18 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

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

Move between the bubbles.

don't forget the soap bubbles , they should not be left out

regards worgeordie

20 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

• 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!

I've been living in the Thai community since I arrived here.

3 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

People are the same here as they are in the US in many ways. The difference is that poor hide their misery behind smiles, as losing face here is a no-no, even though it's not practiced as well as it has been in the past. It's also hidden in the amount of people here who drink daily, along with the drug use. People in the west are more outspoken in everything.

Gossip is pretty much the same, as are the addictions to soap operas. You can't speak your mind here as you can in the US, and that comes from fear.

Hiding your feelings isn't always a good thing, and depression is a major problem here which doesn't have near the resources the west has.

Living in the US 62 years, along with yearly visiting, I saw a great sense of humor in all I was around. Also anger and a serious tone. Pretty much the same as here, though in general being loud isn't happening as much here. At least not yet. The only thing I see and heard about more in the west is the road rage, although I'm thinking that will also increase here.

We don't see but a fraction of what goes on here daily, so it's impossible to judge more than what we do observe. If you spend an equal amount of time in Thailand and another country, and could fully understand what they are saying, integrating in both, it would be easier to see the differences and likenesses.

In America you're either living in a parallel universe, or you're visiting different places that I visit, or you're just a really funny guy and you bring out the humor and everybody.

I see an absolute lack of humor, a dour, bitter, sour, unpleasant, disappointed, disenfranchised, and occasionally downright hostile attitude everywhere I look in America, and I rarely ever see that here.

I wouldn't move back there for less than three million dollars a year, as a benevolent stipend from a gazillionaire. America is so incredibly broken on so many different levels. No thanks.

1 minute ago, spidermike007 said:

In America you're either living in a parallel universe, or you're visiting different places that I visit, or you're just a really funny guy and you bring out the humor and everybody.

I see an absolute lack of humor, a dour, bitter, sour, unpleasant, disappointed, disenfranchised, and occasionally downright hostile attitude everywhere I look in America, and I rarely ever see that here.

I wouldn't move back there for less than three million dollars a year, as a benevolence stipend from a gazillionaire. America is so incredibly broken on so many different levels. No thanks.

I do have a good sense of humor, and that means I can also spot others who do. I love comedy, as do millions of Americans. I've also been around thousands of people in my life there, and what I said was true about them. For every Karen bitch that ruins things, there are a hundred that let things slide and look for the best in others. One thing that's for sure. Americans are not fake, and are a lot less likely to look at you as money.

Maybe the people you did hang around were much the same, as people usually attract others of their ilk and temperament.

America, like all countries including Thailand, is what you make of it. if it has what you enjoy doing, you're comfortable, you stay. America has everything all countries worldwide has in one place, which is why so many love it and move there yearly.

Thailand does not have the freedom America and other western countries has. We are only visitors. Some of course have been here decades, because it likely sits them, but again, if you take out the girls and cheap living, it's like all other undeveloped countries worldwide.

With this Cambodia nonsense, many like myself who live near the border, will never feel safe. It is not a good place to raise children, especially girls, which is why I, and many others leave or send their children overseas to learn and live. if you like it here, you stay. if you don't, you leave.

9 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

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

Judging by your other postings .... you seem fine that Brits stick together in select areas in Thailand. But when muslims do it back in the UK you seem to have a problem.

"They dont intergrate innit Bruv. They don't speak the language bro god save the kind and all that"

The rank hypocrisy of the British people is unreal.

20 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

Judging by your other postings .... you seem fine that Brits stick together in select areas in Thailand. But when muslims do it back in the UK you seem to have a problem.

"They dont intergrate innit Bruv. They don't speak the language bro god save the kind and all that"

The rank hypocrisy of the British people is unreal.

I'm not British. I prefer Thais over others.

22 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

• 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!

Easy enough: be your own man. Learn Thai then, if you want to be more integrated.

Ignoring all the moaning about how difficult it is allegedly -- I tell you, it is not.

I did 25 learn it years ago and it did indeed work wonders to increase my social circle.

5 hours ago, norsurin said:

Ur only brag about people u actually never meet.

Ya thats it you got me. Clever one you are.

Assimilation and integration seem to be things important to a certain segment of first time expats, not so much career expats. Lots of folks boast about how much a part of their new culture they have become.

They're not really a part of it, and never will be. About the only country I can think of that truly assimilates newcomers well---and this is now declining under a growth in the silly "Replacement Theory"---is the US. The UK government has actually held talk with counterparties in the US (before Trump, not during) asking Americans how they have integrated outsiders, and especially Moslems, into the US so well.

I've had the pleasure of residing in a host of countries, with not only differing cultures, but including all the major faiths. "Professional expats" learn how to behave, as there are absolutes that work everywhere from Japan to Saudi Arabia to India to Thailand to Israel. Just be "nice". Be polite. It works everywhere. Plus, understand you might always stand out because of your appearance, such as being a tall Caucasian in an Asian land.

Most countries and cultures will never allow an outsider to truly integrate, though some people like to believe they have. Yes, learning the language helps one better understand the culture, but it isn't always a necessity. Speaking French is more useful in France than speaking Thai is in Thailand.

I haven't bothered to get fluent in Thai, as it is unnecessary for where I live (Bangkok). In the past, I have learned at least 5 languages, but usually that was overkill. Speaking Arabic aided my work, as did speaking Japanese, so I spent some time getting skilled in those, including reading and writing. I added a few other languages just because I liked the sound, and once you learn one language you understand how to learn quickly and efficiently.

One can associate with common folk or the elite in a place like Thailand, but they will never truly accept you as one of them. If you're polite, respectful and kind, you "assimilate" as much as is humanly possible.

On 2/14/2026 at 8:40 PM, Harrisfan said:

• 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!

Come on Malc you are letting your mask slip !!

With Google translate and other ai based translators, no problem to haggle on the rate for a quickie ST or a LT even...Ai in the integration tool of the future. And I noticed, many thai's do not like it when foreigners speak thai...never understood why, but I have noticed that.

18 hours ago, worgeordie said:

don't forget the soap bubbles , they should not be left out

regards worgeordie

Neither the toil & trouble!

2 hours ago, Sigmund said:

And I noticed, many thai's do not like it when foreigners speak thai...never understood why, but I have noticed that.

Maybe they don't want you in the know ?