Expat Attitudes around the world

[Seligne2]

I really don't know if Thailand's expat community is grouchier than expats in any other country. I do know that I choose to live here.

But I must say that some things about Thailand drive me crazy. I think the reason is that the divide between what Thailand is and what it could be seems to be ever widening and not closing. Two simple examples, related to the fact that Thailand ranks second in the world (after Libya) in traffic fatalities per 100k population (according to the WHO):

1. Coming home tonight I pulled out in front of a motorbike with no headlamp, narrowly averting a collision. When I drive at night I am flabbergasted at the number of vehicles with no lights in front or in back or neither. Motorbikes, salengs, pushcarts, cars, trucks, you name it, with no lights. Even a Thai cop should be able to discern scofflaws.

2. No motorbike helmets. It is stupid not to wear a helmet on a motorbike. It is downright criminal to allow a child to ride a bike with no head protection. Instead of spending money on more hospital trauma units or investing in Bike for Mom/Dad, the nation could set up a helmet "lending library" in every police station and school to ensure that each kid had a free helmet.

Roughly three-quarters of Thailand traffic fatalities involve a 2- or 3-wheeled vehicle. But nothing here ever seems to change for the better.

I will throw in a third thing that pisses me off about Thailand: the leading cause of death among Thai kids under 11 is drowning. I know many Thais, especially those from the interior, who do not know how to swim. Why is teaching swimming not a national priority? It's more important at an early age than obligatory English classes.

[smotherb]

I really don't know if Thailand's expat community is grouchier than expats in any other country. I do know that I choose to live here.

But I must say that some things about Thailand drive me crazy. I think the reason is that the divide between what Thailand is and what it could be seems to be ever widening and not closing. Two simple examples, related to the fact that Thailand ranks second in the world (after Libya) in traffic fatalities per 100k population (according to the WHO):

1. Coming home tonight I pulled out in front of a motorbike with no headlamp, narrowly averting a collision. When I drive at night I am flabbergasted at the number of vehicles with no lights in front or in back or neither. Motorbikes, salengs, pushcarts, cars, trucks, you name it, with no lights. Even a Thai cop should be able to discern scofflaws.

2. No motorbike helmets. It is stupid not to wear a helmet on a motorbike. It is downright criminal to allow a child to ride a bike with no head protection. Instead of spending money on more hospital trauma units or investing in Bike for Mom/Dad, the nation could set up a helmet "lending library" in every police station and school to ensure that each kid had a free helmet.

Roughly three-quarters of Thailand traffic fatalities involve a 2- or 3-wheeled vehicle. But nothing here ever seems to change for the better.

I will throw in a third thing that pisses me off about Thailand: the leading cause of death among Thai kids under 11 is drowning. I know many Thais, especially those from the interior, who do not know how to swim. Why is teaching swimming not a national priority? It's more important at an early age than obligatory English classes.

Well, why don't you just apply Western logic to Thailand and see how that matches? The police do not enforce the laws; duh, then you wonder why people don't obey the laws. People do not have driver training, and duh again, you wonder why they do not know how to drive. Gee whiz, the majority of Thai traffic fatalities involve 2 and 3 wheeled vehicles--leally? I wonder what the percentage of 2 and3 wheeled vehicles is in Thailand and then realize what chances 2 and 3 wheeled vehicles have against a 4 , 5, 6 or more wheeled vehicles. Swimming? How many places for swimming lessons or swimming pools do you see in rural Thailand? Sure, there are rivers and streams, but many people do not swim in them; maybe because they don't know how. It's simply not part of their culture. Yet, you find fault. Imagine that.

[thaimlord]

My guess is that most are very happy here. All of the expats that I know personally are happy here, happy with their lives, wives, Thai families etc etc…

I think what you have is a few very unhappy people who post on this forum often and it looks like an avalanche… they seem to know little of real Thai culture and language but think they are well informed. My guess is that they would likely be unhappy anywhere.

+1

Well said.

TL

[JLCrab]

I have never lived ex-USA in any country other than Thailand although I traveled and worked in several Asian countries. Other than with a few Brit and Aussie neighbors and long-time acquaintances, my social time in Thailand is spent with non-English speaking young Thai females. I am not married. I do not work. I rent my house. No investments or business. I spend my time running a US-based NGO at no compensation and cover its expenses. I have little time for anything else.

All the expat negativity I deal with in Thailand is on this website where, to some, I may be the dumbest thing that ever walked. Oh well.

Edited October 30, 2015 by JLCrab

[sirineou]

My guess is that most are very happy here. All of the expats that I know personally are happy here, happy with their lives, wives, Thai families etc etc…

I think what you have is a few very unhappy people who post on this forum often and it looks like an avalanche… they seem to know little of real Thai culture and language but think they are well informed. My guess is that they would likely be unhappy anywhere.

+1

Well said.

TL

What Kenk24 said has a lot of truth to it, and I have also expressed the same sentiment in previous discussions, but I dont think it applies in this discussion that attempts to explain the difference between expats in Thailand and other countries as far as their attitude

toward Thais and Thailand is concerned.

What Kenk24 said though true would apply to expats in other countries also. Happy expats in other countries would also tend to be less vocal than unhappy expats.

I think it has more to do with expats arriving here with unrealistic expectations and when their expectation fail, rather than blame themselves they blame the Thais and Thailand.

Thais and Thailand need to change to fit their fantasy, Rather than them change to fit reality.

[jacko45k]

Well to be honest as a Thai Expat I do not hold much sway for those of other countries, I am thinking particularly of Hong Kong and many there are fellow countrymen.

Failed in London, tried Hongkong, the acronym goes!

[jmwpga]

I would say being with my Thai g/f for 4 years now and listening to her telling me about her experiences and that of her family. I am learning to hate the inequality here and how the rich rub the noses of the poor into their bloated wealth and also how the present junta cloaks their actions in a cloak of insincerity, yes we will help the common people blah blah blah and anybody with an ounce of common sense knows deep down this is not the case. Sadly I look at history which continuously repeats itself and how true democracy is attained not this false democracy decried by all these numb skull politicians. If its worth having well you know the answer. Her mother and father were also railroaded some years ago here and lost 9 years out of their lives and this I found sickening as well. She is about the only reason I stay or I would head for central America. I would never abandon someone as wonderful as her.

"I am learning to hate the inequality here and how the rich rub the noses of the poor into their bloated wealth and also how the present junta cloaks their actions in a cloak of insincerity, yes we will help the common people blah blah blah and anybody with an ounce of common sense knows deep down this is not the case. Sadly I look at history which continuously repeats itself and how true democracy is attained not this false democracy decried by all these numb skull politicians. If its worth having well you know the answer."

I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments and, each year, for many years it has gotten worse especially for the poor. Sadly, I can almost see Burma possibly taking strides to surpass this junta "democracy".

[MaeJoMTB]

personally i see Thailand as one of the freest countries in the world,

Unless you want to buy a house, get a normal job, or visit a national park for the same price as everyone else.

Edited October 31, 2015 by MaeJoMTB

[gemguy]

Nothing of the sort really.....more so about a whole lot of people just venting their anger at some issues and or venting their frustrations about a good number of social issues....because they can .....and that is part of what a public forum is all about...that being..... posting your thoughts and feelings and or anger ( minus any hatred thanks ) about numerous social issues that would piss off any one in any country they so happen to reside in.

So, next time you are in another country and the government is over thrown by another military coup ( number 17 and counting ) then I can rightly surmise most people ( expats included ) would be complaining and or criticizing and or talking at length about all the various social problems existing in that particular country....in this case..... Thailand being that particular country.

Get it ...got it...good...lol

Cheers

[gandalf12]

For you to fit in or not depends very much on your atttitude. I live in a part of Bangkok were I cant remember the last time I saw anyone other than Thai's. I feel comfortable here and have not had any problems with the Thai's around me. Having spent most of my life in different countries and having lived from Australasia to Canada and all points in between I think Thailand is a great country to be a part of. It does help that I speak Thai of course.

Of course there re things I dont care much for but every other country I have been to has had issues I disagree with so Thailand is no different in that respect.

Edited October 31, 2015 by gandalf12

[Nowisee]

My initial reply is this:
Your options are terrible, very limited and quite narrow minded really.

There is a disproportionate amount of cynicism and mistrust here. I think it’s the culture on this site, a lot grumblings on here.

It’s like saying the reason expats in thailand are happy because:

1. Can’t function in a civilized society of law and order

2. Can’t have a meaningful relationship or intellectual conversation with someone from their own country.

3. Are too broke and poor because of poor life decisions to live in their own country.

Just to name a few

Edited October 31, 2015 by Nowisee

[GOLDBUGGY]

I think with all the different subjects that come up on TV, there is always someone who has a Beef against that particular subject. I am usually quiet and don't complain about Thailand but post what I think of Taxes in my own country and I would never stop complaining about it. Ask a guy from the UK what he thinks about all this immigration coming into his country and he would do the same.

What I find odd is people who complain as it is not the same here as back home. I find it odd because they sometimes move here to get away from that then complain it isn't the same once they are here. Go Figure? But generally most people are happy here. It is only the Squeaky Wheel that gets the Grease most times.

[Time Traveller]

Rangsit:

The reason why Thailand's expat forums are more negative and bitter than expat forums in other countries is because there is a unique cultural disconnect between Thailand and most other Western cultures. Thailand has a unique cultural disposition which tolerates, perhaps even encourages, people to think whatever they want. When outsiders realize that what they perceive is not grounded in reality, feelings of being misled and deceived are very common, hence the bitterness.

I think you'd better remind all those people jailed for lese majeste, as well as journalists and others charged with defamation over what they said about just how tolerant thais are.

In both the long and short answer to your question, in the final analysis, Thailand teaches humility and the importance of being grounded in reality. Painful and harsh lessons, yes, but valuable nonetheless. Sadly, because of cultural erosion and collision, Thailand's ability to instruct regarding these matters has been greatly diminished in the past 30 years. People should be grateful, not bitter, for any lessons learned in Thailand.

Are you talking about the same country where everyone wears magical amulets and believe in divine rule?

[hugh2121]

4: Not being open minded about Thai culture and the Thai way of doing things

Does that include Thai driving (lack of) skills and lack of good manners.