How Many Farangs Can You Take ?

[aneliane]

In hospital

A kid (may be 5/7yo) points at me and says "Farang" to his family, his grand ma encourages him and he comes nearer and nearer louder and louder facing me Farang, Farang, Farang, Farang, Farang to which point I move to the exact opposite side of the hall where the family and their "lovely" offspring cannot reach me.

The next day, I am queuing in the same hospital same hall, and (oh lucky me!), same family.

This time I cannot loose my place in the queue.

It starts again, the kid tells his grandma of my presence and she says something at him smiling and there he starts again:

Farang, Farang, Farang, Farang, Farang, Farang

Each time, he gets closer, louder, facing me, giggling, and looking at his family for approval, they approve and louder and closer he comes.

What does he want ?

Am I supposed to react ?

Say something?

Am I some type of evil witch which he's trying to dare ?

Is there no one else in this room full of people that think a child shouting at a foreigner just because she IS a foreigner is wrong/sick ?

Why are his grand parents encouraging such a behaviour?

I think it was around 10 or 12 "Farangs" that I snapped out ; "Yes I am a Farang, so what "?

The kid seemed to lose a bit of confidence and looked at his grandma who apparently reassured him still smiling

So he starts again Farang, Farang, Farang

There I go again louder and and this time I press each syllab "Yes I am a Fa rang so what ?

A brief panic in the eye of the kid, and check with Grannie who this time, tells him to stop.

Peace at last

How many farangs do you take before snapping out ?

[TommoPhysicist]

I snap very easily, 'yet mare', jumps from my mouth without a second thought.

[aneliane]

I snap very easily, 'yet mare', jumps from my mouth without a second thought.

yet mare ?

[Jingthing]

Oriental

Oriental

Oriental

Oriental

Oriental

Oriental

Farang Baa

Farang Baa

Farang Baa

Farang Baa

Farang Baa

Farang Baa

[likewise]

I wouldn't advice to use "yet mae" . You could get into some serious shit saying that to the wrong person

[cdnvic]

My in-laws are from a rural city up north. I walk four blocks to get a newspaper in the morning and hear it about 100 times. I learned to filter it out.

A few years ago I was riding through a back street in our neighbourhood in Chiang Mai. A middle aged woman pointed at me as I rode by and exclaimed "Farang!" I pointed right back at her and yelled "Thai!"

We both got a laugh. It was a good day.

[Semper]

I wouldn't advice to use "yet mae" . You could get into some serious shit saying that to the wrong person

Especially in the North, around Hat Yai it's quite common.

[Jingthing]

Call the Granny a Fatty. Worth a try?

[aneliane]

Before problems with Muslims, now the kids are turning against you.

it seemed to be the grandma telling to say that

[Jingthing]

Before problems with Muslims, now the kids are turning against you.

it seemed to be the grandma telling to say that

The Granny is not regarding you as a human being worthy of any respect whatsoever. I think we just have to accept this here and like was said "filter it out"; the behavior is so common.

[simple1]

I snap very easily, 'yet mare', jumps from my mouth without a second thought.

yet mare ?

means "f#*k your mother" and considered a major insult

[aneliane]

Before problems with Muslims, now the kids are turning against you.

it seemed to be the grandma telling to say that

The Granny is not regarding you as a human being worthy of any respect whatsoever. I think we just have to accept this here and like was said "filter it out"; the behavior is so common.

So you let it shout "farang" at you ? How long for ?

[aneliane]

Before problems with Muslims, now the kids are turning against you.

it seemed to be the grandma telling to say that

The Granny is not regarding you as a human being worthy of any respect whatsoever. I think we just have to accept this here and like was said "filter it out"; the behavior is so common.

So you let it shout "farang" at you ? How long for ?

[Jingthing]

Before problems with Muslims, now the kids are turning against you.

it seemed to be the grandma telling to say that

The Granny is not regarding you as a human being worthy of any respect whatsoever. I think we just have to accept this here and like was said "filter it out"; the behavior is so common.

So you let it shout "farang" at you ? How long for ?

You talk about a case where you are a captive audience. Can't walk away. I would have probably offered a cheesy, sarcastic big smile which the Thais wouldn't understand but would hopefully make them a bit uneasy. Basically make an attempt to convey there is an actual person they are treating as a zoo animal. Then I'd probably go with the THAI tactic, call them Thai. Not as if it's original.

[simple1]

I just smile and say my name - then ask in Thai "what's your name" end of story

[Jingthing]

I just smile and say my name - then ask in Thai "what's your name" end of story

That's not bad. Have you tried it much?

[edwinclapham]

If something strikes you as a negative, why not turn it around to a positive.

I have had many interesting cases of the same scenario whereby I have had spectators in stitches by turning it back on themselves and they have accepted it.

Lighten up OP, life isnt out to "get you" !

[Soutpeel]

To the OP ... you speak about the word Farang as if it's an insult ... and rest assured, it is simply a descriptor and a small compliment.

Did you not feel that?

If the boy troubled you, why not turn, what you obviously perceive as a negative into a positive and engaged with the young and curious boy.

You profess to speak a little Thai do you not?

Oh gawd...here we go again...A few years ago I worked with quite a highly educated Thai lady engineer and i ask her this exact question and dependent on the context it could be taken as a lighted hearted joke or intended as an insult, but most certainly not complementary...in her opinion not as bad as getting called a n*gger but intended as an insult in certain cases none the less...

At this juncture I shall bow out of this dicussion and allow all the self proclaimed Thai experts take over

[BespokeMan]

Before problems with Muslims, now the kids are turning against you.

still is popular with dogs though

[aneliane]

So I should say "thai" in return and that would have shut him up ?

I think being a kid he would have loved the reaction

[Ulysses G.]

Being called farang does not bother me in the least. I just spent a few days doing tests in a Thai hospital (nothing serious) and did not see one other Westerner and did not get called farang once. I have not even thought about that until now.

[sirineou]

From the title I was expecting this to be a question such as how many clowns can you take in VW beetle . and I was all prepared with my facts, How big a farang? did they bathe regurlarly ? etc.

Imagine my disappointment when I found out it was about an obnoxious brat and a grandparent unable or unwilling to control him

I guess we have never seen that in any country before.

[aneliane]

Being called farang does not bother me in the least. I just spent a few days doing tests in a Thai hospital (nothing serious) and did not see one other Westerner and did not get called farang once. I have not even thought about that until now.

which hospital ?

[JUDAS]

aneliane you really are a magnet for unusual behavior In all my years here I've only ever been called "farang" directly by young kids with a smile on their face. May I suggest you start noting the places you visit on google maps so we can all avoid them

[aneliane]

From the title I was expecting this to be a question such as how many clowns can you take in VW beetle . and I was all prepared with my facts, How big a farang? did they bathe regurlarly ? etc.

Imagine my disappointment when I found out it was about an obnoxious brat and a grandparent unable or unwilling to control him

I guess we have never seen that in any country before.

no in UK or France or any other country I have never seen parents telling kids to call Foreigners foreigners over and over

[Ulysses G.]

To the OP ... you speak about the word Farang as if it's an insult ... and rest assured, it is simply a descriptor and a small compliment.

Oh gawd...here we go again...A few years ago I worked with quite a highly educated Thai lady engineer and i ask her this exact question and dependent on the context it could be taken as a lighted hearted joke or intended as an insult,

I have had many highly educated Thais tell me just the opposite, including Thai professors of English. If they say (in Thai) stupid farang it is an insult, if they just say farang it means white person - which is not an insult.

[aneliane]

aneliane you really are a magnet for unusual behavior In all my years here I've only ever been called "farang" directly by young kids with a smile on their face. May I suggest you start noting the places you visit on google maps so we can all avoid them

Also ad Futurika's condo

[simple1]

I just smile and say my name - then ask in Thai "what's your name" end of story

That's not bad. Have you tried it much?

Yes. have to admit they usually are so surprised the first time and have to repeat, but it's effective. By coincidence last time in a Thai government hospital whilst visiting a Thai family member and being called farang a number of times by a Thai child

[aneliane]

To the OP ... you speak about the word Farang as if it's an insult ... and rest assured, it is simply a descriptor and a small compliment.

Oh gawd...here we go again...A few years ago I worked with quite a highly educated Thai lady engineer and i ask her this exact question and dependent on the context it could be taken as a lighted hearted joke or intended as an insult,

I have had many highly educated Thais tell me just the opposite, including Thai professors of English. If they say (in Thai) stupid farang it is an insult, if they just say farang it means white person - which is not an insult.

So why was he repeating over and over louder and louder closer and closer, eying at hisgrandma and gigling everytime ?

[harrry]

My view is if you cannot stant people calling you what they usually call foreigners it may be time to head back to your county. If you cannot take the heat stay out of the kitchen. Si vous ne pouvez pas supporter la chaleur , se sortir de la cuisine