Are We In A 'falang Bubble'?

[jaideeguy]

After 12 yrs living here, I have been noticing that I am withdrawing into a 'bubble'.....isolating myself from the insanity that goes on outside my bubble that I used to be able to endure. What used to be a challenge is now an aggravation and my circle of friends has shrunk to only a hand full of trusted and like minded falangs. I am not complaining about my situation, as I have my family [wife and 2 kids] and a comfortable home in the country and luckily my internet to allow me to peek safely at the world outside.

I've mostly given up on local community events because of my Thai language impairment and let the wife represent me and have limited my shopping to one day a week to stock up on essentials.

I am mostly happy at home......

Are there others out there in 'the falang bubble'??? and are you happy??

[KarenBravo]

I think your situation is quite common among foreigners that have chosen to live out in the sticks.

Very rare with people who live in places like Bangkok, Phuket, or Pattaya. They seem more engaged in life.

[Semper]

people who live in places like Bangkok, Phuket, or Pattaya. They seem more engaged in life.

You mean going to bars every day/night?

[Gary A]

I created my bubble when I first moved upcountry. I'm happy in my bubble and see no reason to leave it. Some people are able to enjoy their own company.

[jaideeguy]

yea, most probably true.....i did spend the first few years in the 'bar bubble' until i realized that it has it's own fru$trations and just got bored with the noise, pollution,temptations and hustlers and went looking outside the bars to find a girl not in the 'bar bubble' and moved to my ricefield 'bubble'. The first couple of years, I tried to mix with the local community, but soon got bored with drunken baby conversations and withdrew deeper into my 'falang bubble'.

[chiangmaikelly]

I like Thai people and have for 40 years. Read some of the stuff on here and it is obvious why some of us avoid Farang.

My god there are people who actually live here and are still offended by the Farang word. Yeesh!

[villagefarang]

I lived in Bangkok for 30 years and was admittedly out and about more than I am in Chiang Rai, but that is city life, where one often only goes home to sleep. I find home a much more enjoyable place to hangout up here in Chiang Rai, compared to my centrally located condo in Bangkok.

Lots of space, great views, lots of pets and hobbies, makes for a very pleasant bubble indeed, up here. Admittedly it is harder to find interesting people here in the Rai but between visitors and internet that is easily remedied.

[jaideeguy]

Oh, I like Thai people and do have a few Thai friends that are educated, speak English and some have even been abroad [those, I find the most interesting], but your average Thai ricefarmer and I have little in common, altho I still like them until they drink themselves into stupidity. Why pretend??

[IamNotaNumber]

I live in exactly the same bubble here as I have lived in for the last 40 years elsewhere, and I love it.

I have no idea who my neighbours are and it suits me fine. Probably suits them fine too.

I'm not interested in local goings-on, unless they involve nearby building works etc., traffic deviations or other similar upheaval.

So it's not a "farang bubble", it's my bubble. And it's just fine.

Edited October 30, 2012 by IamNotaNumber

[jaideeguy]

I refer to it as a 'falang bubble' because Thais generally live outside our bubble.....or in their own 'bubble' and are a lot more social than we are, except for the ones in the 'bar bubble'.

[yermanee]

Well I don't call it a bubble, I prefer to call it my comfort zone.

As a matter of fact I think everyone of us has a comfort zone albeit in very different ways.

A couple of really good friends, a lot of acquaintances plus my wife make it a better life than just endurable.

That my wife is a really good cook also helps in limiting my outings to some shopping and an occasional trip in the country or abroad.

Also the fact that I don't like to impose myself on other people makes socializing just a little bit more difficult, although I have been known to like a party as much as the other guys depending on my mood at the time.

In short it all comes down to personal choices, principles and having the balls to adhere to them.

Just my 2 cents

Yermanee

Edited October 30, 2012 by yermanee

[mauGR1]

Well I don't call it a bubble, I prefer to call it my comfort zone.

As a matter of fact I think everyone of us has a comfort zone albeit in very different ways.

A couple of really good friends, a lot of acquaintances plus my wife make it a better life than just endurable.

That my wife is a really good cook also helps in limiting my outings to some shopping and an occasional trip in the country or abroad.

Also the fact that I don't like to impose myself on other people makes socializing just a little bit more difficult, although I have been known to like a party as much as the other guys depending on my mood at the time.

In short it all comes down to personal choices, principles and having the balls to adhere to them.

Just my 2 cents

Yermanee

Although my situation is a bit different, i agree, it's a matter of choice.

Most of us have a choice, that should be enough to feel happy..Many people cannot choose how to live their life.

Personally i am better alone than in some company i don't like.

[CharlieH]

I dont think its necessarily a farang bubble thing, I thinks its more geared toward age too.

When you reach a certain age (and it varies from person to person) you've been there done that, you have knowledge and experience of many things, you know how most things work and how they will turn out in certain circumstances. You've learned over the years the types of people to avoid, you may not always know what you want, but you sure as hell know what you dont want in your life.

Hence the semi retraction into the bubble, you have things the way you like them, you have acquired friends and a routine as to what works well for you and your comfortable with. I think this happens in any society but you might get to that point a little quicker in a foreign country. Its about what's comfortable and is the less stressful options.

The shiny new wanna see, wanna be part of, wanna try, etc etc wears away and you settle into whats good for you, you accept you cant change some things and learn to roll with it, others because of the way you have been brought up, probably lived your life a certain way and used to certain standards for most of your life, will mean that some things will always irritate you and frustrate you from time to time.

[Payboy]

Everyone is entitled to their own little bubble, enjoy as long as you're able to keep the pricks away.

Edited October 30, 2012 by Payboy

[jaideeguy]

I do sometimes have a concern that maybe I am retreating too deep into my bubble.....almost to the point of agoraphobia, where as soon as I leave the bubble and get on the roads, i get irritated......shopping is now just a deed that has to be done and I get in and out of a mall or shop asap to return to my bubble. Agoraphobia is maybe not the correct word, as there is not much fear, just irritability and discomfort.

[CharlieH]

Well we've reached post 16, and so far it been like walking into an air con room from the hot sun, "sigh" that's good, no one abusing, no insults, no attacks or derogatory remarks.

Let's see if it continues, would make a refreshing change to be able to have a grown up adult chat about something without descending into the playground or psychiatric ward.

Edited October 30, 2012 by CharlieH

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Yes, one of my biggest challenges is forcing myself to keep pushing the boundaries past the discomfort and sometimes fear, expanding my comfort zone.

But that's the only way to keep learning growing, and the more candles on your birthday cake the more important it is to force yourself to do that, otherwise you actual are old.

[mauGR1]

Yes, one of my biggest challenges is forcing myself to keep pushing the boundaries past the discomfort and sometimes fear, expanding my comfort zone.

But that's the only way to keep learning growing, and the more candles on your birthday cake the more important it is to force yourself to do that, otherwise you actual are old.

Yep, first one must know what he likes to be, and then force himself to be that person.

[Rsquared]

I think I find myself guilty of living in my bubble as well......but then again I have always been a bit of an introvert and it takes me a while to feel comfortable with new people.

As stated before, some of us are comfortable with our own company, providing I have my "toys" to play with, I am very comfortable by myself.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

I think I find myself guilty of living in my bubble as well......but then again I have always been a bit of an introvert and it takes me a while to feel comfortable with new people.

As stated before, some of us are comfortable with our own company, providing I have my "toys" to play with, I am very comfortable by myself.

But your desire for comfort and fear of uncertainty/failure/rejection/whatever are the enemy of your growth and progress as a human being.

We weren't put on this Earth to be comfortable.

Edited October 30, 2012 by BigJohnnyBKK

[yermanee]

But your desire for comfort and fear of uncertainty/failure/rejection/whatever are the enemy of your growth and progress as a human being.

We weren't put on this Earth to be comfortable.

Neither were we put on this earth to be miserable.

I have worked very hard and taken a lot of risks just to be where I am now.

I am content with what I have and I don't dwell over what I don't have or might have had.

Yermanee

[astral]

I think your situation is quite common among foreigners that have chosen to live out in the sticks.

Very rare with people who live in places like Bangkok, Phuket, or Pattaya. They seem more engaged in life.

I would say the exact opposite.

With a Thai wife in a small village you are more likely to be interacting with the local population

It is the people in Bangkok, Pattaya etc who live in the Farang Bar Bubble

[krisb]

Cabin fever perhaps OP?

[Kananga]

You are probably in no smaller a bubble than the thousands of insular Asians that move to different countries.

[Scully]

Cabin fever perhaps OP?

Or just content ?

[KarenBravo]

people who live in places like Bangkok, Phuket, or Pattaya. They seem more engaged in life.

You mean going to bars every day/night?

Oh dear.......a complete failure of imagination.

[KarenBravo]

I think your situation is quite common among foreigners that have chosen to live out in the sticks.

Very rare with people who live in places like Bangkok, Phuket, or Pattaya. They seem more engaged in life.

I would say the exact opposite.

With a Thai wife in a small village you are more likely to be interacting with the local population

It is the people in Bangkok, Pattaya etc who live in the Farang Bar Bubble

........and another failure of imagination.

[theblether]

I'm reading the OP two ways.....one is the OP is fed up with the BS of daily life and the other is the OP is worried that he is in danger of isolating himself to his detriment.

OP.......you are the author of your own misfortune the more you withdraw the more incapable you will become of interacting with the outside world. You have created your own vicious circle.

If you think it's bad now just wait three years, you will become a social cripple.

Get out of the house every day and go play golf, cycle like vf does, take photos, have lunch with the locals,

Just go mingle with the World, then retire to your castle, close the door and enjoy your bubble.

It's your castle.......not your gilded cage.

[KarenBravo]

Get out of the house every day and go play golf, cycle like vf does, take photos, have lunch with the locals,

........and now someone who has a bit of an imagination.

[balo]

The bubble is a lovely , exotic place .

My other option would be a cold winter hut in Scandinavia and no interesting people to talk to, only bears .