What have you learned in Thailand? What is still surprising you?

[303player]

Having been in Thailand for a few months, it is obvious things run very differently here than in any Western or other developed nation. I am interested in the experiences and insights of my fellow expats:

• What is the most surprising / striking / silly thing that you learned about people and doing business since you live in Thailand?
• How is that different from what you expected before you came here?

Anyway, curious to hear your anecdotes.

[Costas2008]

Sorry, OP, but everything seems normal to me.

No, surprising / striking / silly thing has happened to me since I've been here.

But yes, before coming here I was expecting to make more acquaintances with Thai girls.......but got married.........very silly of me.

[EBlair48]

That someone giggling with mirth when you injure yourself isn't rude.

That lying is expected and only fools think honesty has some special virtue.

That my safety or even life is not worth 15 seconds of time to the average Thai male driver.

That Thailand is a drain grate where the most sexist humans on earth gravitate like slimy hairballs and then propagate offspring to this attitude.

Where free speech is a criminal offense.

Now for the bad stuff....

[HeijoshinCool]

I did not know the average IQ is 91.

This means for all those I've met with an IQ of 101, there is someone driving a vehicle, on the same road as me, in the oncoming lane, with an IQ of 81.

[LburtonL]

that my wife didn't want me to work

[GuyL]

What I have learned in Thailand? To be much more patient than I was before in my native country.

What is still surprising me here? The silly pretexts and explanations that are sometimes given by locals when something's gone wrong and the superstitious beliefs that seem so prevalent here, even at high levels of responsibility (transport disasters blamed on evil spirits that are not of the alcoholic category, for instance!).

http://www.samuitimes.com/malevolent-ghosts-spirits-responsible-thai-airways-skidding-runway/

[pigeonjake]

That someone giggling with mirth when you injure yourself isn't rude.

That lying is expected and only fools think honesty has some special virtue.

That my safety or even life is not worth 15 seconds of time to the average Thai male driver.

That Thailand is a drain grate where the most sexist humans on earth gravitate like slimy hairballs and then propagate offspring to this attitude.

Where free speech is a criminal offense.

Now for the bad stuff....

ill take it you like thailand then,,lol

as for me, ive learned how to take care of pigs, and that the people around me in the farming comunity are very very helpfull,

ive had loads of thai people help me along the way, and still do,

they told me were to go and buy pigs, one old couple come round and help us at birthing time at the drop of a hat,

all good here, and ive had my rose tinted classes on for over 7 years now

Edited September 6, 2014 by pigeonjake

[A1Str8]

I have learned that despite all the sh.t, foreigners like to talk about Thais, they are not different or worse by any means. There are cool people here like everywhere else. There are stupid folks here like everywhere else. There are advantages, disadvantages, good things, bad things etc like anywhere else.

[buhi]

Sorry, OP, but everything seems normal to me.

No, surprising / striking / silly thing has happened to me since I've been here.

But yes, before coming here I was expecting to make more acquaintances with Thai girls.......but got married.........very silly of me.

Costas, I may be wrong, but I was thinking about this last night in my musings.

Thailand is more like southern European countries, the Latin ones, Italy and Greece included and France in the past.

Family, food, wine , well sorry we can't afford that here, and song and dance. A live for today attitude!

Northern Europe is far from that, sombre, materialistic, cold in climate and in character.

I was born in the wrong country, but soon discovered life elsewhere!

[GuyL]

I have learned that despite all the sh.t, foreigners like to talk about Thais, they are not different or worse by any means. There are cool people here like everywhere else. There are stupid folks here like everywhere else. There are advantages, disadvantages, good things, bad things etc like anywhere else.

Agreed, but I have not learned this here. I knew that before going to this country.

Edited September 6, 2014 by GuyL

[TacoGuy]

I've learned that most farang have no clue about modern Thailand, they actually think it's still a developing country.

[dotpoom]

When they are selling stuff on the Soi's...3 or 4 traders all selling the same stuff will walk together instead of splitting up. Same as the pick-ups with the loud speakers.

[Sena Dave]

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I've learned that most farang have no clue about modern Thailand, they actually think it's still a developing country.

Well its certainly still developing politically

[Thongkorn]

I've learned that most farang have no clue about modern Thailand, they actually think it's still a developing country.

So Thailand is not growing and developing.

[Thongkorn]

I've learned that most farang have no clue about modern Thailand, they actually think it's still a developing country.

So Thailand is not growing and developing.

I

See Thai posters are not growing and developing.

Edited September 6, 2014 by Thongkorn

[EnglishJohn]

I thought Thailand was a third-world country which had great potential to become something much better.

My big surprise has been to learn it is going absolutely nowhere. Corruption and greed destroy anything good before it has chance to take root.

[yooyoo]

That are no limits to the extremes that Thais will go to extort money... I will keep it simple and civil..

[TacoGuy]

I thought Thailand was a third-world country which had great potential to become something much better.

My big surprise has been to learn it is going absolutely nowhere. Corruption and greed destroy anything good before it has chance to take root.

It's this kind of over-generalisation that I find nonsensical. There is plenty of corruption and greed but not so much that it destroys anything good. Plenty good in Thailand. It just gets better and better each year.

[Crazy chef 1]

what i have learnd? that nothing should be surprising me(anymore)!

[geronimo]

1) I've learned never to be surprised at anything.

2) I'm surprised many expats still haven't figured this place out yet.

[NE1]

What I find surprising is , there have been English teachers in this country for I don't know how many years .

If the system and the teaching was on such a high standard , I would have thought that all English teachers here now would be Thai nationals.

[benalibina]

Money goes before morals.

Seems in the west we are adapting to that attitude too.

So maybe they are right ?

[benalibina]

2) I'm surprised many expats still haven't figured this place out yet.

Tell us please.

[geronimo]

2) I'm surprised many expats still haven't figured this place out yet.

Tell us please.

It is futile to try to change the way the people live here, you will only bring stress upon yourself if you do so.

[PattayaPhom]

After 10 years. Why do 7/11 have 12 staff, 3 tills yet just one person serving?

[1FinickyOne]

Learned way too much to put in a post

Most surprising thing is that some foreigners/expats complain that Thai people smile.

[1FinickyOne]

Learned not to give directions by saying it is near the temple or 7/11...

[303player]

Thanks for all these, experienced many of them...

A friend told me something very nice the other day. He said in England (where he's from), people listen to what you say and evaluate it intellectually. In Thailand, he felt it's more important how you say something, and people evaluate you emotionally.

[benalibina]

Thanks for all these, experienced many of them...

A friend told me something very nice the other day. He said in England (where he's from), people listen to what you say and evaluate it intellectually. In Thailand, he felt it's more important how you say something, and people evaluate you emotionally.

Cant talk for England, but notice it here also alot. Certainly not a thai phenomenem. However languagebarrier certainly doesnt help.

[rgs2001uk]

That someone giggling with mirth when you injure yourself isn't rude.

That lying is expected and only fools think honesty has some special virtue.

That my safety or even life is not worth 15 seconds of time to the average Thai male driver.

That Thailand is a drain grate where the most sexist humans on earth gravitate like slimy hairballs and then propagate offspring to this attitude.

Where free speech is a criminal offense.

Now for the bad stuff....

That you continue to live here speaks volumes, totally understand if you are a native of Somalia, Yemen, Syria or the like, more like a refugee from Kalifornia.

Dont let the door hit you on the ass on the way out, you wont be missed..

Thought GG was living in London these days.