Are Thais still searching for an identity?

[deepee]

I've been wondering when this K- Pop craze that started out and besotted Thai youth would finally burn out but it seems that even after about 5 years it presents bigger and bigger. Couple of generations back it was all about Umelika, obviously primed by the conflict in Vietnam. USA culture looked like it was in to stay, but then there was a quiet drift away towards what many relieved upper class Thais referred to as the more refined and cultured European values.
Now we see a big shift to this very sanitized, bubblegummy and kiddy like version of Korean culture .You can't seem to miss it. It's everywhere, the web, tv, advertising, food. Even the older generation seem to be happy with it.
All seems odd to me as here we have a culture with a well recorded history, no colonization ( alto some say the Chinese have done that by stealth) but still the Thais want not to be Thai.

[blue05]

korean number 1 as been for years, dont think they will grow out of it

[dtaai-maai]

I'm not sure that the youth culture of any country is a particularly accurate indicator of its national identity. If it is, we're all doomed!

[Bamboo Grove]

dtaai-maai, weren't we all doomed already a long time ago? You started supporting something and I another thing?

[midlandmike]

There may be a superficial obsession with outside influences, but deep down nothing changes.

"We do it Thai way" doing things Thai way, that is the identity. I am surprised how almost nothing of the west sticks on Thais who have lived abroad for many years and return. This is not true of Chinese, Malaysians or even VNese.

[deepee]

"We do it Thai way" doing things Thai way, that is the identity. I am surprised how almost nothing of the west sticks on Thais who have lived abroad for many years and return.

Gee, I may have to disagree with you on this point midlandmike, I know many Thais who have lived outside Thailand who tell me they find it a real chore returning for any length of time. Usually get comments about things like the indecision , doing things in Thai time, poor hygiene and the corruption drive them crazy. Mrs deepee and I travel backwards and forwards a fair bit and she usually lasts less than a week before she says the place is starting to do her head in. She would be on her way out if not for the food.

[midlandmike]

Thank you deepee.
I do wonder if the Thais who return are NOT typical, perhaps they are the ones that did not adjust to the west,

[Takiap]

I'm a bit in two minds about this one because I know Thais who really didn't like living in the West, but I also know Thais that loved it. My wife would glady return to Scotand, although not to my country, South Africa. A lot of western ways have stuck with my wife as well, including a lot of the food.

As far as Korean pop culture is concerned..........Koreans are Oriental, whereas we are not. I think a lot of Thais view Western ways as being a threat to their identity actually. They would rather not have us influencing them.

Even here at home I know the MIL doesn't really approve of my kids eating Farang food for example, and she has made it known on many occasions. Korean food or Japanese food on the other hand is okay. In short, I think there's a racial devide that exists between East and West. It's much the same as the divide we see between Asia and Africa, or between Europe and Africa.

Racism, in it's simplest form, only involves skin color, but it's just as prevalent when it comes to different countries, or even different continents. The West is the West, and the East is the East.

Don't let it bother you.............

[Korkenzieher]

I've met some Thai girls in various European countries, usually working in restaurants, whose response to the idea of returning to Thailand was very negative. It runs pretty much along the lines of 'I got out of there / that situation, just how is it going to improve my life by going back?' So I would tend to agree, that those who *do* return to Thailand, are those that found life in the west to be more difficult.

[Pleng]

I'm a bit in two minds about this one because I know Thais who really didn't like living in the West, but I also know Thais that loved it.

Hardly the biggest surprise in the world I think you could go to pretty much any semi developed country and find a decent amount of natives who've loved going west, and another decent amount who've hated it.

Probably some nonchalants to add into the mix, just for good measure.

[Big Boy]

My two penneth.....

We knew dozens (probably hundreds) of Thais during my wife's 23 years living in the UK. All but a small few liked the security living in the UK brought, but if they could have moved back to Thailand with same security, they would have done so in an instant.

As soon as the correct circumstances prevail, and the husband is agreeable, they all return to Thailand. My circumstance was early retirement - without this (my pension) we could not have contemplated such a move.

Most Thais in the UK (who we've known) are making the most of their current circumstance, and I'm not trying to say they are unhappy - far from it. Their best friends are mainly Thai (it's hell when one falls out with another, and the group gets split), they spend a lot of time sourcing Thai food at outrageous prices and there are regular visits to the nearest Thai Temples. Basically, they are creating a virtual Thai enclave in the UK.

That's my view/experience of Thais abroad, it would be interesting how many have similar views, and how many differ. To those who differ, I ask, "Have you discussed this wth your wife?"

[Bristolian]

Most Thais in the UK (who we've known) are making the most of their current circumstance, and I'm not trying to say they are unhappy - far from it. Their best friends are mainly Thai (it's hell when one falls out with another, and the group gets split), they spend a lot of time sourcing Thai food at outrageous prices and there are regular visits to the nearest Thai Temples. Basically, they are creating a virtual Thai enclave in the UK.

I can's say that I disagree but by simply changing a few words.....

Most British in Thailand (who we've known) are making the most of their current circumstance, and I'm not trying to say they are unhappy - far from it. Their best friends are mainly farangs (it's hell when one falls out with another, and the group gets split), they spend a lot of time sourcing Fish and chips, sausages pies and etc. at outrageous prices and there are regular visits to the nearest pubs and bars. Basically, they are creating a virtual UK enclave in Thailand.

[richard]

I agree with both BB and Bristolian

Here in HH enclaves are rife to the point of certain estates are restrictive on who moves in

Personally I like a balance. The best days I have had here were spent in a Thai community both in HH and Isaan where if I needed farang company it was only a short trip down the road.

So 'Are farangs still searching for an identity' too?

[dtaai-maai]

Here in HH enclaves are rife to the point of certain estates are restrictive on who moves in

You have to be kidding! Tell us more...

[Big Boy]

I agree up to a point Bristolian. However, it would take something pretty major to get me back to the UK. I don't miss it at all. Having said that, I guess the difference is that it's easy, if you have the cash, for British friends and family to visit. For Thais, unless you put in a lot of time and money (with no guarantee of success) it is difficult for them to visit the UK.