Do We Expect To Much ?

[MrRealDeal]

The post about the bathrooms got me wondering ..... People come here knowing it's not Davos Switerland but it seems to me sometimes they expect to be. Florida could easily be called the Hurricane State instead of the Sunshine State but that wouldn't attract tourists ..... but if it's not sunny on your vacation you don't blame Florida. We hear complaints all the time that the smiles are fake as if a tourist slogan should be 100 percent accurate.

When I compare like items I find more similaritys than differences , a Coke is a Coke , the Airport runs just as well or poorly as pretty much all the rest , the Hilton is pretty much like any other Hilton , the traffic isn't so different than Jakarta or Bejing , or Mumbai. The things at the low end are pretty comparable to other similarily developed places , in the middle Central is pretty much a mall like any other mall.

All the while people knew or should have known it's not especially developed and that's why they came in the first place , but it seems like when someone fake smiles , just like they do at Disneyland , or when the 3rd world bathroom comes along it's something to complain about ? People know or should know that rural education is poor but expect the people to act as sensibly as if it wasn't ......

So what is "to much" anyhow ? I think it's to much to expect to pay an electrition 300 bht for a days work and expect your light bulbs to be screwed in properly ! A little bit of an exaguration but you get the point. I do expect the Toyota dealship to provide the same service as one in Japan or the US , I would expect the Hilton to be of Hilton quality and the Super 8 to be of that quality. But that's pretty much what I find. My Macdonalds frys are living up to their expectation just like the gas station bathroooms are. Hookers robbing people in areas filled with criminal activity are living up to my expectations just fine.

Even the behavior of Tourists or Expats is living up to my expectations. The government as well , I would expect a coup eventually , I expect government incompetance and corruption in every country just a matter of to what degree.

Is expecting poor people in a poor nation to not take bribes more often a realistic expectation ? Is it a realistic expectation that a 18 year old girl is not going to divorce a 65 year old man after buying her a house ? Is it a realistic expectation that you will never get ripped off in a toursit trap ? A common expression from the US ..... Reasonable to accept a free tuk tuk ride and complain it wasn't all that "free" in the end ?

Most of my expectations are exccdeed , my suits are better then I expected , the Toyota dealership has better coffee than I expected , the malls are a little nicer than I expected , the value of home repairs and remodeling more than I expected , my dentist is better than back home with more modern equipment was more than I expected.

What about you ? Living up to them or sadly dissapointed ? Do you think your expectations were to high or perhaps some might say mine are to low ?

[lannarebirth]

too

[LaoPo]

mut

[JurgenG]

There are two kind of people.

People who come here with an open mind and a positive attitude. Wherever they go, they will be happy.

And people who are not happy and frustrated in their previous life and hope to start afresh without realizing they bring their problems in their suitcase. Wherever they go, they will be unhappy.

Thailand is not a good or a bad place. It is whatever you make it.

[endure]

These are the words that stood out for me from your post. I have to ask - what do they have to do with Thailand? I don't think that 'we' expect too much. I do think that some of us expect Thailand to just like home but with brown-eyed smiley faces.

Davos Switerland

Florida

Coke

Hilton

Jakarta

Bejing

Mumba

mall

Disneyland

Macdonalds

Japan

US

[MrRealDeal]

They were used to make comparisons about peoples expectations as it relates to expectations in general. Sorry if 12 words in my post dissapointed you , feel free to ignore it if you like or make your own. Coke , Hilton , Malls , and Macdonalds can all be found in Thailand and anyone not looking as hard as they could for something to complain about would not have included them ...... so really it's 8 words.

[JurgenG]

These are the words that stood out for me from your post. I have to ask - what do they have to do with Thailand? I don't think that 'we' expect too much. I do think that some of us expect Thailand to just like home but with brown-eyed smiley faces.

Davos Switerland

Florida

Coke

Hilton

Jakarta

Bejing

Mumba

mall

Disneyland

Macdonalds

Japan

US

You chose to see what is not related to Thailand, others will see the connection.

Everything is a matter of perspective.

[endure]

They were used to make comparisons about peoples expectations as it relates to expectations in general. Sorry if 12 words in my post dissapointed you , feel free to ignore it if you like or make your own. Coke , Hilton , Malls , and Macdonalds can all be found in Thailand so really it's 8 words.

They were used to make comparisons about your expectations of a country which has had little historical western influence with what's commonplace in your own country. It's a bit like Thais in the US complaining that the pla ra is no good in Florida.

[MrRealDeal]

They were used to make comparisons about peoples expectations as it relates to expectations in general. Sorry if 12 words in my post dissapointed you , feel free to ignore it if you like or make your own. Coke , Hilton , Malls , and Macdonalds can all be found in Thailand so really it's 8 words.

They were used to make comparisons about your expectations of a country which has had little historical western influence with what's commonplace in your own country. It's a bit like Thais in the US complaining that the pla ra is no good in Florida.

And if I had wanted to make a post about Thai people in the US and if their expectations were to little or to much I might have used that example. Once again sorry you don't like my post ..... feel free to ignore it or make your own.

[JurgenG]

They were used to make comparisons about peoples expectations as it relates to expectations in general. Sorry if 12 words in my post dissapointed you , feel free to ignore it if you like or make your own. Coke , Hilton , Malls , and Macdonalds can all be found in Thailand so really it's 8 words.

They were used to make comparisons about your expectations of a country which has had little historical western influence with what's commonplace in your own country. It's a bit like Thais in the US complaining that the pla ra is no good in Florida.

Please, don't get me started about that ...

[StreetCowboy]

I think it's not expecting too much to expect people on an English-speaking forum to be able to be able to use words like loose and lose, to and too, correctly.

SC

Do we expect to mulch?

[banglay]

I believe that a lot of peoples expectations and tolerances dry up when there money and resources diminish though either pure stupidity or been over exuberant with what Thailand has to offer....Thailand and the world will always looks better with deep pockets full of £.$.฿

Shallow pockets = grumpy old men and a glass half empty ethos.

[wayned]

I do think that some of us expect Thailand to just like home but with brown-eyed smiley faces.

How could you even begin to expect Thailand be "just like home", when the values of Thai society are so different than those of the country where you come from?

[MrRealDeal]

I think it's not expecting too much to expect people on an English-speaking forum to be able to be able to use words like loose and lose, to and too, correctly.

SC

Do we expect to mulch?

Try running your post through a grammar check and see what happens ! LOL

[villagefarang]

I am of the opinion, we expect too much of others and too little of ourselves, in general.

[jocko]

I think it's not expecting too much to expect people on an English-speaking forum to be able to be able to use words like loose and lose, to and too, correctly.

SC

Do we expect to mulch?

Try running your post through a grammar check and see what happens ! LOL

Touche.

[poanoi]

I expected chicken curry in every other corner, -didn't find it.

I expected it to be warm here, -found it.

Traffic jam & corrupt police, -fed up with it.

[StreetCowboy]

I think it's not expecting too much to expect people on an English-speaking forum to be able to be able to use words like loose and lose, to and too, correctly.

SC

Do we expect to mulch?

Try running your post through a grammar check and see what happens ! LOL

Touche.

It said "The spelling and grammar check is complete". I think I've got the grown-up Bill Gates version, which allows for longer sentences. You're right about the length of the sentence, though, and its complexity. Actually, I'm surprised that it didn't whinge about not enclosing 'loose' etc in quotation marks. Some people would have expected that, but we have to draw our minimum standards pretty low when we're dealing with the public.

I'd not accept that from myself or anyone else in a document, but in an informal chat - an email, or whatever, I'd let it go. Good grammar and spelling end up in the same recycling bin as the most incomprehensible drivel

SC

[Swiss1960]

They were used to make comparisons about peoples expectations as it relates to expectations in general. Sorry if 12 words in my post dissapointed you , feel free to ignore it if you like or make your own. Coke , Hilton , Malls , and Macdonalds can all be found in Thailand so really it's 8 words.

They were used to make comparisons about your expectations of a country which has had little historical western influence with what's commonplace in your own country. It's a bit like Thais in the US complaining that the pla ra is no good in Florida.

And if I had wanted to make a post about Thai people in the US and if their expectations were to little or to much I might have used that example. Once again sorry you don't like my post ..... feel free to ignore it or make your own.

I think endure has a very good point and it is not about liking your post or not... it is the question about everybody's personal approach to Thailand... and I actually started with the "comparison mode" when I came here first... see whether McD is McD as they promise...

Only when I started to come here more regularly and got to know people living here (both Thai and expat), I started to realize that such a comparison mode is ok for tourists but wrong if you want to really live in LOS...

Just as one example, when I first did see all the street vendors (food), I thought "poor Thai, can not afford real restaurants" and started to invite them to "good places" and thought that I do them a favour treating them with a decent meal... only to know today, that street vendors is the normal way of living and started to try them out myself and today I accept that Thailand is Thailand and I stopped with all those comparisons.

Thailand is Thailand. If you want to live here and be happy, that is the only way to do. Of course, we don't like corruption, tea money, crime etc... some people like walking streets, some don't... some people can deal with the no-meter taxis, some don't...

But I think that people who live here and are still making comparisons about their home countries (or other countries they thought about living in), have not arrived in Thailand... you might not like many things that you have to endure here, but it's of absolutely no use to compare with your home and to ask "when do the Thai change it". Changes might eventually happen and some of us might eventually still be alive when changes happen. But in the mean time, try to arrive here with your heart and your soul and then, you automatically stop comparing with back home.

[loong]

I had low expectations and was not disappointed

Would be nice to have those expectations exceeded more often.

Main reasons for coming here was to get away from the cold and that my British pounds would go a long way. They don't seem to be going so far nowadays. Had to put a jacket on this morning - it was so cold

[canman]

This topic reminds me of climbing Mt Kinabalu 15 years ago. It's an easy 2 day hike and you stay in a guest house the first night. Imagine the scene; about 12 of us from many different nations sitting at one large table 3000m up a mountain on the island of Borneo. We were given a suprisingly varied choice of foods to order from the small kitchen. Most ordered asian dishes the american couple ordered fries and when they arrived proceeded to complain that they were to greasy. The reaction of the rest of the group was priceless; everyone else got the absurdness of the complaint straight away. To the americans credit they did click to the situation and admited it was a silly thing to say given the circumstances.

[jocko]

This topic reminds me of climbing Mt Kinabalu 15 years ago. It's an easy 2 day hike and you stay in a guest house the first night. Imagine the scene; about 12 of us from many different nations sitting at one large table 3000m up a mountain on the island of Borneo. We were given a suprisingly varied choice of foods to order from the small kitchen. Most ordered asian dishes the american couple ordered fries and when they arrived proceeded to complain that they were to greasy. The reaction of the rest of the group was priceless; everyone else got the absurdness of the complaint straight away. To the americans credit they did click to the situation and admited it was a silly thing to say given the circumstances.

Good story there , i was working In the Omani oilfields in the 80s and lived in a consruction camp whilst being a bit primitive the food was very good all food was inported in and very well cooked with good choices but there was always someone who was never happy one being a fellow country man of ours who complained we never got tottie scones .

Some people always expect toooo much

[Tywais]

I have over 40 years experience with Thailand. When I decided to move here 20 years ago I had no preconceived notions or unrealistic expectations as I knew already it is what it is. Did I bring some of my American baggage with me? Perhaps to a small degree such as food, amenities, etc. But on a cultural level, not very much. The first few years after moving here was an integration and adaptation period. Honing my language skills, eating predominantly Thai food, bargaining with vendors, working out the transportation, etc. Over time though, as Thailand started being more westernized, I would say I became more comfortable with a bit of the back home touch. It became more of a marriage of the two worlds for me. Whether that is a positive or negative is left to the individual.

Do I or did I expect too much? Not really. However I can fully understand someone who just moved here without prior experience it can be daunting and easy to be disillusioned. The best way is to come not expecting anything but allow the surprises and pleasures happen or expect too much and just become sad, lonely and angry. Up 2 you.

[GarryP]

I think it's not expecting too much to expect people on an English-speaking forum to be able to be able to use words like loose and lose, to and too, correctly.

SC

Do we expect to mulch?

Yep, I am going to do that at the weekend.

[pgs]

It's far easier to not be disappointed if you expect nothing.

Sometimes it can be frustrating knowing you have the right gizmo at home for whatever you're trying to do here, but you're not at 'that' home where it is; you're at 'this' home where it isn't.

There are times when you have to make do with what you have.

The lifestyle here is a bit different to what I'm use to in Sydney these days - bit closer to when I was a kid. Still not really a problem. Just getting mentally realigned with how things were.

Rule 1: Be happy with what you have.

Rule 2: Be sure you have plenty.

:-)

[StreetCowboy]

I think it's not expecting too much to expect people on an English-speaking forum to be able to be able to use words like loose and lose, to and too, correctly.

SC

Do we expect to mulch?

Yep, I am going to do that at the weekend.

I wish I could. I do miss a bit of turning the sod at the weekend.

[topt]

I think it's not expecting too much to expect people on an English-speaking forum to be able to be able to use words like loose and lose, to and too, correctly.

SC

Do we expect to mulch?

Yep, I am going to do that at the weekend.

I wish I could. I do miss a bit of turning the sod at the weekend.

With 2 dogs its academic as there is practically nothing left

[HeijoshinCool]

I think it's not expecting too much to expect people on an English-speaking forum to be able to be able to use words like loose and lose, to and too, correctly.

SC

Do we expect to mulch?

Yep, I am going to do that at the weekend.

[thaibeachlovers]

As a general rule, when I expect something of people I am usually disappointed.

Far better to expect nothing and be pleasantly surprised sometimes, than expect something and never be satisfied.

[Scully]

We all know what Thailand is like but still choose to stay here. In my life I don't hear much moaning so turn to tvf for my daily dose.

It would be boring reading a newspaper full of just good news.