What Is Your Opinion Of The Expat Scene In Thailand?

[sassienie]

My over 20 years of living on and off in Thailand, I have only found a handful of my fellow expats that seem interested in becoming involved with other Farangs socially with exceptions to those who frequent the bar scene, (barmates) who will chat and when we are customers of some sort, visiting a Farang owned restaurant, bars etc.

Some Farangs may feel that Thailand is less open and far less accepting or tolerant of us than the Thais say they are, which can make one feel they are in an isolated situation and that the level of disinterest, or even rudeness occasionally illustrated by their fellow expats can be rather discerning and even considered as a type of discrimination towards their own kind, that rather puts a dampener on the whole Thai experience.

To my fellow expats, what is your opinion of the expat scene in Thailand? Do you feel that expats could be more hospitable and sociable to their peers here? Or now that you are living in Thailand, consider that this a new beginning and prefer to keep yourself to yourself, perhaps even reclusive?

What about the newbies? Would you like to see more expat support for expats? More expat social clubs, expat advice centres set up, especially for those trying to get adjusted to Thai life and don’t know the ropes yet.

[Misplaced]

Met many expats in real life and all seems to be happy, friendly and approachable. The only sourpuss(s) expats are the ones on TV.

2 face anyone?

Edited November 11, 2008 by Misplaced

[Lickey]

I came to live in Thai with my mrs, i dont need a spanish costa type of living, to have a chat with a falang once a month is ok for me, im self sufficient in asmuch that i have an inner happiness of independance, Im not in an ex-pat circle and therefore i dont have to make lame excuses as to why i dont want to go drink with you fellas tonight, I had enough of that in my home country, so here in Thai, i can please myself, and its great!!!

[bigtimeali]

hi all

i must admit that that i am a newbie to the thai living, but i think i can see both sides of the argument here, on one hand i do like the discovery and exploration of a new culture, makes it fun learning it, but on the other hand it would be nice to have the availability of experiance that other people have had and what to avoid, surely it should be not kept as a closely kept secret, as this only worsens the image of westerners living in thailand? i know from my limited experiance that there is always going to be westerners that abuse the thai mentality and vice-versa but surely for people that live in thailand there should be some kind of social network that we can fall back on? just my own opinion. but hey, each to there own, just an idea

[AndyBlueEyes]

In addition to many good expats living in LOS, a great many of the farang expat population consists of misfits, drunks, crooks, perverts, anti-social types, or people that have escaped to LOS to take advantage of the the cheap housing, women, and whiskey. I think most farangs with any common sense tend to be more guarded and careful in choosing who they socialize with due to the vast number of losers and western society rejects living in LOS.

[Laeotaekhun]

In addition to many good expats living in LOS, a great many of the farang expat population consists of misfits, drunks, crooks, perverts, anti-social types, or people that have escaped to LOS to take advantage of the the cheap housing, women, and whiskey. I think most farangs with any common sense tend to be more guarded and careful in choosing who they socialize with due to the vast number of losers and western society rejects living in LOS.

Good post!

I do think, though, that it depends very much upon where you live in Thailand.

I am lucky enough to live in an area in which most ferangs have chosen to set up home and raise a family, rather than just visit (or live by themselves) so the opportunity to build genuine relationships exists.

I can, though, fully understand why those who live in more "transient" areas, which seem to attract more of the people that you describe, will view others with suspicion.

[a2396]

I have found the expats here not to be particularly friendly. Maybe 20% will acknowledge me when I see them on the street, restaurant, etc. They are not at all as friendly as the Thais. Maybe a lot of social misfits. Fortunately, I have a couple of good foreign friends, where I live, that I talk with regularly.

[Bengt]

I am myself living in a non-farang area and i found the Thaippl very friendly and willing to help me if I want some help for ex..

But surgere we are discriminated sometimes to...some weeks ago I step on a bud from Chonburi to Bkk and a man on the bus collecting money from the travelers and I hears that the fare was 70 bath to Bkk but when it was my turn I have to pay 100 bath..i gave it to him and didnt receive no ticket and i am for sure that those staff put some of that money in their own pocket but never mind...I am the stranger here or as the government call us ALIEN that really means from another world.

I like my staying as expat here and i have a much better economy than in my home country, since I am retired its hard to live in my own country at my pension but its more cheap to live here as long I am in good health and stay away from booze and smoking and bars that want as much money from me as possible.

Most expats have seen the the THB is walking hand in hand whit the US dollar and ppl from Australia and other western countries get less bath for our currency the recent months and it should be very exiting to see what really going to happen in the future.

latest news i read was that BOT will cut the basic interest rates and then its not possible for the THB to be close friend to the US dollar.

Many big projects have been stopped and lets hope that Thailand will find a way out of this recession and accept that we all have to suffer for a while.

I am sure there will be a lot of postings and debates at thaivisa.com i the next coming months.

[yabaaaa]

In addition to many good expats living in LOS, a great many of the farang expat population consists of misfits, drunks, crooks, perverts, anti-social types, or people that have escaped to LOS to take advantage of the the cheap housing, women, and whiskey. I think most farangs with any common sense tend to be more guarded and careful in choosing who they socialize with due to the vast number of losers and western society rejects living in LOS.

Whats wrong with being anti social?? I'm anti social I prefer my own company or just me and the wife, dont like parties or any social gatherings.

[yabaaaa]

I have found the expats here not to be particularly friendly. Maybe 20% will acknowledge me when I see them on the street, restaurant, etc. They are not at all as friendly as the Thais. Maybe a lot of social misfits. Fortunately, I have a couple of good foreign friends, where I live, that I talk with regularly.

I don't understand why you should acknowledge a fellow farang you have never met ?? You dont know them, do you do this in any other situation/country?

[Gary A]

I'm probably one of those non social types that so many of you don't understand. I happen to enjoy my own company and that of my Thai wife. My wife is a country girl. She doesn't own a dress or a tube of lipstick. She enjoys working on our two small farms and other than the actual tilling of the ground, I avoid the manual work.

Once a month or so, I meet up with a farang or two and have a few beers. My wife's family accept the fact that I'm a crotchety old fart and they respect my desire for privacy. Like most Thais, my wife is close to her family. Her family lives in the next village and my wife visits them on a daily basis. I'm perfectly content to stay at home. I have many projects to work on and don't get bored. This is my idea of a perfect retirement. I worked all my life looking forward to my laid back life style and I plan to enjoy it as long as I can. It's been several months since I wore long pants and shoes. I hope it is several more months before I have to dress uncomfortably.

[polecat]

I don't understand why you should acknowledge a fellow farang you have never met ?? You dont know them, do you do this in any other situation/country?

Well said that man.

I've got plenty of farang friends, all of whom I've met in either work or social situations. The numpties who grin at me on the Skytrain or 7-Eleven get ignored.

[spiderman2]

In addition to many good expats living in LOS, a great many of the farang expat population consists of misfits, drunks, crooks, perverts, anti-social types, or people that have escaped to LOS to take advantage of the the cheap housing, women, and whiskey. I think most farangs with any common sense tend to be more guarded and careful in choosing who they socialize with due to the vast number of losers and western society rejects living in LOS.

Its expats like you that i cant stand, the ones who like to boast about other farangs being as youve said to make themselves look better.

[stiggy]

Some move away from home to be in different surroundings including people.

[PeaceBlondie]

Chiang Mai has a vibrant expat scene. You can take it or leave it. There is a big expat club, a Thai-expat friends group, lots of pubs to meet friends, other activities. A friend from the writer's group found me at the pool this week. We had a record number of attendees at the ThaiVisa party at Tusker's Saturday night. If you are sociable, you can find friends here. If you are not sociable, that is fine, too.

I meet an expat occasionally who is soured on Thailand, and I kind of ignore such people. My partner is shy about meeting new expats, but we are having a big party for friends tonight. Like Gary A mentions, many of us have Thai partners who have family and friends from the community, and that suffices for them.

[bkkjames]

My over 20 years of living on and off in Thailand, I have only found a handful of my fellow expats that seem interested in becoming involved with other Farangs socially with exceptions to those who frequent the bar scene, (barmates) who will chat and when we are customers of some sort, visiting a Farang owned restaurant, bars etc.

Some Farangs may feel that Thailand is less open and far less accepting or tolerant of us than the Thais say they are, which can make one feel they are in an isolated situation and that the level of disinterest, or even rudeness occasionally illustrated by their fellow expats can be rather discerning and even considered as a type of discrimination towards their own kind, that rather puts a dampener on the whole Thai experience.

To my fellow expats, what is your opinion of the expat scene in Thailand? Do you feel that expats could be more hospitable and sociable to their peers here? Or now that you are living in Thailand, consider that this a new beginning and prefer to keep yourself to yourself, perhaps even reclusive?

What about the newbies? Would you like to see more expat support for expats? More expat social clubs, expat advice centres set up, especially for those trying to get adjusted to Thai life and don’t know the ropes yet.

To answer your question....why would I want to be more friendlier? Life is easy being a bi8ch, meet other farangs, no point, that's why we all left farangland. Expat social clubs, again no point, the only way to learn the ropes is to get inside the ropes and take a few. Stupid topic!

Kidding

[beginner]

In addition to many good expats living in LOS, a great many of the farang expat population consists of misfits, drunks, crooks, perverts, anti-social types, or people that have escaped to LOS to take advantage of the the cheap housing, women, and whiskey. I think most farangs with any common sense tend to be more guarded and careful in choosing who they socialize with due to the vast number of losers and western society rejects living in LOS.

Are you serious? Where do you live?

Here in Pattaya we have one of the most honourable, honest, caring, sharing,welcoming,friendly,environmentally concerned,wonderful expat communities you could meet anywhere.

Come and meet us. Visiting is allowed most days.

[Niloc]

I'm probably one of those non social types that so many of you don't understand. I happen to enjoy my own company and that of my Thai wife. My wife is a country girl. She doesn't own a dress or a tube of lipstick. She enjoys working on our two small farms and other than the actual tilling of the ground, I avoid the manual work.

Once a month or so, I meet up with a farang or two and have a few beers. My wife's family accept the fact that I'm a crotchety old fart and they respect my desire for privacy. Like most Thais, my wife is close to her family. Her family lives in the next village and my wife visits them on a daily basis. I'm perfectly content to stay at home. I have many projects to work on and don't get bored. This is my idea of a perfect retirement. I worked all my life looking forward to my laid back life style and I plan to enjoy it as long as I can. It's been several months since I wore long pants and shoes. I hope it is several more months before I have to dress uncomfortably.

Gary, you and I are almost exactly the same, we are even the same age. I would like to meet you some day, I may take a trip over your way one day and call in to buy you a beer.

Colin

[polecat]

Gary, you and I are almost exactly the same, we are even the same age. I would like to meet you some day, I may take a trip over your way one day and call in to buy you a beer.

Colin

Yeah, cos he really sounds like he wants to meet new people

[GuestHouse]

While I'm of the opinion that Thailand attracts more than its fair share of misfits and people trying to escape what they are, I also think that it is a mistake lump all expats into the same basket and deny yourself some of the genuinely Farangs there are in Thailand.

[toybits]

I try to steer clear of expats. Many expats I have met here are whiny old drunks that are living on a pension - and have nothing good to say about Thailand. They imagine that Thailand should be more like the country they have left. Why stay here then?

Then there are the missionaries trying to save me from certain damnation.

I find that Thais can be just as friendly as other people. You just have to be able to talk to them in their own language.

Many of the expats that are perennially complaining about Thailand do not even bother to learn the language of their adopted country.

[taxexile]

i identify with garyA and lickey .

apart from a handful of farangs here that i communicate with regularly and socialise with occasionally i am quite happy with my own company and that of my wife. i keep busy and am very content with my life here but dont feel the need to surround myself with expats and the typical boozy bullshitting lifestyle that , unfortunately , in a lot of cases , goes with it. i like the privacy and anonymity that being an expat here allows. i can join in if i want or stay sidelined if i want.

i can sit and chinwag and joke superficially with almost anybody , but rarely feel the need to take it any further.

experience has taught me that there is no need to grin and greet other expats here , many of whom if i encountered back home , i would cross the street to avoid.

[mmushr00m]

Too much negativity.

Too much "wisdom of the ages" which contains 90% negativity.

But, those without all the negativity are usually very nice ppl. These are also those that I consider real expats in that they have traveleld and lived in other places and experiencd other cultures.

[davyboy]

I came to live in Thai with my mrs, i dont need a spanish costa type of living, to have a chat with a falang once a month is ok for me, im self sufficient in asmuch that i have an inner happiness of independance, Im not in an ex-pat circle and therefore i dont have to make lame excuses as to why i dont want to go drink with you fellas tonight, I had enough of that in my home country, so here in Thai, i can please myself, and its great!!!

Absolutely Lickey! Exactly my sentiments, and yes it's great.

[girlx]

i have met loads of lovely expats in thailand, several of them from thai visa.

in bangkok i find that a lot of the ones i meet are deadbeats- alcoholic english teachers or sexpats with a chip on their shoulder. but anywhere you live you will have to sift through trash to find treasure. there are many decent people here alongside the losers.

i see nothing wrong with acknowledging fellow farangs with a smile or whatever. we are sort of in this together- adjusting to a different culture etc. if they don't appreciate my friendliness it is their loss.

[bonobo]

I am the only farang in my company, and there are very few farangs where I live. Some farangs go to my gym in Pin Klao, but most are significantly younger than I am, and as I am there to exercise, I don't attempt to socialize with them. My best friends are Thai, and the women I date are usually Thai, so really I don't have much opportunity to meet fellow expats.

However, I have some decent friends amongst those expats I have met (usually at parties.) I have one fellow American male friend, a former Army officer who spends quite a bit of time in Thailand (as a former Marine officer, we have quite a bit in common) and one American female friend, but most of my expat friends are Brits. With a few, is is the brotherhood of ruggers, but most are just interesting people with varied experiences.

if I lived near Sukhumvhit, I would probably have more expat friends, but as it is, considering my work and where I live, that most of my friends are Thai.

[kmart]

i have met loads of lovely expats in thailand, several of them from thai visa.

in bangkok i find that a lot of the ones i meet are deadbeats- alcoholic english teachers or sexpats with a chip on their shoulder. but anywhere you live you will have to sift through trash to find treasure. there are many decent people here alongside the losers.

i see nothing wrong with acknowledging fellow farangs with a smile or whatever. we are sort of in this together- adjusting to a different culture etc. if they don't appreciate my friendliness it is their loss.

Agree totally. Seems a lot of the thaivisa "nabobs of negativity" do not even live here anyway. *chortle*

I live in an area that has only recently had a bigger upsurge of expats moving in. Before that, I always tried to have a chat, or just say "hello" to any other Westerner I came into contact with. Same as when I worked in other countries. Its good manners and if you might find that you have a lot in common with strangers, even if its just the fact that you're both a long way from "home".

I also try to never get into the silly, social "pecking orders" that the Thai other halves of some people allow to impose on themselves.

[JimsKnight]

My over 20 years of living on and off in Thailand, I have only found a handful of my fellow expats that seem interested in becoming involved with other Farangs socially with exceptions to those who frequent the bar scene, (barmates) who will chat and when we are customers of some sort, visiting a Farang owned restaurant, bars etc.

Some Farangs may feel that Thailand is less open and far less accepting or tolerant of us than the Thais say they are, which can make one feel they are in an isolated situation and that the level of disinterest, or even rudeness occasionally illustrated by their fellow expats can be rather discerning and even considered as a type of discrimination towards their own kind, that rather puts a dampener on the whole Thai experience.

To my fellow expats, what is your opinion of the expat scene in Thailand? Do you feel that expats could be more hospitable and sociable to their peers here? Or now that you are living in Thailand, consider that this a new beginning and prefer to keep yourself to yourself, perhaps even reclusive?

What about the newbies? Would you like to see more expat support for expats? More expat social clubs, expat advice centres set up, especially for those trying to get adjusted to Thai life and don’t know the ropes yet.

Now as one of the few single expats out here that actually stays for longer than 4 months at a time I find that part of the reason is:

The age factor - Old, coffin dodgers who don't socialise that much. They just stay at home with the wife and kids and thats it. Getting them to come out and play is like trying to raise the titanic. But that's not their fault usually. But its just a reason.

The mentality - Even in my apartment which has a few younger farang in it there is this 'dam_n, another farang in Thailand' effect that you get. It's like you are spoiling their bubble by being near to them as they've come here to get away from white caucasians etc.

A very good expat-friend of mine and I summed it up like this:

The piss-head expats go to Patong beach, Phuket

The Whoremongers go to Pattaya (and Patong Beach to a lesser extent).

The piss-head expats who've got money, a proper expat company job and have a bit of sense to them go to Bangkok.

The Chill-heads, lay-backs and prima-donnas often end up in Chiang Mai and the other islands.

The Retiree's and statics end up in Hua Hin and Issan.

The unknowns and hiddens dwell in the south of Thailand and get up to their own thing down there, (never have figured them out yet)

Please don't take that to heart, it's just a rough generalisation for rule of thumb (typically).

For me I monger and drink from time to time (not at all right now) and chill and even static (but not much). It's the excess that gets you

Expats move around and don't always stay in one place, so there can be a 'changing of the guard' effect in a place over time.

An example of this was Chiang Mai pre-2000 when there were more characters and now it's less characters but more farangs in numbers

Now I've lived in Chiang Mai Province for xx months as a single dude and do find the place to be that bad but it is boring and the expats are very routinelike, married (often the wives have got them up their to be away from the big bad cities down south ). The whole 'expat club' scene is a bit too village-minded and group-think for my liking but it's a good way of meeting the local expats.

But the mentality of the locals and expats are more friendlier than say Bangkok where there is a more stand-offish, expat-snob mentality.

Yet the big city, naughty night-life expats are not usually boring and more characterful so you have a story or two to tell with/of them and there's usually sanuk etc etc.

So you've got good and bad sides to the whole scene depending on the area and crowd you hang out with.

The best crowd of expats (in general so far) were on the islands and in Hua Hin for me. They aren't perfect but there was a more even-handed mentality and 'all-round' quantity.

I am at ease in groups or as a rarely-seen solitaire who is just tinkering about doing some things and projects.

i do agree the whole negative boozy-ballshitters are unfortunately quite apparent out here there is something to take from this in experience and gaining knowledge on the what is and what isn't. Too much of that isn't a good thing.

Right now I'm on solitaire mode writing my books and projects etc etc, but next month it's into the sin-city expat scene.

The key is to keep on moving and don't stop in one place for too long. You never know what the next month brings and for me that is a part of lifes adventure. Too many expats forget that or trade it in for married life, which is a cool thing too

One thing that does piss me off are the people who seem to launch the whole moral crusades and wage these wars of words against the singletons and mongers doing there thing.

Expats choose their groove and if that's what they do, then that's what they do.

Sure, I don't agree with the nutcase lunatics, raging boozers/womanisers and primadonnas who seem to think they are walking demi-gods but it's a waste of time letting it get you down. You just swerve and move around that sht or play it off. You rarely should have to meet them head-on so to speak

Edited November 12, 2008 by JimsKnight

[PhilHarries]

Many of the expats that are perennially complaining about Thailand do not even bother to learn the language of their adopted country.

Whilst I agree with your sentiments there is the other view. Yes we have adopted Thailand (well not me yet - too much bluddy work elsewhere) as our country but Thailand hasn't, doesn't and will never adopt the majority of us. Even those who achieve PR or citizenship will still be viewed as farangs except by their close circle of family and friends.

But yes there is a depressing number of long term expats in Thailand that barely learn the basics and then complain that "those stupid Thais always get it wrong when I ask for something". Generally speaking they are the types to avoid but even here some may have a good reason not to speak the language. As long as they try their best and accept the inevitable misunderstandings as a symptom of their failing that's okay by me.

Personally I'm open to any amount of contact with expats providing they can maintain a varied level of intelligent conversation (and it doesn't have to be highly intellectual just varied and not necessarily bar room). If they don't want to socialise with myself that's okay, sometimes I too just want to be in my own company.

[AndyBlueEyes]

Anyone that would want to socialise with me obviously has such poor taste that I would never want to socialise with them.