Do your mates back home understand where you are?

[Spitfire]

OK everyone, just the question implied in the title.

Sure some do, some don't, depending on your age, situation and their age, situation.

My mates think that I've got balls doing what I do, which is, relocating to a South-East Asian country and setting up a life for myself at a relatively young age(about 40). All you really have to do is make a choice and get on a plane, not hard.

It's not a lot different from what I do back home apart from the following, and I tell them this:

-It has good weather, no more frost on the window-sills when I wake up.
-I still get up every morning to go to work(the only one that is the same).
-I don't work like a dog as I would have to back home.
-There are picture post-card beaches within easy reach.
-Daily goods are more affordable.
-The girls are 10 times better than what we encounter back home, nuff said.
-Luxuries are cheaper.
-More like minded people, rather than the 'Saturday Night' crew that get off on making problems.
-Low chance of being involved in crime or having crime committed against you.
-Many that retire cannot afford to live back home so they choose quality of life instead of social prison.

The list is endless.

To have the life I have here back home, I would probably have to be a lawyer or the equivalent.

Sure this post is nothing new to most, but it would be interesting to get others slant on this as I sure many might have something to say on it.

The way I hear from many back home is that when they are in a position to leave, or if they could right now, they would/will.

[MrPlum]

Are your mates married with children? Do they have jobs to go to? Can they up stumps as easily as you?

How many ex-pats return having failed to get a job, are alcoholics, have been kicked out, ripped off by the g/f and her family, or have been preyed on by their own own kind, have failed in their business enterprises, sweat too much in the heat, hate the food?

I admire anyone who can broaden their minds through travel and are able to adjust to another very different culture. Life becomes richer if you approach it in the right way. The biggest fallacy is believing that your life will change for the better if the real problem is YOU.

Everyone is enthusiastic initially. Like marriage it can take several years before you can say if it truly was the best move you could have made.

It's easy to leave when you have no ties. Takes real balls to leave when you have. IMHO

[sargeant]

Spitfire it was a lot lot different 10/15 years ago when in low season you could walk round town for days and not see a farang its been a lot easier over the last 4/5 years after the pioneers (dontcha just luv that word) came here and cut down the jungle

[dtaai-maai]

Spitfire it was a lot lot different 10/15 years ago when in low season you could walk round town for days and not see a farang its been a lot easier over the last 4/5 years after the pioneers (dontcha just luv that word) came here and cut down the jungle

Funnily enough, I rather suspect that in many ways it was a lot easier 10/15 years ago, when there was still some jungle to be cut down...

[margaretcarnes]

Good question Spitfire - I assume you mean 'where you are' geogaphically, rather than 'where you are' in the head?

First - I don't think it is such a huge wrench from family etc these days. Its so easy to keep in touch with folks, and the only real worry has recently been voiced on another thread - ie 'what if' something goes wrong back home. My view was always that planes go both ways.
Geographically, it was a steep learning curve for some of my friends. One thought that Thailand was about the size of Jersey!
Some assumed that almost the whole country had been engulfed by the Tsunami. Even more didn't believe that there are real supermarkets and branches of Boots. As for the availability of 'proper' food - forget it.
First time I went to LOS for a holiday one friend even asked if I was packing Tampax, because 'you won't get things like that there' I kid you not.

So yes - I guess we've had the priveledge of living in a land of swamp and jungle, with no TV, newspapers, chips or hairdressers. If thats what folks want to believe it's their loss. The sensible ones will try to learn. Maybe even pay a visit to find out for themselves. Just remember to tell them to pack a machete! Mines blunt...

[Zidane]

I think a lot of my friends and ex work colleagues are quite jealous of me upping sticks and coming to live over here.Many assume its just like an endless holiday but,once you get over the initial few months of going out for a drink or to a restaurant every night,the reality is different.
I dont have to work,live in a nice climate and its generally pretty relaxed although,sometimes,there are frustrations at the way Thais do things over here.
But I think a lot of people dont really know where Thailand actually is and the size of the country.
For instance,I was here when the Tsunami happened.I got quite a few e-mails from people checking I was OK.I said,no problem,as the Tsunami struck the South West of the country and I was in the North East at the time.
One reply from an ex lady work colleague amused me.......boy,you were so lucky being on the other side of the "island" werent you......
People dont realise Thailand is as big as France.I think she probably thought it was the same size as Koh Samui !

Zidane

[crazy88]

I have several friends who won,t come over because someone who has spent a 2 week holiday on the piss in walking street Pattaya has told them "everything there is to know about Thailand"

Crazy 88

[lomuamart]

I was amazed at the first three friends who came over and visited me. They were the ones who had expressed the most doubt about my move. They had a great time and two came back again and again.
Those who were very well settled, successful in their jobs and had children understood the reasons for my move much better. However, most of them havn't had the chance to visit yet. It's the other way around and I see them when I go back to the UK.

[bozzman101]

yea good stuuf spitfire

the money thing a lawyer maybe thais pronunce it liar sound better to me as i regard them to be legal theives back in the old counrty
bit like farang price here they could shop in villa and not give a toss!!!!
just reminds me of the ex wife ( pirahna fish hyiena personality)
one good thing she hates thaialnd and has vowed never to come here
all my mates are very welcome

[PeteC]

You could spin this thread around and ask about Thai wives who have moved to the UK, EU, USA etc. I know a few, including one of my x's, who doesn't even like to come back here anymore. Say's it's dirty and too hot! Pete

[Spitfire]

I admire anyone who can broaden their minds through travel and are able to adjust to another very different culture. Life becomes richer if you approach it in the right way. The biggest fallacy is believing that your life will change for the better if the real problem is YOU.

Mr Plum, you have some good points in your post, but don't assume that I just sailed through space on a biscuit. All I did was post a topically relevent issue because there's nothing to get your teeth into at the moment.

With the greatest respect, post something new or make an existing thread interesting.

Amongst other things, what I like about your posts is that at least you get off the fence and give an opinion, not something that can be leveled at all. So thanks for saying what you think but do not assume that I don't have an opinion just because I'm polite to most that I talk to.

[sargeant]

Thanks for drawing my attention to Mr Ps post i went back and read it.

Mr P i must have balls like titanium and the size of elephants i left my first Thai wife back in blighty.

Best move i ever made i have got Mrs Sarge now

[MrPlum]

I admire anyone who can broaden their minds through travel and are able to adjust to another very different culture. Life becomes richer if you approach it in the right way. The biggest fallacy is believing that your life will change for the better if the real problem is YOU.

Mr Plum, you have some good points in your post, but don't assume that I just sailed through space on a biscuit. All I did was post a topically relevent issue because there's nothing to get your teeth into at the moment.

With the greatest respect, post something new or make an existing thread interesting.

Amongst other things, what I like about your posts is that at least you get off the fence and give an opinion, not something that can be leveled at all. So thanks for saying what you think but do not assume that I don't have an opinion just because I'm polite to most that I talk to.

Mr Spitfire.

Since I don't know you from Adam, I certainly would not assume anything about you. Don't you agree it would sound a bit daft saying... 'The biggest fallacy is believing that one's life will change for the better if the real problem is ONE.'

YOU was a generalisation. Nothing personal

With the greatest respect go and look at all the topics I have created and tell me which ones aren't new. I will assume they are interesting since members are responding to them. Those that aren't, drop off the front page pretty quickly and frankly if I cared about others approval I would have been off the board in the first week.

Perhaps you could help me out a little and re-write my reply to this topic so that it is 'interesting'. Then I can see what I am doing wrong and improve. I might also ask how you are rating my posts. Do you have a particular criteria? Why not share your thoughts on other posters? I'm sure they would love to have your opinion on their performance too.

As to posting something new. Aren't you being hoisted by your own petard? Based on your own post, all you have done is re-write the question 'Why are you in Thailand?' or What's good about Thailand?' The real crippler is where you say 'Sure this post is nothing new to most'.

If my 'good points' were neither interesting or new, what made them 'good'?

It's a joke right?

Lovely to hear from you.

Sarge.

I understand how difficult that must have been. Glad to hear you are happy!

[kendo]

I admire anyone who can broaden their minds through travel and are able to adjust to another very different culture. Life becomes richer if you approach it in the right way. The biggest fallacy is believing that your life will change for the better if the real problem is YOU.

Mr Plum, you have some good points in your post, but don't assume that I just sailed through space on a biscuit. All I did was post a topically relevent issue because there's nothing to get your teeth into at the moment.

With the greatest respect, post something new or make an existing thread interesting.

Not really on thread but my wife has been hear for three years and loves it, sure she mises the family but she looks at what she can earn in her pub here £220 a week in Thailand 8000 baht a month working in hotel receptions.


Kendo.


Amongst other things, what I like about your posts is that at least you get off the fence and give an opinion, not something that can be leveled at all. So thanks for saying what you think but do not assume that I don't have an opinion just because I'm polite to most that I talk to.

[sandman67]

Man...

whoo hoo am I drunk now.......... and man am I as pissed off as others as to the pissing contests most threads seem to turn into of late....this is heading that way.

Sod that....back to the thread say I!

Well Spitty old mate....I guess the answer is a big NO.... most of my mates seem to think I live in some nightmare Pattaya / Patpong world where every woman is a cheap bar lass... sort of a 60's Saigon nightmare.....

I love that and let them fool themselves ... means they stay there and I live here in the sun.

Do I care what they think..... not one f**k!

Am I happy........?

Well....after a long time working hard and trying to fit in...then traveling a long time and trying to fit in..... finally I came here and found I no longer needed to fit in.....here I am the real me. Nice old Sandy and Conky... no need to try......

and here is my home.

So do I care whether my mates understand?

I care less about the length of my toenails....

I guess the end question is this: do you care what others think?

Me.....I'll just laugh and drink another beer. Your opinions matter nothing to me..... Im happy, Mrs S is happy, and thats all that counts.

Everything else is just window dressing.





Conky's answer is much more short...... Do I give a f**k?

try it....its a liberating experience.