On 7/22/2026 at 8:01 PM, Screaming said:

I agree with your statement "I put up with it living here, but it drives me crazy sometimes." After 21 years living in Thailand, I would think I would be used to it but the dichotomy between Thailand and my home country is just too great. The social norms, especially the acceptance of corruption and lawlessness is unacceptable to my personage. The only thing keeping me in Thailand is my wife and even though she has citizenship in my home country, she wants to stay.

Funny, I never even think of my home countries except to read the news or apply for a doc. They're long in the rearview. As some people have said here, they don't care about Thailand. I'm the opposite. I don't care about the past. In fact, I believe all people who think this way would go back "home" and seriously regret it. You're stuck in a moment of time which no longer exists. I guarantee it's not the place you left.

On 7/22/2026 at 1:05 PM, simon43 said:

But not being a Thai citizen doesn't exclude you from the vast majority of activites, basically not owning land and that's about it. If you reside in Thailand but am a foreigner and don't integrate you are - as I said - on a par with the Muslim ghettos in the UK - communities refusing to integrate with the general, local population.

True, but I think it’s just that we can’t learn Thai because we can’t read it. Same as Chinese and Arabic. I’m pretty good with languages and speak fluent English, German., French and Spanish. Get by well in Italien too. But , I’ve always found Thai hard. . Being a snowbird doesn’t help, as what I learn while here is forgotten when I leave for Eu .

Many of us Western expats likely come here for sun and lower living costs — some probably also because of company in any rainbow colour — and the state welcomes us, because we transfer foreign currency and spend money, and thereby indirectly pay some taxes, for example vat.

That some of us prefers food from our own kind of world and mingle with other foreigners from there — which is not different from Thais staying abroad, which can be in one of our home countries — doesn't matter, as long as we are polite guests and accepts the local laws and culture.

You see a difference, OP, when you compare to muslims in our Western-style home countries. We Western expats are self-supported, we do not try to change our host and our host's religion, and we do not live by our own laws in closed societies, which you call ghettos. There is a huge difference. And if we did so, I suppose we would already be advised to leave by the government — the latter is a major difference to many of the Western home countries' democratic governments, which has welcomed the multi-cultural influence — even finacially supporting them and their families. I even know of some farangs that moved to Thailand because of this multi-cultural influence in their home countries — I could also have been one like them now, if I haven't moved out 20+ years ago.

And me: I moved to here to enjoy "all year summer" and a better life-style than my savings could buy at home — a local partner was an extra benefit — I'm one of those being blamed in the OP. I both eat local food and fully enjoys my Mediterranean style candlelight suppers, even it's not my native dishes; I prefers healthy foreign food, but after my own choice, as I'm the one paying. I follow the local law and actually mingle more with Thais than foreigners. So, I don't considers myself as a burden to the kingdom, rather as an active benefit, by spending most of my lifelong savings here; and I also pay some taxes.

But I don't speak Thai, beyond a few words and phrases. Because, the locals where I stay love to speak farang-language, even when they understand my extremely basic Thai — they probably like show that they speak little English as much as I like to show that I can say a la few words in their language — so, no survival need for me to be excellent, or just modest, in speaking Thai-language...🙂

On 7/23/2026 at 7:39 AM, simon43 said:

Well I am :) Studied Thai Culture at Chula up to MA level, speak/read/write Thai, understand Issan, speak/read/write Lao :) But I'm not a 'gone-local, Thais-can-do-no-wrong' foreigner. I just made an effort to be part of the local community :) And that's maybe why I spit blood and feathers about 'foreigners' in the UK who fail to integrate. That includes those from different cultures and religions. 'Diversity is our Strength' is total <deleted>! Strength is gained through everyone being on the same hymn sheet....

Still, there is a difference between immigrants who come to live and work in a society and retirement expats who arrive with their own income. Retirement expats do not need to integrate on the same terms because they are not there to build a working life. If we cannot meet the financial and visa requirements, we are out.

On 7/22/2026 at 9:56 PM, Rockyroad said:

I do the culture but Thais don't care.

Then you're [probably not doing it right. Just saying.

On 7/22/2026 at 9:56 PM, Bday Prang said:

i made little to no effort to learn the language the traditions or the history of my native UK.

What level of integration are we actually talking about I always speak Thai when I'm at immigration I'm not perfect but they seem to understand , I eat whatever the Mrs cooks for me,which is invariably Thai, and I spend a large proportion of my time lazing in a hammock. Thats Thai enough for me

I have no aspirations to be the talk of the town, and being the only one in the village I can hardly be accused of living in a ghetto,

Ghetto of one! Sounds like a good life!

On 7/23/2026 at 5:44 AM, simon43 said:

Oh, very long story! I originally went to Myanmar to get away from my mad Thai ex #2, in the knowledge that it was about the only place that she would not follow me to :) I should write a book about it....

I have only been to Myanmar on tourist visa maximums but I found the people to be so gentle, having little consumerism or show-offery. Of course, from brief views rather than living there, I may be completely wrong!

13 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Then you're [probably not doing it right. Just saying.

Thais don't care about farangs unless they want to date you or make money.

Obviously you know nothing about Thailand.

Just saying.

4 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

If there is one culture that never assimilates, it's the Brits. They're the same in Spain too - stick to their own enclaves, demanding fish and chips, beans on toasts and pot noodles. Yet they're racist to the chore to immigrants back in their home country for not assimilating. Go work that deep psycho analysis out.

The "Brits" you encounter are not the sort of British people that I would choose, as a UK citizen, to assosciate with when I am in the UK.......for a start they are mostly English lower middle or "working" class conservatives.

They, their outlook and behaviour, are frequently the object of parody and humour in the British entertainment industry.

If you wish to meet a better class of Brit you need to go to a better class of retirement destination.

Thailand does not attract the "cream" of any country..........it's not that "classy".

6 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

I often sit with racist Brits in Pattaya bars who pontificate that immigrants back in the UK don't integrate.

So you sit in scummy bars in Pattaya (I assume drinking alongside said racists unless you are there quoting the bible and trying to get them to repent) but somehow you are a class above? You need to take a good, long look at yourself and stop posting nonsense. It's both tedious and quite frankly, embarrassing.

4 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

If there is one culture that never assimilates, it's the Brits. They're the same in Spain too - stick to their own enclaves, demanding fish and chips, beans on toasts and pot noodles. Yet they're racist to the chore to immigrants back in their home country for not assimilating. Go work that deep psycho analysis out.

See my post above. Change the record FFS.

3 minutes ago, Keeps said:

See my post above. Change the record FFS.

He is 99% correct though.

On 7/23/2026 at 12:18 PM, Priorexpat said:

No.

We are not ever accepted as Thai, I don't care how great your language skills are you are still Farang. No different in other Asian nations. Gweilo, Gaijin, Farang....

Or France, Germany Italy, Spain, Australia...

5 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

He is 99% correct though.

What part of it? Care to elaborate or do you genuinely think that 99% of Brits are beans on toast munching racists? Think carefully before you answer.......

On 7/23/2026 at 4:39 PM, simon43 said:

Hi Nick, I can see exactly what you're doing with your deflection tactics :) I have no personal axe to grind against any one nationality, but you'd be amazed at the antics of this one nationality, (I recognise their language). Going into 7/11 shops 1km from the beach wearing just a thong bikini - that's a daily occurance, and the 7/11 staff (and I) totally gobsmacked at this arrogance. Come and visit and chat to the locals - good perhaps that these foreigners don't understand what the 7/11 staff are saying, but 'garee' is a regular word :)

But they're tourists at the beach, they don't have any need to integrate. It's a vacation.

Besides, I like to look!

On 7/22/2026 at 11:44 PM, simon43 said:

Oh, very long story! I originally went to Myanmar to get away from my mad Thai ex #2, in the knowledge that it was about the only place that she would not follow me to :) I should write a book about it....

That's a very understandable reason to go but I was referring to why you prefer Myanmar now to Thailand.

4 hours ago, khunPer said:

Many of us Western expats likely come here for sun and lower living costs — some probably also because of company in any rainbow colour — and the state welcomes us, because we transfer foreign currency and spend money, and thereby indirectly pay some taxes, for example vat.

That some of us prefers food from our own kind of world and mingle with other foreigners from there — which is not different from Thais staying abroad, which can be in one of our home countries — doesn't matter, as long as we are polite guests and accepts the local laws and culture.

You see a difference, OP, when you compare to muslims in our Western-style home countries. We Western expats are self-supported, we do not try to change our host and our host's religion, and we do not live by our own laws in closed societies, which you call ghettos. There is a huge difference. And if we did so, I suppose we would already be advised to leave by the government — the latter is a major difference to many of the Western home countries' democratic governments, which has welcomed the multi-cultural influence — even finacially supporting them and their families. I even know of some farangs that moved to Thailand because of this multi-cultural influence in their home countries — I could also have been one like them now, if I haven't moved out 20+ years ago.

Thailandtourism packages

And me: I moved to here to enjoy "all year summer" and a better life-style than my savings could buy at home — a local partner was an extra benefit — I'm one of those being blamed in the OP. I both eat local food and fully enjoys my Mediterranean style candlelight suppers, even it's not my native dishes; I prefers healthy foreign food, but after my own choice, as I'm the one paying. I follow the local law and actually mingle more with Thais than foreigners. So, I don't considers myself as a burden to the kingdom, rather as an active benefit, by spending most of my lifelong savings here; and I also pay some taxes.

But I don't speak Thai, beyond a few words and phrases. Because, the locals where I stay love to speak farang-language, even when they understand my extremely basic Thai — they probably like show that they speak little English as much as I like to show that I can say a la few words in their language — so, no survival need for me to be excellent, or just modest, in speaking Thai-language...🙂

The only reason immigrants to Europe live in “ghettos” is because they haven’t learned the language yet. What makes you think it’s any easier for them to learn English than we to learn Thai? Religion is mostly a cultural mandate in the countries they came from, much as Anglicans in the UK and Catholic in France, Italy, Spain, Lutheran in Germany and Scandinavia. Religion faded for us and no doubt it will fade for them, too.

I don’t think it’s as simple as integration. We can’t integrate here—it’s impossible—any more than the Chinese can integrate with their restaurants overseas, or those much-maligned Muslims in Europe, or Palestinians in Israel.

We’re white. Would you call Bill Heinecke integrated, or Tiger Woods? It’s not a matter of citizenship or how you used money, influence or fame to get it.

We’ll always think in a different way. We look at things from a completely different perspective. We’re more curious, more interested, more involved.

Of course, you should learn Thai!!! For your own pleasure in knowing what’s going on around you, for the fulfillment of being included. For knowing what bloody shop you’re looking for! You’re not doing this for the Thais, you’re doing it for yourself!

Drink it up, ramwong with toothless crones, go to temple festivals. If you open your mind and eyes, you’ll discover you’re having fun.

I am fairly immersed in Thai academic culture and know fewer than a handful of foreigners. But that’s my choice.

I would not expect to change Thai society to match any of our home countries. They’re cesspools. Admit it, that’s why we’re here (oh, and the sex!).

However, it is my human duty to make anywhere I live better…for everyone. Fighting censorship for more than a decade was risky. Teaching nonviolent action had to be done in relative secret. Supporting 112 prisoners, many of whom were my students, was a fine line. But I chose my issues and…maybe..I convinced one or two.

4 hours ago, geisha said:

True, but I think it’s just that we can’t learn Thai because we can’t read it. Same as Chinese and Arabic. I’m pretty good with languages and speak fluent English, German., French and Spanish. Get by well in Italien too. But , I’ve always found Thai hard. . Being a snowbird doesn’t help, as what I learn while here is forgotten when I leave for Eu .

Reading Thai is not very difficult, it's complicate because of a big alphabet and complex spelling, but nothing impossible , even for farangs , just work and be motivated

It's a fantastic written language because you know which tone to use just from the reading, that's why it's complex, but grammar is very simple

to answer the OP, I don't know if I am integrate , I just live in a small village with my family's wife , speak only Thai , go to market everyday , it's the life for which I came to Thailand, but I am still very interested , through Internet, by the rest of the world ; speaking with people in their own language is a very rich experience , it's true in any country, any language

Integrated ? No, never , I am just a foreigner ( French ) who likes to be with Thai people, but inside I am a westerner for ever , I don't expect to be liked or loved, to be appreciate is enough

Edited Friday at 11:20 AM5 days by Aforek

On 7/23/2026 at 10:52 AM, KhunHeineken said:

Foreigners have already colonized Thailand.

Maybe in relatively small parts of Thailand, but overall very little influence. Most of the country is still very Thai.

9 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

It's the airport code for Chiang Mai airport.

Since when do people refer to their location by the code for the nearest airport? I'm glad that trend hasn't caught on here in PXR Its ridiculous, and even more annoying than "bangers" or "patts"

59 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

The only reason immigrants to Europe live in “ghettos” is because they haven’t learned the language yet. What makes you think it’s any easier for them to learn English than we to learn Thai? Religion is mostly a cultural mandate in the countries they came from, much as Anglicans in the UK and Catholic in France, Italy, Spain, Lutheran in Germany and Scandinavia. Religion faded for us and no doubt it will fade for them, too.

But us expats living in Thailand that haven't learned the language (yet) does not live in ghettos — same-same but different, or...🤔 — please explain the difference why.

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

But they're tourists at the beach, they don't have any need to integrate. It's a vacation.

Besides, I like to look!

Er no, they are not at the beach - they are 1 km away from the beach....

1 hour ago, sidjameson said:

That's a very understandable reason to go but I was referring to why you prefer Myanmar now to Thailand.

Ah, it's a practical reason! Since I first went to Myanmar in 2012 to work as a teacher, I also did volunteer work at many monastery schools and orphanages, creating and donating educational resources to.. well.. literally thousands of young students over the years. I used my 'excess' income from my international school salary to fund this, Now I've just retired from teaching in Myanmar, and although I have a good income from teaching online, I cannot live in Myanmar full-time, - no retirement visa etc.

There are literally millions of young students there who don't receive even a basic education, and local teachers who could do their job much better with some professional teacher-training, especially now with the civil war. I consider money spent on trying to help them to be better than spending it on beer etc. So now I have to live outside Myanmar and travel in on tourist visas, so those plane costs etc add up. Thailand is the best/cheapest place for me to base myself.

TBH, I have 2 conflicts of interest: Should I relax on the beaches of Phangan Island etc, with clean, salty air that's good for my bad lungs? Or should I try to help the students in Myanmar, with more polluted air, huge logistical challenges, few nice beaches (at least not easily accessible) etc?

In my heart, I can't ignore the siutation in Myanmar, even though I'd love to relax with a cold beer on the beach in Thailand :)

3 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Ah, it's a practical reason! Since I first went to Myanmar in 2012 to work as a teacher, I also did volunteer work at many monastery schools and orphanages, creating and donating educational resources to.. well.. literally thousands of young students over the years. I used my 'excess' income from my international school salary to fund this, Now I've just retired from teaching in Myanmar, and although I have a good income from teaching online, I cannot live in Myanmar full-time, - no retirement visa etc.

There are literally millions of young students there who don't receive even a basic education, and local teachers who could do their job much better with some professional teacher-training, especially now with the civil war. I consider money spent on trying to help them to be better than spending it on beer etc. So now I have to live outside Myanmar and travel in on tourist visas, so those plane costs etc add up. Thailand is the best/cheapest place for me to base myself.

TBH, I have 2 conflicts of interest: Should I relax on the beaches of Phangan Island etc, with clean, salty air that's good for my bad lungs? Or should I try to help the students in Myanmar, with more polluted air, huge logistical challenges, few nice beaches (at least not easily accessible) etc?

In my heart, I can't ignore the siutation in Myanmar, even though I'd love to relax with a cold beer on the beach in Thailand :)

You are clearly a good man with good intentions and have done a huge amount of good. You should look after yourself now and do and be what/where is best for you and your health. Do what you still can for those you wish to help whilst taking care of yourself. The longer you are about, the longer those you help will benefit.

That aside, I have noticed that you have been somewhat 'snippy' for want of a better word recently. Never thought that in the past but recently...Anything particularly triggered this? Something pi$$ed you off or is it just 'old person syndrome'? I'm not quite there yet but I know quite a lot of old 'uns who suddenly switch into 'I don't give a $hit and you can all f off' mode.

15 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Ah, it's a practical reason! Since I first went to Myanmar in 2012 to work as a teacher, I also did volunteer work at many monastery schools and orphanages, creating and donating educational resources to.. well.. literally thousands of young students over the years. I used my 'excess' income from my international school salary to fund this, Now I've just retired from teaching in Myanmar, and although I have a good income from teaching online, I cannot live in Myanmar full-time, - no retirement visa etc.

There are literally millions of young students there who don't receive even a basic education, and local teachers who could do their job much better with some professional teacher-training, especially now with the civil war. I consider money spent on trying to help them to be better than spending it on beer etc. So now I have to live outside Myanmar and travel in on tourist visas, so those plane costs etc add up. Thailand is the best/cheapest place for me to base myself.

TBH, I have 2 conflicts of interest: Should I relax on the beaches of Phangan Island etc, with clean, salty air that's good for my bad lungs? Or should I try to help the students in Myanmar, with more polluted air, huge logistical challenges, few nice beaches (at least not easily accessible) etc?

In my heart, I can't ignore the siutation in Myanmar, even though I'd love to relax with a cold beer on the beach in Thailand :)

I'd go for kpn! Great island. Maybe you can help others online from there.

1 hour ago, Bday Prang said:

Since when do people refer to their location by the code for the nearest airport? I'm glad that trend hasn't caught on here in PXR Its ridiculous, and even more annoying than "bangers" or "patts"

Pookets

5 hours ago, Keeps said:

What part of it? Care to elaborate or do you genuinely think that 99% of Brits are beans on toast munching racists? Think carefully before you answer.......

I think most Brits prefer Brit food over Thai food and don't speak much Thai. It does not bother me but some of you Brits are so thin skinned.

5 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

I think most Brits prefer Brit food over Thai food and don't speak much Thai. It does not bother me but some of you Brits are so thin skinned.

Us Brits are not thin skinned or easily offended , most of our humour is based on taking the pi$$ out of ourselves but to hear the same pathetic anti british sniping by the same few idiots over and over again does start to get irritating after a while

2 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

I think most Brits prefer Brit food over Thai food and don't speak much Thai. It does not bother me but some of you Brits are so thin skinned.

Does it really come as a surprise that a Brit would prefer Brit food over Thai food having been brought up in Britain? Brits are not weaned on Larb Moo or pad kra pao.

I would also argue that Brits in Thailand have a far better mental capability than many nationalities (particularly more so than Aussies) to pick up the lingo if they see fit and many do. I do not dispute that a fair number of Brits who reside in Thailand end up in the likes of Pattaya but I would still say that is in the minority.

Many, many Brits enjoy a life outside of the tourist hotspots with loving partners and have brought up families and are now enjoying seeing their grandchildren blossom.

With regards to Brits being thin skinned - that could not be farther from the truth. Quite frankly, we rarely give a flying what other people think. We leave that to people with an inferiority complex.