Why do you live in Thailand?

[Stu_thailand]

I think from Ace_of_Hearts' first comment is typical Thai idea. When I was study at AUA about 14 years ago. some Thai people said Farang who live in Thailand are losers... not archieve in their countries.

From what I know some of them are some of them are not. Same as Thai people fly to other countries.

One of my friend complaint about his incomes, he said he could get more pay from his country but in Bangkok, pay a lot less than that. So I asked why he came here... cuz he should know the offer before come to work, right?

No answer for this question at all.

i would say that is a typical Thai misconception .... now taking away the "non qualified" english teachers and ppl living here by dodgy means, did u ever stop to think that foreigners living in thailand r actually here because they were successful in their home countries and r good at what they do !! i've been living abroad for 11 years now .... 6 in sri lanka and 5 in thailand and i was sent to work abroad by my company because i was good at my job and the management skills in sri lanka were not to the level required for the business we were doing there. same thing when i was offered a position here in thailand.

most ppl working here as ex-pats will be in a similar position ... and other ppl will be be working here in their own businesses .... hardly failures !!

alternatively how do u consider thai ppl who have gone to study or live abroad ?? as a success or a loser ??

As much as it pains me to say it, this is the most sensible thing written here yet!!

I just LOVE hearing, "Why don't you leave", or even better, "Why did you come here"...

Did you ever think that some Farang's actually get SENT here by their companies?

Some FARANG'S not only come here to work, but they have to bring their famalies away from friends and other family members, bring their kids half way accross the world into a different culture and school, do you think that every Farang WANTS that?

Of course not. Some have no choice. I got sent here. Ciaran got sent here. Many people on TF got sent here.

As far as complaining goes, yes, we DO complain. Not only in Thailand, but in our home towns also!!! Did you ever actually think about that?

BUt you see, it's not always merely COMPLAINING. YOU call it complaining, we call it expessing our views. When someone gives bad service, WE complain, YOU smile. Next time we go to the same place, we normally will be remembered and get better service, you will not.

Another thing I love to hear is, "Farang come to Thailand and never want to respect the Thai way".

To some degree, true. BUt mostly untrue. MOST Ex-pat Farang I know speak Thai to some degree, some have learnt to read and write it. Most love to eat Thai food. Most of us have been to a few Temples to learn about that side of the culture.

When we, COMPLAIN, it is NOT a refusal to fit in to your culture.

Most of us respect that you have your culture and are guests in your country. BUT. Whilst it is legal for Farang to be in Thailand, please also respect that we too have OUR culture, and values. If you don't like them, that's fine, but please don't bash them, and please don't bash us for merely being US, and EXPRESSING OUR VIEWS.

[PeeMarc]

I think from Ace_of_Hearts' first comment is typical Thai idea. When I was study at AUA about 14 years ago. some Thai people said Farang who live in Thailand are losers... not archieve in their countries.

From what I know some of them are some of them are not. Same as Thai people fly to other countries.

One of my friend complaint about his incomes, he said he could get more pay from his country but in Bangkok, pay a lot less than that. So I asked why he came here... cuz he should know the offer before come to work, right?

No answer for this question at all.

i would say that is a typical Thai misconception .... now taking away the "non qualified" english teachers and ppl living here by dodgy means, did u ever stop to think that foreigners living in thailand r actually here because they were successful in their home countries and r good at what they do !! i've been living abroad for 11 years now .... 6 in sri lanka and 5 in thailand and i was sent to work abroad by my company because i was good at my job and the management skills in sri lanka were not to the level required for the business we were doing there. same thing when i was offered a position here in thailand.

most ppl working here as ex-pats will be in a similar position ... and other ppl will be be working here in their own businesses .... hardly failures !!

alternatively how do u consider thai ppl who have gone to study or live abroad ?? as a success or a loser ??

very true. I had a very success business in sydney, and was in great demand for my work and talents. I just packed it all in becuase I wanted the challenge of living in asia and making as much success or more here.

[Stu_thailand]

I think from Ace_of_Hearts' first comment is typical Thai idea. When I was study at AUA about 14 years ago. some Thai people said Farang who live in Thailand are losers... not archieve in their countries.

From what I know some of them are some of them are not. Same as Thai people fly to other countries.

One of my friend complaint about his incomes, he said he could get more pay from his country but in Bangkok, pay a lot less than that. So I asked why he came here... cuz he should know the offer before come to work, right?

No answer for this question at all.

i would say that is a typical Thai misconception .... now taking away the "non qualified" english teachers and ppl living here by dodgy means, did u ever stop to think that foreigners living in thailand r actually here because they were successful in their home countries and r good at what they do !! i've been living abroad for 11 years now .... 6 in sri lanka and 5 in thailand and i was sent to work abroad by my company because i was good at my job and the management skills in sri lanka were not to the level required for the business we were doing there. same thing when i was offered a position here in thailand.

most ppl working here as ex-pats will be in a similar position ... and other ppl will be be working here in their own businesses .... hardly failures !!

alternatively how do u consider thai ppl who have gone to study or live abroad ?? as a success or a loser ??

very true. I had a very success business in sydney, and was in great demand for my work and talents. I just packed it all in becuase I wanted the challenge of living in asia and making as much success or more here.

Yes, I think you may have mentioned this once or, maybe even twice before, Marc. Sorry if I am mistaken.

[sunsnow]

Stu_thailand: excellent post and expression of views. I can feel every sentence of it, even though I have not never been sent by my company but have enough close friends to relate to it.

(And to rub it in a bit, actually in some part of the culture, foreigners are more "knowing" of the local culture and more (overly) respectful towards the social norms (taught by books and being overly cautious and going by the book so to speak) than locals, does anyone else share this feeling? You know how "tourists" regardless of place always seem to have visited more local sigtseeing and cultural things than locals...this goes to any country This ofcourse is not to say that foreigner is more thai than a thai himself but just to discredit some stereotypings that foreigners don't respect at all or understand Thais/Thai ways...)

[Sherriff]

Tricky one. Asking the question here is likely to give you an unbalanced or a false representation of why most foreigners are really here. Most people on this sight who live here are just profoundly bored ex-pats, while the vast majority of foreigners in Thailand are here for a 2 week holiday to lie on beaches, while another majority group are here to get fat on cheap food and exploit the economic situation of many young Thai females. After which they go home and never give Thailand another thought because next year they will go to Goa and the year after they will go to . . . Or as someone else points out have come here because they've got bundles of cash to spunk on a villa or are good at their job. Some people are just here for an experience, you know, to broaden their horizons, open their mind . .

As for complaining, it's just a way of life. Everyone in every culture does it. Do you think people don't move to other countries and complain? Why are countries that have accepted other cultures so much better I wonder.

Why do you think Thailand is so great? You say we got more money and can live anywhere we like. Do you really think that's the case? Are you suggesting that we all have unlimited funds and that Thailand is our dream destination? Thailand looked appealing from the outside but after a couple of years I realised that I could never live here. I'm not gonna mention things like narrow-mindedness, racism and xenophobia but Thailand has got a long way to go. Just what I think of course. Everyone has different experiences here, but if you come to do business and/or study it's tough especially if you are an outspoken man of principal.

The comments about your friend with no answer to why he came despite knowing that he would be paid less are interesting. Have you ever wondered why Thais go to Europe? Say, to England? I'll tell you. It's either because they got married, want a better education, or want to make money. It doesn't work the other way around so i would say that any westerner choosing to live in Thailand has chosen an alternative lifestyle or possibly a nobler path than one of money grabbing and probably deserves a meddle.

I came here to do research and to expand my business. I've just come back after being in Vietnam and China to tie up some loose ends before taking my business elsewhere.

I know you guys think that Thailand is the best place on earth, but it isn't. You need to get out more.

[English_Bob]

There are as many reasons for coming to Thailand as there are expats living here...

It's true that both Thais and Farangs complain about things in Thailand, but there are some people who refuse to accept that Farangs are entitled to an opinion because they weren't born here.

That point of view is a dangerous one, it narrows your perspective. It prevents open-mindedness and benefitting from other people's accumulated wisdom.

By the way, when some people criticise, they aren't saying Thailand is bad... they are saying it could be better.

(Good forum thread - edgy and exciting!)

[English_Bob]

Since when have Mancs used the impersonal pronoun 'one'?

As in 'one can sleep without aircon'...

[Chatty]

ok kha... thks for the comments,

I might look bad in your idea now... very rude. I know.

My poor English might make you get me wrong again. I'm truly sorry.

I think I should quit to post anything on this forum. It might make you guys feeling better.

I like to speak straight. Not many Thai do this way. Mostly, they will talk behind your back. I heard a lot.

As I said I'm not farang hater and I work with farang. I have farang boss. Work as half American half Thai style.

So I think I know between giving opinion, expression and complaining.

I got some PM after post this forum about my idea.

"Do you want farang leave thailand?"

My answer is "No"

"Do you want farang to stay in Thailand?"

My answer is "Why not?" it's up to them.

I asked cuz I wonder, I'm curious.

and I heard some Thai coworker talked about my farang friend (behind his back) like this.

Well, if it makes you guys think i'm a bad Thai person or very rude i'm so sorry.

Truly sorry.

Time to say goodbye for TF forum

[Stu_thailand]

ok kha... thks for the comments,

I might look bad in your idea now... very rude. I know.

My poor English might make you get me wrong again. I'm truly sorry.

I think I should quit to post anything on this forum. It might make you guys feeling better.

I like to speak straight. Not many Thai do this way. Mostly, they will talk behind your back. I heard a lot.

As I said I'm not farang hater and I work with farang. I have farang boss. Work as half American half Thai style.

So I think I know between giving opinion, expression and complaining.

I got some PM after post this forum about my idea.

"Do you want farang leave thailand?"

My answer is "No"

"Do you want farang to stay in Thailand?"

My answer is "Why not?" it's up to them.

I asked cuz I wonder, I'm curious.

and I heard some Thai coworker talked about my farang friend (behind his back) like this.

Well, if it makes you guys think i'm a bad Thai person or very rude i'm so sorry.

Truly sorry.

Time to say goodbye for TF forum

We don't think you are bad, Neung.

Again, comments are just our way of expessing our opinions.

THe STRONGER comments in your forum ARE directed at some people who WOULD like to see all Farang out of the country by 9am tomorrow morning, whilst leaving our wallets here, of course.

Having met you a few times, I can say that I wish I could speak to all Thai's the way I have been able to with you when we have met. But that's never going to happen whilst, as you say, you get a smile to your face, and a knife in your back as you turn around, all because they are not strong or mature enough to say what they WANT to say to us, to our faces.

NEVER, and I mean, NEVER, stop expressing what'son your mind.

As someone already said, this is a teriffic forum thread, and as long as we don't start getting any '******* Farang', or '******* Thai' comments, we could all learn a lot from it.

Our cultural differences are not solvable. We can NEVER be Thai,a dn Thai's can NEVER be Farang. BUT. If we could ONLY open our minds more, and try to UNDERSTAND more, that would be a wonderful step towards improving relations. But, as ever, there is only one way to learn - and that is if someone teaches us. And for someone to teach us, we must communicate.

[condotown]

There is no country better than Thailand. I like to visit USA once a year for a few weeks only in the summer to see my elderly mother and eat the delicious cookies that she bakes... Interacting with the TSA people in the airports and experiencing the ignorant smug attitudes of the majority of the engorged general populace also makes me miss my HOME in Thailand.

I came for the 'hos

But I stay for all the free poontaeng.

.... or at least the comfort of knowing all of my needs can be met 24/7.

Loneliness is a concept that does not exist around here.

[beej]

I heard so many farang complain about Thailand... like banking, politics etc.

Some of my farang friends did it as well, and always compare with their countries.

My questions are....

1. Do you think your countries are better than Thailand?

2. If they are better than Thailand why you are here.

PS. I'm just curious, I need no fighting here... I'm not farang hater... just curious ok?

1. every country is the same, its just what you make it.

[English_George]

Well, if it makes you guys think i'm a bad Thai person or very rude i'm so sorry.

You didn't say anything which you need to be sorry about ja. It's what you see and your opinion is as valid as anyone else's.

Stu's right ja, don't let the fear of stirring up a bit of controversy stop you from speaking your mind.

As he said, only by discussing our differences both cultural and of opinion can we hope to overcome them.

"

..79

[PJack]

I heard so many farang complain about Thailand... like banking, politics etc.

Some of my farang friends did it as well, and always compare with their countries.

My questions are....

1. Do you think your countries are better than Thailand?

2. If they are better than Thailand why you are here.

PS. I'm just curious, I need no fighting here... I'm not farang hater... just curious ok?

Ring the bells that still can ring

Forget your perfect offering

There is a crack in everything

That's how the light gets in.

It must be this PJ

But now another stranger seems

to want you to ignore his dreams

as though they were the burden of some other

O you've seen that man before

his golden arm dispatching cards

but now it's rusted from the elbows to the finger

And he wants to trade the game he plays for shelter

Yes he wants to trade the game he knows for shelter.

Nice one Nicky!

that works for me.

[English_George]

I heard so many farang complain about Thailand... like banking, politics etc.

Some of my farang friends did it as well, and always compare with their countries.

My questions are....

1. Do you think your countries are better than Thailand?

2. If they are better than Thailand why you are here.

PS. I'm just curious, I need no fighting here... I'm not farang hater... just curious ok?

...and there it is

....one of those questions on a forum where you think "Good F question"

...I hear, and have heard people complaining about countries they are guests in and it's only on thing...

..(alot of) People Like To Complain

..it's just escapism, and a way out of feeling.

..and it's also "something to talk about"....lot's of people feel the need to 'talk about something' in social situations....

...the first thing to "come up" in a "something to talk about" conversation is always the current situation....

...because farang are IN Thailand...the first "something to talk about" conversations, start with Thailand.

Modus: "Hey...how's it going!"

Operandi: "Yeah good......(pause)........"

(...general pause....)

Modus: "Beer?"

Operandi: "Yeah..good...(pause)"

Operandi (aside): (..I hardly know this guy!!..what can we talk about that we have in common.....hmm...either **** or Thailand...)

...---He goes for Thailand--.....

Operandi: "My 200Baht hotel doesn't even have hot water!!"

Modus: "Yeah...it's just the worst isn't it.."

...then they both agree with each other for the rest of the night....

..If someone starts talking to you about "How it's so bad"...

...you know

..79

[CiaranM]

ok kha... thks for the comments,

I might look bad in your idea now... very rude. I know.

My poor English might make you get me wrong again. I'm truly sorry.

I think I should quit to post anything on this forum. It might make you guys feeling better.

I like to speak straight. Not many Thai do this way. Mostly, they will talk behind your back. I heard a lot.

As I said I'm not farang hater and I work with farang. I have farang boss. Work as half American half Thai style.

So I think I know between giving opinion, expression and complaining.

I got some PM after post this forum about my idea.

"Do you want farang leave thailand?"

My answer is "No"

"Do you want farang to stay in Thailand?"

My answer is "Why not?" it's up to them.

I asked cuz I wonder, I'm curious.

and I heard some Thai coworker talked about my farang friend (behind his back) like this.

Well, if it makes you guys think i'm a bad Thai person or very rude i'm so sorry.

Truly sorry.

Time to say goodbye for TF forum

hey nobody thinks u r rude or a bad person ..... it was a good forum and i would like to think it helped u understand why some farangs r here in thailand.

and i personally wish more of the thais on this site would contribute more on the forums !!!

[beej]

What might be being missed here is that foreigners, whether farang or Asian or whatever, are here and will always be here, in daily increasing numbers, so Thais have to accept it , try to understand it and move on in unison with it. They can't continue to find fault with it, it is as it is.

I can remember even as little as 5 years ago seeing maybe one farang a day in the mall (not in the centre of the city na), now I see a farang every 5 minutes. Farang are rapidly becoming a part of Thailand and Thai society, you can't fight it, but you can affect how they view you by your attitude towards them.

The times, they are a changing.

Its easy to say ''Thai's just have to accept it'' but look at the growing tension in Australia/England/USA about ''foreigners'' coming into live, its getting bad, people are really getting angry and violent over it.

[potluck]

Foreigners that move to Thailand because of their jobs, are getting paid their own companiy's salary, as if working in their own country....definately an advantage based on Thailand's currency and low living costs.........I doubt it very much, if they were paid local Thai salaries, that they would want to live there? Stu and Ciaran, so is this why you live in Thailand? BTW, what is "ex-pats?

Living in another's country and continually bashing that country's seems a bit more of just plain complaining? It's a different story, if you're a Thai citizen......same as if you were in your own country!

The grass always looks different, on the other side of the fence, untill you actually live on the other side............respect is the key word......

[Stu_thailand]

Foreigners that move to Thailand because of their jobs, are getting paid their own companiy's salary, as if working in their own country....definately an advantage based on Thailand's currency and low living costs.........I doubt it very much, if they were paid local Thai salaries, that they would want to live there? Stu and Ciaran, so is this why you live in Thailand? BTW, what is "ex-pats?

Living in another's country and continually bashing that country's seems a bit more of just plain complaining? It's a different story, if you're a Thai citizen......same as if you were in your own country!

The grass always looks different, on the other side of the fence, untill you actually live on the other side............respect is the key word......

And there we have it. Someone who has looked at this thread, instead of actually R E A D I N G it. Someonw who thinks that it's ok for foreigners to be here as long as keep out moouths shut and do not have any of our own opinions.

What would you do if you were in London and people constantly slammed doors closed in your face instead of holding them open for you, would you tell your friends how rude the people were or would you just say nothing?

Ciaran and I are here because we got sent here, if you had actually R E A D the thread, you would have known that.

We chose to stay here because we made many friends, GOOD friends and decided to make our lives here.

BUt that does NOT mean we are not entitled to our own opinions!!

No, go back, read our words, and then you will understand a little bit more.

See Neung, this is the difference between you and the, erm, 'others'.

You have an open mind, they...ah, what's the point. YOU understnad.

[potluck]

Stu,

You'd said that you were sent to Thailand, I can only assume that mean't with your company or job? You didn't answer the question, are you being paid by your company by UK's dollar? Or did you say,you left your previous job and decided to stay and work in Thailand, at their salary basis? It does make a difference...........about the way you live in Thailand versus your own country!

[PeeMarc]

BTW, what is "ex-pats?

It means 'expatriate'. Look it up. Read.

[lizardo]

Stu,

You'd said that you were sent to Thailand, I can only assume that mean't with your company or job? You didn't answer the question, are you being paid by your company by UK's dollar? Or did you say,you left your previous job and decided to stay and work in Thailand, at their salary basis? It does make a difference...........about the way you live in Thailand versus your own country!

I think he left because the UK dollar was confusing him.....

[Stu_thailand]

Stu,

You'd said that you were sent to Thailand, I can only assume that mean't with your company or job? You didn't answer the question, are you being paid by your company by UK's dollar? Or did you say,you left your previous job and decided to stay and work in Thailand, at their salary basis? It does make a difference...........about the way you live in Thailand versus your own country!

Yes, I was sent here by a company. Marriott hotels. And yes, I got a salary I would expect at home.

I then left that company and set up on my own. I now expect to get whatever I work for.

Yes, I did chosoe to stay in Thailand for a better quality of life, and yes, the same applies for the reasoning in bringing my Mum here.

Sorry, where are you living again>?

[Stu_thailand]

Stu,

You'd said that you were sent to Thailand, I can only assume that mean't with your company or job? You didn't answer the question, are you being paid by your company by UK's dollar? Or did you say,you left your previous job and decided to stay and work in Thailand, at their salary basis? It does make a difference...........about the way you live in Thailand versus your own country!

I think he left because the UK dollar was confusing him.....

555555555555555555

I was going to say something but decided against it. I wish I had now though!!!LOL

[Stu_thailand]

This is my while point, you see. Neung, the poster of this thread would KNOW what an ex-pat was, and if not, she WOULD look it up. I am quite sure she knows nothing about the UK Dollar also!!

But the previous female poster, living in the States, will just look at my words, Marc's words, and Lizardo's words, see it as a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE criticism upon the entire Thai culture, THink to herself, '******* Farang, I hate them', retort with a totally unrelated point, and learn NOTHING.

THAT'S the difference.

[PeeMarc]

This is my while point, you see. Neung, the poster of this thread would KNOW what an ex-pat was, and if not, she WOULD look it up. I am quite sure she knows nothing about the UK Dollar also!!

But the previous female poster, living in the States, will just look at my words, Marc's words, and Lizardo's words, see it as a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE criticism upon the entire Thai culture, THink to herself, 'f*cking Farang, I hate them', retort with a totally unrelated point, and learn NOTHING.

THAT'S the difference.

well said. i hope Nueng can see this. Shes a very intelligent girl, so I think she will.