Is Living Here Difficult for You?

[JamesWest]

Hands off our drivel,surely the Forum is more than a localised version of Google. Thank goodness for GLC and James West. Opologies to the many members who post useful stuff.

look like the sun is coming out...

[hhfarang]

^ Interesting post, as those were both big disappointments for me living in Thailand too. I'm not particularly good with languages in general but I was completely at a loss when it came to learning Thai. For me it was the tonal aspect of the language. I don't know if it is my ears or some part of my brain, but I simply cannot distinguish between the different tones. I had a few friends in Hua Hin, but it seemed I had nothing in common with anyone so my better friendships were mostly with other Americans (after I gave up golf), and there are few of those there.

[Ratsima]

The speaking Thai thing was a huge disappointment. I tired hard: the Becker books, Rosetta Stone, Pimsleur, High Speed Thai, YouTube videos, etc. After all that I don't understand anything anyone says and no one understands when I try to speak. I can read, though, which turns out to be a big advantage. So, like you, there's something in my brain that just doesn't do the sound of Thai.

[Pleng]

The speaking Thai thing was a huge disappointment. I tired hard: the Becker books, Rosetta Stone, Pimsleur, High Speed Thai, YouTube videos, etc.

School?

[Ratsima]

There's one school in Korat. I contacted them and they insisted I buy a bunch of beginner materials. Since I can already read and have shelves of Thai learning books, I figured I didn't need any more.

Anyway, my real problem is one of attitude rather than study or instruction. In my old age I have become reclusive, shy, reticent and fearful of making public mistakes. A perfect recipe for failure at language acquisition.

Personality transplant?

[TicTac]

I went to a thai language school and freaked out when they put the same word up on the whiteboard seven times and they meant seven completely different things depending on tone - that's when I knew there was no chance of cracking this. Best to live in a world of blissful ignorance.

[heartofmidlothian]

Very hard to learn a new language when you are older and especially if you have no experience of learning other languages. Probably best to try to learn Thai the way children learn, by just listening and copying. Getting the sounds right is the key. Anyway, even if you cannot speak Thai, it doesn't make it too difficult to live here.

[Chazz14]

I agree with all of the above about language... speaking it is so hard. I have found that writing Thai is useful for getting familiar with words/phrases Thais use everyday.

I would add that if I attempt a basic conversation will a Thai who is sympathetic that I'm a beginner, but wants to try and understand me - then we can converse a little.

Secondly, there's the Thai shop or bank employee who's terrified that they won't be able to understand anything a farang says (in any language) because I'm a farang

Thirdly, there's the Thai who has no interest in farangs whatsoever and just ignores you - but at least you know where you stand...!

[Ratsima]

One thing I have a hard time with is being able to read a menu and order by either pointing or carefully pronouncing and then deal with the expectation that because I can read I can also speak and understand.

[Frank La Rue]

I am fortunate to find my wife's family very inclusive, as is her friends and most of these two lots speak resonable english and make an effort to do so.
My wife claims though, it's because they think I am rich. She say if thought otherwise they wouldn't care at all about me. I sold a holiday condo else where in the world after marrying my wife and routed the money through Krungsri Bank where my wife's cousin works. I confess, (mis)communicating with them was part of of doing it this way.

It bothers me though if the relationship is based on perception (which I part took in creating) rather than genuine mutual sympathy. The good thing is that they never expect moeny from me.

I do not live in Thailand full time yet but I am hopeful that I shall enjoy it.

I have a couple of friends my age who say "I've had it with Thailand" as they feel the thais are too money oriented

[hidinginhin]

"One of the things about living in a foreign country for so long is that you end up seeing the truth about a place and understanding what it's really like for those that are indigenous and their attitudes towards you, each other and many other things. Sometimes when you see past the charade that is presented to the brief visitors and see the beast behind it all for what it really is, then it is not always so palatable in many ways...even if the truth. You just have to understand it, see the good and bad and not have any expectations as they inevitably lead to disappointments. This is why the apologists on forums always make me laugh as they obviously know shit....but denial is a lot more comfortable than truth for many poor souls."
SPITFIRE: This about summed it up for me. Sorry to the regulars for the basic cut and paste.
I don't live in HH full time but I own a property. I can only handle 3 to 4 months a year before I have to leave. That's not a bad reflection on HH. I also have property in Europe and UK and need to leave them. I guess I am a "rolling stone". The above applies to UK and EU too.
The recent article on the front page of AWOL of "Is the love affair, between falang and Thai over?" Or words to that effect, testify to the new times in HH. There are less holidaymakers, which makes the expats stand out. They sit in the same bars (names change) sit in the same seats, spout the same words at the same time of day. Drinking themselves into an early grave. The Thais see this, just as we see the same Thais men/women flogging there tat in an endless circle. The bar girls drinking themselves into oblivion to forget or fortify themselves to there surroundings, no different to the falang.
It wears you down " Groundhog day, everyday". On a plus side there is a reasonable bunch of lads that you know if you go out, you can have a laugh with. On a minus, they often talk like a load of grannies about each others ups and downs. Like any village anywhere I suppose.
So it's not the same. Many members say the old adage "If you don't like it, leave" Problem is, many of the OAP'S have given everything they have to the wifey. Not so simple then!

[Pleng]

...which makes the expats stand out. They sit in the same bars (names change) sit in the same seats, spout the same words at the same time of day. Drinking themselves into an early grave.

I don't know what percentage of expats spend a significant amount of time in these areas. It's probably relatively high, but I'd be surprised if it was approaching anywhere near 50%

The Thais see this

I'd hazard a guess that only about 5% of the Thai population of Hua-Hin ever step foot in the Binta/80/94 areas... so I'd find it amazing to think that, in general, "The Thais see this".

It wears you down " Groundhog day, everyday".

It only wears you down if you are spending a significant amount of time in said areas yourself!

The article you speak of, "Is the love affair, between falang and Thai over?", was, I imagine, written by somebody who moved here some time ago, and has since themselves fallen out of love with the place. Due to disliking the place (s)he naturally gravitates towards other people who also dislike the place [it stands to reason - if you hate a place then you're not going to enjoy the company of somebody who is having a good time and, conversely, people who are enjoying the place aren't going to want to spend too much time around people who just bitch and moan about constantly]. As the writer now hates the place, and only associates with others who hate the place, they assume that there is nobody around who still enjoys life here.

All the while there is always a new wave of freshly expatriated denizens who have yet to fill themselves with such negativity, and they're happily backed up by the quiet wave of long-term expats who have always enjoyed it here, and continue to do so.

[dtaai-maai]

Good post, Pleng. Can't find anything in there to disagree with.
It goes hand in hand with the boredom thread really.
Life will be difficult and you'll be bored anywhere if you have nothing to do and lack the imagination to find something to occupy your time and - more importantly - your brain.
For as long as I can remember, I've always had something interesting to read wherever I've been.

[NOKYAI]

A friend who sold me his house here in Thailand didn't manage to settle here because he felt he was too young to fit in with the mostly retired ex pat community. He used the term ...Thai-ard to describe all the little things that built up making his life here not what he had hoped for.

[GLCQuantum]

As the owner of this thread I must ,firstly, thank all my minions for joining in...

Secondly, I'd like everyone to take a moment aside. Clasp your hands together and look up to the flickering stars. An achievement... one that was not thought possible... is slowly becoming a reality. A moment that has unraveled and complicated the concepts of the human race, yet propelled the few into the further reaches of humanness.

I say this not lightly...

I can barely say it at all...

This poll is beginning to match the heights of the...

..."Do You Respect Bar Girls?" thread.

Really are a bunch of twats here.