Lost in Translation: Thailand offers course for women who marry foreigners

By Suphanida Thakral

 

German Ralf Wacker and his wife Ploynisa Duangdararungrueng pose for photo with their dogs at a park near their house in Ayutthaya province, Thailand, August 22, 2017. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand is offering a free course to help Thai women cope with the highs and lows of interracial marriage and avoid potential scams or falling victim to human trafficking when moving abroad.

 

As Thai society becomes more accepting of interracial marriages, some women view them as a way to better their economic status, the social development ministry says.

 

"Our course will teach women how to conduct themselves, about the laws of their destination country, and how to prepare before going," said senior ministry official Patcharee Arayakul.

 

"This is to reduce the risks of women being scammed or being a victim of human trafficking," added Patcharee, who is the director of the ministry's division of gender equality.

 

Although there is no recent data on such marriages, a 2004 government study showed more than 15,000 women from one of the poorest regions, northeastern Isan, had married foreign men, and sent a monthly total of 122 million baht to their families.

 

The course covers "legal rights, how to seek help through relevant Thai authorities, as well as exploring issues of culture shock," said Dusadee Ayuwat, an associate professor at Khon Kaen University who helped to design it.

 

The practical advice was very useful, said one woman who attended the day-long course, paid for by the ministry.

 

"I was more interested in the legal aspects rather than the culture shock," said the woman, who declined to be named.

 

The course could be useful for some Thai women, said Ploynisa Duangdararungrueng, a former spa manager who is married to German national Ralf Wacker.

 

"Thai women, especially those from the northeast region, are soft-spoken and submissive," she said. "They must learn to respect themselves and their culture."

 

Her husband said the course could prepare women for the reality of life in the West.

 

"For a lot of women, life in the West is like a fairy tale, but in reality it can feel extremely isolating moving to a small town," said Wacker who urged Thailand to offer a similar course for Western spouses.

 

"If the Western man does not understand the family dynamics, this can cause a lot of problems."

 

(Writing by Amy Lefevre, Editing by Darren Schuettler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-8-30

Translation of family dynamics.

Please!!!!

7 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand offers course for women who marry foreigners

Should be offering courses for Farangs instead !

 I met her on a Monday and my heart stood still

Duangdararungrueng

Duangdararungrueng

Will this be followed with a course for foreigners who marry Thai women. Caring for family who don't work, sick buffalo's, live in "brothers", along with the numerous others unknowns until after marriage. 

....the western nation embassies should rather give courses to their countrymen to excise top most caution in case of marriage and never to put property into the name of their fine ladies!!...and not to fall in for the sick buffalo or the leaking roof!!

 

Of course there are exceptions and not all Thai ladies are gold diggers....of course not!!...

 

But unfortunarely a decent proportion of such unions end up in a financial disaster for the farang or in a crash skydiving course from a high rise condo in Disneyland!

 

18 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

"I was more interested in the legal aspects rather than the culture shock," said the woman, who declined to be named.

Ah huh...

20 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

"Thai women, especially those from the northeast region, are soft-spoken and submissive," she said. "They must learn to respect themselves and their culture."

And, of course, respect the culture of their foreign partner in equal measure.

So; ''With this ring i thee wed...now get upstairs and get into bed''   don't cut it anymore from the men............and ''I lub you lonnnnnng time'' don't cut it for the women ?

 

What is the world coming to; next they'll be wanting prenuptial agreements !

32 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

"I was more interested in the legal aspects rather than the culture shock,"

 

100 baht says she had an ugly divorce

 

22 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Thai women, especially those from the northeast region, are soft-spoken and submissive,

 

Whoever wrote this must be hard of hearing.

1 minute ago, dfdgfdfdgs said:

 

Whoever wrote this must be hard of hearing.

To be honest, I'm all for people expecting to be respected for themselves and having others respect their culture.

 

However, that cuts both ways.

So they will have to get the relevant information from each country and compare them in the classroom (some of them may change their mind of which country ), especially when they receive  Vol 1 of the " Womens rights & the law " from Auss

But they wont have a problem here for the foreigners since it will be easy to present as " thai family & their ways " 

 

quote  Thai women, especially those from the northeast region, are soft-spoken and submissive,  unquote.  They haven't met 'er indoors!

How's about learning 'em not to tell porky pies especially when it comes to matters of money .. And learn them not sit on the floor to eat when there's a table they can sit at .. Oh and learn not to do that picking the nose with their little finger which I have observed a lot of 'em seem to do .. 

"Thai women, especially those from the northeast region, are soft-spoken and submissive,"

 

They need to meet my wife!!!

37 minutes ago, Justgrazing said:

How's about learning 'em not to tell porky pies especially when it comes to matters of money .. And learn them not sit on the floor to eat when there's a table they can sit at .. Oh and learn not to do that picking the nose with their little finger which I have observed a lot of 'em seem to do .. 

This is kind of like when you choose books by their covers is it not?

11 hours ago, overherebc said:

Translation of family dynamics.

Please!!!!

The richest must help the Mothe just like the Thais , but since a Farang this shall now include the whole family

10 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

Ah huh...

Yeh right culture shock, she knows exactly what she wants - why is she worrying about being named if this is good for the people concerned 

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Although there is no recent data on such marriages, a 2004 government study showed more than 15,000 women from one of the poorest regions, northeastern Isan, had married foreign men, and sent a monthly total of 122 million baht to their families.

 

Crikey.

 

Would be interesting to know what that figure was today

Thank God my wife's not from Isaan.

12 hours ago, dfdgfdfdgs said:

 

Whoever wrote this must be hard of hearing.

"Ugh...ugh...ugh...Chai Mai, Kaa ?"

27 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

 

Crikey.

 

Would be interesting to know what that figure was today

That's only 8133 baht per farang.

*The highs and lows and how to avoid potential scams*

Not the Thai ladies that need that.

11 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

How's about learning 'em not to tell porky pies especially when it comes to matters of money .. And learn them not sit on the floor to eat when there's a table they can sit at .. Oh and learn not to do that picking the nose with their little finger which I have observed a lot of 'em seem to do .. 

You know you been in Thailand too long when you eat on the floor and sleep on the table:)

In terms of scams surely if is better to get the ladies to encourage their spouses to stay in Thailand...they can get ALL the house and not just half!

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

"Thai women, especially those from the northeast region, are soft-spoken and submissive," she said. "

Suphanida Thakral. Thank you. I do like a good ol' laugh in the morning.. 

15 minutes ago, tonray said:

That's only 8133 baht per farang.

Yes, I'm sure there is a typo, more like 122 Billion!!!

"Thai women, especially those from the northeast region, are soft-spoken and submissive,"

 

Huh??? what????

13 hours ago, Artisi said:

Will this be followed with a course for foreigners who marry Thai women. Caring for family who don't work, sick buffalo's, live in "brothers", along with the numerous others unknowns until after marriage. 

could never happen; would require thais to admit their failings, which they Cannot do

Rule No. 1. Keep the fridge full of cold beer, to be consumed by hubby only !