Thesis On Udon

[ray23]

http://mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca/bitstream/1...och_schulte.pdf

Unless you are into scholary reserach you might want to start on page 103, up to you I scanned it first and that was what I wanted.

As usual I'm a square peg for a round hole. He definetly saw a part of Udon that it is best known for. But I think he might have missed the part I live in. In his defence he asked for participation. But, frankly everyone thought he was a trool. Turns out he wasn't.

I met him once at the bowling alley, nice young guy.

Some interesting points he makes is the lack of organized effort by the Thailand to attract a specific range of retirees. The lack of social organization beyond the bar scene. The failure to allow retirees to help in the community beyond being a tourist police volunteer. That one has been a sore spot for me all along. That is a huge loss of talent that would not take jobs from Thai's as most would just like to have something to stay busy.

Not a real surprise as to the views Thai's have of us. The ones the Thai's see the most of are those involved in the bar scene. A lot of us have other social activities such as in my case motorcycle touring. But we are pretty much a behind the scenes activity.

His commnets as to Pattaya was intersting again I don't fit. my first vist was to Pattaya, what I saw was somplace that would not be where I wanted to live. But, I saw something in the Thai people that caused me to search further.

Why Udon it had a VFW which meant a english speaking population. I have long since stopped being active in the organazation. Simply because I found a better way for me. But at first it was a valuluable method to learn.

Another way I don't fit I was never here in the Military.

One thing that surprised me was the statement that most expats leave after two years. Don't doubt it just haven't seen it. I would be the first to admit that the first two years are the hardest and about three years out you start to get the flow of things.

Marriage, I don't agree that the only way is to become total Thai. First of all that is simply not possible. Secondly I believe a blended marriage of trying combine the best of both cultures works best.

I respect my wifes family and treat them with respect. But, I'm no door mat, not a walking ATM machine. Yes I help when the need is there. But, they have helped me in other ways. There have been a few in the family that saw me as thier bank, they were sadly mistaken.So we donlt have much contact with them. Now here is the kicker wifes idea not mine. I don't really see them to be much different then my home country family.

The belief system sorry I don't interfer with that. I may not believe it, but that is up my wife. I even go along sometimes without the slightest clue of what is going on. I only know it makes her feel better. Certianly doesn't cost me much to give.

Competetion from the Super markets. Hey big surprise that is where the wife wants to shop. But the general rule the Mom and pop markets dont stock all that we want to buy. Otherwise I see no problem in shopping the mom and pop markets. Truth is we are lucky here, once you leave the down town area, very little double priciing goes on here.

Has the farrang population changed Udon yes in certain areas it is not the Udon I knew and came to want as my home city. But for the most part I stay to the part that I do love. It's still here but not all over as it was before.

As to nothing to see around here, guess I hould have taken him for a bike ride, lots of lakes within the Province and some very scenic areas as well. But you won't find them on a Tourist map.

Marriages centered around finance, yes. But is it really all that different for Thai's? Not the ones I know.

Is Udon goign to outgrow it's infrastructure no, it already has.

For the first time someoen actually came up with some numbers for the farrang population and as usual, nothing Iron Clad. TAT estimates it a 3-5 K

A survey conduted at the Songkran festival sits at about 2500.

Nong Khai issues 299 annual visas or renewals, each year. By the way these numbers ae form two years ago i beleive. So somewhere between 299 and 5K

It really doesn't paint a very pretty picture of us. But in the end that is our fault. He asked we didn't help.

Anyway that is what I gleaned from it be interseting to see others views.

[asiancup2007]

A minority of the expats and retirees are social outcasts from their countries of

origins and some were the worst people the researcher has ever met in his life and was

scared and nervous with some of interviewees. Due to their personalities and mannerisms

the researcher did not interview many of them and simply avoided them. However, the

MAJORITY of interviewees were generally GOOD people.

[ray23]

well I met him he wa a kid a with very little life experience, so the grumpy old men scared him a bit.

I think he painted a fairly accurate picture of what he saw. But limiting it primarily to bars where guys are drinking might not lead to the real picture.

The one thing that I think he and most miss on is the ladies of the evening that have been here for hundreds of years. It's just is and always has been a part of the culture. What the GI's did was increase the numbers in he business, not create it.

It was to bad more guys didn't help when he asked, he may have een a little different side. But on he other hand he met me in a bowling alley bowling with about six farrangs that live here. Told me what he was doing I offered him encouragement. But, he never asked me one question, nor anyone else there.

Relying on the gripes of a forum, hey the most crusty guys on the forums, when you meet them personally are really nice guys to chat with.

He had some good idea for Thailand to encourage growth in the retirement industry. But, Thai's don't listen to outsiders much. I have always beleived that we in the Udon area represent a heck of a lot more income then what the government realizes on a continual basis. But individually maybe a million or so a year, that not much, but you take the 5K figure they are talking about, who the heck knows if that is accurate. That represents a lot of money recurring income. That litttle really has to be done for.

Oh well it was thought provoking