Since moving to Isaan have you now found yourself unavoidably mimicking the indigenous folk in one way or another?

This is not to be taken as an Isaan slagging whinge, moan and bitch opportunity! Just a shared smile to ourselves.

These are the traits I have assimilated after a full time residency of 8 months so far.

- Jumping red lights on my bike: (at lesser junctions only and at night)

- Find a shady spot while waiting for the lights to change during the day,

- Sucking & picking my teeth after a meal with some self fashioned foliage type implement! (Darwin would be proud)

- Diet is now full Isaan fare, but I avoid the munchy crunchy content such as knuckles, feet, heads & chewy type spare parts. (I genuinely enjoying the taste variety)

- Shower 3 times a day

- Enjoy Archa beer

- Hate having to visit BKK for whatever reason

All good points until you mentioned Archa beer. Nobody drinks Archa beer unless it is free.

Drinking Archa now, it's as good as any of the other muck they serve up as beer here. How about walking past members of the family and completely ignoring them? I finally trained them to say SDK and now find myself ignoring them. Don't get me into driving the car, I think I drive like a Thai, but I use the mirrors.

Do some of them John, except drinking that Horse p!zz. One you forgot is never saying goodbye when people leave. Just get up and walk.

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All good points until you mentioned Archa beer. Nobody drinks Archa beer unless it is free.

Indeed...

Might be a truer reflection of the OP.

Went back to the states a couple of months ago and realized that my driving skills by U S standards had gone to hell

Do some of them John, except drinking that Horse p!zz. One you forgot is never saying goodbye when people leave. Just get up and walk.

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Took me 5 years to learn to do this.

I have it perfected now and just have to remember NOT to do it when I have been with Farangs!

All of the above except Leo beer with ice.

Edit: I have been driving in Asia for years. WhenI used to go back to the States for temp work and more than 1 was sharing a car, I would never drive because I scared them to death.

Edited June 5, 201412 yr by Gonsalviz

Prefer to eat on the floor rather than at the table.

An ant in your soup is just considered extra protein.

Consider scattered empty plastic bags as simply lawn ornaments.

Take off your shoes when you are going into 7-Eleven.

45+ Baht for any meal is seen as outrageously expensive.

The neighbors unashamedly steal my bananas in broad daylight. So I unashamedly steal their jackfruit.

If anyone is caught red-handed, a smile and a sheepish nod of the head takes care of everything.

Edited June 5, 201412 yr by Fookhaht

Yellow-red-green traffic lights are viewed with no more significance than Christmas tree lights.

(However year-round Christmas tree and Happy New Near lights adorn half the outdoor restaurants on your street. So there must be SOME significance!)

An ant in your soup is just considered extra protein.

be careful of these thai ants. there is a very small black one that like sweet things. they are toxic even one in you food or has been on your food and it will cause you stomach problems at the least possibly other longer term complications at the worse eg liver problems.

fortunately it has a very strong smell which you will immediately recognise after you get done a few times.

Edited June 5, 201412 yr by merry skipper

A water buffalo taking a dump in the middle of the soi, holding back two motorbikes, is considered a traffic jam.

Visiting my friend for a couple days in the next village, and sleeping with the whole family on the floor in one room feels normal.

An ant in your soup is just considered extra protein.

be careful of these thai ants. there is a very small black one that like sweet things. they are toxic even one in you food or has been on your food and it will cause you stomach problems at the least possibly other longer term complications at the worse eg liver problems.

fortunately it has a very strong smell which you will immediately recognise after you get done a few times.

Ah, answers a lot of gastronomic anomalies of the past 12 years!

Having a Bangkokian accuse you of speaking Thai with an Isaan accent.

We all strive to go native, don't we?

Good show!

Edited June 5, 201412 yr by hansnl

45+ Baht for any meal is seen as outrageously expensive.

I do agree with that thought.

I just found a little shop that serves a meal for 25 or 30 baht.

Kind of meal, that is.

Visiting my friend for a couple days in the next village, and sleeping with the whole family on the floor in one room feels normal.

That is taking assimilation WAY too far............................

Next you will be putting ice in your beer and drinking Sang Som.

Visiting my friend for a couple days in the next village, and sleeping with the whole family on the floor in one room feels normal.

That is taking assimilation WAY too far............................

Next you will be putting ice in your beer and drinking Sang Som.

BINGO!

The neighbors unashamedly steal my bananas in broad daylight. So I unashamedly steal their jackfruit.

If anyone is caught red-handed, a smile and a sheepish nod of the head takes care of everything.

I help, and put said fruit into the plastic bag they discarded yesterday and hand it back to them with a wink.

One day, I hope the message may click.

Prefer to eat on the floor rather than at the table.

With respect, the floor is usually cleaner.

Are you describing the quality and characteristic of the issan people who are the red shirt leaning towards PTP who voted for the Shin clan? The only redeeming quality is shower 3 times a day.

Hmm

Just how far upcountry ARE most of you guys ;-?

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Hmm

Just how far upcountry ARE most of you guys ;-?

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Turn left at Sh!t Creek and just after the black dog!

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Prefer to eat on the floor rather than at the table.

With respect, the floor is usually cleaner.

That's one thing that I can not do, eat off the floor. I was brought up to have better manners than those with 2 extra legs.

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