Could you let me know why you choose to stay here in Thailand?

[Pongsakorn Semsuwan]

Hi guys, I'm a new member here and I'm Thai. I just met an old man (maybe 45, I don't know) in MRT today. He wear a shirt with elephant on it. Carry a backpack with Thai flag printed on it. His cellphone case even has a Thai flag sticker. He seems to be very happy to live here.

And I was wondering what makes foreigners want to live here. For me, I have to admit that I'm not very proud of my country. You see, there are so many uncivilised things here.

• The traffic is very bad.
• There is corruption everywhere from school to government.
• Widen gap between poor and rich people.
• Uneducated people in faraway province that does not have a chance to get a good opportunity in their life.
• High pollution. It makes me sad every time I look at Chao Phraya river.
• The weather is too hot (at least for me, though I have to admit that this time of the year is the best for me).
• Salary is low compared to other countries. (I'm a programmer).
• etc. etc.

I went to San Francisco and Japan a few months ago and I really like both of them. The building and city structure is really nice. Not to mention a stunning sight of bay area. I wish I could work there but it's not easy to get work permit and I cannot afford to take master degree there.

Leave San Francisco there and back to the topic. I just want to know what you like in Thailand. At least please make me feel a little bit more proud of my country, please?

I know this kind of question might already be asked but then again...

Pardon my english skill. I'm trying to improve it

[David48]

WOW ... joined 45 mins ago.

Thai, Avatar and a hyperlink to his blog in the signature ... man you are organised ...

Your schooling in English is a credit to your teacher, your school and your linguistic ability.

I hope you consider passing these English skills on to your fellow countrymen ... Thailand needs leaders in English like yourself!

[claffey]

With a good salary foreign people can have a really good lifestyle in Thailand. In our home countries most people have very little disposable income. We work to pay the bills or the 40 years mortgages on our semi detached houses. Life in Thai is exciting. The food is the best in the world. Most Thais are friendly. The beaches are beautiful. Transport is dangerous but extensively available for wherever you want to go. The streets are always full of people from all walks of life. In Europe streets can often be empty, especially on a Sunday. Life is just so much more interesting in Thailand. The range of accommodation is amazing, from cheap seaside huts to exclusive five start resorts...The list goes on. There is just no comparison between boring old Europe and exciting, raw Thailand...I live in the UK at the moment and I spend all my time dreaming of Bangkok. Shopping is amazing, from markets to malls. Nightlife is interesting to say the least! Then you have tsunamis, bombs, terrorists, demonstrations, corruption, etc...Its just interesting to be in a country where stuff happens....

Its nice to see more Thai's getting involved in our forum. Well done for posting a good topic and your English is very understandable too...Sawadee Krap....

[Thai at Heart]

The politics is a laugh a minute.

Where can u get this much free comedy?

[wym]

It is silly to want to be proud of your country.

I'm American and we have much more to be ashamed of than Thailand.

Be proud to be a kind and ethical member of the human race whose mindset transcends silly lines drawn on a map.

[Costas2008]

Khun Pongsakorn, In which country were you educated?

Your English puts me in shame.

I would also like to welcome you on TVF and wish you Chok Dee.

Although I don't think you can go wrong, judging from your first post.

[Pongsakorn Semsuwan]

With a good salary foreign people can have a really good lifestyle in Thailand. In our home countries most people have very little disposable income. We work to pay the bills or the 40 years mortgages on our semi detached houses. Life in Thai is exciting. The food is the best in the world. Most Thais are friendly. The beaches are beautiful. Transport is dangerous but extensively available for wherever you want to go. The streets are always full of people from all walks of life. In Europe streets can often be empty, especially on a Sunday. Life is just so much more interesting in Thailand. The range of accommodation is amazing, from cheap seaside huts to exclusive five start resorts...The list goes on. There is just no comparison between boring old Europe and exciting, raw Thailand...I live in the UK at the moment and I spend all my time dreaming of Bangkok. Shopping is amazing, from markets to malls. Nightlife is interesting to say the least! Then you have tsunamis, bombs, terrorists, demonstrations, corruption, etc...Its just interesting to be in a country where stuff happens....

Its nice to see more Thai's getting involved in our forum. Well done for posting a good topic and your English is very understandable too...Sawadee Krap....

Thank you for your explanation krub ( I don't know should I use krab, krap, krub or krup, haha ). Having good salary help living in Thailand enjoyable is understandable. But what if you were Thai and you don't get paid that much. Will you still enjoy living here?

"We work to pay the bills or the 40 years mortgages on our semi detached houses" This is exactly what happening to most Thai people. We don't have spare money to spend on luxury living. Buying a nice house or condo here cost us like 20 - 30 years of working.

Maybe it's not about where you live then. Maybe it's about income after all. Maybe I should try to get more income and my paradigm might be changed?

My english is not that good, trust me. I have to google while I'm typing here, haha

[Pongsakorn Semsuwan]

Khun Pongsakorn, In which country were you educated?

Your English puts me in shame.

I would also like to welcome you on TVF and wish you Chok Dee.

Although I don't think you can go wrong, judging from your first post.

I have been studied here in Thailand since I was born krub.

My mother is english teacher so that might help.

[EBlair48]

I just met an old man (maybe 45, I don't know)

555555

For expat men, it's about the women ( mostly) and Ladyboyz (some) C'mon...guys you know it's true. Take the Thai women ( and Ladyboyz) out of the equation and there'd be an exodus to rival when Jews split Egypt.

For expat women I call it the 4 M's; Massages, maids, mastication and m-bibing. There's also a 5th M but it's not so great, masturbation.

So..er, Kuhn Pong, can I call you Pong? You wanna go to USA,eh? Are you married? Got any money? Happen to know anyone with a fairly large cargo plane?

[LaraC]

Hi K. Pongsakorn, nice to meet you!

I am a woman in Thailand (please excuse the picture in my avatar, there is a reason it is there, but normally i wouldnt have something like that).
Obviously there will be a lot of different reasons why people come here.

For me personally, i confess that i always had a fascination for Japan, but honestly i just could not afford to live in Japan.
I also from a young girl had a fascination for Asia. I loved Asian cartoons and series and i dont know why. I also loved to watch martial arts. I used to be a Christian too and one day i went to a pagoda with images of Buddha and i felt like this is what im supposed to learn something about. I am no longer Christian. I am not Buddhist, but i love the teachings.
So anyway, i wanted to visit Asia and i realised Thailand would be a good hub for traveling to other Asian countries.
But...slowly Thailand began to feel like home and i wanted to stay instead of keep traveling.
I love the smiles and the politeness. Even someone working cleaning toilets has politeness.
I love the quiet ways. I love the people.
Even if i could afford to live in Japan now, i dont think i would.
This feels like home and i love it.

What i dont love is if ไม่เป็นไร is used as an excuse for bad standard, especially for important things.
I dont love the corruption.
I dont love the electric cables everywhere and the loud noises and music so many Thai people seem to love.
BUT, every country has its things we dont like. My country isnt perfect either...and i am much happier here than in my own country

[LaraC]

For expat women I call it the 4 M's; Massages, maids, mastication and m-bibing. There's also a 5th M but it's not so great, masturbation.

I think that is a very shallow observation. Most expat women i know run businesses, do charity work, learn the language and get involved. I hardly ever go for massages (no time), i dont have maid, i do like the food, i dont know what m-bibing is and the 5th is a down right weird thing to put.

But im off-topic, sorry Khun P.

[cornishcarlos]

I came here to find programmers for my start up company in San Fran, not having much luck so I have been here a while !!

Guess I'll just keep looking

[Jackson86]

i have the intention of migrating to thailand in future. i just like the 'sawadeeka' environment there ! never mind the poor infrastructure such as dirty roads and dilapidated buildings, it's the people that matters most to me.

[beachproperty]

OP....Your list of complaints about your country could apply probably to all countries in the world!.....The grass is not greener on the other side.

I was born, raised and worked in San Francisco. Yes I liked it. But it also has many downsides too...except for the weather complaint ....all your other complaints apply to S.F. also....where ever you live, you make of it what you will.

I have lived here in Thailand now for 10 years (yeah...I moved from S.F. to live here...can you

believe it?) so in answer to your question Why? simple answer....WIFE. I married a wonderful Thai

women who has given me the best 10 years of my life (With, I hope, many more to come!) ....AND she

was given the choice of where to live and she choose Thailand!

Didn't matter to me where we live, as long as it was with her and the family...we have made our own paradise here in Thailand!

Its not about where you live your life its about what you do with...

Good Luck!

[somchaimaidai]

I stay here because I earn a lot of money here.

[Soutpeel]

I stay here because I earn a lot of money here.

Same for me.

[somchaimaidai]

I stay here because I earn a lot of money here.

Same for me.

Just wish I could pay your taxes.....

[nottocus]

Why did I stay there?

[Soutpeel]

I stay here because I earn a lot of money here.

Same for me.

Just wish I could pay your taxes.....

What taxes would those be ?

[Amavel]

As an American, affordable, quality healthcare and the ability to live without gunfire brought me here. Now, if the locals weren't such terrible drivers, it would be paradise.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[PedMakMakMak]

WOW ... joined 45 mins ago.

Thai, Avatar and a hyperlink to his blog in the signature ... man you are organised ...

Your schooling in English is a credit to your teacher, your school and your linguistic ability.

I hope you consider passing these English skills on to your fellow countrymen ... Thailand needs leaders in English like yourself!

WHAT is a hyperlink to a blog in the signature?

Anyway, new or old, I am glad you asked the question because I do often think about this same subject throughout the day as I go about my various activities.

1. I, like your man with the backpack, love Thailand, and I would far prefer to live here rather than the Bay area, any old day of the year.

2. But WHAT do I like?

a. I like EVERYTHING but the internet everywhere. THe internet is our hell in Thailand, because otherwise Thailand IS heaven. Its like this: When all about you is heaven here, heaven there, then you need something REALLY bad to compensate for all the goodness. And the INTERNET is what was chosen to be our torment, and the bane of our existance in Thailand.

b. I love the food here, ALL of it in its amazing scrumtious variety.

c. The people are very nice and mostly friendly

d. The people are fairly highly educated, I think, and they have good family values.

e. Here is something you will find interesting as proof of just how good the people are: The dogs are not afraid of someone pretending to throw stones to scare them. Not because THai dogs are smarter, and know that people are just pretending, but because they have never had anyone throw anything at them, because they live in a country where this does not happen, or at least happen where I am.

I could go on, and on, about the many beautiful natural sights here, like the mountains and trees, the colors in the winter time of the leaves turning color.

I like the fact that most things that I want to buy are sold at inordinately low price, compared to other countries in the world.

True, I do not buy imported things, mostly. I do not like imported things, mostly.

I like computer parts, and I think most are imported with minimal import duty.

So, yes, I do feel I am living in a country which is as close to heaven as I will ever get, because I do not believe in heaven.

THis is why I take every opportunity to tell people how much I love it here.

I have been here over one year, and I hope I can say someday that I have been here over 10 years.

If nothing goes wrong with my health,

Then I will be here for a long time.

We FARANG should be more grateful for our many blessings in Thailand,

I think.

[Pongsakorn Semsuwan]

Thank you for all replies. I've read them all.

OP....Your list of complaints about your country could apply probably to all countries in the world!.....The grass is not greener on the other side.

I was born, raised and worked in San Francisco. Yes I liked it. But it also has many downsides too...except for the weather complaint ....all your other complaints apply to S.F. also....where ever you live, you make of it what you will.

I have lived here in Thailand now for 10 years (yeah...I moved from S.F. to live here...can you
believe it?) so in answer to your question Why? simple answer....WIFE. I married a wonderful Thai
women who has given me the best 10 years of my life (With, I hope, many more to come!) ....AND she
was given the choice of where to live and she choose Thailand!

Didn't matter to me where we live, as long as it was with her and the family...we have made our own paradise here in Thailand!

Its not about where you live your life its about what you do with...

Good Luck!

Good for you to find the one and be able to live where you want

I'm starting to think that maybe living here is not bad after all. Still, I don't know, it just that I think that there is a better chance out there for my career.

See, I'm 25 and been in a rat race for 2-3 years. I just want to work at leading IT companies which, too bad, none of them are in Thailand.

It's not that I gave up and blame the country. I'm still working my best to get out of here (gaining more experience, taking master degree scholarship, or create the environment I want to be here in Thailand myself! )

Just wondering why while I'm trying to get out of here. People on the other side are happy to come here.

Again, thank you for all replies. I appreciate it.

[NeverSure]

Thank you for all replies. I've read them all.

OP....Your list of complaints about your country could apply probably to all countries in the world!.....The grass is not greener on the other side.

I was born, raised and worked in San Francisco. Yes I liked it. But it also has many downsides too...except for the weather complaint ....all your other complaints apply to S.F. also....where ever you live, you make of it what you will.

I have lived here in Thailand now for 10 years (yeah...I moved from S.F. to live here...can you

believe it?) so in answer to your question Why? simple answer....WIFE. I married a wonderful Thai

women who has given me the best 10 years of my life (With, I hope, many more to come!) ....AND she

was given the choice of where to live and she choose Thailand!

Didn't matter to me where we live, as long as it was with her and the family...we have made our own paradise here in Thailand!

Its not about where you live your life its about what you do with...

Good Luck!

Good for you to find the one and be able to live where you want

I'm starting to think that maybe living here is not bad after all. Still, I don't know, it just that I think that there is a better chance out there for my career.

See, I'm 25 and been in a rat race for 2-3 years. I just want to work at leading IT companies which, too bad, none of them are in Thailand.

It's not that I gave up and blame the country. I'm still working my best to get out of here (gaining more experience, taking master degree scholarship, or create the environment I want to be here in Thailand myself! )

Just wondering why while I'm trying to get out of here. People on the other side are happy to come here.

Again, thank you for all replies. I appreciate it.

I can't quite figure out what your specialty is in IT.

There is a great shortage and a big demand for web site programmers in the US

right now. One of the busiest sites in the US is actually advertising for programmers

in San Francisco on its front page. If you have the skills, they could get you into the US.

Look down the left side of the page and find the link in green print. Link

[PedMakMakMak]

Why do people there want to come here,

And why do people here want to go there?

In fact, this is a good thing because this leads to better understanding between peoples around the world.

This is why the US Gov offers scholarships to deserving students to go to the US to study, and also they wish these talented students to stay and work, of course.

You can learn a lot by living long term in 3 or 4 different cultures.

I think that most Thai people will come back to Thailand because this is there home and this is a very good place.

On the other side of the water, there is Taiwan,

With a 5 percent emigration rate, about the highest in the world.

The Taiwanese do want to get off the Island.

Why? Simple.

The island of Taiwan has 630 people per square kilometer, the highest population density besides one or two other countries.

The high population density leads to all sorts of problems.

[EBlair48]

For expat women I call it the 4 M's; Massages, maids, mastication and m-bibing. There's also a 5th M but it's not so great, masturbation.

I think that is a very shallow observation. Most expat women i know run businesses, do charity work, learn the language and get involved. I hardly ever go for massages (no time), i dont have maid, i do like the food, i dont know what m-bibing is and the 5th is a down right weird thing to put.

But im off-topic, sorry Khun P.

Sure, that's all the stuff they have time for ' cause cheap labor maids are cleaning their houses.

M-bibing- Mbibing... imbibing.. drinking.

You like the food so mastication,and may I say that av is masturbatory fodder if I ever sawit ( I LOVE IT ) Cannot belive the men have allowed it this long

Too much time battling them online cold be soothed by a massage instead.

( Really all just tongue in cheek-y.)

[EBlair48]

Thank you for all replies. I've read them all.

OP....Your list of complaints about your country could apply probably to all countries in the world!.....The grass is not greener on the other side.

I was born, raised and worked in San Francisco. Yes I liked it. But it also has many downsides too...except for the weather complaint ....all your other complaints apply to S.F. also....where ever you live, you make of it what you will.

I have lived here in Thailand now for 10 years (yeah...I moved from S.F. to live here...can you

believe it?) so in answer to your question Why? simple answer....WIFE. I married a wonderful Thai

women who has given me the best 10 years of my life (With, I hope, many more to come!) ....AND she

was given the choice of where to live and she choose Thailand!

Didn't matter to me where we live, as long as it was with her and the family...we have made our own paradise here in Thailand!

Its not about where you live your life its about what you do with...

Good Luck!

Good for you to find the one and be able to live where you want

I'm starting to think that maybe living here is not bad after all. Still, I don't know, it just that I think that there is a better chance out there for my career.

See, I'm 25 and been in a rat race for 2-3 years. I just want to work at leading IT companies which, too bad, none of them are in Thailand.

It's not that I gave up and blame the country. I'm still working my best to get out of here (gaining more experience, taking master degree scholarship, or create the environment I want to be here in Thailand myself! )

Just wondering why while I'm trying to get out of here. People on the other side are happy to come here.

Again, thank you for all replies. I appreciate it.

I can't quite figure out what your specialty is in IT.

There is a great shortage and a big demand for web site programmers in the US

right now. One of the busiest sites in the US is actually advertising for programmers

in San Francisco on its front page. If you have the skills, they could get you into the US.

Look down the left side of the page and find the link in green print. Link

Hey, I saw him first . My deal ! My deal !

[Crazy chef 1]

if you are real- respect.your vokabulary is great is just your grammar what makes me suspicious.usualy i don't accuse anybody of trolling-but here,not sure.anyway

to be proud of something have to be something what is achieved( not much comes into my mind) and not be given( beautiful wheater,beaches,pretended culture,cheap cost of living,good looking girls....)

if Thai's would be genuine friendly and lived the real Thai culture like 30-40 years ago there you got something to be proud of.and don't put it down of western influence,no it is just pure greed.want to live in westerrn standards but with no afford- it's ain't gonna work.

[Jackson86]

Thailand is great, just that u have to get the language right and appreciate their culture.