Best And Worst Experience Of Integrating Thai & Falang

[endure]

I think you are bickering and I'd like you to stop please.

[cdnvic]

I've started deleting off topic discussions that I asked you to stop. Next step is removing posting rights.

[inthepink]

I would agree that most of Thailand's cities are not truly international, but isn't that one of the attractions of the place? If you want to live in a nice cosmopolitan city where people become homogenous and all behave in the same way, there are plenty of other places that one can choose to live. I have no interest in obtaining PR or Thai citizenship but even without these it is possible to integrate at a certain level, i.e. learning the language, socialising with Thai people, enjoying some of the traditions and complaining about others.

True you can integrate at a certain level but not in the terms we would use back home. There is no us or we even if you are a Thai citizen and because of that you cannot really talk about integration, more like getting accustomed to living with Thais. You can get along with people anywhere if you just have half a brain but in no way is that same as being integrated into a society.

If the Thais wanted us here it wouldn´t be the mess it is today. Everything has become lost in translation.

I have to disagree with you. An Indian holding a British passport who refuses to speak English and lives in an ethnic enclave is not integrated in the least. Not all of them are like that by any means but paperwork in itself is not a good indication of integration.

I wouldn't expect an ethnic Thai to ever consider me as one of them, even if I applied for and was granted, Thai citizenship. I don't exactly look like them.

I don't see that the country is in any more of a mess than The USA, UK or many countries in Europe; in fact, in many ways it's in much better shape, so I don't really see your point in that regard....unless by mess, you are referring to the immigration laws themselves and not the country in general?

That´s a whole other issue... An immigrant that was granted citizenship and chose not to integrate which not the same as being denied citizenship therefore do not have the possibility of integrating.

That you find it better in better shape... well to each his own I guess, though totally irrelevant. If we are talking about getting accustomed to Thailand and the Thais to us, well then... yes then it's more than probable.

If what shape the country is in is irrelevant, why did you bring it up in the first place? It's not a case of each to his own either. Just take a look at the debt to GDP figures and deficits that Western nations are running, then compare them to those that relate to Thailand. I agree that being granted citizenship and choosing not to integrate is different to being denied citizenship but I haven't been denied citizenship. I guess people have different views on the matter but it is possible to integrate without having a Thai passport. Maybe you need to check the definition of the word integration, it isn't a legal term.

[maxme]

No it's not... but my point is that Integration in its true sense means being more than accustomed to the culture. Foreigners aren´t allowed to have the same jobs as some Thais and even why should you have, you cost more than they do. If you can´t get down to the very foundation of their society then I doubt you can "fully" integrate.

[inthepink]

No you can't integrate fully, that's difficult in many countries and perhaps harder here because of the fact that they make applying for citizenship a very lengthy process. So, I guess we are in agreement on this issue really. I personally think that Thai immigration policies are rather short sighted but then there are those who are constantly complaining about what they perceive to be lax immigration policies in the UK so I guess these people think that Thailand has got it right. I don't.

Edited February 1, 2013 by inthepink

[Poo Ying FeFe]

Hi all. Sorry I've been away for ages and ages.

So coming back to the 'Integration' question; it was not intended to baffle you folk, I was asking how the two sides (specifically non-Thai & Thai) come to be together (through relationships, friendships, occupation) to make a whole new & unique entity and the feelings that come with it. More so, the personal aspects - not the administrative. Apologies for the vagueness.

The topic is NOT... How does a westerner completely convert themselves to become a fully accepted, legal Thai national, who is able to live in total peace and harmony in Thailand. That would be a crazy persons question.

I can of course sympathise with many of the members frustrations here, about the lack of support one can experience in Thailand and the barriers one can run into. Trying to do something which can be as simple as buying a motorbike, opening a regular bank account, hiring a maid, taking a taxi... (the list is endless) can be totally vexing.

Also, please remember that I did offer you guys the Best & Worst; we know its not all 'plane sailing'.

Happy days.

PYFF.

[sirchai]

Best: Being able to order food in the deepest Isaan.

Worst: Understanding what the chicks are talking about.

[jasmineelizabeth]

worst : ive moved to lad phrao and im stark white skinned and white hair, the way i am looked at, told by men they love me, or i love (then action out grabbing their brests type motion) and then theres just the very awkward taking photos of me on their mobiles, or following me.

i am uncomfortable to say the least.

The best. i am unsure yet, maybe exposing the thai people to other types of people, and also exposing me and opening up my eyes to the thai culture.

btw - does anyone know if i can buy probiotics in the small chemists along the streets in lad prhao bangkok, and also something for this anxiety that im feeling since moving here!!

[rwdrwdrwd]

I grew up in a very 'White' town just outside of London.

You must be old. Even I cannot remember back that far.

You've not spent much time in Newbury or Basingstoke then - lucky you! Spent some time there in the mid 2000s and it felt like entering a timewarp

Edited April 26, 2013 by rwdrwdrwd

[Jayroo]

Worst = language barrier

Best = language barrier

[jcnbkk]

Hi. I also wanted to ask the families that have mixed Thai children. Do you see that they look more Thai or more like their foreign side? And do people in your homeland often guess their mixed background?

I look European and took mainly from my Fathers side. My older Brother looks just like my Mother and her side. When I've met my brother for lunch, people have often made the mistake that we are a couple or on a date!! It freaks me out.

I've always looked quite obviously half and half, but there are still some people who like to insist that I look more like farang or more like Thai, depending on what they choose to focus on I suppose.

When I lived in England lots of people thought I was South American, particularly Colombian; South Americans would even start speaking to me in Spanish! That makes sense though, as many South Americans are actually 1st degree (or genetically very close to 1st degree) Mongoloid / Caucasian mixes, the same as Thai-Farang loog-krueng.

how do you put pics on here.

Click on "more reply options" and a "attach files" button will appear.

Thanks, I didn't know how to do that. Now how do people add those active vid/youtube clips??

[Tywais]

Thanks, I didn't know how to do that. Now how do people add those active vid/youtube clips??

Just copy and paste the YouTube URL into the post, that's it. Should look like below while in edit mode.

[Poo Ying FeFe]

worst : ive moved to lad phrao and im stark white skinned and white hair, the way i am looked at, told by men they love me, or i love (then action out grabbing their brests type motion) and then theres just the very awkward taking photos of me on their mobiles, or following me.

i am uncomfortable to say the least.

The best. i am unsure yet, maybe exposing the thai people to other types of people, and also exposing me and opening up my eyes to the thai culture.

btw - does anyone know if i can buy probiotics in the small chemists along the streets in lad prhao bangkok, and also something for this anxiety that im feeling since moving here!!

Woah - Jasmineelizabeth... Banned after 2 posts... am i reading that correctly?

(In case you are reading offline)

Sorry you're having a hard time settling in - it just goes to show that even the more 'Cosmopolitan' city areas, still home people who do not practice good social skills. Your local pharmacy will offer you a range of strong meds - but you will be better off researching different meds online and checking the side effects out prior to making your purchase. Im not in BKK but there are a number of health food/organic stores down here that use suppliers in BKK. 'BOOTS' chemist stock the imported varieties at a premium.

Good luck x

[maccaroni man]

Worst; commercial tv

[benalibina]

Best; Becoming a dad with the birth of our 3 children and seeing them grow up with the care of my wife and me. Priceless !

Worst; How the family in law acts when the shit hit the fan and that the love so dearly proclaimed for our children is totally the opposite. All the negative things about thai culture ( human nature ?? ) became visible without me expecting it.

UNPREPARED !!!!!!

[kikoman]

Barky, how do you feel about foreigners who come to your own country and don't feel any need to integrate into your culture?

I know in my country there is great resentment to these people.

A good question.

In "my country" , they don't have to integrate. They are not forced to. And, importantly there is no social backlash from locals if visitors/new arrivals don't follow social norms and traditions and etiquette. They are not preyed upon. They are not seen as an object to poke fun at or scam or in some way take an advantage of. They ARE protected by the full power of the law fairly and without bias!!

Every opportunity is given to them to feel at home. In fact, lots of tax-payer money is regularly given to ethnic organisations to preserve their own culture whilst living in there. As soon as they arrive, they are afforded many rights and privillages immediately such as buying land and houses, owning businesses 100% in their own name, being charged exactly the same price for everything no matter where they go. And then after a comparatively brief period of qualifing, they are given all the rights of a "born and bred" local.

True, a small percentage of people may resent them, but this minority usually have enough consideration to keep their views to themselves and not display their resentment via racist comment and xenophobic behaviour as many people do here (and worse, here in Thailand, this open resentment is NOT seen as a social/racial slur)

You do not come from the US or any of the European countries that have so many racist problems/riots constantly in the world news. Your country may not have been forced to pass a "Civil Rights" laws, the Voting Rights Act, or the Equal Rights Amendment to the constitution to allow non dominate culture citizens of those countries to participate in the American Dream.

I find the acceptance in Thailand as a "Do unto other, as you would want others to do unto you" if you respect the country, its people, and its culture, the Thai's would also respect you.

The best of Thailand is its people, by far, very honest, hardworking, decent people.

The worst is the tourist city stalls that attempt to get every possible satang they can get from you!

I solved that problem by moving out of Pattaya, and have not run into that problem in rural Thailand!

Also being referred to as a "Falang" is not a problem to me, as I have been called worst!

While I will never be accepted and receive the rights of a Thai, is not a problem to me, as in my adopted country, even after fighting in its wars- I was never accepted as a citizen with the full rights and recognition of my contributions to my adopted country.

Cheers:

Edited June 20, 2013 by kikoman

[rene123]

I forgot about this topic. A few things changed for me when it comes to worst and best.

Best was buying a nice motorbike and going on long rides exploring northern Thailand on it. The D-Tracker was a complete change from the little rental scooters and much more enjoyable.

The worst was being run off the road by a crazy Thai pickup driver who was passing a string of slower moving vehicles on a blind corner. Fortunately, I half expected it and I was almost stopped when I left the road. All I suffered was torn jeans, and scraped knees and hands.

I have fallen in love with riding and am searching for a similar motorbike now that I'm back in Canada.