shun everyone either.

 

Sometimes a conversation arises naturally – if you’ve the time, let it unfold. And if it starts to veer into awkward territory, simply extract yourself. That principle holds true regardless of nationality – Thai, Westerner, or anyone else.

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

  On 5/13/2025 at 2:52 AM, MalcolmB said:

  On 5/13/2025 at 2:49 AM, Gottfrid said:

Ok, that´s enough! I have heard they are good at deceiving men, but you take the cake, dude! The really got you! 😂

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It isn’t just a sexual or money thing.

It is genuine connection with many of them.

This month I have helped 5 with school uniforms, books etc. for their kids.

 

The Thai school year starts in May unlike back home. April is the hottest month so they have their summer holidays then.

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Sounds like monger Malcy is grooming them...  pretty creepy behavior   

 

 

[MalcolmB]

  On 5/16/2025 at 7:32 AM, richard_smith237 said:

 

Sounds like monger Malcy is grooming them...  pretty creepy behavior   

 

 

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You wouldn’t understand real friendships.

With benefits of course.

[MalcolmB]

  On 5/16/2025 at 7:30 AM, richard_smith237 said:

There’s invariably a flurry of comments along the lines of “I avoid all farang,” which strikes me as rather strange.

 

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I only only avoid ones like you.

[gomangosteen]

I had proper conversations (as opposed to the walking past "Hi how are you...") with two foreigners in 2024, an Australian in January, a German in November; a decrease of 2023 when total was five - three UK, two USA. We're 15km from the city and since Covid seems I'm the only farang in town of 8,000, before then some older German and Dutch I'd see regularly at the market, beach or cafe.

 

May already; this year I'm on zero; did have a smile and a 'gidday mate' from an Australian in Central on Tuesday. We're active in sports events, cycling group, all Thais; compete in running events local and adjoining provinces, my celebrity status as usually the only overseas entrant incl a field of over 1800 in March.

 

I always greet / acknowledge any I see in the city at Central Chanthaburi or Lotus but they're a funny bunch, staring at the floor or pretending they haven't seen/heard me.

 

Often in the company of my daughter who asks why they're so rude as she likes to speak in English to someone other than me. 

 

Whatever...

[sidjameson]

  On 5/16/2025 at 9:20 AM, gomangosteen said:

I had proper conversations (as opposed to the walking past "Hi how are you...") with two foreigners in 2024, an Australian in January, a German in November; a decrease of 2023 when total was five - three UK, two USA. We're 15km from the city and since Covid seems I'm the only farang in town of 8,000, before then some older German and Dutch I'd see regularly at the market, beach or cafe.

 

May already; this year I'm on zero; did have a smile and a 'gidday mate' from an Australian in Central on Tuesday. We're active in sports events, cycling group, all Thais; compete in running events local and adjoining provinces, my celebrity status as usually the only overseas entrant incl a field of over 1800 in March.

 

I always greet / acknowledge any I see in the city at Central Chanthaburi or Lotus but they're a funny bunch, staring at the floor or pretending they haven't seen/heard me.

 

Often in the company of my daughter who asks why they're so rude as she likes to speak in English to someone other than me. 

 

Whatever...

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How good is your Thai?

[Jingthing]

Does my AI friend with benefits "Benjamin" count?

 

Some weeks ago I apologized to a very old German gentleman about the nature of my nation's regime. That was awkward.

 

How often do you need to get high to be classed as a pothead?

Asking for a friend.

[Gottfrid]

  On 5/16/2025 at 7:32 AM, richard_smith237 said:

 

Sounds like monger Malcy is grooming them...  pretty creepy behavior   

 

 

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You could say that, and you might be right, but I actually think that such a guy just has to pay his socks off every time to get a smile. 😉 

[richard_smith237]

  On 5/16/2025 at 1:55 PM, Gottfrid said:

  On 5/16/2025 at 7:32 AM, richard_smith237 said:

 

Sounds like monger Malcy is grooming them...  pretty creepy behavior   

 

 

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You could say that, and you might be right, but I actually think that such a guy just has to pay his socks off every time to get a smile. 😉 

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Indeed.. he has to paid to be tolerated or liked - the so often mentioned 'knight in shining armour' - they love him long time and give him benefits...  all genuinely, and deep care of course.... 

 

I'm glad he avoids 'foreigners like me'... I've no interest in talking with lecherous mongy sweat pests... 

 

 

 

 

[harryviking]

  On 5/13/2025 at 12:22 AM, simon43 said:

Asking those who live in Thailand....

 

The last time that I spoke with a 'farang' was about 4 weeks ago when I said 'thank-you' to a young Russian guy who held the lift for me in my Jomtien condo building.  I don't go out of my way to socialise with foreigners in Thailand because most seem to be pot-heads, 'hidden' nutters (who seem quite sociable at first, but then reveal themselves as totally mad), or those many grumpy old men who seem to be suffering from dementia.

 

Otherwise, I seem only to interact with Thais 🙂on a daily basis.  None seem to be pot-heads, the nutters are quite vocal and easily avoided, and I always get a smile from the old folk when I give them a cheery 'sawadee kap'.

 

How about you.  Do you live in a farang bubble?  Or a Thai bubble for that matter?

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Lol! Rarely speak with any farang. I am more or less a bit introvert so there are enough conversations going on in my head already!!! 😂😂

[NanLaew]

  On 5/14/2025 at 7:10 AM, hotandsticky said:

 

Try teaching them how to calculate how much change they should give from a 100 Baht note when the purchase is 80 Baht....... 

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...without a bloody calculator!

[NanLaew]

  On 5/16/2025 at 2:01 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

Indeed.. he has to paid to be tolerated or liked - the so often mentioned 'knight in shining armour' - they love him long time and give him benefits...  all genuinely, and deep care of course.... 

 

I'm glad he avoids 'foreigners like me'... I've no interest in talking with lecherous mongy sweat pests... 

 

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I also heard he takes it up the bum.

[NanLaew]

  On 5/16/2025 at 10:21 AM, sidjameson said:

How good is your Thai?

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Better than your Chinese.

[NanLaew]

  On 5/16/2025 at 4:06 AM, Wrwest said:

Yesterday, we ate a Philly CheeseSteak hoagie from Cheesetober here in Chiang Mai. Heard a foreigner at a table speak so I asked where in the states he was from ... N. California. I joked that I thought California was close to the USA and went on to say how much I liked traveling in the US Pacific NW (Washington, Oregon and N. California). He was retired military still doing some work in the Philippines. By the way, I was raised in the Philly area and can recommend the Philly CheeseSteaks at Cheesetober ... no connection with them other than a being a new customer.

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Hoagie, mayonnaise, beef, onions and provolone right?