15 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Pookets

you are kjddin me right?

40 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

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

Yes, I'm on KPN right now, using it as my base. I used to live here between my Myanmar work before and taught Thai and English to the Burmese kids of the migrant workers. But this informal school was raided and the Burmese volunteer teachers jailed for a week (I wasn't jailed). Because I don't want to risk my visa to stay in Thailand, I'm not teaching right now, but I've asked the Surat Thani Labour office to comment in writing about whether teaching totally informally (ie no contract, no salary etc), needs a work permit.

Apart from that, I'm using my time before visiting Myanmar again to design A5 alphabet flashcards that include the Burmese characters for the English letter pronunciation - such as this :). I'll print and donate these flashcard alphabet sets to primary and village schools etc.

13 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

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

Yet the hyprocrisy is lost on them, that they sit in Pattaya bars at 11am, demanding British breakfasts, whilst never bothering to have learnt a word of Thai.

If you are a foreigner living in Thailand for a few years at least and haven't learnt the language then shame on you.

10 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.

You didn't mention Benidorm, can't blame them for not wanting to eat that foreign muck 😉

3 hours 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.

Religion is like a bubble that grows and shrinks with the times. It often becomes more important during complicated and uncertain periods, especially during war. I thought religion was going to fade, until I started noticing both young Western men and young men from immigrant communities turning to religion and promoting it on social media. Many seem to be searching for structure, identity, community and meaning in life. Religion is also highly visible across sport, especially in high-profile combat sports such as MMA and boxing, where many well-known athletes openly express their faith. Gallup confirms a clear rise among young American men, while similar signs are appearing in parts of Europe.

4 hours ago, Hummin said:

Religion is like a bubble that grows and shrinks with the times. It often becomes more important during complicated and uncertain periods, especially during war. I thought religion was going to fade, until I started noticing both young Western men and young men from immigrant communities turning to religion and promoting it on social media. Many seem to be searching for structure, identity, community and meaning in life. Religion is also highly visible across sport, especially in high-profile combat sports such as MMA and boxing, where many well-known athletes openly express their faith. Gallup confirms a clear rise among young American men, while similar signs are appearing in parts of Europe.

Prison is a seriously great way to get religion!

17 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Prison is a seriously great way to get religion!

Do not shoot the messenger!

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Driven by a recent increase, young men in the U.S. have now surpassed young women in saying religion is "very important" in their lives. Gallup’s latest data, from 2024-2025, show 42% of young men saying religion is very important to them, up sharply from 28% in 2022-2023. By contrast, during this period, young women’s attachment to religion has held steady at about 30%.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/708410/rise-young-men-religiosity-realigns-gender-gaps.aspx

On 7/22/2026 at 5:59 PM, simon43 said:

Would you support a simple Thai language test when you go renew your non-immigrant visa? Fail that test and you're out......? Let's hear your comments :)

No. Some very nice, intelligent people are not 'wired' for language but excel in other areas.

The IOP is a false dichotomy!

1 hour ago, amexpat said:

No. Some very nice, intelligent people are not 'wired' for language but excel in other areas.

Yet the same people demand immigrants speak English in the US and UK.

I qualified for Thai national health care for several years....

I arrived in Thailand many years ago to live, breathe, work, make friends, make a difference

5 hours ago, kwilco said:

Yet the same people demand immigrants speak English in the US and UK.

The same ones? Are you sure? simplistic

On 7/22/2026 at 5:59 PM, simon43 said:

Would you support a simple Thai language test when you go renew your non-immigrant visa? Fail that test and you're out......? Let's hear your comments :)

A simple language test is required for PR and citizenship. By definition, 'non-immigrants' are just temporary, so no need to learn the language. Thais embrace diversity. 😀

Should foreigners try to integrate into or change Thai British culture?

Makes the question easier for Brits to answer.

19 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

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

I disagree.

It's not only all the foreigners living in Thailand, but it's also the massive Thai diaspora living / working around the world that bring western ways back to Thailand.

Look at all the wealthy Thai's, or the Thai's who are in power. Either themselves, or their children, or both, were educated in prestigious western schools / universities.

Just imagine, for a moment, that Thailand had a 30 day visa exemption stamp and nothing else. No other visas. No retirement visa, work permit etc. Basically, come here for a holiday, but you must leave. Thailand would be a very different place right now, wouldn't it?

6 hours ago, amexpat said:

The same ones? Are you sure? simplistic

yes sure!

2 hours ago, Purdey said:

Should foreigners try to integrate into or change Thai British culture?

Makes the question easier for Brits to answer.

2 hours ago, Purdey said:

Should foreigners try to integrate into or change Thai British culture?

Makes the question easier for Brits to answer.

british and many readers on Thaivisa simply don't know th difference between "integrate" and "assimilate" - but the change issue is neither - basically just an opportunity for racists to promulgate their vile notions.

Culture is not static – it constantly changes anyway. What is most worrying now is that it is used by racists trying to cover up their racist views...

On 7/24/2026 at 3:06 PM, simon43 said:

Yes, I'm on KPN right now, using it as my base. I used to live here between my Myanmar work before and taught Thai and English to the Burmese kids of the migrant workers. But this informal school was raided and the Burmese volunteer teachers jailed for a week (I wasn't jailed). Because I don't want to risk my visa to stay in Thailand, I'm not teaching right now, but I've asked the Surat Thani Labour office to comment in writing about whether teaching totally informally (ie no contract, no salary etc), needs a work permit.

SoutheastAsians & Pacific Islanders

Apart from that, I'm using my time before visiting Myanmar again to design A5 alphabet flashcards that include the Burmese characters for the English letter pronunciation - such as this :). I'll print and donate these flashcard alphabet sets to primary and village schools etc.

There are 2 letters 'B' in the Burmese writing system – English speakers make the mistake of thinking consonants in S.E. Asian languages are the same as in English.

"Should foreigners try to integrate into or change Thai culture? It's not an either/or – integration is advisable AND changing is too...it is also inevitable.

One of the biggest misconceptions in debates about immigration is confusing integration with assimilation.

Integration means participating fully in society—working, obeying the law, learning the language, and contributing—while still being free to maintain your own cultural or religious identity. It would also include voicing opinions that could change Thai culture.

Assimilation means giving up that identity and becoming culturally indistinguishable from the majority.

The two are not the same.

A common racist trick is to demand "integration" but actually expect assimilation. If someone says immigrants are "not integrated" simply because they still speak another language at home, wear traditional clothing, or celebrate their own festivals, they're not talking about integration—they're demanding cultural conformity.

In many cases, "integration" becomes a euphemism for "become exactly like us."

On 7/24/2026 at 8:23 PM, amexpat said:

No. Some very nice, intelligent people are not 'wired' for language but excel in other areas.

No! Every baby in the world can learn a language or even multiple languages; there is no excuse. Some people are perceived as better, and obviously intelligence helps an adult learn as they are able to analyse and decipher meaning and differences – but people struggle with languages due to the wrong learning methods, bad study habits, and unrealistic expectations, rather than a lack of natural talent. Most learners fail because they focus on memorizing rules instead of communicating, or they give up when progress feels slow

Another issue that arises on this thread is the use of the expression "culture". I’ve already said it seems to me that many people don’t know what “culture” is – it’s just a word to back up their prejudices and excuse for racist views…When discussions about race come up, the word "culture" is often used as a substitute for saying what people really mean.

 

Instead of openly attacking a racial or ethnic group, you'll often hear phrases like "They don't respect our culture" or "Their culture is incompatible with ours." On the face of it, that sounds like a criticism of behaviour or values. But when those comments are aimed at an entire ethnic group, "culture" can become a coded way of talking about race without actually mentioning race.

 

This isn't a new phenomenon. Social scientists have long referred to it as cultural racism or coded language. The emphasis shifts from claiming one race is biologically inferior to claiming another group's culture is somehow inferior or incompatible.

 

The problem is that it can make prejudice sound reasonable. Instead of discussing individuals or specific behaviours, whole communities end up being stereotyped. It also allows discrimination to be presented as simply "defending our culture" rather than acknowledging the racial assumptions behind it.

 

Of course, cultures can be discussed and criticised. No culture is above criticism. But there's a big difference between criticising a particular practice and making sweeping claims about millions of people based on their ethnicity or nationality.

Sometimes it's worth asking whether "culture" is really the issue being discussed, or whether it's just become a more socially acceptable way of expressing prejudice.

a footnote on "expat" or "immigrant"....

Are expats immigrants? - An "expat" isn't the opposite of an immigrant; expats are immigrants—they've simply emigrated to another country.

Any difference is largely one of perception. Western professionals and retirees are often called "expats", while people from poorer countries are more likely to be called "immigrants", even when they're doing exactly the same thing.

The label often says more about how we view the person than about what they've actually done.

 

This tends to prompt discussion because many people have never considered that "expat" is often a socially loaded term rather than a distinct legal category.

18 minutes ago, kwilco said:

a footnote on "expat" or "immigrant"....

Are expats immigrants? - An "expat" isn't the opposite of an immigrant; expats are immigrants—they've simply emigrated to another country.

Any difference is largely one of perception. Western professionals and retirees are often called "expats", while people from poorer countries are more likely to be called "immigrants", even when they're doing exactly the same thing.

The label often says more about how we view the person than about what they've actually done.

 

This tends to prompt discussion because many people have never considered that "expat" is often a socially loaded term rather than a distinct legal category.

I'm an immigrant if they offer, and I accept a Thai passport and Id card. No need to make the definition any harder.

On 7/25/2026 at 3:44 AM, kwilco said:

Yet the same people demand immigrants speak English in the US and UK.

I don't ... BUT ... if you are going to collect USA benefits, sometimes because you can't find employment, then yes, you should be able to speak English, as probably needed to be employed, if you are going to collect bennies for not being employed.

If arrive to US, can't speak English, are employed, by employer or self employed, paying taxes, then fine, no need to speak English. Or self supporting with your own funds, then fine, no English required and simple enough.

Feel the same about myself in TH, as I'm completely independent of the social services, pay my way, so no need (or desire) to be fluent in Thai. I'm not costing the Thai tax payer anything with my ignorance.

4 hours ago, kwilco said:

There are 2 letters 'B' in the Burmese writing system – English speakers make the mistake of thinking consonants in S.E. Asian languages are the same as in English.

I'm very well aware of that - I speak, read and write Burmese to an intermediate level, (and Lao to a similar level and Thai to a high level). The use of that Burmese character is intended to convey the sound of letter 'b', as pronounced in 'bell'. Of course, not all English letters have a direct equivalent character in Burmese.....

Edited Sunday at 01:07 PM3 days by simon43

On 7/25/2026 at 3:46 AM, kwilco said:

I arrived in Thailand many years ago to live, breathe, work, make friends, make a difference

Do you recall when things went wrong?

On 7/25/2026 at 3:20 PM, kwilco said:

british and many readers on Thaivisa simply don't know th difference between "integrate" and "assimilate" - but the change issue is neither - basically just an opportunity for racists to promulgate their vile notions.

Quite an assumption there. Pretty much like the one you made earlier on AN when people who said locals weren't good drivers and you called them racist. This isn't Thaivisa anymore.

This is for those you think don't know the difference, if there are any here.............integrate

/ˈin(t)əˌɡrāt/

To integrate means to combine things into a whole, mix people together equally, or find a mathematical total....

assimilate

/əˈsiməˌlāt/

Assimilate means to take in and fully understand ideas, to blend into a new culture or group, or to absorb food and nutrients into the body. Personally I think all the Brits here know the difference.

Edited Monday at 07:33 AM2 days by fredwiggy

2 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

Quite an assumption there. Pretty much like the one you made earlier on AN when people who said locals weren't good drivers and you called them racist. This isn't Thaivisa anymore.

This is for those you think don't know the difference, if there are any here.............integrate

/ˈin(t)əˌɡrāt/

To integrate means to combine things into a whole, mix people together equally, or find a mathematical total....

assimilate

/əˈsiməˌlāt/

Assimilate means to take in and fully understand ideas, to blend into a new culture or group, or to absorb food and nutrients into the body. Route 3457 is the most well-trodden route. However, that area is a mass of rural roads… I’ve stayed at a few guest houses in that area over the years, and there have been standard sedans visiting them too.

 

There is a possible route that is more direct – about 50 km from Sangkhlaburi, take a left onto 3087. It’s a grand entrance with an arch - But although it is metalled for the most part the latter part when it becomes rural road 6092 may or may not be – it is a delightful rural route. The problem with rural routes is that they may be metalled but they aren’t very well maintained. If you have a lot of weight on your car it may get too rough in parts. I would avoid driving it in a car if it’s wet too. The part you need to check out is when it turns onto the 6092. The whole route from Sangkhlaburi is about 130 km (3h30m) as oppose to 250km (4h30m) via the 3457.

I drive a 4x4 but have never had to use it in anger on that route.

 

 

Between Huay Mae Khamin and Kanchanaburi, you can travel 2 ways – the taxis and the most popular route is along the western side (6043) of the Srinakarin reservoir, however the Eastern route (3199) is far prettier and involve two ferries – the first from Huay Mae Khamin and the second is the Si Sawat  ferry - https://maps.app.goo.gl/3QADpeiSVqTr592S9 -  If you are pressed for time, don’t bother but I think it’s worth the wait just for the experience.

Very shallow answer – just quoting a dictionary doesn't even mean you understand, let alone anyone else ... you need to relate the definitions to context. The fact that you had to look it up (and haven't bothered with a citation) shows you didn't know yourself. Take a look at my definitions, as they are far more workable.

Edited Monday at 10:22 AM2 days by kwilco

Troll post removed @newbee2022 discuss the topic, not other posters

Rule 10. You will not post troll messages. Trolling is the act of purposefully antagonizing forum members by posting controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages with the primary intent of provoking other members into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion.