To the Farang, I met in Tesco.

[bkkjames]

Ok JL ... you got your I am famous I met John Lennon sermon out of the way lol

[JLCrab]

Ok JL ... you got your I am famous I met John Lennon sermon out of the way lol

No -- I'm just getting started.

What I learned in NYC applies here: There are some people I encounter to whom I will give a nod or say hello or even exchange a few pleasantries ... and there are some guys when I see them I know to keep my head down and just keep walking.

Edited April 22, 2014 by JLCrab

[chonabot]

Did you have your ThaiVisa name tag on ?

Weeeeeell, as a born Bristolian, one of the reasons I am not there..................

Southmead?? Lol

Fishponds...................

Staple Hill here..practically neighbours..but that was about 20 years ago...lol

[enuff said]

.

I once was at the urinal right beside Alan Alda. We exchanged pleasantries at the wash basins.

Does he live in CM? hell no

[nottocus]

.

I once was at the urinal right beside Alan Alda. We exchanged pleasantries at the wash basins.

Does he live in CM? hell no

There is a teacher at my school called Dick. I try not to exchange pleasantries with him at the urinal. It just wouldn't be right.

"Hey Dick" as he's got it hanging out.

[Scarpolo]

Ok JL ... you got your I am famous I met John Lennon sermon out of the way lol

No -- I'm just getting started.

What I learned in NYC applies here: There are some people I encounter to whom I will give a nod or say hello or even exchange a few pleasantries ... and there are some guys when I see them I know to keep my head down and just keep walking.

they all look alike, but al dont speak english,

he may have thought OP was an old prison crony, and he didnt want to get outted

[Neeranam]

I've been to at least 8 Tescos in Khon Kaen.

Did you wai the guy and his wife whilst saying 'hello'?

What did he look like?

I spoke to a guy at Khon Kaen immigration yesterday. I asked where he was from and he said he said Baan Pai and he'd lived there for 5 years - now that was funny.

What is funny?

Funny that he thought his place of origin was non of your business?

Or funny he has lived here for 5 years and you are superior in some way ?

Why do you think I am superior to him? Superior in what way? Why would that be funny?

It is funny because he replied that he was from a place in Thailand when it is obvious that when one foreigner asks another where they come from they mean home country, don't they?

[Pralaad]

I've been to at least 8 Tescos in Khon Kaen.

Did you wai the guy and his wife whilst saying 'hello'?

What did he look like?

I spoke to a guy at Khon Kaen immigration yesterday. I asked where he was from and he said he said Baan Pai and he'd lived there for 5 years - now that was funny.

What is funny?

Funny that he thought his place of origin was non of your business?

Or funny he has lived here for 5 years and you are superior in some way ?

Why do you think I am superior to him? Superior in what way? Why would that be funny?

It is funny because he replied that he was from a place in Thailand when it is obvious that when one foreigner asks another where they come from they mean home country, don't they?

You did state the 5 year, so if it makes no difference why bring it up?

What is obvious to some may not be as obvious to others.

What was the need to know his country of origin?

[isawasnake]

This is ridiculous.

I would lay 10 to 1 that a shrink would diagnose op with serious problems.

[sirineou]

Perhaps we should all agree that from now on we will just nod once and give a quick smile back to each other.

Problem Solved.

Next problem is????

Perhaps we can all agree on a secret hand shake!

Costas is right,

A smile is the most cost effective investment a person can ever make.

But is it possible that that once encountering a Greek stud muffin such as Costas the other Guy was simply too embarrassed to look Costas straight in the eye?

Edited April 23, 2014 by sirineou

[ezzra]

maybe he was blind, deaf or pre occupied with something on his mind.....

and if you go around fretting at any person who ignore you in life, well....

[DiamondKing]

"So according to the OP there is only one tesco in khon khen."

Eight that I can remember. Think there might be more.

Were you there? NO

So, close it..........nothing of substance to say.

Based on your replies so far on this thread I think he was right to ignore you

[Johnnie99]

Is this someone you know?

Or do you assume that simply because he is a foreigner, you have some sort of empathy or connection?

[Estrada]

To the farang cracking on to my Thai wife this morning in Tesco, Khon Kaen - eff off!!

totster

I agree. There is a saying "Beware of Greeks Berating Gits"...

[gabruce]

My theory. He's a bit shy. Your wife is hot, he looked at her, and the when he saw you he was embarrassed and looked away.

[bannork]

Did you have your ThaiVisa name tag on ?

Weeeeeell, as a born Bristolian, one of the reasons I am not there..................

Southmead?? Lol

Fishponds...................

Same, worked at Glenside :-)

I knew someone working at Glenside back in 1974, Dave, he was short and balding, one of the main supporters of the Socialist Workers Party in Bristol in those days.

Myself, I lived in Montpelier, St Pauls, Clifden then down to Easton.

Bristol's a great city, you can cycle from the ghetto of St Pauls to upper middle class Clifden in 15 minutes. The hills and architecture make it an interesting town.Big enough to have lots of facilities but small enough to feel local.

Still compared to Thailand it just seems so tidy, ordered and finally dull

There should be vendors on the pavement of Park street and the lawn outside the cathedral!

[jacko45k]

"So according to the OP there is only one tesco in khon khen."

Eight that I can remember. Think there might be more.

Were you there? NO

So, close it..........nothing of substance to say.

Maybe he had his reasons.

[tim armstrong]

There is a middle ground. All over the world there is a universal language - especially amongst country people. It is non verbal. In Thailand it sometimes has some sound with it. It starts with an upward head nod either slow or fast - if you're in a hurry.Sometimes you can add the universal sound - "aw haw" ! to make it stronger. When driving you lift your index finger as a greeting - especially at traffic lights. For a known friend its two uplifted fingers, faced forwards. (not the other way). Try walking through any market here and use a brief head nod, you will get many smiles of acknowledgement.This action doesn't lead to anger and feelings of rejection.

There's another tactic for cities. I have a theory that before 7am if you are walking in a large city, you can say hello to just about anyone, and they will respond. At exactly 7am it all stops and life gets anonymous and business like. Try it out in Bangkok.

[bannork]

Ok JL ... you got your I am famous I met John Lennon sermon out of the way lol

No -- I'm just getting started.

What I learned in NYC applies here: There are some people I encounter to whom I will give a nod or say hello or even exchange a few pleasantries ... and there are some guys when I see them I know to keep my head down and just keep walking.

they all look alike, but al dont speak english,

he may have thought OP was an old prison crony, and he didnt want to get outted

5555, ' an old prison crony', I bet the OP hadn't considered this angle-'Parkhurst, 84 or 85 wasn't it.'555

Personally I find it more natural to strike up conversations with strangers when you've got something in common, ie both have been waiting in the queue at Immigration for a long time, or it turns out you're both into farming or whatever.

In Issan these days farangs are 2 a penny, I had to wait in the passport office in Khon Kaen the other day and it struck me how many of the farangs were talking to their wives in their own language- Swedish, German, etc, presumably their wives had been living abroad for a while and had come back to renew their passport or get one for their kids.

[Morakot]

Yes, to you, Sir. This morning at Tesco, Khon Kaen. I said to you, Hello, and you, not only ignored me, but you turned your face the other way. At the same time your Thai wife/gf, waied and smiled at me. Just want to tell you, You are a Miserable git.

Sir I am so sorry about this.

There seems to be a confusion. I was polity returning your greetings yesterday in Khon Kaen in the traditional Bulgarian manner by turning my head sidewards in an approving way.

Wishing you a pleasant day!

Edited April 23, 2014 by Morakot

[robertthebruce]

It costs nothing to acknowledge someone, just a simple ''Nod'' or ''Smile''

like someone said,there is a lot of miserable gits out there..

fortunately i aint one of them...

''Happy Harry'' thats me.. life's too short not be friendly or smile..

Life is short folks enjoy...

[Suradit69]

So according to the OP there is only one tesco in khon khen. That farang reads TV or maybe his relatives/friends do and they will tell him.

A farang needs to say hi to another farang in a foreign country or where they are a minority even though technically speaking they are so different like how the greeks are so different from the english like a vietnamese is from a japanese.

Meanwhile in other stories an asian japanese started a thread on some type of greek forum for foreigners about how another asian looking guy totally ignored him when he said hi to him while his greek wife waved to him.

Agree. Makes no sense for people to go about expecting everyone to get all convivial based solely on common racial features.

Probably if some unknown farang said hello to me in some store or mall I would nod in a knee-jerk sort of response, put my hand on my wallet to ensure it's still there and spend the rest of the day trying to figure out who that was and why he thought he knew me.

When I stayed in Farang Land, random strangers didn't say hello to me unless they wanted me to sign a petition, donate money, get my vote or distract me while a confederate went for my wallet or they mistakenly thought they knew me ... or some combination of the above.

Having the same skin color doesn't make us all members of some covert fraternity with a secret handshake and decoder ring and, as someone else said, judging by the OP's comments here, the unresponsive farang was smart to keep moving.

And I suppose it's the same people who moan THEY DON'T WANT US HERE, just because every Thai shopkeeper or cashier doesn't gush & giggle when they see Khun Farang. Seriously, get over yourself.

Edited April 23, 2014 by Suradit69

[ronthai]

Well I got 1 minute to loose in my live.

That was it, 1 minute is finished.

[sirineou]

Well I got 1 minute to loose in my live.

That was it, 1 minute is finished.

you must type very slow

[sirineou]

Well I got 1 minute to loose in my live.

That was it, 1 minute is finished.

you must type very slow

oh sorry I didn't realize . you must have thought about this reply for 45 seconds

[daveAustin]

Based on your replies so far on this thread I think he was right to ignore you

I was thinking the same. Op sounds uptight/highly strung. Is it really worth spending time fluffing over it on here? Are there not more important things to do with one's time?

[Thakkar]

Hurrying down a Bangkok street, I once witnessed a farang smile at an Indian. The farang said, "namasté". The Indian said, "g'day, mate".

I was confused and walked into a lamp post and said, "ouch!" with an Indian accent.

T

Edited April 23, 2014 by Thakkar

[Mentors]

I was in New York City's Central Park in the late 70's walking down the West Drive which was closed on a Sunday. There was a guy there sitting on a bench with his wife and young son. I said Hello! although I never stopped walking and he gave a big smile and Hello! back.

The guy was John Lennon with Yoko and a young Sean.

I'd have befriended them, provided a heartwrenching hard-luck story about my life and finances and tried my luck.

The guy was just relaxing with his family on a Sunday afternoon. If I had stopped to chat he might not have been so friendly.

Yes you made the right decision.

But anyway, again WOW!

[Thaiready]

Yes, to you, Sir.

This morning at Tesco, Khon Kaen.

I said to you, Hello, and you, not only ignored me, but you turned your face the other way.

At the same time your Thai wife/gf, waied and smiled at me.

Just want to tell you, You are a Miserable git.

hahaha.....I get that all the time also.....maybe your like me so damn handsome that their just jealous.....I"ll look for you next time I visit Lotus in KK...

[Thakkar]

T-shirt or not someone could probably take one look at you and don't even bother.

BTW I ran into Woody Allen several times living in mid-town Manhattan -- you took one look at him and you realized you'd be better off pretending that you did not recognize him.

Woody Allen has made a prosperous career out of being a miserable git. Perhaps the object of the OP's complaint is working on something similar. I look forward to a Khon Kaen based movie on the meaninglessness of retired life in Thailand married to a spouse who won't stop flirting with lecherous strangers in supermarkets.

T