Discontent with expat life in Thailand

[midlandmike]

I would advance as a point for discussion an observation that I have made after talking to many resident ex-pats in Hua Hin.
I seem to detect among the ex-pats from Britain a level of discontent higher than in those from other countries. The aggravations of life in Thai, so well documented in the forum, seem to upset them greatly.
If this is true there could be many reasons. British ex-pats seem to retire here earlier in their life than others and those that have been here for several years have seen their frozen pensions diminish from 72b/£ to its present level. A loss of 30% and thats before inflation.
There seems, however, to be another factor—whereas the Europeans, Americans and Commonwealth ex-pats feel that return to their own country is always there as an attractive option, my British friends appear not to like that idea.
One gentleman said something that I thought was telling, he said
“I could happily return to a Britain as it was in the 50s, 60s, 70s or even early 80s, but I do not feel that the Britain of today is a place where I would like to live. My Britain has gone.”
Any comments?

[Dannie Boy]

I would advance as a point for discussion an observation that I have made after talking to many resident ex-pats in Hua Hin.
I seem to detect among the ex-pats from Britain a level of discontent higher than in those from other countries. The aggravations of life in Thai, so well documented in the forum, seem to upset them greatly.
If this is true there could be many reasons. British ex-pats seem to retire here earlier in their life than others and those that have been here for several years have seen their frozen pensions diminish from 72b/£ to its present level. A loss of 30% and thats before inflation.
There seems, however, to be another factor—whereas the Europeans, Americans and Commonwealth ex-pats feel that return to their own country is always there as an attractive option, my British friends appear not to like that idea.
One gentleman said something that I thought was telling, he said
“I could happily return to a Britain as it was in the 50s, 60s, 70s or even early 80s, but I do not feel that the Britain of today is a place where I would like to live. My Britain has gone.”
Any comments?

Whilst there are a whole host of reasons why I am living here rather than the UK, but its fair to say that one of them is the fact that the UK isn't as it was, but then again, doesn't the same apply to a lot of countries? I have never asked the question of other nationalities, but the fact that there are so many others living here, the home pull can't be that great? But as I said, wherever your home base is, it's only one part of why we are living here.

[Lung Per]

I would advance as a point for discussion an observation that I have made after talking to many resident ex-pats in Hua Hin.
I seem to detect among the ex-pats from Britain a level of discontent higher than in those from other countries. The aggravations of life in Thai, so well documented in the forum, seem to upset them greatly.
If this is true there could be many reasons. British ex-pats seem to retire here earlier in their life than others and those that have been here for several years have seen their frozen pensions diminish from 72b/£ to its present level. A loss of 30% and thats before inflation.
There seems, however, to be another factor—whereas the Europeans, Americans and Commonwealth ex-pats feel that return to their own country is always there as an attractive option, my British friends appear not to like that idea.
One gentleman said something that I thought was telling, he said
“I could happily return to a Britain as it was in the 50s, 60s, 70s or even early 80s, but I do not feel that the Britain of today is a place where I would like to live. My Britain has gone.”
Any comments?

Whilst there are a whole host of reasons why I am living here rather than the UK, but its fair to say that one of them is the fact that the UK isn't as it was, but then again, doesn't the same apply to a lot of countries? I have never asked the question of other nationalities, but the fact that there are so many others living here, the home pull can't be that great? But as I said, wherever your home base is, it's only one part of why we are living here.

Danny my boy, where did you get that impression? When talking to people in bars?

I think retirement is what you make it. But it might also be bacause (some) Brits do tend to get more grumpy with age than others?

I say this because I observe there are more retired British regulars in the bars while retired Americans, Scandinavians, Germans, Dutch, etc. may also have interests that differ from barlife

To have a happy retirement you need a positive attitude and some healthy interests. Daily drinking in a bar will eventually make you grumpy, regardless.

Lawd have mercy. - I know I'm gonna get it from the British mafia here. But please take some time to think it over before you hit the keyboard. Am I right or am I right?!


Nevertheless, besides the more or less massive influx of poor un-educated "refugees" into our civilized nations from Palestine, Somalia, Arabia (include them all), Pakistan, other -stan countries, Turkey and most of the remaining Muslem world (who come to exploit our generous tax-payer financed social system), besides that, things are basically what you make them. At least in my Scandinavian part of the world. Naturally, society is moving and hopefully to the better but, as said before, some people tend to get more grumpy with age.

If you have lived an active life and participated in developments, are active, and if your liver and brain is not detoriated by alcohol and other intoxicating substances, you should be OK. And this goes for all nationalities...

[MrPlum]

You must have walked into 'The Whingeing Pom'.

There is a lot of masochistic pleasure to be had from gnashing one's teeth. Please don't spoil the Brit 'wet blankets' fun.

[STEVE G]

Not all retired Brits go to bars to be grumpy, some stay at home and are grumpy on this forum instead!

[Dannie Boy]

I would advance as a point for discussion an observation that I have made after talking to many resident ex-pats in Hua Hin.
I seem to detect among the ex-pats from Britain a level of discontent higher than in those from other countries. The aggravations of life in Thai, so well documented in the forum, seem to upset them greatly.
If this is true there could be many reasons. British ex-pats seem to retire here earlier in their life than others and those that have been here for several years have seen their frozen pensions diminish from 72b/£ to its present level. A loss of 30% and thats before inflation.
There seems, however, to be another factor—whereas the Europeans, Americans and Commonwealth ex-pats feel that return to their own country is always there as an attractive option, my British friends appear not to like that idea.
One gentleman said something that I thought was telling, he said
“I could happily return to a Britain as it was in the 50s, 60s, 70s or even early 80s, but I do not feel that the Britain of today is a place where I would like to live. My Britain has gone.”
Any comments?

Whilst there are a whole host of reasons why I am living here rather than the UK, but its fair to say that one of them is the fact that the UK isn't as it was, but then again, doesn't the same apply to a lot of countries? I have never asked the question of other nationalities, but the fact that there are so many others living here, the home pull can't be that great? But as I said, wherever your home base is, it's only one part of why we are living here.

Danny my boy, where did you get that impression? When talking to people in bars?

I think retirement is what you make it. But it might also be bacause (some) Brits do tend to get more grumpy with age than others?

I say this because I observe there are more retired British regulars in the bars while retired Americans, Scandinavians, Germans, Dutch, etc. may also have interests that differ from barlife

To have a happy retirement you need a positive attitude and some healthy interests. Daily drinking in a bar will eventually make you grumpy, regardless.

Lawd have mercy. - I know I'm gonna get it from the British mafia here. But please take some time to think it over before you hit the keyboard. Am I right or am I right?!


Nevertheless, besides the more or less massive influx of poor un-educated "refugees" into our civilized nations from Palestine, Somalia, Arabia (include them all), Pakistan, other -stan countries, Turkey and most of the remaining Muslem world (who come to exploit our generous tax-payer financed social system), besides that, things are basically what you make them. At least in my Scandinavian part of the world. Naturally, society is moving and hopefully to the better but, as said before, some people tend to get more grumpy with age.

If you have lived an active life and participated in developments, are active, and if your liver and brain is not detoriated by alcohol and other intoxicating substances, you should be OK. And this goes for all nationalities...

You might be right Lung Per about getting grumpier as you get older, but for me it certainly isn't due to drink as I can't remember the last time I went to a bar and rarely drink at home - maybe that's the problem?

Not quite sure about your other point and whether you were agreeing or disagreeing about other nationals than Brits having chosen to live in Thailand - does that have anything to do with them becoming disenchanted with life back home? For me, the more you are away from home, the more it seems to have changed when you go back, whereas if you are still living there you maybe don't realise the incremental changes?

Anyway I'm happy to be a guest of this wonderful country but still look forward to my annual vacation back home!!

[richard]

Hey you are grumpy if you want to be

Sure, when you retire you are financial influenced by exchange rates, flat income, newbies coming over with fatter pensions et al. You have to adapt and 'cut your cloth.......'

When I get grumpy and it's usually cos I've has a beer with some boring old farts up soi 80, I take off and stand back and think 'would I be feeling any less grumpy anywhere else?'

If you read my post about my trip back to the UK after many years you will see I was pleasantly surprised, We are so influenced by media and bar rumblings from boring old (and young) farts plus there is the boredom factor. I know a few retirees who are now actually busier than when they were working

Brits are labelled as 'bowler hatted, stiff upper lip whinging poms', but I've met many from Oz, USA, Norway, Sweden, Germany and many more. who are also bored and whine. There is one particular individual who I listen too now and again and to be quite honest I revert to good old Tyke logic and say 'scuse me, while your mouth is open you are not learning anything. Oh, and by the way, if you can't say something positive PISS off'. Usually works and Hey, makes me feel great

[Homer]

Whilst there are a whole host of reasons why I am living here rather than the UK, but its fair to say that one of them is the fact that the UK isn't as it was, but then again, doesn't the same apply to a lot of countries?

Maybe. The only constant is change. Countries and cultures change but what matters, IMHO, is both the nature of the change and whether one can opt out. As much as the US has changed since I started paying attention to the world outside my immediate vicinity, none of it would keep me from returning. In the US people who find change intolerable can move across a political boundary or to a different sociocultural region to escape some or all of what they abhor.

[Lung Per]

Not all retired Brits go to bars to be grumpy, some stay at home and are grumpy on this forum instead!

Oh really????

[margaretcarnes]

I would advance as a point for discussion an observation that I have made after talking to many resident ex-pats in Hua Hin.
I seem to detect among the ex-pats from Britain a level of discontent higher than in those from other countries. The aggravations of life in Thai, so well documented in the forum, seem to upset them greatly.
If this is true there could be many reasons. British ex-pats seem to retire here earlier in their life than others and those that have been here for several years have seen their frozen pensions diminish from 72b/£ to its present level. A loss of 30% and thats before inflation.
There seems, however, to be another factor—whereas the Europeans, Americans and Commonwealth ex-pats feel that return to their own country is always there as an attractive option, my British friends appear not to like that idea.
One gentleman said something that I thought was telling, he said
“I could happily return to a Britain as it was in the 50s, 60s, 70s or even early 80s, but I do not feel that the Britain of today is a place where I would like to live. My Britain has gone.”
Any comments?

A very good post and good points, although I do think it's often difficult for Brit expats themselves to compare their situations with some other large groups of HH expats, simply because of the language difficulties.
But yes the UK State Pension situation is a huge bone of contention - and it is already much lower than some of our closer EU neighbours anyway.
Other reasons why Brits are reluctant to return? The UK is in a huge recession, with no signs of a pending recovery. Inflation is running high. There is little manufacturing base left. The NHS is in a mess. Brits are cussedly stubborn creatures - if they retire early to the LOS they dig in their heels. Maybe they don't want to lose face by returning home? Even if that means being poor - they are at least living in a good climate and many are quite prepared to end their days there regardless.
There are perhaps other underlying reasons which many won't voice - such as the influx of foreign nationals to the UK (quirky logic that isn't it?) and the governments lack of any real policy to deal with illegals.
The rumours which fly around about how much is spent on illegals. The amount of foreign aide which our government continues to spend.
To be honest these gripes aren't the prerogative of HH expat Brits. But those of us who have come back the the UK just get on with it because we know little will change. Coming back is in itself the big hurdle, and it does require some adjustment - but you get there.
Then you begin to realise that there is a huge cultural divide between Brits at home and our EU neighbours. Brits simply cannot cope with the European style 'cafe culture' - which is very similar to life in the LOS in many ways. So they binge and pass out on pavements - (does that sound like the Binta?)
So yes - it doesn't sound like much of a place to return to. That said there are still a lot of UK expats who prefer to moan in HH than moan in the UK, because wherever they are they will moan.
What does concern me perhaps more is that the ones who went to the LOS when quite young, and who rarely take trips home, are in danger of distancing themselves more and more from the true reality of UK life. Because it really ain't all bad.

[Takiap]

A nice post since I'm sure it'll a range of different responses. Anyway, here's mine......


I'm from SA so can't speak for the Brits even though I did live there for 10+ years. However, I really do think the Brits here are any more grumpy than other nationalities. Just look on this forum for example. We've had many members who have slowly but surely become increasingly grumpy, until eventually they get to the stage where they really hate even being here. Then we get the good folk like Lung Per who are constantly grumpy, but they're still happy nonetheless.


In my opinion, grumpy people will be grumpy no matter where they are, and no matter what their financial position is. Remove you rose tinted glasses for a few minutes and you'll notice their are just as many grumpy Thais as well.


Damn, just as I was getting started, I've been ordered to take the kids to school.

[PeteC]

I need a definition of "cafe culture" as you're using it Mags? If it's simply the open air places in Europe where people sit all weekend and watch the world go by.....that was an aspect of travel there I really enjoyed and looked forward to.

I wouldn't think "pub culture" is much different...looking through windows at the world going by, or in some cases pubs have sidewalk tables I think.

Perhaps I'm being a bit too literal and you have a deeper meaning? Pete

[Big Boy]

Happy when I'm moaning . End of.........................

[STEVE G]

Then you begin to realise that there is a huge cultural divide between Brits at home and our EU neighbours. Brits simply cannot cope with the European style 'cafe culture' - which is very similar to life in the LOS in many ways. So they binge and pass out on pavements - (does that sound like the Binta?)

I wouldn't agree that Brits can't handle cafe culture; here where I work in Luxembourg there must be over 10,000 Brits working, mainly in Banking, Finance and related IT and you don't see them passed out on the pavement. They're a pretty civilised bunch to be honest.

[bsdk1960]

"I say this because I observe there are more retired British regulars in the bars while retired Americans, Scandinavians, Germans, Dutch, etc. may also have interests that differ from barlife

To have a happy retirement you need a positive attitude and some healthy interests. Daily drinking in a bar will eventually make you grumpy, regardless."


I think they get grumpy if they not sit in a bar and do theire drinking every day.