The Downside Of Living In A Village

[garro]

I have lived in a Thai village for nearly four years now.

We lived in Phitsanulok city before this.

We are very remote with the nearest large town being 120 km away.

I love living here but I am also beginning to see the drawbacks.

Like this morning, I stepped on an extension wire and got an electric shock because a rat ate through the wire during the night.

We seem to be much more at the mercy of the weather and wildlife here than people in the city.

We also have a new baby and in the evenings it is hard work protecting him from the insects.

I sometimes think that living so far away from the city means that I am missing out on things.

On the other hand, I know that I would miss village life.

In a way I would be quite happy to stay here indefinite but with the baby things are different.

Is staying here good for him?

What do you guys think.

Is the benefits of village life worth the disadvantages?

Edited October 29, 2007 by garro

[Pink Mist]

so far all yours problems are easily fixed,

rodent control and RCD's for shocks

mosquitos can be controlled with screens, citronella and coils

I think you can sort things out, just a bit of thought and planning required

cheers

[Naam]

What do you guys think. Is the benefits of village life worth the disadvantages?

i envy you! if it wasn't for Mrs. Naam i'd be living in a village.

[JOHN2]

I could never live in a backwater would be bored stupid, not even the majority of thais want to reside in these places.

I was in Phitsanulok for only one day 3 years ago and that was a day too long,absolutely nothing there to do.

Chow,

Johnny

[garro]

Thanks bronco.

The problem is that our house is very open and we live on the edge of a paddy field.

We have shutters instead of doors and there doesn't seem to be any way to keep the pests out.

The space above the house is like a Zoo.

A lot of it is my own fault. I don't like killing things so have been using a cage to catch rats so that we can later release them.

In hindsight, this hasn't been very effecctive.

My wife doesn't want to use misquito coils because they are not good for the baby.

so far all yours problems are easily fixed,

rodent control and RCD's for shocks

mosquitos can be controlled with screens, citronella and coils

I think you can sort things out, just a bit of thought and planning required

cheers

[lazeeboy]

Thanks bronco.

The problem is that our house is very open and we live on the edge of a paddy field.

We have shutters instead of doors and there doesn't seem to be any way to keep the pests out.

The space above the house is like a Zoo.

A lot of it is my own fault. I don't like killing things so have been using a cage to catch rats so that we can later release them.

In hindsight, this hasn't been very effecctive.

My wife doesn't want to use misquito coils because they are not good for the baby.

so far all yours problems are easily fixed,

rodent control and RCD's for shocks

mosquitos can be controlled with screens, citronella and coils

I think you can sort things out, just a bit of thought and planning required

cheers

put proper doors and windows in and use glue mats for the rodents ,or move

[swain]

How do you sort out the education situation for the child. In the USA we take for granted that even our remote areas will have adequate schooling for our children.

[garro]

How do you sort out the education situation for the child. In the USA we take for granted that even our remote areas will have adequate schooling for our children.

That will definitely become more of a concern as my child reaches school age.

I actually think that the most important thing in a child's education is the parent's attitude.

If the parent isn't interested in learning why should their child do better?

I think that no matter where we end up staying, I will be actively be involved in his education.

Even people in villages can make it to university.

[swain]

How do you sort out the education situation for the child. In the USA we take for granted that even our remote areas will have adequate schooling for our children.

That will definitely become more of a concern as my child reaches school age.

I actually think that the most important thing in a child's education is the parent's attitude.

If the parent isn't interested in learning why should their child do better?

I think that no matter where we end up staying, I will be actively be involved in his education.

Even people in villages can make it to university.

I think home schooling is a real possibility and one I didn't think about. There are many different home schooling programs that could be used in addition to whatever is being taught at the local village school (if there is one) I am really talking with myself.. as we are considering trying village life.

[Gimbo]

I have lived in a Thai village for nearly four years now.

We lived in Phitsanulok city before this.

We are very remote with the nearest large town being 120 km away.

I love living here but I am also beginning to see the drawbacks.

Like this morning, I stepped on an extension wire and got an electric shock because a rat ate through the wire during the night.

We seem to be much more at the mercy of the weather and wildlife here than people in the city.

We also have a new baby and in the evenings it is hard work protecting him from the insects.

I sometimes think that living so far away from the city means that I am missing out on things.

On the other hand, I know that I would miss village life.

In a way I would be quite happy to stay here indefinite but with the baby things are different.

Is staying here good for him?

What do you guys think.

Is the benefits of village life worth the disadvantages?

I would concentrate more on what you are gaining rather than what you "miss out" on.

I certainly do not miss breathing exhaust fumes, crowds, crime, etc.

My only beef with living in the village is that I do not speak the language yet. But learning every day.

Sure starting to miss easy access to western foods and such things, but thats easilly fixed with a day trip to the nearest city with a Big C or Tesco when I get the cravings-

Well, I have not 4 years, not even 4 months in the village yet so my glasses are still set to bright and very rosy. Talk to you again in 4 years, lol

[Upcountry]

I live in Phitsanulok, as you know Garro. I agree with John2 that there isn't much to do here, unless, and perhaps even, if you are Thai.

But crime seems to be lower here than many other cities. Traffic isn't too bad for now.

As Garro knows, we have some major stores here (Big C, Lotus, Makro, Home Pro and now the Index Living Mall).

We don't have kids, so aside from convenience, the thing I'd probably miss the most if I lived in a village is a decent internet connection. Ok, still don't have that, but at least it is MaxNet ADSL.

Garro, with your child, I think the most important consideration would be access to a good pediatrician for general health care and for emergencies. One of my relatives had an accident last night, and it was good to be able to get her to a hospital fairly quickly.

The longer term education question definitely needs to be considered. The commute to a school in town, assuming that you could get your child into the one you want, would get old pretty fast. It might be a good idea to find out how long you have to live in a certain area for a school to accept a child. Things like cost/scholarships, etc., might depend on home address.

UC

[LinkPopularity]

How do you sort out the education situation for the child. In the USA we take for granted that even our remote areas will have adequate schooling for our children.

wow, adequate schooling in the USA ??? anywhere ???

[blizzard]

hmmmmm..........tuff one.

i tink more advavtage to raise kid in city. dont most vilagers want their kids go to city to make it. jsut no oppurunity in vilage for kid.

if there nuttin to do in village y r u guys there. is it the village gurl? seems post never include the positives bou t village livin

Edited October 29, 2007 by blizzard

[astral]

Everyone will know who you are and all the details of your private life.................

Advantage/Disadvantage depends on how you value your privacy.

[garro]

I live in Phitsanulok, as you know Garro. I agree with John2 that there isn't much to do here, unless, and perhaps even, if you are Thai.

But crime seems to be lower here than many other cities. Traffic isn't too bad for now.

As Garro knows, we have some major stores here (Big C, Lotus, Makro, Home Pro and now the Index Living Mall).

We don't have kids, so aside from convenience, the thing I'd probably miss the most if I lived in a village is a decent internet connection. Ok, still don't have that, but at least it is MaxNet ADSL.

Garro, with your child, I think the most important consideration would be access to a good pediatrician for general health care and for emergencies. One of my relatives had an accident last night, and it was good to be able to get her to a hospital fairly quickly.

The longer term education question definitely needs to be considered. The commute to a school in town, assuming that you could get your child into the one you want, would get old pretty fast. It might be a good idea to find out how long you have to live in a certain area for a school to accept a child. Things like cost/scholarships, etc., might depend on home address.

UC

Hi UC, I will probably end up moving back to Phi'lok city eventually.

It isn't may favorite city in the world but there is a lot worse.

We are building a house here at the moment so at least we will be able to come back to the village at the weekends if we stayed there. I was actually went today for my bi-weekly shop.

[seonai]

I really empathise Garro. The thing that gets me about village life is the wildlife - as you said, the damp in the rainy season, the mould (totally unhealthy) and the lack of stimulation conversation. (read my post in Ladies about losing yourself) Can you imagine if you took your Thai wife to live in Auchtermuchty in Scotland - doubt she'd like it. That's what you are doing to yourself!!! I know there's no polution etc but you really need money to live in a village comfortably I reckon. To build a decent home with no room for rats and snakes etc and have protection from the rain and wind.

[Doza]

What do you do all day?

[garro]

What do you do all day?

I'm not sure but the days just fly-by.

I don't have enough hours in a day.

[swain]

How do you sort out the education situation for the child. In the USA we take for granted that even our remote areas will have adequate schooling for our children.

wow, adequate schooling in the USA ??? anywhere ???

Oh please... the USA's school system has been going down him for years but you cant say that a village in Thailand is any comparison to even to some of the worst schools in the USA. I have seen the local schools here in Chiang Mai .. supposedly public but paid just the same ... the kids are the next generation of KFC counter workers.

[aka_jack]

Like others have said i would personally think of health care and emergency services in thailand, ie being near a hospital!!. My wife also wanted to live in a village but i managed to talk her out of it on the hospital situation. We went there in april to visit family and a day after we left a young girl was knocked down and died on the way to hospital, a 1 hour drive away in a pick up!! Sad but true!!

[jetjock]

I give credit to those of you posters that had the courage to make the break from hectic big city life and are enjoying the many pleasures of living in a small village. One of my favorite pastimes when I am in Thailand is traveling to and walking around the smaller towns and villages. As I travel around in the nooks and cranies of Thailand, I have often given thought to what it was like for my wife growing up in a tiny village and the pros and cons of living out in the sticks. As previous posters have mentioned, I think the quick access to quality health care might be a major consideration for anyone that has a choice of where they live. In medicine, they have what is know as the 'critical hour' in major trauma events such as automobile accidents, heart attacks, and other medical emergencies where the patients outcome and odds of survival goes down significantly if top quality proper treatment is not received within that first hour. My wife lost her little brother when she was growing up in a village because they did not have quick access to medical care. Even little emergencies like losing a finger can now be treated by having quick access to a hospital that can sew it back on. Personally if I ever decide that some day I want to get away from it all and live in a small town or village, I will make sure it is within and one hour drive of a big city major hospital.

[xyborg]

<br />Like others have said i would personally think of health care and emergency services in thailand, ie being near a hospital!!. My wife also wanted to live in a village but i managed to talk her out of it on the hospital situation. We went there in april to visit family and a day after we left a young girl was knocked down and died on the way to hospital, a 1 hour drive away in a pick up!! Sad but true!! <img src="style_emoticons/default/sad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="sad.gif" /><br />

<br /><br /><br />

This is why some areas like Hua Hin and others cost more as us farangs like the creature comforts. I bought some land out there and its 15 minutes from the city centre, far enough away from the hustle and bustle but near enough for tesco and hospitals etc etc. I have lived in remotest Wales in the Uk and there is almost nothing out there in some places.

[bina]

just felt like answering for a change:

in the states there are places that u can drive for hours and not see anything but a gas station. i know, i dehydrated in the middle of the west somewhere and we drove four hours to meet up with a roving clinic to give me an iv and check me out (this was in 1990+), so living near a hospital is not a 'western' thing, its a personal thing. there are people i know who live in the desert two hours from nearest hospital (if its not raining flooding) here in israel and we are a small country!

so cant see thats a problem unless for YOU its a problem.

bugs and stuff: well, shutters, mosquito nets, whatever...

schooling: we have at the moment a teacher's strike and our kids havent been to school for two weeks, and they will miss out on all the curriculum they need for their pre uni exam (like o levels and such); we have some 'wierd' neighbors homeschooling and their kids dont have a problem with the strike, each kid is impressive with no social skill problems, friendly intelligent and outgoing. also, they dont have tv, rarely use internet, etc... so schooling can be done if u have the patience and time and your kids can turn out really well too.

living out in the sticks anywhere in the world has its own drawbacks and pluses regardless of the country.

btw, rats remember where they live so u have to toss them a very long drive away from home or they will come back. ( raise rats.)

if time flies by for you, then u must be where u belong... no 'bored husband' syndrome? wife likes it? to choose a place cause of medical emergencies is like being afraid to travel or hike or do sports in remote areas... some people just arent made for this. u just have to organize more: learn to deal with minor emergencies on your own. stock up on your own meds/meds for your kids. be more proactive about your surroundings.

when contemplating way into the future with living in the issaan sticks and being poor, the only issue i have is having a good working internet connection. thats what i have told the hubby. oh. and my own laying hens and a cow and dog. dont need anything else much. but then my kids are older and deal with themselves already.

bina

[chicowoodduck]

What do you do all day?

I'm not sure but the days just fly-by.

I don't have enough hours in a day.

Hey, as long as you are busy and don't feel isolated for any extended period of time, you will do just fine. Isn't that why they invented the internet? Your daily concerns and struggles (education, health, environment, etc.) are the same as us "big city" boys and girls. Good on you for making the effort, I'm not sure I could do the same.........."You can take the boy out of the BIG city, but you can't take the BIG city out of the boy!"

Good luck and my good wishes as well.

[brahmburgers]

A few issues that annoy me about rural life here: neighbors' yards overgrown with stickery bushes growing way over the barbed wire fence line. Their spraying of noxious herbicides that might affect my aquifer. (Aside: a few years ago I recall a mention of a farang who was murdered by a Thai neighbor for complaining too loudly about reckless herbicide application, anyone know details?). I don't much care for habitually barking dogs. I actually shush up my neighbors dogs, because they (the neighbors) either don't know how or are disinclined to do it. They probably think, "well, it's the nature of a dog to bark, so why should we humans try to interfere with that?).

As much as I grumble, I much prefer rural life here than being stuck in a city. The bad air alone would bum me out.

......and for sure, there are positives of living in the countriside - but I'm not feeling too pollyanish right now.

How do you sort out the education situation for the child. In the USA we take for granted that even our remote areas will have adequate schooling for our children.

wow, adequate schooling in the USA ??? anywhere ???

much of the schooling in the USA is relatively good - particularly in enabling kids to speak their minds and being at least somewhat innovative. In contrast, Thai schools require unblinking adherence to teachers' rote methods, and to avoid rocking the boat at all costs. Though, in fairness, there may be some positive changes going on. When I was lecturing at a Thai university last year, I encouraged students to speak out and challenge what was presented - if they felt so inclined. At first, only one or two students did so - but after getting acclimated, others became less timid about speaking up.

Edited October 29, 2007 by brahmburgers

[jackr]

I really empathise Garro. The thing that gets me about village life is the wildlife - as you said, the damp in the rainy season, the mould (totally unhealthy) and the lack of stimulation conversation. (read my post in Ladies about losing yourself) Can you imagine if you took your Thai wife to live in Auchtermuchty in Scotland - doubt she'd like it. That's what you are doing to yourself!!! I know there's no polution etc but you really need money to live in a village comfortably I reckon. To build a decent home with no room for rats and snakes etc and have protection from the rain and wind.

Exactly. Not having a dig but if my other half expected me to live in some backwater then it just wouldn't be happening. Different strokes for different folks I guess

[intumult]

What about living in a village not far from a bigger town? Even 10+ kilometres from a big town can feel like you are a long way out in the sticks.

[garro]

What about living in a village not far from a bigger town? Even 10+ kilometres from a big town can feel like you are a long way out in the sticks.

In some ways that can be ideal.

The problem though would be fitting in.

The thing that I have found is that you really need to have family in a village if you want to live there.

It can take a long time to get any type of accptance in a small place.

I would imagine that moving in as a complete stranger would be difficult.

We have no family/friends in a village near a city so it isn't probably an option.

Nice idea though.

[mellow1]

Living with bugs and rats would really be unpleasant to say the least. The dangers to the baby and yourself, by not having proper doors, screen, windows, etc.. should be apparent( scorpions, snakes,etc.). Being within driving distance to a medical facility may not seem to be important, at least until something happens to you or your loved ones( also the case of getting medical insurance ).

The level of education available to these villagers should also be apparent, many are still herders and gatherers, looking for frogs, snails, the littlest of fish, and small birds, to sustain themselves with. I'm sure whatever conversations you manage to have with your fellow villagers must be very interesting too.

Comparing Thai education to US education would be like comparing life on different planets. I'm sure that education in Europe is of a much higher caliber than in the US, I'm just wondering are they still using textbooks, or is the Koran the only book they need now?

[CTO]

Not everyone wants to live in a village or rural areas, I do, it's where I do my work (education for rural people)

That said IF you do like living there, the cost of making yourself comfortable is low. Fixing the house, or moving to one a little further away is easy. You can get iPSTAR cheaply, heck, if you want I'll show you how to build a tutoring school around it.

Education is a concern, but for me it's about my kids learning English, I'm not that great at it myself and the kids need to get exposure if they will ever live or want to live in my home country.

Interestingly there are a lot of private small schools similar to charter schools in USA opening around the region, and in Thailand.

Catholic school systems has schools in even remote parts of North and North East I was surprised to discover. I think over 200 schools under their network, and many make a point of teaching some lessons in English.

Options are there, you need to make a plan though if this is the long term life for you.

CTO Sat-Ed