Trouble in paradise: Thailand and the expatriate experience

[webfact]

Trouble in paradise: Thailand and the expatriate experience
by Murray Hunter

BANGKOK: -- OVER the last few decades Thailand has attracted expatriates to the country to work, stay long periods of time to explore the country, or retire.

Thailand attracts many young professionals, particularly to Bangkok. Others work as teachers all around the country, some doing online business or some form of short- or long-term visa. Some operate small businesses with their Thai spouse.

In addition, Thailand has always been a place of interest for the traveller within the SE Asian region, where many like to stay medium- to long-term, sight-seeing, travelling, and ‘just hanging out’.

Full story: https://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/03/expats-thailand/

-- ASIAN CORRESPONDENT 2016-03-21

[steven100]

next .....................

[LawrenceChee]

It's not surprising if you don't have the tenacity for the culture nuances here

Thailand on the surface is perfect for vacations

To stay Long term and with a Thai family depends very much on the person ability to adapt

[Thian]

It would be nice if Thailand had a Western neighbourhood somewhere, something like Chinatown.

[jayboy]

I was intrigued to learn that playing music very loud is culturally acceptable in Thailand.Perhaps someone could explain that to Thais in my moobaan who are very quick to complain vociferously if neighbours' noise levels are too high.

[jpinx]

It would be nice if Thailand had a Western neighbourhood somewhere, something like Chinatown.

They have - it's called Pattaya

[jamesbrock]

He said that many farangs expect the same cultural standards here in Thailand as they have within their home countries.

Like a properly functioning police force, fair and impartial Judiciary, and an effective democratically elected government - who aren't in their positions for the sole purpose of amassing grotesque levels of personal wealth? Yep, guilty as charged...

[trogers]

He said that many farangs expect the same cultural standards here in Thailand as they have within their home countries.

Like a properly functioning police force, fair and impartial Judiciary, and an effective democratically elected government - who aren't in their positions for the sole purpose of amassing grotesque levels of personal wealth? Yep, guilty as charged...

Why are you here? I am sure you already have the above where you come from...so go to your Nirvana...

[jamesbrock]

He said that many farangs expect the same cultural standards here in Thailand as they have within their home countries.

Like a properly functioning police force, fair and impartial Judiciary, and an effective democratically elected government - who aren't in their positions for the sole purpose of amassing grotesque levels of personal wealth? Yep, guilty as charged...

Why are you here? I am sure you already have the above where you come from...so go to your Nirvana...

I have family and a large number friends whom I'd like to be able to drive, ride or catch a bus without dying or being permanently maimed due to ineffective policing and lack of government will - is that really too much to ask?

[lkv]

I have family and a large number friends whom I'd like to be able to drive, ride or catch a bus without dying or being permanently maimed due to ineffective policing and lack of government will - is that really too much to ask?

Yep, it is too much to ask.

Basically you are asking the whole nation to change their corrupted culture overnight.

This will take 50 years starting from now only if new generations change their mentality, and they're not in a hurry.

[Bluespunk]

He said that many farangs expect the same cultural standards here in Thailand as they have within their home countries.

Like a properly functioning police force, fair and impartial Judiciary, and an effective democratically elected government - who aren't in their positions for the sole purpose of amassing grotesque levels of personal wealth? Yep, guilty as charged...

Why are you here? I am sure you already have the above where you come from...so go to your Nirvana...

So you believe Thais do not want the things jamesbrock mentioned?

[TheSiemReaper]

Jingoism in the clothing of social commentary. Not impressed.

[leeneeds]

Welcome to our world with all its warts.

Utopia it is not ,

but I am happy to be here

[skildpadden]

the example of loud music often played by neighbours during the day or night. This generally presents little or no problem for a Thai, but some foreigners make complaints about these issues which are culturally acceptable in Thailand.

Well that is not true - the Thais I know hate the loud music. Not all Thais enjoy loud Luk Thung music about dead buffaloes, no money, no girlfriend at 3am Tuesday night.

[JLCrab]

ThaiVisa could have a slogan: No matter what it is about Thailand, read here why it should be something else.

Edited March 21, 2016 by JLCrab

[nev]

I am going to open a escorted service for sex pats and tourist, I won't come cheap and I expect all my expenses paid for, but in the long run it may save them losing the lot in the future.

Anyone want to join up with me, on here we have so many wise expats I am sure we could cover the demand.

[Thian]

It would be nice if Thailand had a Western neighbourhood somewhere, something like Chinatown.

They have - it's called Pattaya

What i like about Pattaya is the foreign restaurants (even Indian, Lebanese or whatever) and that they speak better english than Bangkokians.

If Bangkok had a Western neighbourhood it would also attract many Thai to learn english,hygiene/butchering/medical/safety/efficiency/high quality and so on. But since Westerners are not allowed to work here it will never happen.

The Thai like to build small villages in Western Style (like in Khao Yai area) but they can't produce the same atmosphere/quality there, no matter how hard they try.

If there was a nice Western neighbourhood (not only nightlife like in Pattaya) it would even attract many extra tourists from neighbouring Asian country's.

[lkv]

What i like about Pattaya is the foreign restaurants (even Indian, Lebanese or whatever) and that they speak better english than Bangkokians.

Yup, we have some in Bangkok. In Sunrise Tacos, staff speaks perfect English, even some Mexican I believe.

They are from the Philippinnes.

[terryp]

Thailand is a basket case, anyone who finds this place their dream destination and plan to spend the rest of their lives here needs serious help..I bitterly regret spending so much of my life here and like many I am constantly calculating my options but at my age life itself is against me.

Luckily I never burnt my bridges and all my assets are still in Europe, assets I had here I have liquidated over the past 18 months and transferred all back to Europe.

Unlike many I came here with work, I never got into the bar and prostitute scene and never married a bar girl… I am not clouded by the rose tints a great many seam to experience and totally know what this place and its people are all about; its 3^rd world and will never change

If you like it enjoy; but if you could experience what I have over almost 5 decades you would be crying in you Sigha

[billd766]

It would be nice if Thailand had a Western neighbourhood somewhere, something like Chinatown.

I wouldn't want to live there.

I am quite happy living in rural Thailand thank you very much and I can put up or get around most inconveniences.

[arithai12]

Thailand is a basket case, anyone who finds this place their dream destination and plan to spend the rest of their lives here needs serious help..I bitterly regret spending so much of my life here and like many I am constantly calculating my options but at my age life itself is against me.

Luckily I never burnt my bridges and all my assets are still in Europe, assets I had here I have liquidated over the past 18 months and transferred all back to Europe.

Unlike many I came here with work, I never got into the bar and prostitute scene and never married a bar girl… I am not clouded by the rose tints a great many seam to experience and totally know what this place and its people are all about; its 3^rd world and will never change

If you like it enjoy; but if you could experience what I have over almost 5 decades you would be crying in you Sigha

Interesting to read your view, in 5 decades you must have seen a lot.

But I guess that people (including ourselves) change, and countries change. I wonder whether there is any country at all where, after 40-50 years, you can look back and say that you have no regrets.

[laolover88]

Very interesting link. Reliable or pt? Don't know!

http://www.burning-bison.com/expats.htm

[JLCrab]

Thailand is a basket case, anyone who finds this place their dream destination and plan to spend the rest of their lives here needs serious help..I bitterly regret spending so much of my life here and like many I am constantly calculating my options but at my age life itself is against me.

Luckily I never burnt my bridges and all my assets are still in Europe, assets I had here I have liquidated over the past 18 months and transferred all back to Europe.

Unlike many I came here with work, I never got into the bar and prostitute scene and never married a bar girl… I am not clouded by the rose tints a great many seam to experience and totally know what this place and its people are all about; its 3^rd world and will never change

If you like it enjoy; but if you could experience what I have over almost 5 decades you would be crying in you Sigha

... and I never want to hear or read anything about Thailand again.

I have lived here for 12 years after having traveled in Asia for 15 years before that. I have no assets here so nothing to liquidate if I choose to leave. No wife. No job. No children for which I am legally responsible.

I do not know totally what Thailand and its people are about because I don't have to. I live a low-profile life and only attract the ire of others when I post on here (except for maybe regarding the Thai neighbor's dogs).

Edited March 21, 2016 by JLCrab

[leeneeds]

Thailand is a basket case, anyone who finds this place their dream destination and plan to spend the rest of their lives here needs serious help..I bitterly regret spending so much of my life here and like many I am constantly calculating my options but at my age life itself is against me.

Luckily I never burnt my bridges and all my assets are still in Europe, assets I had here I have liquidated over the past 18 months and transferred all back to Europe.

Unlike many I came here with work, I never got into the bar and prostitute scene and never married a bar girl… I am not clouded by the rose tints a great many seam to experience and totally know what this place and its people are all about; its 3^rd world and will never change

If you like it enjoy; but if you could experience what I have over almost 5 decades you would be crying in you Sigha

I respect your views , but really think your time or sounding longing to go back to Europe will not be so rosy,

The world as a whole is continuing to change demographics. I hope you find happiness when you do go,

Not having the same amount of time in this country as you do, only time will tell if my satisfaction wanes as your has done,

Good luck,

[jpinx]

Very interesting link. Reliable or pt? Don't know!

http://www.burning-bison.com/expats.htm

Poor guy trying to collate that information !! Totally impossible to be definitive about anything - except maybe for the interesting little snippet of there being about 1 over-stayer for every 2 long-stayers with correct visas.

[spidermike007]

He said that many farangs expect the same cultural standards here in Thailand as they have within their home countries.

Like a properly functioning police force, fair and impartial Judiciary, and an effective democratically elected government - who aren't in their positions for the sole purpose of amassing grotesque levels of personal wealth? Yep, guilty as charged...

Why are you here? I am sure you already have the above where you come from...so go to your Nirvana...

So you believe Thais do not want the things jamesbrock mentioned?

They may want it, but are far too muted in their criticism of the current ways, and the lack of leadership, and far too unwilling to do what needs to be done to achieve a better society. At least it appears that way.

[jamesbrock]

Yep, it is too much to ask.

Basically you are asking the whole nation to change their corrupted culture overnight.

This will take 50 years starting from now only if new generations change their mentality, and they're not in a hurry.

Wow. Just wow.

Not once, in any of my posts have I "basically" asked the whole nation to change "overnight."

Of course it will take longer than I have left for Thailand to rid itself of its corrupted culture, if it ever does, but that doesn't meant that I don't want my grandchildren to to be able to drive, ride or catch a bus without dying or being permanently maimed due to ineffective policing and lack of government will - and you say that's too much to ask?

Why are you here? I am sure you already have the above where you come from...so go to your Nirvana...

So you believe Thais do not want the things jamesbrock mentioned?

Perhaps it's trogers who don't want the things I mentioned?

Perhaps, like the very people in power that I rail against, the 'why don't you leave' mob actually prefer Thailand the way it is - perhaps, like the very people in power that I rail against, they are only in it to get what they can for themselves, screw everyone else; why else are they so ambivalent about the country they pretend to defend that they don't care that tens of thousand are continually slaughtered on the roads each year, and hundreds of thousands more are injured - yet each successive government does nothing?

I simply don't get people like this, people who don't care that police, military, and government officials continue to amass obscene levels of personal wealth, with trillions of baht being overtly funnelled out of the public purse—while 15.6 million inhabitants of the country scratch around in the dirt for 50 baht a day—and then proceed to tell people who are bothered by this repugnant behaviour that they should leave...

[lkv]

Very interesting link. Reliable or pt? Don't know!

http://www.burning-bison.com/expats.htm

Yup interesting.

WP 100,000

Marriage + retirement 121,000

Residing on tourist visa 92,000

ED Visa (not higher education so language schools perhaps) 65,000

Overstay 65,000

PR 233,000 ?? (Residents awaiting nationality)

Migrants from Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar (unregistered and family members): 1,444,803

[lkv]

Yep, it is too much to ask.

Basically you are asking the whole nation to change their corrupted culture overnight.

This will take 50 years starting from now only if new generations change their mentality, and they're not in a hurry.

Wow. Just wow.

Not once, in any of my posts have I "basically" asked the whole nation to change "overnight."

Of course it will take longer than I have left for Thailand to rid itself of its corrupted culture, if it ever does, but that doesn't meant that I don't want my grandchildren to to be able to drive, ride or catch a bus without dying or being permanently maimed due to ineffective policing and lack of government will - and you say that's too much to ask?

Well. Basically....yeah. It is too much to ask from a country like Thailand.

It's not too much to ask in places where we come from. But we're not there are we? At least not yet.

I know you haven't asked for the whole country to change overnight, it's a general comment not directed to you, even though I quoted your post.

The point I was making is that for certain things to function the way some people see it in the West, Thailand would require a complete reboot and massive work on corruption, and more education in regards to nationalism.

But now I am already entering areas I do not wish to touch.

Read this article https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaification

That takes a long time and the change will come from within if any.

Edited March 21, 2016 by lkv

[jamesbrock]

Well. Basically....yeah. It is too much to ask from a country like Thailand.

It's not too much to ask in places where we come from. But we're not there are we? At least not yet.

I don't share your pessimism. People thought the same thing about Singapore in the 50's and 60's, now?

Like I said, it won't happen in my lifetime, but my concern isn't about me - it's about my children and grandchildren, and their descendants, and the millions upon millions of Thai people missing out due ti ineptitude and greed.