Farang, Down On His Luck, Skvt Soi 5

[GungaDin]

the guy probably just needs a place to stay and someone who can get him a job teaching english (Stickman are you there?). if we can start a collection pool, put me down for 100 baht. for all we know, he probably has a book of poems or songs in his back pocket. who knows what magical things he has seen during his journey.

He'll need at least one fresh set of clothes, a haircut, a shave and no doubt a real good shower if he wants to get a teaching job... When you are down on our luck, teaching is the easiest option.

So, that's why you teach.

[lifeisrandom]

is this an elaborate joke to make fun of english teachers?

"im homeless but still wont teach for that low of a salary"

[stickman]

the guy probably just needs a place to stay and someone who can get him a job teaching english (Stickman are you there?). if we can start a collection pool, put me down for 100 baht. for all we know, he probably has a book of poems or songs in his back pocket. who knows what magical things he has seen during his journey.

He'll need at least one fresh set of clothes, a haircut, a shave and no doubt a real good shower if he wants to get a teaching job... When you are down on our luck, teaching is the easiest option.

So, that's why you teach.

Taught, not teach.

[MrHammer]

Think I may have seen the same guy today at Asoke. In his fifties, grey hair glasses, with a big suitcase. He was sat out side with a big sign asking for a job. Didn't have time to talk with him as was late for a Dr's appointment, but he looked a little more genuine than some of the ususal ones floating around.

In the end it can happen to anyone if certain circumstances come together at the same time. Hope the guy gets himself sorted.

I saw that guy at Christmas and in January - at Asok and outside the pharmacist opposite NEP

With the case and his CV stuck to it asking for a job - radio engineer I seem to recall.

I hope its not an old American guy I used to know. He was formerly an engineer with a number of US tech companies including Western Digital and the like then came to Thailand and fell apart. Ended up on a permanent overstay and sold his passport and begging farangs in bars for money. (Not too sympathetic when an old white guy comes up to you drunk asking to borrow money) Whenever he did have money he'd get paralytically drunk then disappear until he next found some money from somewhere.

Living in a concrete box with an elderly Nana Plaza bar girl who used to beat him quite regularly and ten members of her family. Hope she hasn't finally snapped and thrown him out.

Apparantly waiting for his US pension to start in a couple of years and just trying to stay alive till then, but

his alcoholism seems to have reached the point where he's suffering from brain damage. He sends out long rambling emails full of bizarre conspiracy theories and is constantly going on about herbs for his health even when he's no money for food and spends whatever money he does have on alcohol.

He did have jobs. Initially engineering jobs, then teaching jobs with farang run language schools, then with Thai run schools and then just the occassional filling in for missing teachers when they were desperate. Don't know why he kept losing his jobs, but I can imagine with his mental illness and alcoholism. He even lost a job with one of those scam boiler shop companies within a week so he must be pretty much unemployable at this point regardless of how clean he makes himself

Haven't seen him in a few years as he was banned from the bar I used to bump in to him at for begging from the farang customers. He must have really gone over the top doing it as the owners of that bar are very nice compassionate people who had really cut him a LOT of slack over the years.

This is a typical story of decline I've seen in many many farang and they're unhelpable as they won't leave Thailand and they can't recover until they do. I've paid the dues a few times over the years proving this.

I'd give a few baht to someone i knew had mental or emotional problems. You cant just tell these people to get a job, know what i mean? Too unpredictable. I feel sorry for them if they got no friends or family left and are left to the mercy of strangers.

[MrHammer]

There is an area in Bangkok that is home base for quite a few farangs. (Name best unmentioned). We had a guy who was down on his luck with no hope to recover. We took up a collection for him so he could pay for his airfare home. He DIDN'T go home but he did get sicker and got in worse physical condition. A little meeting was held and another collection was taken up. This time an air ticket was purchased and he was escorted to the airport. Helping some people back fires and actually hurts them. They got in that condition because they had no sense to start with.

But do you rally know what will happen to him when he gets back? Any friends or family? If not he will most likely be locked up in and out of mental hospitals were they fill him with drugs to make him a zombie.

[MrHammer]

There is an area in Bangkok that is home base for quite a few farangs. (Name best unmentioned). We had a guy who was down on his luck with no hope to recover. We took up a collection for him so he could pay for his airfare home. He DIDN'T go home but he did get sicker and got in worse physical condition. A little meeting was held and another collection was taken up. This time an air ticket was purchased and he was escorted to the airport. Helping some people back fires and actually hurts them. They got in that condition because they had no sense to start with.

But do you rally know what will happen to him when he gets back? Any friends or family? If not he will most likely be locked up in and out of mental hospitals were they fill him with drugs to make him a zombie.

What i meant was, maybe its better to be down and out in Thailand than in the West. For what its worth, food and housing is cheap here, and some people still excersise compassion. Theres also the temples if its really bad.

Ive heard similar stories from the phillipines, people living in monastaries or with average phillipinos for months. That would never happen back home.

[gzu88bv]

Soi 4 a few days ago.

I recognize the picture and this is what I had to say last year:

Had to come all the way from Isaan and met roughly ½ hour ago a guy in his sixties sitting on Sukhumvit street between Soi 20 and 22 with the following message in front of him:

Found Job

Need Room, Food and Visa

I leave any comments to others……

and now I just say, sad, yes very sad indeed......

[Scott]

You know someone is truly destitute here when they don't even have a balcony to jump off of, I guess.

[vision]

Can't most westerners just show up at thier home countries emabassy and recieve some form of assistance in getting back?

[mrtoad]

There is an area in Bangkok that is home base for quite a few farangs. (Name best unmentioned). We had a guy who was down on his luck with no hope to recover. We took up a collection for him so he could pay for his airfare home. He DIDN'T go home but he did get sicker and got in worse physical condition. A little meeting was held and another collection was taken up. This time an air ticket was purchased and he was escorted to the airport. Helping some people back fires and actually hurts them. They got in that condition because they had no sense to start with.

But do you rally know what will happen to him when he gets back? Any friends or family? If not he will most likely be locked up in and out of mental hospitals were they fill him with drugs to make him a zombie.

He has to be mentally ill to be "locked up' . There is little from the information here to suggest that he is mentally ill. Maybe in the USA that is what happens?

[issanpaul]

Can't most westerners just show up at thier home countries emabassy and recieve some form of assistance in getting back?

I am led to beleive that Embassys offer no financial assistance,there will contact freinds or relatives on your behalf back home for financial assistance,correct me if i am wrong.

[dumball]

Can't most westerners just show up at thier home countries emabassy and recieve some form of assistance in getting back?

I am led to beleive that Embassys offer no financial assistance,there will contact freinds or relatives on your behalf back home for financial assistance,correct me if i am wrong.

Dependant on the consulate and circumstances , financial assistance can be given(at least to GBR) in the form of a one way 1ST CLASS air ticket , your passport is retained and a temporary one provided for the duration of the flight only . You are required to repay the costs and will not recieve a full passport until the debt is repaid in full , plus there could be limitations and reporting of where-abouts on your return , this procedure is apparantly to refrain from trying to repeat your misdemeanor in the future .

[sassienie]

Why didnt the OP help this poor tragic guy?

I knew him, he was my best friend.

Below is the last picture I took of him, yesterday afternoon in Bangkok.

[wamberal]

Why didnt the OP help this poor tragic guy?

I knew him, he was my best friend.

Below is the last picture I took of him, yesterday afternoon in Bangkok.

You've got a warped sense of humour.

[Carib]

Why didnt the OP help this poor tragic guy?

I knew him, he was my best friend.

Below is the last picture I took of him, yesterday afternoon in Bangkok.

What is it that you like about posting like this. This is the third posting I read from you today and they are all equally stupid.

You seem to enjoy it, ever talked about it with someone, someone professional I mean?

Having a bad hairday, or can`t you just hold it in no longer?

[GungaDin]

Why didnt the OP help this poor tragic guy?

I knew him, he was my best friend.

Below is the last picture I took of him, yesterday afternoon in Bangkok.

What is it that you like about posting like this. This is the third posting I read from you today and they are all equally stupid.

You seem to enjoy it, ever talked about it with someone, someone professional I mean?

Having a bad hairday, or can`t you just hold it in no longer?

He's as funny as Gordon Brown.

[sassienie]

Why didnt the OP help this poor tragic guy?

I knew him, he was my best friend.

Below is the last picture I took of him, yesterday afternoon in Bangkok.

What is it that you like about posting like this. This is the third posting I read from you today and they are all equally stupid.

You seem to enjoy it, ever talked about it with someone, someone professional I mean?

Having a bad hairday, or can`t you just hold it in no longer?

The holier than thou, righteous police with flaming insults strike again. Take it or leave it, buddy pal.

Edited August 25, 2008 by sassienie

[Carib]

Why didnt the OP help this poor tragic guy?

I knew him, he was my best friend.

Below is the last picture I took of him, yesterday afternoon in Bangkok.

What is it that you like about posting like this. This is the third posting I read from you today and they are all equally stupid.

You seem to enjoy it, ever talked about it with someone, someone professional I mean?

Having a bad hairday, or can`t you just hold it in no longer?

The holier than thou, righteous police strike again. Take it or leave it, buddy pal.

Buddy ?? Pal ??? Last time I looked you were not on the list, an doubt you ever will be, Just try to take it easy and it will all be ok.....Have a nice day.

[OlRedEyes]

it looks like thailand is a magnet to druggies and alcoholics

and morons.

Hear, Hear.

ESPECIALLY morons.