Will I survive in Issan?

[Saan]

My wife has announced she plans on returning to her family home in Roi Et to look after her parents.

I have lived most of my life in big cities and down sized to Chiang Mai a few years ago where I have friends and am happily ensconced. Her parents live on a farm about 24 km outside the city in a fairly basic house which in some respects is not farang user friendly. Her parents speak no English and not all that much Thai while my Thai is limited. Added to this my wife works for the Government and will be in the city all week during the day. So that leaves me out on farm with parents and brother who has a brain injury and cannot work (motorcycle accident - no helmet). The plan is to build a small house on the property where we will live. There are also 2 teenagers in this equation, my wife's son and her niece.

My questions are: I am nearly 70 and will I be able to survive this transition to rural Issan life? Are there many expats about and do they meet up for a drink or lunch a couples of times a week? Are there shops where I can buy western food? What is the standard of medical care?

Any information will be gratefully received.

[HeavyDrinker]

Does your wife make all the life changing decisions? You seem to have many valid points against a move...

[Saan]

Does your wife make all the life changing decisions? You seem to have many valid points against a move...

She's going the question is 'am I'.

It's the Pavlov dog syndrome - parents tell daughter she is needed at home, daughter comes running. Just ring the bell.

[Nautilus05]

Unless you enjoy watching rice grow and talking to chickens, don't do it.

You're 70 years old man. Do what makes you happy -- you've earned it. Why would you put yourself through the torment of living in a Thai village? It's not going to fun for you. Spend your golden years in a place that you want to live in -- not where some Thai woman wants to live.

Again, you have 70 years on this planet. You've earned the right to do what makes YOU happy.

Edited March 15, 2014 by Nautilus05

[transam]

Does your wife make all the life changing decisions? You seem to have many valid points against a move...

AND, why can't you stay where you are and your wife go home at weekends ? Or are you going to be the weekly carer, financier for the extended family. ?

[billd766]

I can't help you about Roi Et but I can on the rest. I will be 70 in May and I live 6 km from the big village in a moo ban in Khampaeng Phet province backing on to the Mae Wong national park. I have lived out here for 10 years and rarely see a farang week in or week out. If you have an internet connection Skype is almost as good. The big village has a 7/11 and a bank and I go to Khampaeng Phet once a month for a bulk shop at BigC and Makro.

My MIL lives in a small house on the site and speaks absolutely no English at all, my wifes English is fair but from next week she and a couple of friends are starting a small restaurant 6 km away so I wion't see that much of her during the day. We have a 9 year old son whoseEnglish is coming on fine but during school term he goes to school in KPP plus a 17 year old nephew who has a job at the national park and is about 50% as intelligent as a tree but not as much use.

If you read get loads of books or a Kindle reader, write your life story if only for yourself, learn to cook, exercise a little every day, use the internet to learn at least 2 new things a day. I do all this and I sometimes wish I had more time. Find a friend and there are a lot of us about, read the Isaan forum on TV here http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/forum/32-isaan-forum/

Leave all the stress and hassle of city life behind and take life easy as it comes.

Country life is great. I only go to cities when I really HAVE to.

Good luck and remember you know you can do it.

[khwaibah]

Do a research for local forums on Roi Et. Roi Et is not the back water city that some try to make out to be. 24 km out side that's a snap. You'll be surprise of the number of farangs and western venues about.

[sirineou]

will you survive Isaan at 70 years old?

I would say only for about 20-30 years, after that things will get dicey

seriously, it is really up to you and your personality. But what are your choices? you know your wife has to take care of her parents, that's the Thai way, now it comes down to what you love more your way of life, or being with your wife?

When I am in Thailand , we live in KKC, last year we went to Roi-Et to visit a friend, and stayed there a couple of days, It seemed like a nice place with all the modern conveniences a short drive away.

[krisb]

You may really like it.

Maybe a car is needed to get into the city when you need. 24km is just up the road.

[khwaibah]

will you survive Isaan at 70 years old?

I would say only for about 20-30 years, after that things will get dicey

seriously, it is really up to you and your personality. But what are your choices? you know your wife has to take care of her parents, that's the Thai way, now it comes down to what you love more your way of life, or being with your wife?

When I am in Thailand , we live in KKC, last year we went to Roi-Et to visit a friend, and stayed there a couple of days, It seemed like a nice place with all the modern conveniences a short drive away.

They are building a new Robinson Life Style Center with a Tops Market.

[hazman]

My wife has announced she plans on returning to her family home in Roi Et to look after her parents.

I have lived most of my life in big cities and down sized to Chiang Mai a few years ago where I have friends and am happily ensconced. Her parents live on a farm about 24 km outside the city in a fairly basic house which in some respects is not farang user friendly. Her parents speak no English and not all that much Thai while my Thai is limited. Added to this my wife works for the Government and will be in the city all week during the day. So that leaves me out on farm with parents and brother who has a brain injury and cannot work (motorcycle accident - no helmet). The plan is to build a small house on the property where we will live. There are also 2 teenagers in this equation, my wife's son and her niece.

My questions are: I am nearly 70 and will I be able to survive this transition to rural Issan life? Are there many expats about and do they meet up for a drink or lunch a couples of times a week? Are there shops where I can buy western food? What is the standard of medical care?

Any information will be gratefully

The short answer is patience as it will be tested

received.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Ricky from Brisbane]

Yeah if you are a city type of guy it might be tough. I like to get out and about and do things. walk and have a lok around and meet some people and have a yarn. I dont mean bars and stuff every day.

I went out to the girlfriends village for 10 days and it was one of the most boring things I have done in Thailand.

No one spoke English and I dont speak thai much so that was that. internet was not much good and really there was nothing to do at all. Crap toilet, had to sit on the ground to eat, hot. you think it muight be quiet out there but noise all the time.

The girlfriend suggested later that we should build a house and live there near her family. I laughed so much it hurt my stomach. I felt bad I luaghed at her but it was funny she could even ask me. I pay most of the bills so we'll be staying the places I like,

I know some people like the village and maybe they were country boys or something but if you are used to the city life it is as boring as watching paint dry. You are 70 mate and you must know by now what type of life you want.

[faraday]

You need to think about what happens when you might have a health problem, coz we're not so young in body as we were.

If you've got a good reliable internet connection & transport...well it could be a lovely way to spend the next 20 years.

[robertthebruce]

I think writing this Article, you have answered your own questions..... do what YOU want to do, its YOUR time now....enjoy it while it lasts...

[billd766]

Yeah if you are a city type of guy it might be tough. I like to get out and about and do things. walk and have a lok around and meet some people and have a yarn. I dont mean bars and stuff every day.

I went out to the girlfriends village for 10 days and it was one of the most boring things I have done in Thailand.

No one spoke English and I dont speak thai much so that was that. internet was not much good and really there was nothing to do at all. Crap toilet, had to sit on the ground to eat, hot. you think it muight be quiet out there but noise all the time.

The girlfriend suggested later that we should build a house and live there near her family. I laughed so much it hurt my stomach. I felt bad I luaghed at her but it was funny she could even ask me. I pay most of the bills so we'll be staying the places I like,

I know some people like the village and maybe they were country boys or something but if you are used to the city life it is as boring as watching paint dry. You are 70 mate and you must know by now what type of life you want.

As I said in an earlier post I am nearly 70 and I have lived and worked in cities, towns and villages in 38 countries across the world. I was born a townie in England many years ago.

You appear to be a man of closed eyes and ears and not willing to move out of YOUR comfort zone.

I pay ALL of the bills from my Thai wife, son and the family who live with us but I don't make a big song and dance about it.

I speak very little Thai as I am partly deaf but that doesn't stop me trying and the people I talk to around either do their best to understand me, perhaps try to find someone who can speak English whilst I try to do the same. By and large country people are more polite and nicer than city people as they have more time.

You say the toilet was crap, you had to sit on the ground to eat, poor internet and nothing for you to do.

Did it not occur to you to go and buy a chair or two? The toilet was crap, perhaps it was all they could afford and what they have been used to for generations. It was probably hot because unlike you they may not have the money for aie conditioning. Poor internet is not their problem and you ought to take that up with your internet suppliers.

You come across to me as a spoiled brat who keeps saying me,me, me all the time. I feel sorry for your girlfriend who took you to see her family and I also suspect that her family were too polite to show their feeling about you.

Meanwhile have a good life.

Edited March 15, 2014 by billd766

[chiang mai]

I've asked myself the same question many times over the years and the answer has always been very firmly no. Yesterday I returned from a one week visit to the UK where I spent much time in a small village in the South, the characteristics of which are not dissimilar to the remote Issan village you describe. If I ask myself the same question of that village my answer is almost certainly yes, I would be able to communicate easily, I would have access to all manner of facilities plus I would have access to emergency care services. Does the fact that I would not have immediate intimate companionship make a difference, not a jot. Good luck in whatever you decide.

[Ricky from Brisbane]

Yeah if you are a city type of guy it might be tough. I like to get out and about and do things. walk and have a lok around and meet some people and have a yarn. I dont mean bars and stuff every day.

I went out to the girlfriends village for 10 days and it was one of the most boring things I have done in Thailand.

No one spoke English and I dont speak thai much so that was that. internet was not much good and really there was nothing to do at all. Crap toilet, had to sit on the ground to eat, hot. you think it muight be quiet out there but noise all the time.

The girlfriend suggested later that we should build a house and live there near her family. I laughed so much it hurt my stomach. I felt bad I luaghed at her but it was funny she could even ask me. I pay most of the bills so we'll be staying the places I like,

I know some people like the village and maybe they were country boys or something but if you are used to the city life it is as boring as watching paint dry. You are 70 mate and you must know by now what type of life you want.

As I said in an earlier post I am nearly 70 and I have lived and worked in cities, towns and villages in 38 countries across the world. I was born a townie in England many years ago.

You appear to be a man of closed eyes and ears and not willing to move out of YOUR comfort zone.

I pay ALL of the bills from my Thai wife, son and the family who live with us but I don't make a big song and dance about it.

I speak very little Thai as I am partly deaf but that doesn't stop me trying and the people I talk to around either do their best to understand me, perhaps try to find someone who can speak English whilst I try to do the same. By and large country people are more polite and nicer than city people as they have more time.

You say the toilet was crap, you had to sit on the ground to eat, poor internet and nothing for you to do.

Did it not occur to you to go and buy a chair or two? The toilet was crap, perhaps it was all they could afford and what they have been used to for generations. It was probably hot because unlike you they may not have the money for aie conditioning. Poor internet is not their problem and you ought to take that up with your internet suppliers.

You come across to me as a spoiled brat who keeps saying me,me, me all the time. I feel sorry for your girlfriend who took you to see her family and I also suspect that her family were too polite to show their feeling about you.

Meanwhile have a good life.

I hope I dont get to be like you at 70 mate, you are old sure but I dont think you got hit with the wise stick.

You say you are happy but look at what you wrote to me. You just sound angry and upset becasue i dont agree that living in a village is a good thing. Im just giving MY opinion so you got no need to get personal about my life.

I know what my comfort zone is so I live within it and I dont want to live somewhere I cant have a conversation in English with someone besides my girlfriend. Maybe you like to speak in baby talk and sign language mate but that isnt much fun for me.

Just becasue the village is poor that dont make them bad people but it doesnt mean I want to use some hole in the ground toilet and eat on the floor. Im a big guy and my knees cant take that nonsense. Nothing against sitting around eating like that but it isnt what i want to do. You think I would go buy a chair and maybe offend the family Im staying with? Maybe i should have hired a portable toilet too eh and make them offended more. And where did i say anything about air conditioning? Mate it is HOT in the village and not like you can go to teh mall or a restaurant and cool down.

[lostinisaan]

I used to live in my wife's village for a year when I was 41. But always with my wife. If you think you can speak a little bit of Thai, they'll proof you better.

They usually speak their local slang. Honestly, I'd think twice, as a village is pretty boring, hot, no decent food, etc....

You might have to drive to Roi Et every day. but is it really worth it? I mean building a house for whom? Your wife and her son.

I couldn't live there, as I'm used to bigger places now. Why don't you just visit and try to spend a day there without your wife and you'll see.

[JimMagee]

I live in a small village in Isaan also, here are some clues for survival:

Do not live near the Temple, loud speakers, or village headman's house

Find out where they have the festivals and where the market comes and do not live near that area.

Be prepared for noise, noise, and more noise. Loud speakers on roving trucks, music, festivals, etc.

I recommend you move to Khon Kaen, and visit Roi Et. Let the wife do the commute. Khon Kaen has plenty of farrang bars, restaurants, western food and shopping, lots of golf.

Even if the locals can speak some Thai, they will not understand your Thai due to your non-Thai accent. I speak a far amount of Thai and the village people do not understand me. But when I go to Udon Thani, or Khon Kaen, I do not have any issues with the locals understanding my Thai.

In summary, don't do it, you'll waste a bunch of money on a house, only to leave it behind when you get sick of the noise, and non-communicative people. You can rent a nice place in Khon Kaen for 15 years for less than the price of building a house in a village.

[lostinisaan]

I live in a small village in Isaan also, here are some clues for survival:

Do not live near the Temple, loud speakers, or village headman's house

Find out where they have the festivals and where the market comes and do not live near that area.

Be prepared for noise, noise, and more noise. Loud speakers on roving trucks, music, festivals, etc.

I recommend you move to Khon Kaen, and visit Roi Et. Let the wife do the commute. Khon Kaen has plenty of farrang bars, restaurants, western food and shopping, lots of golf.

Even if the locals can speak some Thai, they will not understand your Thai due to your non-Thai accent. I speak a far amount of Thai and the village people do not understand me. But when I go to Udon Thani, or Khon Kaen, I do not have any issues with the locals understanding my Thai.

In summary, don't do it, you'll waste a bunch of money on a house, only to leave it behind when you get sick of the noise, and non-communicative people. You can rent a nice place in Khon Kaen for 15 years for less than the price of building a house in a village.

Yep, the usual wake up news in the morning at around six o' clock. He'll fall in love with it sooner, or later.

Your wife has announce doesn't mean a lot. You're old enough to make your own decisions.

Please try to stay there 48 hours without your wife and you'll see what some people here mean. You're 70 and should think about your own health, proper food, companionship, a good conversation, a game of chess, etc...

Good luck.

Edited March 15, 2014 by lostinisaan

[SpokaneAl]

I used to live in my wife's village for a year when I was 41. But always with my wife. If you think you can speak a little bit of Thai, they'll proof you better.

They usually speak their local slang. Honestly, I'd think twice, as a village is pretty boring, hot, no decent food, etc....

You might have to drive to Roi Et every day. but is it really worth it? I mean building a house for whom? Your wife and her son.

I couldn't live there, as I'm used to bigger places now. Why don't you just visit and try to spend a day there without your wife and you'll see.

I agree with this poster - go there and give a try for a few days or weeks. That should give you a better idea of the flow of life there.

Back to your original question - can you survive? Sure - food, shelter etc will take care of that. However at our age, and I am close to yours, we have earned and deserved a bit of comfort and enjoyment as well.

I also agree with another poster concerning medical care - that is something that should evaluated and considered as well.

Take care.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[mikemac]

Will you survive ? Probably, but surviving and being content are 2 different things. Here's hoping you can achieve both.

Seems a lot of us have a similar story to tell, but in my case I am fortunate that my wife has no desire to return to the village life in Surin, and if she did it would be without me. I love to go down there and visit the family now and again but after a few days of heat, no internet, dogs barking all night and roosters crowing at all hours, Chiang Mai sure looks good. You don't realize how good the weather is in CM until you leave it.

[PaulHamon]

Roi Et is a nice town, and the countryside is also nice.

[khwaibah]

Will you survive ? Probably, but surviving and being content are 2 different things. Here's hoping you can achieve both.

Seems a lot of us have a similar story to tell, but in my case I am fortunate that my wife has no desire to return to the village life in Surin, and if she did it would be without me. I love to go down there and visit the family now and again but after a few days of heat, no internet, dogs barking all night and roosters crowing at all hours, Chiang Mai sure looks good. You don't realize how good the weather is in CM until you leave it.

Move over to Roi Et and there is NO SMOKE.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/710922-chiang-mai-covered-in-smoke-for-the-4th-day/#entry7561706

Edited March 15, 2014 by khwaibah

[nanapong]

Yippee , Patters here i come ...

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”
― Hunter S. Thompson

[hansnl]

My advice, for what it is worth?

Go to live in Roi Et town!

If you are not used to country living don't ever go to live in a small village, for whatever reason.

Most certaily not in a small house on the premises of the parents and assorted family members.

And your wife lives in town and wants to live in RE during the week?

Don't do it!

[slipperylobster]

Unless you enjoy watching rice grow and talking to chickens, don't do it.

You're 70 years old man. Do what makes you happy -- you've earned it. Why would you put yourself through the torment of living in a Thai village? It's not going to fun for you. Spend your golden years in a place that you want to live in -- not where some Thai woman wants to live.

Again, you have 70 years on this planet. You've earned the right to do what makes YOU happy.

Comfort and a close hospitals. Some pals you can talk to. And real food. Screw the parents...you are the Alpha Male now.

[slipperylobster]

Actually, lots of liveable places not too far from Roi Et. Let her have the car and you stay in Khon Kaen or, better yet ...Udon.

[cooked]

A lot of rubbish has been written above. Nobody can tell you whether you will be happy in a small village or not. I am, that's for sure, but I have a loving wife and a very nice, hard working family around me, TV, internet, and at 66 years I am still building stuff and being busy. It has nothing to do with watching rice grow and talking to chickens, maybe it has something to do with thinking about rice cultivation (we will be buying a rice harvester and storing and selling rice) and thinking about chicken breeding.

Up to you and only you, but I think you know already that you don't want to go. If your wife leaves you behind, then maybe good riddance, but that's none of my business.

[transam]

A lot of rubbish has been written above. Nobody can tell you whether you will be happy in a small village or not. I am, that's for sure, but I have a loving wife and a very nice, hard working family around me, TV, internet, and at 66 years I am still building stuff and being busy. It has nothing to do with watching rice grow and talking to chickens, maybe it has something to do with thinking about rice cultivation (we will be buying a rice harvester and storing and selling rice) and thinking about chicken breeding.

Up to you and only you, but I think you know already that you don't want to go. If your wife leaves you behind, then maybe good riddance, but that's none of my business.

If I were the OP I would rather be together with the mrs for five days than live with the extended family for five days.