Yea, another faring who speaks Thai Video. But wait there's more.

It's language lessons also. They speak in English and then summarize in Thai what was said, highlighting

a few vocabulary words along the way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRVLtgZWqGo

How long before the BiB and Immigration show up to arrest him not only for working but for doing a job reserved only for Thais.. Not to mention 'his' 27 rai of land that farangs can't own ? Maybe they'll arrest his wife for being an illegal nominee ?

Yes I know I'm being daft but crazier things have happened in LOS. Good luck to the fella, has adjusted nicely and learnt the language.. Shame the Govt won't let more farangs merge into Thai life like this.

He defines happiness as the "freedom to choose", but denies his children the chance to be bilingual because in his eyes English is "useless".

What a hypocrite.

Fair play to the chap. He's right about a lot of things, this being no.1:  In the future, wars will be fought over food. In that respect, I can't fault him for the vision he's laid out for himself and for his family.  A couple of things worry me, though.

As the poster above said, if he really believes in choice, he'd allow his kids to choose a future different from that he envisions. And there is no better 'escape card' from a life as a Thai farmer (regardless of the many treasures that may  have) than being able to speak English. I only hope his children don't grow up to resent him. It's easy for him to make the choice — he comes from middle class England, has had and rejected the things his kids will only see on the TV and more likely than not, long for.  

The second thing that worries me is his general belief that education is a bad thing because it makes people leave the countryside. There's no doubt that he's right about the cause and effect relationship. And there's no doubt (in my mind) that there are many values in living such a way that money can't buy. However, the argument is reminiscent of the Luddites. Technology and urban life may be bad in some ways, but they've also given us huge benefits, including the medical resources that I'm sure he's happy to make use of for his kids. The age of Jethro Tull may suit Martin and others like the American Amish, but evolution and change are part of what makes the world go round.  

Sorry to go on...but the last worry — hmm, he makes his living mostly from being a public speaker rather than farming. Easy to idealise the wonders of nature when you're not trying to survive on it from season to season.  

Anwyay, good luck to the guy. He does speak a lot of sense...but for godsake teach your kids English and let THEM choose.

Edited July 11, 201114 yr by badmedicine

I thought it was funny when he stated he was worried about how soon Isaan would be over run by the rich and the middle class.... and the interviewer interjected with "...and farang?"