Why I would rather live in Thailand than America

[flyingsaucersarereal]

I sometimes complain about Thailand but here is the list of reasons why I would rather live in Thailand then my home country.

1. The general nice friendly attitude of Thai people. In Thailand people overall are just more friendly you can stop and ask someone for directions without them being annoyed with you and wanting you to go away. Thai people don't throw around insults all the time like you hear in America overall the country has a much more relaxed feel.

2. The cost of living. In Thailand you can get a nice apartment for a fraction of what you would spend in America. I know friends that are slaving away for small 1 bedroom in America while I am relaxing comfortably.

3. Thai people talk to there neighbors. In America most of my neighbors I have never even spoken to how do you live next to someone for years without speaking to them?

4. Almost year round perfect weather. Here in Thailand the weather is much better then America for beach fun or riding motorcycles.

5. The women. This is of course a big one Thai woman just seem to be more laid back and calm. I don't have the time or the energy to waste playing mind games with these American woman lol learning the mystery method or something ridiculous like that.

6. America the police state. While America has a lot of laws that make sense they also have taken the fun out of just about everything. You need a license to have a small fishing boat. If you roll a stop light you get a ticket, If you are speeding at 3 am on a lone highway you get slapped with a $200 ticket. Park on the wrong side of the street and get a street sweeper ticket for $50. All this NSA stuff all the time and its enough for anyone to say no thanks I'll just go somewhere else.

7. America no good public transportation. Yes there are exceptions but for the most part in America you need a car if you don't have one your just out of luck. Try getting anywhere on public transportation in Los Angeles it will take forever and be the most complicated thing you have ever experienced. Taxi's in America are so expensive I would rather by a $500 car on craigslist then ride in a taxi. In Thailand take your pick there are a endless amount of public transportation options.

8. America everything closes so early. In America everything shuts down so early there is no food unless you go to the one 711 that is still open and buy a nasty footlong burrito. In Thailand there are night markets and food stalls everywhere you can eat at almost anytime and the food is far better.

This is my list I am sure there are more reasons but overall I just don't want to deal with the rat race of America. The things that we expats complain about here in Thailand are valid points but would we want to move back to our home countries? I know I wouldn't so I'll take all the disadvantages Thailand has the alternative in America is far worse in my opinion.

Thanks

[Bender]

The general nice friendly attitude of Thai people. In Thailand people overall are just more friendly you can stop and ask someone for directions without them being annoyed with you and wanting you to go away. Thai people don't throw around insults all the time like you hear in America overall the country has a much more relaxed feel.

"...friendly attitude of Thai people...without them being annoyed with you and wanting you to go away.....Thai people don't throw around insults"

yes i completely agree with you thai are so friendly, they welcome you here with open arms!

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757929-clip-of-beach-mafia-controlling-the-area

Edited September 6, 2014 by Bender

[Thongkorn]

The general nice friendly attitude of Thai people. In Thailand people overall are just more friendly you can stop and ask someone for directions without them being annoyed with you and wanting you to go away. Thai people don't throw around insults all the time like you hear in America overall the country has a much more relaxed feel.

"...friendly attitude of Thai people...without them being annoyed with you and wanting you to go away.....Thai people don't throw around insults"

yes i completely agree with you thai are so friendly, they welcome you here with open arms!

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757929-clip-of-beach-mafia-controlling-the-area

AS long as you have money they welcome you

[flyingsaucersarereal]

Yes stuff like that annoys me but read my other posts I am defiantly not always on the Thai person's side. Thats a small minority not the way most Thai's act.

[tmcard]

The general nice friendly attitude of Thai people. In Thailand people overall are just more friendly you can stop and ask someone for directions without them being annoyed with you and wanting you to go away. Thai people don't throw around insults all the time like you hear in America overall the country has a much more relaxed feel.

"...friendly attitude of Thai people...without them being annoyed with you and wanting you to go away.....Thai people don't throw around insults"

yes i completely agree with you thai are so friendly, they welcome you here with open arms!

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/757929-clip-of-beach-mafia-controlling-the-area

AS long as you have money they welcome you

Don't know about a country where you are welcome without money! Can U legally enter the US without money, or any other country, and where exactly do they like people without money ?We changed the people around here by showing off, now we pay the price !

[MRTELLYOUSTRAIGHT]

I like Thailand because there are not many Americans.

[JLCrab]

I like Thailand because there are not many Americans.

I like living in Thailand -- a Brit once told me that I was a nice guy, for an American.

[SpokaneAl]

I thoroughly enjoy both countries.

The challenge with your list is that it incorporates broad assumptions that, while valid in some portions of the US, are totally invalid in other parts. As with most countries, one must travel and visit and experience prior to reaching any overarching conclusions and those conclusions are usually specific to a specific part of that country. And of course the US is one big country.

I think that if one spends time exclusively in one part of Thailand, he/she would be in danger of reaching faulty conclusions when applying those same conclusions to the rest of the country.

I don't mean this unkindly, but when I see posts such as yours I often wonder that if by creating a list of things you dislike in your home country you are attempting to rationalize/justify your move to another country.

Edited September 6, 2014 by SpokaneAl

[robertthebruce]

It's all about Personal choice....

What I do miss, especially in California is,, nice Healthy deli stores, that you have the choice of buying healthy food, which is not heavily salted or sugared beyond taste...

Or jumping in the car for a nice ride somewhere, nice and relaxing....

Just my two cents worth.....

[cgphuket]

Call me crazy, but I do miss the nasty foot long burritos...

[NeverSure]

I like Thailand because there are not many Americans.

Yes, and you are living proof of what nice people non-Americans are.

[pgrahmm]

A little light on the speeding ticket - Calif highway 101 - 3 years ago - 16MPH over posted speed - $968.00 (30,000B)

[CMHomeboy78]

I grew up in Westchester County, north of New York City.

Now you can't even do minor repairs on your own home. You need a village permit and the work has to be done by a licenced contractor at grossly inflated prices.

That's just one of the many reasons that I like it better here.

[MJP]

I grew up in Westchester County, north of New York City.

Now you can't even do minor repairs on your own home. You need a village permit and the work has to be done by a licenced contractor at grossly inflated prices.

That's just one of the many reasons that I like it better here.

Organised crime in local government. Has to be.

[losgrad]

A little light on the speeding ticket - Calif highway 101 - 3 years ago - 16MPH over posted speed - $968.00 (30,000B)

Wow! Was that in a 'construction zone?' I also see photo controlled intersections with $300 'red light' violation fines. Spooks me everytime I drive through an intersection and await the mail. Yes, too many laws with the highest proportional prison population in the world.

In California (CA) or Hawaii (HI), I live in nice neighborhoods where the people are friendly, answer general questions and want to be helpful. Even those with Englsh as their second language try to be community oriented. Since I can sometimes speak in their native language (Spanish or other), it's often surprising to them and makes them more friendly.

In CA, the sidewalks and roads are well maintained with many engineered safety features. More can be done faster than my patience allows, like safer bicycle lanes, but there's ongoing progress compared with road safety in Thailand. CA has a motorcycle helmet law, but HI does not - freedom. Most sidewalks in the HI are in disrepair or nonexistent which is similar to LOS where walking is less expected.

Generally, cost of living is less in LOS, but housing in some CA and Nevada communities is less than condos or houses in LOS before calculating association dues and property taxes. If income generation is not an issue then one can live in the most affordable and convenient area.

Education and other family related issues are important if you have children. I did, but they are now adults.

Entertainment, golf, motorcycling, mountain biking, other sports, friends, family, etc....There are so many criterion to consider and each of us has our own long and short list by priority which changes as our lives progress. The OP now favors LOS as I did 5-7 years ago, but I keep multiple options active so I can enjoy as my whims, maturity and airfares allow .

Edited September 7, 2014 by losgrad

[pgrahmm]

Nope - a section south of Soledad - Highway Patrol.......

[steelepulse]

It's pretty easy to make up a list of pros and cons for just about anywhere, Really depends on what's important to the individual.

[watcharacters]

I like Thailand because there are not many Americans.

.

That didn't take too long.

[losgrad]

Nope - a section south of Soledad - Highway Patrol.......

Bummer! Maybe he thought you were making a prison break from the minimum security facility nearby .

That's a boring and straight section of highway that does not need to be patrolled except for road emergencies. I drove it many times when visiting one of my kids at Cal Poly U. and to buy some used farm equipment.

If you drive 16 mph over the limit on I-5, then you have to stay in the slow lane as traffic passes you by....

Edited September 7, 2014 by losgrad

[zierf1]

I am back in the US for some months now and I am already tired of this place. I will admit that there are very nice areas of the country with incredible natural beauty. But you don't have to live here to visit those places. And by living here you would have to put up with all the other nonsense above.

[HeijoshinCool]

A little light on the speeding ticket - Calif highway 101 - 3 years ago - 16MPH over posted speed - $968.00 (30,000B)

.

But bet you didn't do it again.

[losgrad]

A little light on the speeding ticket - Calif highway 101 - 3 years ago - 16MPH over posted speed - $968.00 (30,000B)

.

But bet you didn't do it again.

Yes, at only 200 baht, everyone just smiles and accelerates back up to speed as fast as the car and traffic allows .

P.S. If in an accident, one runs and claims someone else was driving your vehicle.

Edited September 7, 2014 by losgrad

[Camelot]

No, he fled to Thailand where speeding is a national sport.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

If I could move my family members around the world freely, I would rather be living in America.

Cheap pussy is great, but most normal people don't base their entire existence around it.

In answer to the OP

1. Thais generally aren't all that friendly, don't know where they are, you are, or anywhere else is. I'm assuming you can't speak Thai, so how could you ask directions from most Thais in the first place.

2. But you can't buy a house in Thailand, many houses in America, with big plots of land, are a lot cheaper than a smaller house in Thailand.

3. Thai people do talk to their neighbours, but you don't speak Thai so they won't be speaking to you. (and it might be something to do with the small plots of land)

4. Many places in USA with year round perfect weather, Florida, California, and I can go ski-ing from SF.

5. They are cheaper, and the courts do give them less of your stuff. Although not particularly faithful. But OK if you don't mind sharing.

6. Keep your head down, and the American police, homeland security and all the rest, tend to leave you alone.

Thailand is just as harsh on it's inhabitants, merely a different set of things get them going, and in Thailand we can't even say what those things are.

7. Try using public transport in Nakon Nowhere, not all of Thailand is Bangkok.

8. Due to new Junta regulations, all nightlife stops at midnight, you can find places open after that, but you're breaking the law.

Edited September 7, 2014 by AnotherOneAmerican

[ttthailand]

I like both places equally ....

Thailand is fun as long as everything is going well. If you get into any conflict or have a problem then it is the worst place ever.

America can be a little boring at times but for the most part you have recourse in case of problems.

[hotsoup]

If you read tomdispatch.com, and particularly Nick Turse, you will not need any further reasons to not live in the USA

[willyumiii]

There is good and bad everywhere.

I am American.

There are things about America and Thailand both that disgust, upset me and Pi*s me off.

There are things about both countries that I love.

There are many similar problems in both countries,

Both have corrupt governments, where the wealthy take advantage of the working class, Americans are just better at hiding the corruption.

I tally the good and bad of both countries and find I prefer Thailand.

That is why I live here.

The OP's post is interesting..

He doesn't list the negatives of life in Thailand and I do detect some slightly rose tinted glasses,

but,I think the OP's list is pretty spot on for the positive side..

Edited September 7, 2014 by willyumiii

[flyingsaucersarereal]

Hey Anotheroneamerican

I can speak Thai and by far Thai people are nicer than Americans.

Housing is cheaper in America? Yeah maybe if you live in the middle of nowhere not a city and still that would be hard to find.

I am fine with not owning a house I can just rent or buy a apartment.

[thailiketoo]

Dude, America is a continent so stop calling yourself An American.

You are a USA citizen and subject to fbar, fatca, etc.

Only real Mexican illegal immigrants can call themselves real American. You are not an American, you are a tax payer, a ssn... . You are something between the wonderful Canada and the lone Star state.

Mexicans live in Mexico. Canadians live in Canada. Americans live in America. When was the last time you saw a North American or South American passport? Did you ever try writing, "North American" on a Thai immigration form if you had a Mexican passport? BTW American works just fine for the TM-9 form. Where it says country put USA or America, dude.

[umbanda]

A little light on the speeding ticket - Calif highway 101 - 3 years ago - 16MPH over posted speed - $968.00 (30,000B)

If you drive in the US you need to have a budget just for road "distractions".....In 2004 to pass a stop sign on a desert road cost me $500.....no police around..but a camera. Car towed for wrong parking, $300...and a day work losted.....just few of many....

In 2008 I was working at the Sand Diego Seniors Center. I have to bail a homeless man in jail because he took baby food from a supermarket......I have to sued the supermarket to get my money back, but that is another American history....

Traffic and crime laws enforcement in Thailand is very bad...it is true, but all extremes are bad.

The US is the land of extremes....Some people like it...

Edited September 7, 2014 by umbanda