Living In Thailand Isn’t That Hard

[SoiBiker]

I don't have kids.

None of the schools in Bangkok are secret. I'm sure you can find out about them yourself.

[StreetCowboy]

I know a load of 'young career migrants' - they mostly seem to love it here. By contrast, retirees mainly seem a sour bunch.

Well, I doubt they are the types who value career advancement and achievement more than fun because Thailand is an almost entirely anti intellectual place of encouraged low achievement.

Teachers, mostly. There are some excellent schools here in Bangkok.

I take it you can verify that ?

Where, exactly, are your kids educated ?

If he wanted to verify that, he could ask me. My kids were educated in Bangkok, until recently. I couldn't have asked for a better school, and I chose it on the recommendation of former colleagues, who said similarly.

[JLCrab]

A few years ago I had a conversation (English) with a Thai woman who was a chartered accountant Chula graduate and had gone to work full time at her family's foundation:

Her: So what do you actually do in Thailand?

JLC: I first came to Thailand as a skilled volunteer at a Thai Foundation under Patronage of HM The King dealing with disadvantaged Thai populations. Now I maintain a US-based NGO that deals with legal issues relating to disadvantaged persons on a world-wide basis through the UN and international legislation and court cases.

Her: That's very unusual.

JLC: Why -- do you think all Western males come to Thailand to drink beer and chase young Thai girls??

Her: (following pause) Yes.

As the guy just above said, it's all about attitude ... or as one Thai put it shortly after I arrived full-time: You mean you actually come here and help the Thai people?

[SoiBiker]

A few years ago I had a conversation (English) with a Thai woman who was a chartered accountant Chula graduate and had gone to work full time at her family's foundation:

Her: So what do you actually do in Thailand?

JLC: I first came to Thailand as a skilled volunteer at a Thai Foundation under Patronage of HM The King dealing with disadvantaged Thai populations. Now I maintain a US-based NGO that deals with legal issues relating to disadvantaged persons on a world-wide basis through the UN and international legislation and court cases.

Her: That's very unusual.

JLC: Why -- do you think all Western males come to Thailand to drink beer and chase young Thai girls??

Her: (following pause) Yes.

As the guy just above said, it's all about attitude ... or as one Thai put it shortly after I arrived full-time: You mean you actually come here and help the Thai people?

Do you have that little speech in a handy text document to cut and paste rather than typing it out every time?

[bkktrapper]

The visa is a mega hassle besides that life if easy

[JLCrab]

A few years ago I had a conversation (English) with a Thai woman who was a chartered accountant Chula graduate and had gone to work full time at her family's foundation:

Her: So what do you actually do in Thailand?

JLC: I first came to Thailand as a skilled volunteer at a Thai Foundation under Patronage of HM The King dealing with disadvantaged Thai populations. Now I maintain a US-based NGO that deals with legal issues relating to disadvantaged persons on a world-wide basis through the UN and international legislation and court cases.

Her: That's very unusual.

JLC: Why -- do you think all Western males come to Thailand to drink beer and chase young Thai girls??

Her: (following pause) Yes.

As the guy just above said, it's all about attitude ... or as one Thai put it shortly after I arrived full-time: You mean you actually come here and help the Thai people?

Do you have that little speech in a handy text document to cut and paste rather than typing it out every time?

No -- I have it memorized so typing it is easy. And just what is it you do every day to pay for your rent on the planet?

[SoiBiker]

A few years ago I had a conversation (English) with a Thai woman who was a chartered accountant Chula graduate and had gone to work full time at her family's foundation:

Her: So what do you actually do in Thailand?

JLC: I first came to Thailand as a skilled volunteer at a Thai Foundation under Patronage of HM The King dealing with disadvantaged Thai populations. Now I maintain a US-based NGO that deals with legal issues relating to disadvantaged persons on a world-wide basis through the UN and international legislation and court cases.

Her: That's very unusual.

JLC: Why -- do you think all Western males come to Thailand to drink beer and chase young Thai girls??

Her: (following pause) Yes.

As the guy just above said, it's all about attitude ... or as one Thai put it shortly after I arrived full-time: You mean you actually come here and help the Thai people?

Do you have that little speech in a handy text document to cut and paste rather than typing it out every time?

No -- I have it memorized so typing it is easy. And just what is it you do every day to pay for your rent on the planet?

I don't feel the need to justify myself to strangers on the internet.

[JLCrab]

A few years ago I had a conversation (English) with a Thai woman who was a chartered accountant Chula graduate and had gone to work full time at her family's foundation:

Her: So what do you actually do in Thailand?

JLC: I first came to Thailand as a skilled volunteer at a Thai Foundation under Patronage of HM The King dealing with disadvantaged Thai populations. Now I maintain a US-based NGO that deals with legal issues relating to disadvantaged persons on a world-wide basis through the UN and international legislation and court cases.

Her: That's very unusual.

JLC: Why -- do you think all Western males come to Thailand to drink beer and chase young Thai girls??

Her: (following pause) Yes.

As the guy just above said, it's all about attitude ... or as one Thai put it shortly after I arrived full-time: You mean you actually come here and help the Thai people?

Do you have that little speech in a handy text document to cut and paste rather than typing it out every time?

No -- I have it memorized so typing it is easy. And just what is it you do every day to pay for your rent on the planet?

I don't feel the need to justify myself to strangers on the internet.

Right. I just have fun putting out my canned spiel and see who shows up to take pot shots at it.

[StreetCowboy]

I was happy to repatriate my family to the Old Country, as I was not confident that conditions would not suddenly deteriorate to the situation where I could not. Not today, or tomorrow, but soon.

I did not have an alternative for fleeing the country when the taxi drivers all took up machetes against their oppressors.

Anyway, not to worry, it all turned out fine...

SC

[rainham]

Have you had a couple of bags of Thai Brau friend ? Are you saying that foreigners visit Thailand to hang around in expat Ghettos and do little more than copulate with the local's making no effort to integrate well you for one are clearly making an effort and your a foreigner there must be more than just you putting the effort in don't you think ? My self i learned how to play connect 4

[billd766]

I know a load of 'young career migrants' - they mostly seem to love it here. By contrast, retirees mainly seem a sour bunch.

Not when ol' Trans sings..............

Even the dogs join in for a while before they run for cover.

[billd766]

You move to a foreign country half way around the world never bother to learn the language, never learn about their customs , never eat their food , date and marry bar or massage girls , spend most of your time in bars and then wonder why you hate it so much. Three words come to mind. JUST PLAIN STUPID.

Thank you very much for your biased comment.

Not all expats are like that. Most of the ones that I know are just the opposite.

Still, what do I know, I only live here.

Perhaps the ones that you known are, and if so, I suggest you find somewhere else to hang out and get your information from.

[Mitkof Island]

From the majority that i have seen and encountered most are drunken a-holes. So most if not all you buddies speak Thai? Really? Where? You must not get out much.

You move to a foreign country half way around the world never bother to learn the language, never learn about their customs , never eat their food , date and marry bar or massage girls , spend most of your time in bars and then wonder why you hate it so much. Three words come to mind. JUST PLAIN STUPID.

Thank you very much for your biased comment.

Not all expats are like that. Most of the ones that I know are just the opposite.

Still, what do I know, I only live here.

Perhaps the ones that you known are, and if so, I suggest you find somewhere else to hang out and get your information from.

[Mitkof Island]

Most retirees walk around with a stick up their butt. I would to if i did not understand anything going on around me and was unwillingb to adapt to a totally different country. Having to look at old fat grumpy foreigners with beer in hand and a 24/7 scowl gets old.

I know a load of 'young career migrants' - they mostly seem to love it here. By contrast, retirees mainly seem a sour bunch.

[StreetCowboy]

From the majority that i have seen and encountered most are drunken a-holes. So most if not all you buddies speak Thai? Really? Where? You must not get out much.

You move to a foreign country half way around the world never bother to learn the language, never learn about their customs , never eat their food , date and marry bar or massage girls , spend most of your time in bars and then wonder why you hate it so much. Three words come to mind. JUST PLAIN STUPID.

Thank you very much for your biased comment.

Not all expats are like that. Most of the ones that I know are just the opposite.

Still, what do I know, I only live here.

Perhaps the ones that you known are, and if so, I suggest you find somewhere else to hang out and get your information from.

Maybe they just don't associate with the likes of you

[Mitkof Island]

Been here sixteen years have yet to see or meet many that were not causing some sort of problems with the locals. My Thai friends don,t tend to think highly of most foreigners behavior either. Not that good foreigners don,t exist here that have learned to speak Thai and stay out of trouble but they are very very rare.

From the majority that i have seen and encountered most are drunken a-holes. So most if not all you buddies speak Thai? Really? Where? You must not get out much.

You move to a foreign country half way around the world never bother to learn the language, never learn about their customs , never eat their food , date and marry bar or massage girls , spend most of your time in bars and then wonder why you hate it so much. Three words come to mind. JUST PLAIN STUPID.

Thank you very much for your biased comment.

Not all expats are like that. Most of the ones that I know are just the opposite.

Still, what do I know, I only live here.

Perhaps the ones that you known are, and if so, I suggest you find somewhere else to hang out and get your information from.

Maybe they just don't associate with the likes of you

[SoiBiker]

Pretty much every expat I know has made at least some effort to speak Thai. None of them have caused any trouble that I know of.

[Mitkof Island]

Well your one lucky man. Curious are they mostly Americans and Canadians ? Certain countries i won,t mention here as i know i will likely hit a nerve can,t seem to stay out of trouble. Can,t speak a word of Thai walk around in a constant daze and confused look , get mad at the Thais when they are not understood. Many can not even speak English. My response to them is. What the hell are you doing here? Let me guess. You never encountered these either ?

Pretty much every expat I know has made at least some effort to speak Thai. None of them have caused any trouble that I know of.

[SoiBiker]

Well your one lucky man. Curious are they mostly Americans and Canadians ? Certain countries i won,t mention here as i know i will likely hit a nerve can,t seem to stay out of trouble. Can,t speak a word of Thai walk around in a constant daze and confused look , get mad at the Thais when they are not understood. Many can not even speak English. My response to them is. What the hell are you doing here? Let me guess. You never encountered these either ?

Pretty much every expat I know has made at least some effort to speak Thai. None of them have caused any trouble that I know of.

Of course I encounter the losers. I just don't make a habit of getting to know them.

I'm British by the way, as are many of my friends. Don't judge us all by the actions of a few.

[rsokolowski]

Before I enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1982 a family friend took me aside and gave me some words of advice before departing for boot camp in Great Lakes Illinois. He said to me "you will get out of the military what you put into it."

Those words did apply to the military, but they also apply to everything else you attempt in your life whether it is a marriage, raising children, your career, church, or moving and living in a new country.

[Cypress Hill]

A few years ago I had a conversation (English) with a Thai woman who was a chartered accountant Chula graduate and had gone to work full time at her family's foundation:

Her: So what do you actually do in Thailand?

JLC: I first came to Thailand as a skilled volunteer at a Thai Foundation under Patronage of HM The King dealing with disadvantaged Thai populations. Now I maintain a US-based NGO that deals with legal issues relating to disadvantaged persons on a world-wide basis through the UN and international legislation and court cases.

Her: That's very unusual.

JLC: Why -- do you think all Western males come to Thailand to drink beer and chase young Thai girls??

Her: (following pause) Yes.

As the guy just above said, it's all about attitude ... or as one Thai put it shortly after I arrived full-time: You mean you actually come here and help the Thai people?

Do you have that little speech in a handy text document to cut and paste rather than typing it out every time?

You can see why he avoids farang . . . they'd see through his Ronnie Conrad act in seconds

[puukao]

here is what is easy:

spend little money

breathe pollution

befriend sexpats

marry bar girl

do nothing all day

here is what is hard:

doing something important with your life

making a difference, more than a simple job

legacy is important

health is important

mind is important

[JLCrab]

A few years ago I had a conversation (English) with a Thai woman who was a chartered accountant Chula graduate and had gone to work full time at her family's foundation:

Her: So what do you actually do in Thailand?

JLC: I first came to Thailand as a skilled volunteer at a Thai Foundation under Patronage of HM The King dealing with disadvantaged Thai populations. Now I maintain a US-based NGO that deals with legal issues relating to disadvantaged persons on a world-wide basis through the UN and international legislation and court cases.

Her: That's very unusual.

JLC: Why -- do you think all Western males come to Thailand to drink beer and chase young Thai girls??

Her: (following pause) Yes.

As the guy just above said, it's all about attitude ... or as one Thai put it shortly after I arrived full-time: You mean you actually come here and help the Thai people?

Do you have that little speech in a handy text document to cut and paste rather than typing it out every time?

<snip>

You can see why he avoids farang . . . they'd see through his Ronnie Conrad act in seconds

And just like I asked him -- who answered that he doesn't feel that he has to justify his existence -- what do you do all day that helps to pay for your rent on the planet?

BTW I don't know who Ronnie Conrad is -- but I know who is Chris Rock.

[BuriramDevelopers]

From the majority that i have seen and encountered most are drunken a-holes. So most if not all you buddies speak Thai? Really? Where? You must not get out much.

You move to a foreign country half way around the world never bother to learn the language, never learn about their customs , never eat their food , date and marry bar or massage girls , spend most of your time in bars and then wonder why you hate it so much. Three words come to mind. JUST PLAIN STUPID.

Thank you very much for your biased comment.

Not all expats are like that. Most of the ones that I know are just the opposite.

Still, what do I know, I only live here.

Perhaps the ones that you known are, and if so, I suggest you find somewhere else to hang out and get your information from.

doesn't that say more about you than them? Most are drunken aholes........why are YOU here then if this is what you are surrounded by? . Most of my friends are serieus, working people who hav a productive life. Your view on others sounds like a personal problem

And there is nothing wrong with the fact, that if you were very seccesfull in life and now retiree, and you feel you have a great knowledge build up during that succesfull life. Thats how it works everywhere in the world. Succesfull people have the right to feel like they did something right. If this makes you feel wrong it most lkely means you failed . Succes rubs of and makes people want to be there around this succes and it gives the one being succesfull a feeling of being able to guide the less succesfull ones. That a natural way wich only hurts the ones not being able and feeling envy. the rest can hitch along on his great ideas and that how you build a better society......

Not b y being offended by smarter people which there always are

[Fabricus]

BTW I don't know who Ronnie Conrad is.....

Meet the legendary Ronnie Conrad:

If you have time, do some homework and learn about the illustrious Lake Palmer.

[JLCrab]

BTW I don't know who Ronnie Conrad is.....

Meet the legendary Ronnie Conrad:

< snip >

If you have time, do some homework and learn about the illustrious Lake Palmer.

... and this is the legendary Chris Rock with a few bleeps:

Every time (some) people wanna have a good time, ignorant-ass (persons) f&^%ck it up. Can't do sh876t! Can't do sh^%$t, without some ignorant (person) f%$#cking it up, can't do nothing.

[billd766]

From the majority that i have seen and encountered most are drunken a-holes. So most if not all you buddies speak Thai? Really? Where? You must not get out much.

You move to a foreign country half way around the world never bother to learn the language, never learn about their customs , never eat their food , date and marry bar or massage girls , spend most of your time in bars and then wonder why you hate it so much. Three words come to mind. JUST PLAIN STUPID.

Thank you very much for your biased comment.

Not all expats are like that. Most of the ones that I know are just the opposite.

Still, what do I know, I only live here.

Perhaps the ones that you known are, and if so, I suggest you find somewhere else to hang out and get your information from.

You just proved my point.

Quote from you yesterday

"From the majority that I have seen and encountered most are drunken a-holes. So most if not all you buddies speak Thai? Really? Where? You must not get out much."

It is simply your opinion and certainly not mine.

My friends are in Pattaya, Jomtien, Bangkok, rural Thailand which is where I live, Bang Saray.

Most of them are married with Thai families, most are engineers, some are retired like me, most eat Thai food and can speak Thai to a degree, some speak more than others,. None of them spend much time in bars as that is long out of their system. Most have lived in Thailand for 10 years or more and love it here.

[Mitkof Island]

Happy to hear that you have found some good foreign friends. I have a few that are able to speak Thai and stay out of trouble. Have lived here for many years and have traveled throughout most of Thailand numerous times. I understand there are good foreigners out there but as i said most i avoid as from what i have encountered and from the experiences that Thais i have met they don,t think highly of most of them. Not a day goes by where there is not a report somewhere of one causing problems. Reports on the internet such as this site, newspapers and on the news. It seems to get getting worse by the year. Sorry my opinion has not changed nor will it in the near future. I have great respect for the majority of the Thais i have met. Can,t say that for the foreigners here.

From the majority that i have seen and encountered most are drunken a-holes. So most if not all you buddies speak Thai? Really? Where? You must not get out much.

You move to a foreign country half way around the world never bother to learn the language, never learn about their customs , never eat their food , date and marry bar or massage girls , spend most of your time in bars and then wonder why you hate it so much. Three words come to mind. JUST PLAIN STUPID.

Thank you very much for your biased comment.

Not all expats are like that. Most of the ones that I know are just the opposite.

Still, what do I know, I only live here.

Perhaps the ones that you known are, and if so, I suggest you find somewhere else to hang out and get your information from.

You just proved my point.

Quote from you yesterday

"From the majority that I have seen and encountered most are drunken a-holes. So most if not all you buddies speak Thai? Really? Where? You must not get out much."

It is simply your opinion and certainly not mine.

My friends are in Pattaya, Jomtien, Bangkok, rural Thailand which is where I live, Bang Saray.

Most of them are married with Thai families, most are engineers, some are retired like me, most eat Thai food and can speak Thai to a degree, some speak more than others,. None of them spend much time in bars as that is long out of their system. Most have lived in Thailand for 10 years or more and love it here.

[JLCrab]

So, when you meet 'em, do you ask 'em: Are you a good farang or a bad farang?

https://youtu.be/nyvRyxpvDi8?t=15

[JAFO]

In response to billd766 and Mitkofisland posts,

I live in between your worlds. I have met some really disgusting foreigners in Thailand in my years. Conversely I have met a handful of really genuinely nice ones that are working class guys, married with families, have a house, cars, responsibilities. Heck spend some time reading the farming section of TVF. Go look at the photos of the guys making a run at it. I admire many of them. That's my favorite section of this site. They are a different type of foreigner(expat). With that said I will say its much harder to meet nice ones versus the troubled ones as I think Mitkofisland speaks of but it doesn't make living in Thailand any harder.

I was originally put off by most foreigners I met except the few professional types that worked in the business segment. Most were rude and all they wanted to do was drink and hang in bars. Some were just down right scumbags. But those types exist in every country. I think why one comes to Thailand initially sets the tone of how they will likely behave while living here. I also think where one might live plays a significant role in it as well. People become products of their environment.

I personally don't need a lot of foreigner interaction which makes living in Thailand much easier for me than some others. I have a few acquaintances spread out through out Thailand but we mostly talk by phone or email. Quite honestly most are significantly older than I am (physically and mentally) and our interests never aligned enough to do things together. I think one of the other challenges I have come across that while there are many foreigners in Thailand they all hail from various countries and its hard to connect and relate to them. So if you require a lot of westerner contact it can be challenging.

So I understand both of your points of view.