Just some somewhat interesting things that have happened this week so far...

I took the girls to the park on Monday for some rollerblading.

We have this awesome park in the middle of the town where everyone comes at night to exercise.

A running course, aerobics, skating, basketball, break dancing, everything. It's really nice.

Anyways.

My oldest daughter, 13, comes skating up with her friend.

This young lady was breathtakingly beautiful. I assumed she was 50/50 because to be honest, she only had a small trace of Asian features.

She could easily pass as a westerner, except she had all the graces of a young Thai girl.

They went on their way, after mooching 20 baht from me.

My friend Ae joined me and I mentioned this girl and how I thought she was part farang.

He said "Yes, her Father is farang. He is over there." pointing to a Thai man.

I was now thinking "here is where to communication gets frustrating."

He calls the guy over to introduce to me, and turns out the guys nickname is "Farang" which I had never heard of a Thai having before.

We chatted for a bit, and I inquired about his nickname, and in typical Thai fashion, said he had never questioned it, nor thought about it.

Later his wife came to pick them all up. She was definitely 100% Thai as was he. But that girl...

A have a female friend who's surname is "Thai". BTW, she's 100% farang.

Nothing in Thailand surprises me anymore. I just take everything strange as normal.

Nothing in Thailand surprises me anymore. I just take everything strange as normal.

So very true.

I always said I would retire from the Army the first day I didn't laugh about the human nature.

I now say I will leave Thailand the first day I don't go " <deleted> is that about."

Later his wife came to pick them all up. She was definitely 100% Thai as was he. But that girl...

I did not get it I think

I once heard a joke on US radio ("high 95" if I'm not incorrect) where the host speculated what would happen if Glenn Close married Glenn Beck (famous TV-host)

Both would be named Glenn Beck...

A number of years ago I met a young girl who did not look at all Thai, but whose biological parents were both Thai. I assume that somewhere down the generations (the father's or the mother's) there had been a mixing of blood and evidence thereof reappeared in their daughter.

There is a Thai guy in our street called Farang. Farang is a Thai word, why so strange they should use it for a nickname.

Given the Thai penchant for using fruits as nicknames, it's not surprising at all. If he was named "teen" (as in foot) then I'd be quite surprised.

Thai and Farang basically mean the same thing anyway. i.e. ''To be free'' as opposed to slave, vassal, serf etc.

So, to be perfectly FRANK, there really is no issue here.

Never said there was an issue.

Just found it odd that a young girl, who could pass for a farang, had a Thai father whose name was farang.

Maybe they started calling him that when his child came out looking like a westerner

maybe as a kid he liked to eat guava, or potato, or chew gum, or point at westerners.

Nothing in Thailand surprises me anymore. I just take everything strange as normal.

So very true.

I always said I would retire from the Army the first day I didn't laugh about the human nature.

I now say I will leave Thailand the first day I don't go " <deleted> is that about."

Good one. A male Thai friend of ours is called 'Ice' (he assures me he's not into anything). His 5yr old daughter who is a real stunner, is called 'cream'. The mother is called 'Win'. Maybe they were watching too many ads or something? But it makes it easy to remember their names.

I knew an Irish chap in the UK. He was called Jack. Talking to him one day, he tells me his real name is John. So why do they call you Jack I ask. His reply, It's short for John. <deleted>

jb1

Momma's baby Daddy's maybe..

My wife's younger brother lost his wallet in a Lotus store just before the birth of his son. Guess what they named him!

I knew an Irish chap in the UK. He was called Jack. Talking to him one day, he tells me his real name is John. So why do they call you Jack I ask. His reply, It's short for John. <deleted>

jb1

Same as Harry being short for Henry, I never got that either!

Surely Harry is short for Harold and Hal short for Henry.

Surely Harry is short for Harold and Hal short for Henry.

"Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!'

(Henry V of England)

Farang can be other things

Farang = guava

Mun Farang = potato

Maak Farang = chew gum

If there is one thing i've learnt in Thailand, it's never to take for granted that when a Thai says " That's my Brother ", " That's my Sister ", " That's my Aunt " etc etc etc, it generally actually isn't..

I sometimes think that they just say things because they are too lazy to actually explain what the connection with that Person actually is..

If there is one thing i've learnt in Thailand, it's never to take for granted that when a Thai says " That's my Brother ", " That's my Sister ", " That's my Aunt " etc etc etc, it generally actually isn't..

I sometimes think that they just say things because they are too lazy to actually explain what the connection with that Person actually is..

iIt's not laziness, just that's how the langauge translates into English.

For example children are brothers or sisters if their parents are brothers / sisters, rather than the western definition of cousins.

Another example, I'm a grandfather although my own child is only 6 years old and has no children, and it's not an honorific title like 'uncle'.

If there is one thing i've learnt in Thailand, it's never to take for granted that when a Thai says " That's my Brother ", " That's my Sister ", " That's my Aunt " etc etc etc, it generally actually isn't..

I sometimes think that they just say things because they are too lazy to actually explain what the connection with that Person actually is..

iIt's not laziness, just that's how the langauge translates into English.

For example children are brothers or sisters if their parents are brothers / sisters, rather than the western definition of cousins.

Another example, I'm a grandfather although my own child is only 6 years old and has no children, and it's not an honorific title like 'uncle'.

No no, it's laziness, i'm pretty sure of it..

The words " She's actually a Daughter of a Friend of my Mum's who she used to go to School with " does not translate from Thai >> English as " Sister ", yet it does for some reason & that reason being, i assume, is laziness..

I don't believe it when you say that, & not as a direct Thai >> English " Translation, that Thai's believe in their Language, that the Daughter/Son of their Aunt/Uncle ( or would she/he just be classed as an older Sister/Brother ?? ) would actually be their " Sister/Brother " as " Sister/Brother " is perceived to be in Western Cultures & i have had enough conversations about this with Thai's to know that it isn't actually so anyway.

If there is one thing i've learnt in Thailand, it's never to take for granted that when a Thai says " That's my Brother ", " That's my Sister ", " That's my Aunt " etc etc etc, it generally actually isn't..

I sometimes think that they just say things because they are too lazy to actually explain what the connection with that Person actually is..

iIt's not laziness, just that's how the langauge translates into English.

For example children are brothers or sisters if their parents are brothers / sisters, rather than the western definition of cousins.

Another example, I'm a grandfather although my own child is only 6 years old and has no children, and it's not an honorific title like 'uncle'.

No no, it's laziness, i'm pretty sure of it..

The words " She's actually a Daughter of a Friend of my Mum's who she used to go to School with " does not translate from Thai >> English as " Sister ", yet it does for some reason & that reason being, i assume, is laziness..

I don't believe it when you say that, & not as a direct Thai >> English " Translation, that Thai's believe in their Language, that the Daughter/Son of their Aunt/Uncle ( or would she/he just be classed as an older Sister/Brother ?? ) would actually be their " Sister/Brother " as " Sister/Brother " is perceived to be in Western Cultures & i have had enough conversations about this with Thai's to know that it isn't actually so anyway.

55555+ This hurt my head, I can understand why Thais do it. Call it laziness if you want but if you ask me; the simpler the better.

A have a female friend who's surname is "Thai". BTW, she's 100% farang.

You know Lucy Thai? Awesome!!!

A have a female friend who's surname is "Thai". BTW, she's 100% farang.

You know Lucy Thai? Awesome!!!

Man, can't believe I missed out on that one!! Not sure if she's 100% Farang though.

My wife's younger brother lost his wallet in a Lotus store just before the birth of his son. Guess what they named him!

Bill?

My wife's younger brother lost his wallet in a Lotus store just before the birth of his son. Guess what they named him!

"Tesco".

My wife's younger brother lost his wallet in a Lotus store just before the birth of his son. Guess what they named him!

"Wherethefu_kisit?"