Do your mates back home understand where you are?

Post by **margaretcarnes** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 5:55 am

Sidetracking all the biscuits flying around up there - yes Zidane - the tsunami was a real eyeopener for me as well. In terms of folks back homes complete lack of knowledge as to where exactly you are! Despite a few years in HH, and the fact that the place figures in a lot of travel programmes and brochures back home.
And how often have you had to explain that little pond between HH and Pattaya for gawds sake?

Post by **Jaime** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 6:31 am

I guess most Brits don't know much about the geography of Thailand but then why should they?

Most Brits don't know much about the geography of their own country - I saw a woman on a quiz show once give the answer to the question "What is the capital city of Wales" as "Devon". !!!!

Many Britons fail to realise that Mallorca, one of their other favourite holiday destinations, is an island, thinking instead that 'Majorca' is some homogenised, sprawling resort on the mainland.

As special a place as Thailand is, in varying degrees, for posters on this forum, the truth is that for most Thailand is a fairly insignificant place, which also happens to be a not insignificant 6000 miles away from the UK.

However, despite all of the above, I think most Brits have a better grasp of Asian geography than their Thai counterparts, most of whom can't name or pinpoint the capitals of the countries they border.

Post by **Randy Cornhole** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 6:49 am

the truth is that for most Thailand is a fairly insignificant place

And I for one want to keep it that way...

Post by **margaretcarnes** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 7:16 am

You are right there Jaime - Thais and geography don't seem to mix at all. Sadly I put it down to the education system, which also seems to neatly sidetrack History.
But its amazing how so many people see so little of their own countries as well. And air travel is a bit like the London Underground - disappear into the ground at Kings Cross and emerge at Green Park without a clue whats inbetween!
Maybe one of the problems though is countries changing names. In Thailands' case a lot of people (especially the older generation) know the name 'Siam' from the King and I - but just don't link it with Thailand at all.

As for the capital of Wales, well we all know it's the Cardiff Arms Park!

Post by **chelsea** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:49 am

Margret, is funny what you said about locals not seeing much of your own country.

I done a fair bit of traveling around England and Wales, but have never been to Scotland or North/Southern Ireland in the time that I was there.
Since coming to Australia I have lived in Sydney. Melbourne, Cairns and now Perth.

I remember speaking to an Aussie that I 1st worked with over here. They had seen a lot more of the UK and Europe than I had, but the funny thing was they had not traveled out of their own state.
In the 1st 3 months I had lived here, at the time they were amazed at how much of Australia I had seen that they had only seen on TV programs.

These discussions still come up from time to time, but there are still a lot of people here that have still not traveled out of their own states. So do not think just applies in Thailand or the UK it is alive and kicking here is Australia as well.

Post by **margaretcarnes** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:32 am

Thanks Chelsea - good point - its not just a British thing! Maybe with the availability of foreign holidays now people just think they might as well go abroad? I know that these days it would cost me as much for a couple of weeks in Cornwall for example as a trip to LOS. Much as I love Cornwall, theres no contest!

Post by **Randy Cornhole** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:45 am

some of my mates at home think i'm a mad as a bats arse. I don't care as I lay in the sun sipping from the cup of sheer bliss...

sargeant · Post by **sargeant** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:46 am

Randy that is a good point it is where you are at mentally thats the big difference latitude and longditude are just numbers i am happy being happy

my mates seem to be happy being miserable

Post by **chelsea** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 12:29 pm

Margret, it is the same here. It is so much cheaper for me to go anywhere is Asia and much better value than it is for me to fly across to Queensland.
I think that is what is happening in Europe, it will get much better for us here, the more cheaper airlines that become available here.

I checked a while ago and if booked well in advance I could get a return to Thailand for under $700.00 (much the same as what it costs me to go Sydney), if I want to go further North or to Queensland, then it costs a lot more.

The big plus is the current exchange rate in Asia against the Aussie Dollar. The fact that we are able to get just under 3000baht for 100 Aussie Dollars. I am able to enjoy a much better style of holiday in Asia that is why I holiday there than over there.

When I moved to Australia 26 years ago most people thought I had gone mad and why would I want to do such a thing. But in hindsight it was the best move I ever made.

Most of the people who I met when I went back for the 1st time in 25 years (last year), still live in my home town doing the same old things, drinking in the same pubs as before.

After the 1st couple of days, it was just like I had not been away for 25 years. So really I am glad that I took the chance and went when I did as I do not think that I would have enjoyed still doing the same things 25 years on.

I really take no notice of people who say they would not live anywhere else (other than where they live now or were born), as I really think that they have very narrow minds in not making the effort to travel and try living in other countries or cultures.
]
Trying to adapt to living anywhere different (whether English Speaking or otherwise), is a major part of the reason for doing it in the 1st place.
It furthers your life skills, and helps to give you a wider knowledge of life and other cultures.

Post by **MrPlum** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:59 pm

chelsea wrote: Trying to adapt to living anywhere different (whether English Speaking or otherwise), is a major part of the reason for doing it in the 1st place.
It furthers your life skills, and helps to give you a wider knowledge of life and other cultures.

Careful. This is coming dangerously close to flying biscuit territory.

I stopped taking friends into consideration, once I joined the military at 17. First time I went back home I had changed.

Steinbeck came to the same realization. Went back to his home town after becoming famous. Wanted his mates to be the same as he remembered them but they wanted and expected him to be different. He then took the view.... never go back.

For me, it has always been... They don't know what they are missing but as long as they are happy that's what counts.

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 3:54 pm

Well, just to lighten up things a bit, I thought I'd share the following with all.

Question: What have we learnt from this thread?
Answers:
1. Answer to thread question is a general 'No' mixed with a few other thoughts/observations.
2. Watch out for those 'loss of objectivity' moments(I can vouch for that).
3. It's easy to misread posts, so read it twice before jumping on the subject.
4. Be wary of number three on a Saturday night(SM67 put that well in his post).

Thought it needed sharing with the forum as it's been sorted out/put right.

Feel free anyone to add numbers 5, 6, 7 if you think of anything.

Post by **Guess** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:34 pm

I didn't have any mates anywhere and I don't know where back home is.

As far as Brits and geography is concerned there seems to me to be a massive gap between the knowledgeable and the ignorant on that subject.

I am like Jaime and know the world well. I can tell you the names of all the counties of England, the States of the US (and their capitals) and I think I can name every country in the world although the status of some (E.g. Porto Rica) is a bit cloudy.

I think it's something you either enjoy to know or not. If not then what is the point of knowing. As Margaret says, you can go down a hole at King's Cross (London) and come up at Green Park without a clue where you have been. So I suppose in some ways it does not matter.

The capital of Wales is "W".

Post by **Randy Cornhole** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 1:18 am

I didn't have any mates anywhere and I don't know where back home is.

Post by **sandman67** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:23 am

United Kingdom

the clue is in the name...... UNITED.. so it has ONE capital

London... (god help us)

Wales, as a long conquered county, now part of the UNITED KINGDOM, doesn't have a capital. They gave that right up somewhere in the middle ages.....somewhere around "Proud Edward" Longshanks's time I think.....

seriously though....do you all really care what your mates back in hell think?

not being judgmental...... just curious.

Personally I couldn't give a flying f**K what you or anyone else thinks of my lifestyle......and so I'm curious as to why it matters so much to anyone else...(its to check whether I'm off the rails or not I suppose).

Screw them....who is laughing...you or them?

Make that the measure of your life and see how easier you breathe.......

Post by **STEVE G** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:45 am

I have to say that for the last four years I’ve been traveling between Luxembourg and Thailand and I am now attached to both places and have friends in both to the point where I wouldn’t really want to live in either full time.
At one point I lived in Asia for six years full time and whilst I had a great time, I did find working in Asia a bit of a trial.
Here in Europe it’s much easier to make a living, certainly in my occupation anyway, and I enjoy many of the benefits such as efficient public transport and sports facilities, and being able to go about my business without having to worry about crime and strife.
I also like the way that it is so cosmopolitan here; I have friends from all over Europe and some from father a field.
In Thailand I enjoy the weather, beaches, cheap food and being able to afford to buy somewhere to live, and I like going up to Issan and living the country life which I find very free and relaxing.