Monthly Expenditures Of Expats

[Doza]

It is pretty funny to see what he comes up with. I've never heard of someone being so out of touch with reality.

I think you are right, I would say he's jealous. But the funny thing is, he keeps going on about 'rich' - as if having a reasonable income and saving for the future makes you rich. hel_l I'm not rich and I don't spend 20K on food a month but I would if I could, and why not. Earning 200K / month doesnt make you rich (not that I earn quite that), not when you will live most of the rest of your life in Sydney/NY/LA/London/ etc etc and plan to have a family. You'll positively struggle!

He really has no idea.

[greenwanderer108]

I'm not bitter about what I make and what I do here in Thailand.

I do resent the fact that there are dozens if not hundreds of farang in this country that are arrogant and ignorant

They come here throwing money around like it's growing from their arse...These are so often the same farang that complain about Thai people not being able to speak proper English. And boasting about how great Farangland is...

The same pioneers who convinced Thailand they needed to build highways and fill in their 'ancient' klongs with concrete to accomodate more cars as to keep up with the modern world. I could go on and on...but I don't want to get side-tracked.

And why do I resent them? Cause they create a stereotype--- reputation for every farang living here to live up to. Thai people get this idea that all farang are filthy rich and 'choose' to spend thousands of baht on meals, pay their girlfriend a salary , eat only steaks and wine...thinking they are superior on a higher plane then everyone else etc. etc.

Many is the day that Thai people meeting me for the first time will be shocked...

You are farang, and...

You can speak Thai?

You can eat Thai food?

You can live in moderation?

And I respond (in Thai of course) so what, you are Thai and you can speak some English, you are able to eat Pizza and hamburgers. Why is it any different? Not all farang are like you think...

So, it does become redundant saving the face of us culturally adaptable farangs whenever I meet an amazed/shocked Thai who has the wrong idea about farangs---proving we are not all close minded slobs...though they might not be so far off reading some of the posts here.

[The Dude]

The Dude would like to hand a gold plated shovel to Doza for diggable comebacks to moronic comments. Shovels go out to Bendix, Guest House and Peace Blondie as well. No shovels for Greenie at this time. Boy I have never handed out so many shovels in a single thread and only had to hold back on 1 or 2

Edited April 4, 2006 by The Dude

[bendix]

Well, we're all very proud to have you working on behalf of us poor slobs.

Now, I'm off to get some somtum and a bottle of Chang. Care to join me for dinner?

PS . . i speak Thai too (very well for a slob who's only been living here a year, according to my boss)

[The Dude]

Greenie, my friend, you are up against quite a rainbow coalition onslaught here. I have seen such a diverse majority in agreement in this forum ever. I have backordered shovels for all to dig it; no way my current supply will make it thru. I wish my little poem about you was in this thread instead of the avg monthly income thread. Wait, I might as well link it due to its relevance. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...05entry704197

[greenwanderer108]

The Dude would like to hand a gold plated shovel to Doza for diggable comebacks to moronic comments. Shovels go out to Bendix, Guest House and Peace Blondie as well. No shovels for Greenie at this time

Dude, you can hand out all the shovels you want...I would rather be cremated...no need for a grave

Thanks Doza for telling me how out of touch from reality I am. That's the best comment I've heard from you all day.

We can go on about Western culture exploiting Thailand all day but that's off topic...

You are right that there are many rich Thais who have lost touch with their roots. But that's just part of joining the global society...I have never spent my money at Starbucks, but will admit that I frequent KFC and Mac every other week...I'm not proud of this fact...

Everyone has good points about planning for the future. If a major accident happened, I would definately be unprepared to reap it...and it's definately something to consider as far as raising my family...I just want to avoid the fact of getting to motivated by money...

I'll take it step by step, learn to live and accept others, no hard feelings...My standard of living only is getting better. Kind of like what the dude said about leaving the closet.

When I first came to Thailand, I was making 180 baht/hour, refused to buy any appliances---fridge, fan, tv, etc.. Even my rent was only 1000 baht a month

My income has increased by 10 percent, and my spending has increased by 30 percent....but that's what comes with 'knocking someone up' ...

Geez, it's hard to win with you old guys...Ever since I came here at 18, I was a young ignorant boy who thinks he knows it all...I don't know it all, in fact that's how I learn...via trial, error, and argument...now at 23, I still get the same feedback from you old ones...

Anyhow, back to the original post...

Entertainment spending? Can you guys get a little more detailed? No girls, okay surprising but I'll accept it...

so what was the figure than, 15k??? Is that just clubs and bars only??? Or are you calculating travel upcountry into that too?

Edited April 4, 2006 by greenwanderer108

[The Dude]

ok so you take your gf to the bar, have 8 drinks combined (800 baht), play 10 games of pool (200 baht), have food (300 baht), leave tip. That's 1400 baht x 3 times week x 4 weeks = 16800. dig?

[The Dude]

1000 baht per hour is a lot to pay for rent there greenie

[simcity]

i will said it is easy to spend a lot of money on food , i like fresh food market , a fish for 120 baht or duck fillet , that is only one meal , plus nice mushroom ( the one from chiangmai ) or green .. well i do not eat that much of rice ! sometime a steak ( foodland ), nice salad pakarkeow with baslamic vinegar and olive oil . Well fresh food around 300 baht a day , eat at home ! if you add going out few time a month , with the bottle of hennessy , very easy to go over 20000 on food , and i do not think i eat foie gras / caviar everyday ! just eat like i feel like.

Edited April 4, 2006 by simcity

[sting01]

I think (I stated that earlier) I am in the first category of people, I earn less than 40 000 bht a month. Well a teacher earned 25 000 (mostly less) 2 years ago, just to give him an idea.

There is people out of there who made more than 200 000 bht a month, and not only farangs, but thai also (IT ingeniors working for SUN are well paid). Speak about them and I.

Both work in the same field, but do we have thesame qualifications? Do we have the same skills or the same intelligence. Do we work hard the same?

Pool? I play one or 2 times a week. I spend exactly 100 bht ... 60 bhtfor my teac and 2 games lost. IF I play like hel_l, I stay 10 mn, if I play like God, maybe someone will pay for my tea (happened one time 2 years ago).

Life is choice. I do not know for green...., but I know for me what I did choose, and I have good guess about the IT ingeniors who earn 200 000 bht a month.

If you want money, you better to not complain those who earn it , but to understand why they earn it. I prefer a small life, with my small happiness than a big life with big happiness and big problem.I also could not admit someone like gree.... who is bitter because he have less than someone else. People have also the right to have cars, to buy an house in Sydney, they have right to give money away to those REALLY in need (familly, friends) and for that they must earn.

The thread started like comparaison btw life style, but the original poster (gree...) seems infact a bitter person, NOT able to understand the root of his bitterness, nor to handle the situation where he willingly went. And that is a little sad.

[RamdomChances]

TOTAL: 125K per month

very comfy on that and dont forget I have no local transport needs

That a nice fig I think to be on in BKK with a nice comfy life, ok you could knock a fair bit off the rent, but if you've got it no prob's.

I think there a big difference on these "how much do you need" threads between whats nessesary to survive and whats just nice to have. Also many people forget about providing for the future, wether its retirment or back to Falangland.

I can live off very small amounts a month IF I HAVE TOO, it does'nt mean I would want to, although building the buissines up we sometime's have. Also we dont pay rent so that a big chunk out of it. Lets face it money is nice, it's nice to have it and it's nice to spend it. It's often not nice to earn it, but you can't have everything

RC

[PeaceBlondie]

If you're a Quogfyt, and you live in Quogfytland, and all your family and friends live there too, and you can eat ertygh for 11 jkx per day, and you make 11387 jkx per month, and never leave Quogfytland, fine and dandy.

But if you still have relatives back in Zyzistan, and you're Zyzistanese, you might need to go home. And since the exchange rate is 180 jkx per Zyzipeso, you might never afford a trip home, and you'll never see them again. And having a wreck on your Honda in Quogfytland might cost 98,234 jkx more than you and your fellow Quogfytese can ever scrape together.

Oh, never mind. It's all Quogfyt'd up, anyway.

Let's flash back to Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai province, 16 July. I fall off my motorcycle. First ER costs 1,000 baht from my wallet; they can't operate. Second ER, same thing. Doctors can operate on farang in 3 or 4 more days, general ward until then. No, thank you. Fancy private hospital, operated in two hours, 61,000 baht. No problem. This year, 350,000 baht for more surgery. No problem; my pension covers it (for which I'm paying 4,000 baht per month).

I can afford to grow old in Thailand and fall off motorcycles. I can go to Ireland for my son's wedding. My second son, however, can't attend because he makes too little money in the USA, when he's sober. You take the choices you have.

[samran]

Cool it...or I'll close the thread.....

[Noel]

In all the dozens of various income threads in Thaivisa over the months, there always seems to be two particular groups that surface...

1) Those making under 40,000/ month, able to get by, may/may not be content with lifestyle

and

2) Those making anywhere from 50-250,000 baht/month, despite being part of a financial elite of SE Asia, tend to claim that they are just getting by (i.e. could be making xxx amount back home, etc.)

I, myself am in the lower section of group one...Anyhow, I've noticed a tendancy for someone who fits in group two to ask a question like:

"How can you survive on XXX amount in Thailand?" And they will usually follow by asking us in group one to list out our spending...

Whenever I read such questions/comments from group two, my first instinct is to lash out and call that group two poster 'ignorant'...

Little appears to have changed, yet you started the thread...

You seem to be a very well balanced person: the same amount of chips on each shoulder.

Why do you bother putting yourself through the grief of inviting comments that you know will come and you know will upset you even more?

Masochism personified...

[BKK Traveler]

I do resent the fact that there are dozens if not hundreds of farang in this country that are arrogant and ignorant

They come here throwing money around like it's growing from their arse...These are so often the same farang that complain about Thai people not being able to speak proper English. And boasting about how great Farangland is...

The same pioneers who convinced Thailand they needed to build highways and fill in their 'ancient' klongs with concrete to accomodate more cars as to keep up with the modern world. I could go on and on...but I don't want to get side-tracked.

That has to be by far the most unbelievable statement I've ever read on this board. Have you ever traveled anywhere else in the world? Come on, just look at any major city, anywhere in the world and compare that same city to what it was like 50 years ago. Almost without exception there will be no comparison. All over the world people love money and love modern societies and want tp build modern cities and a decent infrastructure. Some places are doing a better job of it than others, but nearly everyone in the world is doing it. It is not the farangs who are "spoiling" Thailand, it's the Thais who want to create for themselves a modern society and get all the creature comforts that come with it. The effect that the expat farangs have on Thai society is miniscule at best.

As societies and their economies evolve, many times they eventually come to the point where they realize they've gone too far and then spend an exhorbitant amount of money to restore some of their past glory and culture. I wouldn't be surprised if that happens sometime in the future with Thailand as well. I cannot argue with you that perhaps filling in the klongs, etc. might be short-sighted and some Thais will later regret what they've done. But for a farang to blame it on other farangs is just rediculous. That's the type of thinking that I'd expect from some uneducated Thai...blame it all on the farangs.

[britmaveric]

I think the difference is between need and doing what wants to do without worrying about dosh.

-Simply put you can live a meager existence in Thailand for not much, but who'd want to?

[sylvafern]

Greenwanderer ... you came here at 18, you're now 23, you've had a stint working back home at 7-11, yet you work here as a teacher.... I assume from your own summaries of the last five years of your life that you never attended university (a western one, at least) and therefore are not qualified as a teacher.

I came here at 25 a qualified teacher to work in Khon Kaen earning 35,000 a month (less a small amount of tax). I lived in a one room apartment until I moved into a house for 5000 baht a month, I travelled everywhere around the city by songthaew. I ate street food most days with the exception of KFC at least once a week and the occasional buffet at the Sofitel. I travelled all around the country and attended as many festivals as I could. I mostly travelled by train and bus, with the odd flight for long distances. I learnt to speak Thai, I socialised with Thais and expats, I went out to Thai pubs and drank whisky. I ENJOYED life. I LOVED living in Khon Kaen. It was one of the best years of my life. I was never bitter about the expat OR Thai parents at the bilingual I worked at earning more than me. In fact, the thought never crossed my mind because I was happy living where I was and enjoying the lifestyle I created for myself.

So what drove me to join the 'second group of expats'? My job, that's what. I loved working with my colleagues and the children at my school, but I disliked the management. Although personally I liked the owners of my school, professionally I had little respect as they started it up as a business with little knowledge of education. We had no head of school. There was no direction and no forward planning. I wanted a career, not just a job. So I moved to Bangkok to work at an international school. And, as life goes, the more I earnt, the more I spent. Not because I had to, but because I wanted to. Soon, I met my boyfriend and we started doing things together that I may not have done as a single. When we travelled, we stayed in nicer places. We got two UBC outlets because I didn't want to watch football all the time and he didn't want to watch my farang sitcoms. We took taxis instead of 3 and a half baht buses. Circumstances change, lifestyles change.

When I was no longer happy working in my school as there was no opportunities to develop in my chosen field, I moved to another school to better my career. I am working my way up. I have no desires (at the present) to reach top level management, but I love being in middle management. I THRIVE on all the different aspects of my job. I study through distance learning and I am MOTIVATED to improve myself and my life. I now have a child. Again, circumstances change and so has my lifestyle. Paying more for rent and living in a secure compound with fenced garden and a pool close by was something that became a priority. I don't have to spend this much on rent, but I want to because it is important to me for my son to have a wide variety of experiences which include playing outside in a paddling pool or learning to ride a bike in a safe environment. Having a car became a priority for me. I don't want to travel on buses or in taxis with my son unrestrained. I choose to have him in a car seat, safely strapped in while I drive at a sensible speed down busy roads. Having my own car is not a necessity, but my son's safety is. I still eat street food several times a week, but I don't want my son only eating Thai food. Again, I want him to have a variety of experiences and eating farang food is one of them. If I want to go to Villa and buy a food product from my home country, then I will.

I now earn around the middle of your so called 'second group' of expats, and I finally can afford to start paying back my student loan. I send home 35,000 baht a month (possibly more than what you earn it total, greenwanderer). In about 2 years my loan will be paid off and I will be able to start saving for a deposit on a house. This is something I want in life - it's a goal, something I hope to achieve because I want to (and, realistically something I need to do in order to have a financially secure future). Sedning so much money home can make finances tight. My monthly costs are high - I have rent, car payments, utilities bills, etc. For the last two months, two weeks before payday cash was running low. We had only 4000 baht to live on until the next payday for a family of three. This was no problem, because as you say, it can be done in Thailand. We ate cheaply, we stayed at home instead of going out, and we didn't travel great distances in the car to save on petrol. Yes, it can be done - but only because I didn't have a choice.

I have a brother, 9 years younger than myself. When he was 18 he was still a boy. When you came to Thailand, although I'm sure you will disagree, you were just a boy. It wasn't until my brother was 21 that he really became an adult - physically, emotionally and mentally. Now, at 23 (the same age as you) he has just gone through what he refers to as his 'quarter-life crisis'. He suddenly realised that working dead-end jobs wasn't for him and he wanted more out of life. Luckily, he is single and without children (unlike yourself) and going to university to gain a degree and secure his future was a viable option. I'm not saying that education is the key to happiness - far from it. But I do think it broadens your mind and opens your eyes to the world around you. Life experiences do the same. Coming to Thailand at such a young age, surely would have opened your eyes to many new encounters that others will never have the opportunity to experience. I am surprised at your incredibly naive view of the people around you - both Thai and expats. How you feel you can make assumptions and make statements encompassing all Thai people, or all "old" people is beyond me, especially as they are so laughably inaccurate. I can only wonder what has gone on in your life that has made you so bitter and twisted ... something usually reserved for "old" people that you seem to have no respect for.

Maybe one day, like my brother, something will happen in your life that will make you wake up and realise that you don't want to be working in job with little chance of furtherment (monetarily and professionally) and you will want to do something to improve the lifestyle of yourself and your family. Maybe you won't. Maybe you truely are happy doing what you are doing and earning the salary that you do. But at the very least, I hope you wake up one day realising that there are many people in this world and they all have different priorities and no one should be judged on the type of job they do or how they spend their money.

[The Dude]

What a tremendous post. The Dude hands over his new sealed case of shovels to sylvafern for the most diggable post yet

[britmaveric]

What a tremendous post. The Dude hands over his new sealed case of shovels to sylvafern for the most diggable post yet

No shovel for moi?

[markuk]

come on guys no matter what you earn you will always want more - what a waste of a post.

An why does everyone say "Dude"/?? whats that about?

[ourmanflint]

I do resent the fact that there are dozens if not hundreds of farang in this country that are arrogant and ignorant

They come here throwing money around like it's growing from their arse...These are so often the same farang that complain about Thai people not being able to speak proper English. And boasting about how great Farangland is...

The same pioneers who convinced Thailand they needed to build highways and fill in their 'ancient' klongs with concrete to accomodate more cars as to keep up with the modern world. I could go on and on...but I don't want to get side-tracked.

That has to be by far the most unbelievable statement I've ever read on this board. Have you ever traveled anywhere else in the world? Come on, just look at any major city, anywhere in the world and compare that same city to what it was like 50 years ago. Almost without exception there will be no comparison. All over the world people love money and love modern societies and want tp build modern cities and a decent infrastructure. Some places are doing a better job of it than others, but nearly everyone in the world is doing it. It is not the farangs who are "spoiling" Thailand, it's the Thais who want to create for themselves a modern society and get all the creature comforts that come with it. The effect that the expat farangs have on Thai society is miniscule at best.

As societies and their economies evolve, many times they eventually come to the point where they realize they've gone too far and then spend an exhorbitant amount of money to restore some of their past glory and culture. I wouldn't be surprised if that happens sometime in the future with Thailand as well. I cannot argue with you that perhaps filling in the klongs, etc. might be short-sighted and some Thais will later regret what they've done. But for a farang to blame it on other farangs is just rediculous. That's the type of thinking that I'd expect from some uneducated Thai...blame it all on the farangs.

My god... if Greens statements are "unbelievable" then yours are just plain naive... of course it is the west through the WTO and World Bank who are insisting that all these countries develop their infrastructure as a condition of the loans they recieve. Yes we as farangs are not to blame as individuals, but our governments certainly are!! especially the USA through the world bank. I suggest you catch up with what's really going on!!

Aside from that, I think the general tone of those that have, is just as bad if not worse than poor greenwanderer who seems pretty content!! I personally couldn't care less how much you earn or spend as long as you're happy, it's a positive note for me in the process of moving over to BKK, that there are those high income packages available, and comforting that like Green.. I will have to survive on about 40k until I get sorted, at least I know I will be pretty happy about that choice. People with money all over the world always feel threatened by someone "lower down" questioning their spending.... it seems you're all a little too scared of losing what you have, at least that's how it comes across.

[greenwanderer108]

I do resent the fact that there are dozens if not hundreds of farang in this country that are arrogant and ignorant

They come here throwing money around like it's growing from their arse...These are so often the same farang that complain about Thai people not being able to speak proper English. And boasting about how great Farangland is...

The same pioneers who convinced Thailand they needed to build highways and fill in their 'ancient' klongs with concrete to accomodate more cars as to keep up with the modern world. I could go on and on...but I don't want to get side-tracked.

...But for a farang to blame it on other farangs is just rediculous. That's the type of thinking that I'd expect from some uneducated Thai...blame it all on the farangs.

If you actually read the post...you'll see that no where did I blaim Thailand's problems on all farang..I picked a certain box of farang who I consider ignorant and arrogant that may/may not contribute. Since when do 'dozens if not hundreds of farang' represent the entire farang population of Thailand, or the entire west for that matter?

Sure, we can go on about Thais exploiting their own culture to keep up with a modernizing world, but that's a topic all on it's own. Here we're talking about expenditures of expats, and I simply stated my resentment for the actions, attitudes, and lifestyles of other expats regarding their spending habbits---and so creating such a narrow box for all farang to fit in.

Sure, it may not be fair as one can easily blaim those Thais who believe the stereotype for being so narrow minded. Like I said, another topic altogether.

Greenwanderer ... you came here at 18, you're now 23, you've had a stint working back home at 7-11, yet you work here as a teacher.... I assume from your own summaries of the last five years of your life that you never attended university (a western one, at least) and therefore are not qualified as a teacher.

You have assumed wrong that I have never attended University. I attended an International University with Western subjects/teachers right here in Thailand for 2 1/2 years, pulling a 3.9 GPA before I chose to drop out. I don't need to get into details as it's off subject. Let's just say I got tired of being an independent poor student....and sick of the heirarchy/business ethics of what is supposed to be an educational facility.

Your definitions of what is--is not qualified are irrelevent to me. You don't sign my check. While I agknowledge your attempt to discredit me with your credentials, save it for the teaching in Thailand forum.

I was never bitter about the expat OR Thai parents at the bilingual I worked at earning more than me. In fact, the thought never crossed my mind because I was happy living where I was and enjoying the lifestyle I created for myself.

Where do you get the idea that I'm bitter of others for making more than me? That's exactly why the topic is about expenditures of expats, which is relevent to income, but not the focus. The focus is about the attitudes and lifestyles of those. Obviously, there is loads of defensive expats here on the subject...that's not my fault that they're not willing--capable of having a an open mature conversation without getting butt hurt and condesending.

I still eat street food several times a week, but I don't want my son only eating Thai food. Again, I want him to have a variety of experiences and eating farang food is one of them. If I want to go to Villa and buy a food product from my home country, then I will.

Hold your guns now...I never once claimed that expats are ignorant or arrogant because they choose to eat farang food. I just think it's rediculous if they refuse to eat local food for being so close minded. I eat KFC and Mac every so often as well. I buy steaks, salmons, ground beef, dorritios, and burritos from Villa here and there also. And so, I still don't come nearly close to spending 20,000 baht a month on food.

I have a brother, 9 years younger than myself. When he was 18 he was still a boy. When you came to Thailand, although I'm sure you will disagree, you were just a boy.

There you go getting lost in your definitions. Sure, I'm a boy. I'm not a girl. Am I a man? When need be. Am I an adult? By any country law's definition I am. I support myself. I take responsibility for my own actions. That's adult enough for me. Am I senile and condesending to those younger and less experienced than me? I try not to be if I can help it.

I am surprised at your incredibly naive view of the people around you - both Thai and expats. How you feel you can make assumptions and make statements encompassing all Thai people, or all "old" people is beyond me, especially as they are so laughably inaccurate. I can only wonder what has gone on in your life that has made you so bitter and twisted ... something usually reserved for "old" people that you seem to have no respect for.

If you are gonna forum, please realize and accept that generalizations will be made. And so, I do my best to choose my words wisely in making generalizations, and if you scroll back, you'll see that I never made any statements to encompass all Thai people.

Ah...respect. You have your values and I have mine. In my values, respect is something that is earned. Respect isn't automatic as far as I'm concerned whether we're talking about a heirarchy or seniority.

One who is truly wise and gets my respect is one who can manifest his/her wisdom, experience, and advice in a humble way. A defensive/offensive condesending attack certainly doesn't get a respectful response from me.

Maybe one day, like my brother, something will happen in your life that will make you wake up and realise that you don't want to be working in job with little chance of furtherment (monetarily and professionally) and you will want to do something to improve the lifestyle of yourself and your family. Maybe you won't. Maybe you truely are happy doing what you are doing and earning the salary that you do. But at the very least, I hope you wake up one day realising that there are many people in this world and they all have different priorities and no one should be judged on the type of job they do or how they spend their money.

So in other words I'm still sleeping. I can accept that...Can you accept that you're still sleeping too?

I've got a lot to learn, sure...that's the fun of life. Sounds like you got to learn a lot too. Maybe...maybe...maybe... Maybe the next thing you're going to tell me is there is only one judge..right? Okay, this isn't about religion.

So, you want me to 'wake up' feel, be, and think just like you. What about all these other people in the world with different priorities you mention...Do they and should they also realize the world through your eyes?

You're not the only one with a family, working your way up. I might not have your exact experience, but I have my own...it's reality for me...I can accept mine and I can accept that you accept yours...Can you accept mine. Perhaps you are familliar with Plato's allegory of the Cave???

Perception is reality...

Edited April 4, 2006 by greenwanderer108

[cobra]

...An why does everyone say "Dude"/?? whats that about?...

You could start a whole thread on that,

It's been in colloquial fashion off and on for years, exactly when it come into the collective lexicon who knows.

But we all loved The Dude in The Big Lebowski,

[Maejo Man]

I do resent the fact that there are dozens if not hundreds of farang in this country that are arrogant and ignorant

They come here throwing money around like it's growing from their arse...These are so often the same farang that complain about Thai people not being able to speak proper English. And boasting about how great Farangland is...

If you actually read the post...you'll see that no where did I blaim Thailand's problems on all farang..I picked a certain box of farang who I consider ignorant and arrogant that may/may not contribute. Since when do 'dozens if not hundreds of farang' represent the entire farang population of Thailand, or the entire west for that matter?

Sure, we can go on about Thais exploiting their own culture to keep up with a modernizing world, but that's a topic all on it's own. Here we're talking about expenditures of expats, and I simply stated my resentment for the actions, attitudes, and lifestyles of other expats regarding their spending habbits---and so creating such a narrow box for all farang to fit in.

Having read this thread from beginning to end ....Two words spring to mind....Chip and Shoulder

[GuestHouse]

And this guy teaches.....

Here we're talking about expenditures of expats, and I simply stated my resentment for the actions, attitudes, and lifestyles of other expats regarding their spending habbits

Why does it bother you? Get a life of your own, and live it.

If you were so truly happy in this life you have chosen you wouldn't give a sh1t about the life styles of others, I doubt you'd even notice.

Bitter and twisted at your age, you're a mess man get home to momma, she'll look after you.

[Thaible]

Don't hate the player, hate the game.

Money in itself means nothing, it's just a means of barter. But it gets you the stuff that does mean something - aircon, car, food, women, travel, housing, etc.

If you already have what you want, fine. If you want more, stop whining and do something about it.

Edited April 5, 2006 by Thaible

[sylvafern]

Greenwanderer ... you came here at 18, you're now 23, you've had a stint working back home at 7-11, yet you work here as a teacher.... I assume from your own summaries of the last five years of your life that you never attended university (a western one, at least) and therefore are not qualified as a teacher.

You have assumed wrong that I have never attended University. I assumed correct that you never attended a western university, I attended an International University with Western subjects/teachers right here in Thailand for 2 1/2 years, pulling a 3.9 GPA before I chose to drop out.

Your definitions of what is--is not qualified are irrelevent to me. You don't sign my check. While I agknowledge your attempt to discredit me with your credentials, No attempt to discredit, just making a point that you came here very young and working in a job where you have had no western training or experience which leads to the fact that it is unlikely you will ever earn more than what you do now teaching in Thailand (which, as you put it is irrelevent because you are happy with what you earn. save it for the teaching in Thailand forum. You're right, and there is a thread in there that discuss the differences between Thai 'international' universities and universities in the west.

Where do you get the idea that I'm bitter of others for making more than me? Your tone of voice throughout this whole thread. You can't seem to understand that others choose to spend money the way they wish and you come off very negative and bitter about it. That's exactly why the topic is about expenditures of expats, which is relevent to income, but not the focus. The focus is about the attitudes and lifestyles of those. Obviously, there is loads of defensive expats defensive? I'm not sure that discussing how they spend their money equates to defending their salary/spending

I still eat street food several times a week, but I don't want my son only eating Thai food. Again, I want him to have a variety of experiences and eating farang food is one of them. If I want to go to Villa and buy a food product from my home country, then I will.

Hold your guns now...I never once claimed that expats are ignorant or arrogant because they choose to eat farang food. I just think it's rediculous if they refuse to eat local food for being so close minded. I eat KFC and Mac every so often as well. but, as you stated, it's a fact that you're not proud of.

If you are gonna forum, please realize and accept that generalizations will be made. And so, I do my best to choose my words wisely in making generalizations, and if you scroll back, you'll see that I never made any statements to encompass all Thai people. a statement made about 99% of Thai people is close enough to generalizing about all Thai people, if you ask me.

Ah...respect. You have your values and I have mine. In my values, respect is something that is earned. Respect isn't automatic as far as I'm concerned whether we're talking about a heirarchy or seniority. Agreed. Not really sure of the purpose of this statement, though.

Maybe one day, like my brother, something will happen in your life that will make you wake up and realise that you don't want to be working in job with little chance of furtherment (monetarily and professionally) and you will want to do something to improve the lifestyle of yourself and your family. Maybe you won't. Maybe you truely are happy doing what you are doing and earning the salary that you do. But at the very least, I hope you wake up one day realising that there are many people in this world and they all have different priorities and no one should be judged on the type of job they do or how they spend their money.

So in other words I'm still sleeping. I can accept that...Can you accept that you're still sleeping too?

I've got a lot to learn, sure...that's the fun of life. Sounds like you got to learn a lot too. Absolutely - and as a teacher you should know that that's what education is all about - instilling a love of lifelong learning (and I'm not just talking about formal learning). Maybe...maybe...maybe... Maybe the next thing you're going to tell me is there is only one judge..right? Okay, this isn't about religion. Sorry, really don't get this - no idea what you're talking about. I'm not a religious person and don't believe in a higher power.

So, you want me to 'wake up' feel, be, and think just like you. What about all these other people in the world with different priorities you mention...Do they and should they also realize the world through your eyes? ??? Where did this come from? I think by mentioning that people have different priorites I was making the point that everyone has different outlooks on life and we should accept these differences.

Edited April 5, 2006 by sylvafern

[Goldenbead]

Ned's got everything he needs...A huge house, 4 kids growing up. A loyal wife...A few mistresses on the side. After 10 years of teaching, he finally had enough money and credit to take out a loan and start a small family tour business with June, as the country side has boomed with tourism the past decade....

I was enjoying your little story up until here. A few mistresses on the side? That is so typical.....

[jdinasia]

hmmmm western Uni's in Thailand ... what ... ABAC? Webster?

[greenwanderer108]

...People with money all over the world always feel threatened by someone "lower down" questioning their spending.... it seems you're all a little too scared of losing what you have, at least that's how it comes across.

This would explain the condesending remarks on this thread...

And this guy teaches.....

Why does it bother you? Get a life of your own, and live it.

If you were so truly happy in this life you have chosen you wouldn't give a sh1t about the life styles of others, I doubt you'd even notice.

Bitter and twisted at your age, you're a mess man get home to momma, she'll look after you.

And this guy is a father, artist, and engineer

Do you instill such values in your children too? ...As to not give a rat's dropping, let alone question other's lifestyles in the global community? I would hope that someone like you, especially as a financial upper elite, would be open minded enough to teach your offspring that their actions/lifestyles effect millions of others in this interconnected global society...

...that they atleast realize the petrol used to get to one of your skiing trips wasn't in vain, and that billions of others in the world have never even seen snow, let alone can afford a lift-ticket. I would assume from the little that I can know you from your posts on Thaivisa and seeing your fair pricing Thailand project, that you honestly don't believe and teach your children that lifestyles and attitudes of others, particularly the financially priveleged are of no consequence to others...