Money And Quality Of Life

[jackr]

Not sure about number 4. Most Thais like nothing more than to have a bigger house and show off their possessions, especially their cars. The mai pen rai is also a disguise of what they're really thinking, depending on how cynical you want to be. Number 5: they do smile a lot but don't let this fool you, although I rather receive a smile than a frown as would most people. I prefer it here than the UK too but it's not all rosy.

Jackr, I don't how much time you have spent away from th main tourist spots, so I have no idea of how broad your experience in Thailand is.

I agree that most Thais would love to have a bigger house, a car and show off their possessions and I believe I did cover that point in my posting at number 4.

But if they can't have these things, they don't worry about it. They get on with their lives

As for your comments on number 5, I have no reason to believe that the smiles I receive are anything but genuine and in what way would they be trying to fool me?

Remember I do not live in a tourist area, where Thais may have something to gain by pretending to like you.

I never tried to make out that it is all rosy in Los, but on balance a lot riosier than UK

I was asked why I felt happier in Los than UK, and I answered truthfully, if you think I am being fooled in someway, that still does not alter the fact that I am happy. After all, if I'm being fooled then I don't realise it.

I'm NOT being fooled by the way.

No I don't think you're being fooled Loong and I don't reside in a tourist area either, what I meant was smiling for the Thais is habit and not all of them are smiling with you, if you get my drift. I'm not just talking about the people around you, I mean the average smiling Somchai on the street that any tourist would associate with everyone being friendly. I've been told this by Thai friends also btw and I'm surprised you've never come across it.

[loong]

No I don't think you're being fooled Loong and I don't reside in a tourist area either, what I meant was smiling for the Thais is habit and not all of them are smiling with you, if you get my drift. I'm not just talking about the people around you, I mean the average smiling Somchai on the street that any tourist would associate with everyone being friendly. I've been told this by Thai friends also btw and I'm surprised you've never come across it.

I have come across the smile you are talking about, it is prevalent in the bars and other places where Thais' have had a lot of experience with arrogant Farang (not all, but plenty of them) and smiling is part of their job.

But anyway, an insincere smile, as long as you don't realise it, will still make you feel better.

[BAF]

Don't tear it, you can sell it for at least $3000 in Italy and thailand

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why should Italians want to "buy" OZ passports when, like all the other EU citizens, they are already free to practically come and go as they please??

Edited July 20, 2005 by BAF

[The_Moog]

QUOTE

Cognitive dissonance in the two highlighted parts.

Can you translate this please?

The amusing contradiction being that he wants to be treated with due respect for his age

...whilst at the same time hankering to dance maniacally with a go go girls.

So a synthesis of the two has to be devised.

[Neeranam]

ok...I would like you try to imagine that your homecountry has the same standard of Los.(I mean cost of living) and viceversa Thailand has the same cost of living than (example) London....you would live in Thailand????

Not sure if I understand this question, but it would have to be Thailand, as it, quite simply, is a country I love. I gave up a very well paid job in the oil industry in order to come here in the first place.

The differences in the standard of living is a killer for me. I am going to Oz for a holiday next month and Uk in four months, costing me a relative fortune, in flights alone.(paying for 3 people).

If it were the other way round, I would be sending money "home". I guess you mean if you are retired?

Then again Thailand would be full of expats from my home country working for the big cash, which would make it so different.

But I wouldn't have been able to come here in the first place, if it were reversed.

You must mean if you are not working?

[Thaiquila]

No way, if the US was low cost and Thailand high cost, I would not be in Thailand.

I started looking into being an expat somewhere years ago. One of the first tidbits of wisdom I learned is that you shouldn't pick your new country ONLY because it is low cost. I totally agree with that. Personally, I love lots of things about Thailand that are not related to economics, but without the entire package, lower costs and better life that can be bought with a relatively small amount of western money, it just wouldn't be feasible (for me anyway).

[U_THAIED_UP_THAIED]

Don't tear it, you can sell it for at least $3000 in Italy and thailand

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why should Italians want to "buy" OZ passports when, like all the other EU citizens, they are already free to practically come and go as they please??

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Do you know what is human trafficking, it's done in both thailand and

Italy (italy is know for mafia business).

Sorry, i know this is off topic, but i had to reply

[loong]

QUOTE

Cognitive dissonance in the two highlighted parts.

Can you translate this please?

The amusing contradiction being that he wants to be treated with due respect for his age

...whilst at the same time hankering to dance maniacally with a go go girls.

So a synthesis of the two has to be devised.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This started with my posting - snippet follows..........

Why am I happier in Thailand?

1) I'm aged 49 years and in UK I am already made to feel old. In Thailand I don't have to act my age. Nobody disrespects you because of your age. ( except for some Farang)

One time in Pattaya I saw a Farang, probably close to 70 years old go behind the bar and dance with the Thai ladies.

My friend turned to me and said "What does he think he looks like?"

My reply " He has a big smile on his face, which is more than you have"

My friend had brought with him the prejudice with him, that people of a certain age should act in a certain way according to his age.

That man was having fun and didn't care what anybody else thought. Could he do the same in the UK?

In Thailand, as long as you do not hurt anybody else, you have the freedom to be who you are.

If you read the post properly you will see that nowhere did I say that he wanted to be treated with due respect for his age. In fact I believe he didn't care what anyone else thought. He probably would not be willing to act that way in his home country.

I did state that nobody disrespects you because of your age, a different meaning to how you have read it.

Also nowhere did I mention "maniacally" or "GoGo Girls"

My point was that he was enjoying himself in a way impossible in his own country

Edited July 20, 2005 by loong

[BAF]

Do you know what is human trafficking, it's done in both thailand and

Italy (italy is know for mafia business).

Sorry, i know this is off topic, but i had to reply

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry to disappoint you but just do a Google search and inform yourself before making such ludicrous comments.

Italy (just like the rest of the West European countries) is at the receiving end of foreign human traffickings, mainly Albanians and North Africans and with a fair share of ex-Soviet block people.

These people are enticed/recruited/kidnapped, smuggled in, "managed", enslaved and exploited by their own countrymen.

Edited July 20, 2005 by BAF

[sendbaht]

Thanks a good question.

My Thai wife and I love living here in Southern California. The weather is almost perfect.

Just the way of life here for us is wonderful.

I am the one who really wants to move to Thailand. I like the warn weather there too.

Just in Thailand I can retire 20 years sooner. I will never be able to retire here in the USA unless I move to a place like Kan as. That's not going to happen.

I will take the love for this place and transfer it to Thailand.

Besides now our daughter going to nursing Collage in Chaing Mai wants to stay

in Thailand and work.

So all looks good, here or Thailand.

[Dragonman]

Cognitive dissonance in the two highlighted parts.

Can you translate this please?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It would take a brave man to translate any theory a psychologist came up with and make any sense of it.Personal experience has found them to be overpaid and full of verbal excrement. Even worse than us lawyers, if that's possible

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Lawyers stress me out big time ! They conjure an image for me which resembles an ebola cell latching on to a healthy host cell. I believe all lawyers should have to do militry service. That is all I will say about that.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Me too.Why do you think I retired at 50 and moved to Thailand