• Cultural Integration: The average foreigner is often not integrated into Thai society—especially if they don’t speak Thai or engage with local communities. This can lead to social distance.

• Rather, they are seen as outsiders, often living in expat bubbles.

AI take on farangs!

How truly integrated can a person from the West become?

37 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

AI take on farangs!

Please explain what you mean by the above and what do you intend to achieve by such a statement?

21 minutes ago, TedG said:

How truly integrated can a person from the West become?

That is a much better question rather than the AI generated cr@p in the OP!

In all honesty I cannot answer your question as I think everyone's interactions with the Thai society etc have too many variables in order to give an answer that covers all of us!

27 minutes ago, TedG said:

How truly integrated can a person from the West become?

Fairly limited but you can create different bubbles. Gym bubble, Thai bubble, work bubble, book bubble.

Move between the bubbles.

I threw myself into the culture in the south when I first arrived

Not many foreigners around. Met a thai guy who enjoyed cannabis like I did. He took me under his wing and showed me many things. Intoruiced me to his group of friends who i hung out with regularly and gained some good insight. When I lived in bkk I met a few famous thai as well. One a musician and another who was a half half. Still to this day im good friends with all of them.

Ive mixed with some of the wealthiest families in the country as well. Got to know that side quite well too. Met government officials. Ministers. University professors. Etc. All walks of life from the poorest to the top top.

Connected with the 2 in bkk more as they had both lived outside thailand for a number of years. This helped them understand my point of view and they helped me see more of the thai mentality.

2 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Rather, they are seen as outsiders, often living in expat bubbles.

So what?

When I lived in Europe I wasn't too fond of most of the people there either and kind of mixed with the people in by 'social bubble' - you know - the people I knew and met with on a regular basis.

It's the same thing.

6 minutes ago, ukrules said:

So what?

When I lived in Europe I wasn't too fond of most of the people there either and kind of mixed with the people in by 'social bubble' - you know - the people I knew and met with on a regular basis.

It's the same thing.

Yes the outside world has lots of toxic people in it.

2 hours ago, TedG said:

How truly integrated can a person from the West become?

I'm not sure I was fully integrated in the West. 🤔 Someone would have to tell me what that means.

AI take on Harriet!

The not integrating thing probably happens in every expat country, no issue, money talks

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

The not integrating thing probably happens in every expat country, no issue, money talks

Being independent is good. Never get too close to people.

Being a bit non social, can't really say I've integrated with people in areas outside my hometown, that I've lived at.

Not fluent in Thai, so deep conversations aren't happening here in TH, unless they speak decent English. I'm as 'assimilated' here in TH, about the same as I was in USA. Get along fine with family, friends, vendors that I'm familiar with. Mutual respect to each other, and not expecting much more.

Not being Buddhist is the only culture gap, though neither is my wife. About the same as back in USA, not being a Christian, or religious at all, so a definite gap there also, not that I ever talk religion, but much does revolve around it, in most folk's lives..

8 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

I'm not sure I was fully integrated in the West. 🤔 Someone would have to tell me what that means.

Not shouting Allah Akbar and stabbing random people = integrated in Europe.

Not dressing as a woman and shooting your school = integrated in the USA.

It is the old story of horses for courses.

For some people, learning a new language is very easy, for others it takes time and effort (especially those older than about 40 years); for many elderly people learning a new language is extremely difficult, apart from a few words and phrases (and ever some elderly, like myself, are finding it increasingly difficult to remember words in their mother tongue).

Some people are introverts, others extroverts, others in between - irrespective of where they live.

Some follow "blaze master" (above), others have no Thai friends, and again some are in between.

Some people in any/every country are xenophobic, others are not. Some of the most racist people I have met in my life belong to expat communities in Thailand (so, you hate Asians, you hate the Asians/foreigners living in/"invading" your country, but you come to live in Thailand? - cognitive dissonance???).

For my part - my Thai fluency was fair-good when I was living in Bangkok for 7 months in the 1990s; that fluency sadly did not return after I moved here over a decade ago (despite a year spending 1-2 hours a day, every day trying to learn and retain new words and how to read and write Thai - brain just could not retain most of the new information; to this day, I still recall more of my high school Latin and French, and post high school Bahasa Indonesia and Vietnamese than I can Thai.

Most of my friends and acquaintances are Thai - we communicate in broken English and Thai, and with the the help of translation "apps". Most of my daily social interactions are with Thais (no, not at massage shops or bars), at home, shopping or other public spaces.

Most of my "book" reading is about Thailand - culture, history, politics, etc.

Am I integrated or assimilated into Thailand? No: but I am part of multicultural Thailand.

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Not shouting Allah Akbar and stabbing random people = integrated in Europe.

Not dressing as a woman and shooting your school = integrated in the USA.

Integration into Thai society ... Living the Dream

... luxury accommodations

... luxury transportation

... new smoking hot Thai wife

I know some guys who have lived in THailand for years and years and still can't speak a word of Thai. Utterly shameless.

The BRITS are the worst. These guys whinging about immigration back home and how they don't assimilate ... whilst reading copies of 'Daily Mirror', tucking into a british breakfast, with no tops on.

Just now, DonniePeverley said:

I know some guys who have lived in THailand for years and years and still can't speak a word of Thai. Utterly shameless.

The BRITS are the worst. These guys whinging about immigration back home and how they don't assimilate ... whilst reading copies of 'Daily Mirror', tucking into a british breakfast, with no tops on.

But at least they stay in selected areas so can be avoided.

1 minute ago, Harrisfan said:

But at least they stay in selected areas so can be avoided.

For research purposes where would that be? I would love to avoid them. They've even infected my social media.

Although I've lived and worked here for 20+ years, I have no desire to integrate. The longer I live here, the more I appreciate decent western food and culture. I find the language difficult and pretty much gave up learning it after a few years. The good thing about Thailand is it is still fairly easy to get by without having to be fluent. Mind you, other than a few 'farang' colleagues, I don't mix in 'expat' circles either!

1 minute ago, DonniePeverley said:

For research purposes where would that be? I would love to avoid them. They've even infected my social media.

2 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

For research purposes where would that be? I would love to avoid them. They've even infected my social media.

Mostly in farang bar areas.

11 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Fairly limited but you can create different bubbles. Gym bubble, Thai bubble, work bubble, book bubble.

Move between the bubbles.

You seem to have a very complexed life. A bubble for everything. Is that for you to remember, or is it just because it becomes unmanageable for you otherwise?

35 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

For research purposes where would that be? I would love to avoid them. They've even infected my social media.

In your case I'm guessing your mom's basement.

3 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

You seem to have a very complexed life. A bubble for everything. Is that for you to remember, or is it just because it becomes unmanageable for you otherwise?

I was half joking but its an idea.

Just now, Harrisfan said:

I was half joking but its an idea.

Ok 😂 Hope it stays at that stage.

55 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

I know some guys who have lived in THailand for years and years and still can't speak a word of Thai. Utterly shameless.

The BRITS are the worst. These guys whinging about immigration back home and how they don't assimilate ... whilst reading copies of 'Daily Mirror', tucking into a british breakfast, with no tops on.

As far as integrating into a foreign society, the question is actually if they are happy where they are, and not being toxic to others around them. How anyone on earth lives their lives is their business is it not? If whining is heard, you walk away if it bothers you, just as ignoring people in this forum is easy if you need to.

There are many Thai wives and girlfriends that can't speak very much English, nor other languages, yet they seems to be happy with their mates, and vice-versa. Who's to say what matters in other's lives? Communication is of course one of the most important factors in any relationship, and one without will surely have troubles if one partner isn't happy with the situation.

59 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Ok 😂 Hope it stays at that stage.

I like bubbles though

44 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

There are many Thai wives and girlfriends that can't speak very much English, nor other languages, yet they seems to be happy with their mates, and vice-versa. Who's to say what matters in other's lives? Communication is of course one of the most important factors in any relationship, and one without will surely have troubles if one partner isn't happy with the situation.

I would disagree,

Regular sex is the most important factor in any couple co-habiting.

Along with raising their children together.

1 hour ago, DonniePeverley said:

For research purposes where would that be? I would love to avoid them. They've even infected my social media.

You need Anti Pommie Spray, available at most 7/11s. 🤭

Just now, BritManToo said:

I would disagree,

Regular sex is the most important factor in any couple co-habiting.

Along with raising their children together.

The most important factor is the husband-wife relationship. The children either benefit or lose because of it. Sex is an indication how the relationship is going, unless it involves one partner taking advantage of the other, which is making them a slave. Sex wanes in time with everyone and then what you have left is the partnership, being comfortable with each other and sharing what you brought to the relationship and what mutual things you had when you met. Sex isn't enough to keep people together, as one usually loses some interest over time, until both eventually do. It helps the bond, but communication, trust and honesty is a lot more important.