Don,t Blame Isaan Wives

[marshbags]

From todays Nation.

Sat, December 2, 2006 : Last updated 0:10 am (Thai local time)

Quote:-

VENUS'S VISION

Don't blame Isaan wives; women are all the same

I've never thought of dating a farang. I've never thought of getting married to a farang.I've never thought of staying abroad with a farang husband.

But I'm by no means romantically xenophobic and I do understand why an increasing number of Thai women prefer Westerners to Thai men. It is also easily understood that Thai women are a popular choice for foreigners seeking help from Internet matchmakers.

What I doubt is the research finding by Khon Kaen University which suggests that Isaan women who marry foreigners cause major social changes, as they adopt their husbands' customs and lifestyles. The research, led by Asst Professor Supawatanakorn Wongtha-nawasu, on the effect of cross-cultural marriages on families in the northeast of Thailand made headlines and caused hot discussions in Internet chat rooms.

Well, it is just too hard to swallow when the study says that Isaan wives are more fond of Western fast food like pizza or hamburgers rather than their staple somtam (papaya salad) and pla-ra (fermented fish).

I guess the research methodology was a questionnaire. If it was, why don't we adjust a question and ask the 231 respondents in the same study: "What would you choose if you had to eat the same food for a week?" We'll give them choices of somtam, hamburger or pizza. We shall see if somtam has lost its charm and whether foreign husbands make the spicy yet delicious dish dull.

With a spouse, regardless of nationality, a woman will always adapt, more or less. Compromise is the route to the goal of a smooth relationship. If you are dating an Indian, you would gradually get used to the smell of masala, and the same applies, with other nationalities, to getting familiar with the likes of blue cheese or anchovies.

Isaan wives are just like us when it comes to relationships and friendships. So it is not strange to see they celebrate Christmas in a joyful way. If foreigners make sacrifices to stay with them in Thailand and take care of their families, making sure that they have a good time on Christmas Day is just part of the couple's effort to keep their marriage on a rosy path - particularly when the foreign husband is the breadwinner.

It may be too simplistic to read from the same research that the foreigners' wives in the Northeast are not so enthusiastic about traditional Thai holidays like Buddhist Lent and Makha Bucha Day. It is unfair to them to arrive at such a conclusion. Try inquiring of city women and see which day is celebrated more: Makha Bucha Day or Christmas Day? Get my point?

Unquote

Please go to the following url for the full article:-

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/12/02...on_30020540.php

I,m not so sure about the Somtam

marshbags

[Gary A]

Actually I like som tam. I DO order mine made different from my wifes. No long dead crushed crabs and certainly no very horrible smelling fermented fish flavoring. (palah).

That said, my wife eats VERY little farang food. She certainly won't eat a hamburger because she refuses to eat beef. She much prefers any Issan food to pizza.

[pumpuiman]

Actually I like som tam. I DO order mine made different from my wifes. No long dead crushed crabs and certainly no very horrible smelling fermented fish flavoring. (palah).

That said, my wife eats VERY little farang food. She certainly won't eat a hamburger because she refuses to eat beef. She much prefers any Issan food to pizza.

My situation exactly(although I like the crab and a touch of palah) My wife has not "given in" to falang ways. She has developed a liking for breakast sausage, but eats it with several whole prik kee noo, and fish sauce!!

[Thaddeus]

Great article MB.... good find.

The Isaan women in the study were an easy target for stereotyping. True, they are more exposed to foreign culture through their other halves, and they may have adopted some Western ways of life. But are they really different from city women who carry Louis Vuitton, wear Prada shoes and dine out at Western restaurants?

And if one wants to target an Isaan women for marrying a foreigner for economic reasons, please think again. Do not forget that many wealthy Thai women, and especially those in the middle-classes, also take economic reasons into consideration when they choose their life partner.

As for Thai men, they may have realised by now that cross-cultural marriages are on the rise. Thai men have to ask themselves why - since they come in a good, compatible package and appreciate the taste of somtam?

Some women are finding foreigners more dependable? I bet the answer is not all about money!

Which on the whole pretty much sums up what some people were trying to say in the thread about the research.

[marshbags]

Great article MB.... good find.

The Isaan women in the study were an easy target for stereotyping. True, they are more exposed to foreign culture through their other halves, and they may have adopted some Western ways of life. But are they really different from city women who carry Louis Vuitton, wear Prada shoes and dine out at Western restaurants?

And if one wants to target an Isaan women for marrying a foreigner for economic reasons, please think again. Do not forget that many wealthy Thai women, and especially those in the middle-classes, also take economic reasons into consideration when they choose their life partner.

As for Thai men, they may have realised by now that cross-cultural marriages are on the rise. Thai men have to ask themselves why - since they come in a good, compatible package and appreciate the taste of somtam?

Some women are finding foreigners more dependable? I bet the answer is not all about money!

Which on the whole pretty much sums up what some people were trying to say in the thread about the research.

Thanks for finding it informative Thaddeus, i was aware there was a similar thread running somewhere but couldn,t locate it in a search ect. unfortunately.

Perhaps you can let me have the thread details please as i want to read other observations as well.

As this was an unbiased observation from an independent source and, as you say, a great article.

I wanted to make it available for others on T.Visa. who would find it interesting.

marshbags

[Thaddeus]

Love to.........

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=93043

[marshbags]

Love to.........

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=93043

Is it reasonable to ask for this thread to be transferred to the one started by George please ?

Thanks for the information Thaddeus, i will save the url to browse, laugh and observe, later

marshbags

[oceanrover]

Actually I like som tam. I DO order mine made different from my wifes. No long dead crushed crabs and certainly no very horrible smelling fermented fish flavoring. (palah).

That said, my wife eats VERY little farang food. She certainly won't eat a hamburger because she refuses to eat beef. She much prefers any Issan food to pizza.

Gary,

I totally agree. We live in the U.S. and my wife has been here for over five years. She prefers traditional Isaan fair without question. She will break down from time to time and have a fish sandwich and fries at McDonalds and waffles when we are out for breakfast, but that is pretty much it usually. Since she has been pregnant she has craved spciy chicken pizza a few times for some reason, but I am sure that will fade next month. I enjoy Thai food and she cooks me different things all the time. I would have it no other way.

She is more into Xmas than I am it seems. I think that her and her friends like the whole lights and decoration portion that is Xmas and the reason to shop is not hard for them to swallow either We still attend Buddhist holidays at the temple and major Thai holidays there too. It is all about compromise and sharing since this is what makes it enjoyable from day to day. The first article had some political agenda from what I read of it and was not based in reality at all.

Mike in Seattle