Expats of the 1st Category

[caller]

Now come on Richard, I could compare HH to a few places - but Blackpool - Pattaya, probably?

But to me HH is still like a gentle old lady - excluding Bintabaht - Frinton perhaps, with its newly acquired pub?

[lomuamart]

Maybe part of the first part is that I'm pretty much looking forward to going back home in a couple of months for my brother's wedding.
It'll be the first time home in over 2 years and hopefully my wife's first.
But we will be coming back to haunt you all.

[pinksquid]

I guess I'm really asking the question why does an expat really want to be an expat of the 1st category? It can't just be all about Thai women and we're here because we married them, or like to run wild if single. Pete

My family is of the 1st category, and it is nothing about the women.

I cannot speak for my husband but I have a deep wanderlust and am a bit nomadic. We decided to more out of our native country and we did quite a bit of research to come up with a list of possible countries and then we visited them all and moved on down the line. We have now lived in three countries, Thailand will be the fourth.

I adore Thailand and think it will be a fine place to live for a little while. I like it more for the culture, religion, and people than the beaches, bars, and girls though.

[thaikahuna]

I would suppose that I am an expat of a still unnamed category. I moved here for a number of reasons. Cost of living in the States, a desire to live here since I had been here 35+ years ago, political direction, simpler lifestyle, not to mention the beautimus women. Cheers! Jim

[DawnHRD]

1st category, but like pinksquid, nothing to do with the women!
For me, it's simple, UK is not my home anymore. Why Thailand? It was initially a fait accompli, but now it's my home ( as long as I'm allowed to stay here!! )

[SuperTonic]

Me and my girl are coming to Thailand in May. We're young, me 26 and her 23. We don't have much money, and will have to make do on what we can make in Thailand, but we have made plans, and we should be ok.

Our reasons for moving at a relatively young age are fairly simple. Britain offers little now, just stress, job insecurity, and a feeling of being on a permanent treadmill. Even at my age I can see social problems with no obvious resolution, with poor education, expensive housing and lack of opportunities turning our former working class into a group lacking hope, lacking interest in doing anything worthwhile and thus inclined to crime, violence and yobbery.

We came to Thailand for a holiday, and ended up in Hua Hin. What we found was a place with friendly people, somewhere you feel safe at night even in apparantly 'dodgy' areas. Owning a house doesn't bother us because quite frankly it's not going to happen in the UK anyway when house prices are ridiculous.

We're young enough to learn a new language (and we're working on it, it's bloody hard but it's worth doing), and we have skills that will see us have a more pleasant lifestyle in Thailand than we could ever have in Britain. Could we have a decent sized house, a beach on the doorstep, a couple of bikes, maybe even a pool and jacuzzi, in Britain? Not a hope in hell. In Thailand we can, and we wont have to work ourselves into the ground to the point where we can't enjoy it.

That is why we're coming to Thailand.. oh and the food and the weather help too!

[richard]

Caller

Frinton by the sea. I remember it well. Not sure it would be same now.

Ok HH not yet Blackpool, maybe Clacton?????

Nevertheless I love the place apart from the weekend BK infestation

But at the end of the day, the choice is mine. Thailand has so many retreats and it depends on ones taste. My motto has always been in both work and play 'if you don't like it, dont' bitch, just move on'

I think I was a rolling stone before Jagger!!!!!

[Digger]

[quote="SuperTonic"] just stress, job insecurity, and a feeling of being on a permanent treadmill. [/quote]
I have a feeling that is also how most low income Thai people feel as well

[buksida]

I have a feeling that is also how most low income Thai people feel as well

Not sure about that one, in Thailand they seem to be able to find "sanuk" in most aspects of life so income to most regular Thais doesnt seem as important as having a good time and being happy.

Something that us westerners have kind of got the wrong way round.

[SuperTonic]

I have a feeling that is also how most low income Thai people feel as well

Not sure about that one, in Thailand they seem to be able to find "sanuk" in most aspects of life so income to most regular Thais doesnt seem as important as having a good time and being happy.

Something that us westerners have kind of got the wrong way round.

I'd pretty much go along with that to be honest, on my experience. Maybe it's something to do with the collectivism encouraged by Eastern religions when compared to a rather individualist approach found in Christian countries, in that people tend to actually look after each other (eg friends and family) where we just don't elsewhere.

[Jaime]

Maybe it's something to do with the collectivism encouraged by Eastern religions when compared to a rather individualist approach found in Christian countries, in that people tend to actually look after each other (eg friends and family) where we just don't elsewhere.

That doesn't fit with the theology as I understand it. The whole ethos of Christianity is one of communion, both temporally and metaphysically. Are you confusing modern western capitalism with Christianity? They are not the same thing!

I personally think that the Thai attitude to sanook and such like is related more to the cycles of rural working life than to religious doctrine.

[SuperTonic]

I could spend ages going on about how Christianity eventually led to a more individualistic culture but it's probably best if I save theological debates for somewhere else as religion always leads to arguments and I'm new here, I don't want to be getting into rows just yet!

[caller]

I personally think that the Thai attitude to sanook and such like is related more to the cycles of rural working life than to religious doctrine.

I'm in new territory here, so spare me a mauling!

But doesn't the above reflect buddhism, which isn't a doctrine, but would reflect such cycles and is more a philosophy, rather then the regimented rules of religion I have always assumed, for example, Islam to have, citing just one example, catholism being another?

Please excuse spelling - its been a VERY long day.

[Jaime]

My father came from a very insular rural background in Spain. My wife comes from a similar background in Thailand. They have an incredibly similar outlook on life, on notions like responsibility, self percieved social status, ambition and, importantly, family bonds.

In fact, in terms of life experiences and attitude, they both have far more in common with each other than with me!

One is a Christian (Catholic) and the other a Buddhist (Theravada). Both know as much as the other about the detailed doctrine or philosophy (call it what you will - it is merely a question of semantics) of their own faiths. i.e. very little - as village folk they are simply following inherited dogma and ritual (surprise - Thai Buddhism has both as well!) as far as practice of their faith is concerned.

Seems to me that focussing on religion, rather than social conditions, as the key ingredient into why certain societies are more 'communal' than others is a complete red herring.

[caller]

Seems to me that focussing on religion, rather than social conditions, as the key ingredient into why certain societies are more 'communal' than others is a complete red herring.

Thats an interesting comment and almost cries out for a definition on "communal" if possible, as I guess this will mean different things to different people?

Taking it to its extreme, it also supposes that the community thats has evolved is imperveous to the religion dominating that community?

Which would be very interesting, depending on how
"severe" that religions "rulers" were on imposing their will, as we are still seeing.

Phew - way to deep!