My attitude toward events and life in Thailand can run opposed to those who predict doom and gloom or wear rose colored glasses. Perhaps I have been desensitized and become excessively blasé over the years. That said, one does need to take a good long look at things, before choosing to become an Expat. Of course I can only speak to my personal experience in Thailand. For some the risks are mitigated by the fact that an organization, corporation, government or God is paying the bills. Being hired from overseas, on a good expat package leaves you with little financial risk. If you are trying to make it entirely on your own, you are in for a very steep learning curve, however. You had best be very, very good at something, that there is a market for, and have massive people skills. You will need contacts and help from the right people. Pretty much everything I have done in Thailand was handed to me by people who liked me or needed me. I certainly didn’t go around knocking on doors and asking for things. One skilled friend of mine did put out feelers early on, but it took a year or two, before people locally, started to take him seriously and offer him assignments. His skill and patience won out in the end but that is hardly the norm.
Young, single, unencumbered, polite and highly skilled or perhaps old and retired with adequate money, are workable scenarios. If you marry into the wrong Thai social class you had best be retired with money as it will make things more difficult with the people you will need to socialize and associate with in the working world. Children, or perhaps a western wife, will add a whole new set of challenges, that I thankfully have not had any experience with. Education, healthcare and a myriad of western expectations will likely not be filled in exactly the way one might wish for. As a youthful adventurer, teaching can help to pay some bills and open doors to learning about real people in your country of choice. Even as a retiree, a little teaching can provide great social rewards and recognition among the locals. Of course you won’t be held in as high esteem, by many of your expat compatriots.
Like me, some become lifelong expats and manage to somehow survive and sometimes even thrive. For others it is just an interlude that enriches their lives with vivid memories and vital life experiences. Now we get to the poor souls who should never leave their native lands. The bigoted and intolerant are better off being unhappy at home and not inflicting themselves on another nation of people. Those who are week willed, lacking in self-discipline, or posses an addictive personality could easily find themselves on a very slippery slope toward a nightmare scenario. Without a social safety net and no one looking out for ones best interests, many a life has been waisted in the notorious bars and nightlife of Bangkok and Pattaya. Families have been shattered and fortunes lost as people have fled the safe predictability of life at home and sought out adventure or love in a far off land.
There are of course risks in life regardless of where one resides. Those risks are not the same for everyone, however. While some fear for their safety, security or comfort, others have no greater fear, than living a normal and predictable life within the confines of what is expected. There is no right or wrong about it. With no sure things, sometimes you just have to go for it. If it doesn’t workout, have faith in your own ability to persevere. Much easier done without debts or responsibilities, of course.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Age, Imports, Trails & Dogs...
Inevitably, my frequent morning walks to the dam, fill me with a quiet composure and contentment that lingers throughout the day. To be surpassed only by the joyous exaltation of my four legged companions who explode in dance and song at the mere suggestion of my intentions. Even the blistering heat of the morning sun, on these recently clear days, could not dampen their spirits, though I confess it slows my pace a bit. The brown leafless days of the past are but a memory as the forest trees sprout new plumage. One sometimes forgets that many forrest trees produce, not only leaves of green, but flowers as well. Some strike you with their brilliance of color while others are shy and subdued in their presentation and would easily evade a cursory glance. This year the fruit bearing trees put forth the promise of a bountiful harvest. While not all is lush and green, and will not be for some time to come, there is once again beauty to behold upon the trail. I even glimpsed a brilliant, deep blue stranger to these eyes, as it flew from tree to tree, proudly displaying the full extent of its colorful form.
While often clearing the cobwebs from my mind, on occasion I find myself in deep contemplation as I proceed down the trail. Today I found that I was lamenting the role that age plays in this paradise that I live in. It is not just that I find the resident farangs, to be for the most part, so very old. Village life itself is devoid of whole generations for most of the year. Just as in small hamlets and villages around the world, the young lust for a city life, departing at the first opportunity. Their leaving behind the very young to be cared for by the very old, I fear damages the very fiber of the community. Children are often cared for by those who are least well equipped to do so. Sometimes illiterate and clinging to superstitions and practices from a bygone era, their best efforts are often not enough to prepare their grandchildren for the modern world.
I was not so very different, in that I shunned this village life until after I passed the half century mark. Even so, I am young in comparison to many a farang, who usually had to wait for the maturing of children, jettisoning of the ex, retirement and the late-life discovery of Thai girls. I lament that village life bears no resemblance to the vibrancy of the city and the limitless representation of age groups and lifestyles. The city itself, however, I do not miss.
While I have come across some individuals of interest, many including the Thais I’ve met, are just passing through. They often live elsewhere and are what I refer to as temporary imports. Friends from overseas or brought up from Bangkok, or thereabouts, with a mutual payoff in mind. One escapes the turmoil of the city, if only briefly, while the other enjoys a level of discussion and banter not to be found locally. We are finding it difficult to extricate some of our city friends from their entrenched routines but remain hopeful that they will relent during the cool season. It is possible to benefit from others who have the same idea, at times. One Thai neighbor who visits often with his local girlfriend has brought in friends to see his new house. I stumbled into their midst one day and enjoyed the trip down memory lane as they quizzed my knowledge of their world. They being a good ten years younger than I, had nonetheless been present in many of the same environs. They brought back memories of a time a place almost forgotten and impossible to share with others who inhabit the village.
By way of explanation, my Thai village neighbor from Bangkok, is an outgoing and gregarious sort. His close friends were an interesting and diverse group. One studious fellow, with his horn-rimmed glasses, had his nose buried in the newspaper and only spoke in his rich baritone to deflect the chiding of his more verbose companions. The other less talkative friend was cut from the mold of the strong silent type. He had ridden up from the central plains on a new BMW 1200 and had a quiet self-confidence that speaks volumes, without speaking at all. The obvious leader of this boisterous pack sat me down and proceeded to interrogate me in the most disarming manner. Done clumsily this kind of thing leaves me looking for the exit but done well, as on that day, is the equivalent of a verbal dance.
So there are ways to fill the voids in age and intellect that permeate village life. Simply import friends from Bangkok or overseas, and to fill the time between visits, there is always Skype and email. Not insignificantly a blog can play its part as well. In a way this all suits me and my nature. Though some will assume a loner to be a social misfit, we are often far from socially inept. To the extent that joining groups is seen as a limiting thing. Confining one to a hunting range of restricted proportions. The lone wolf is a more flexible creature and often ranges far and wide unlike those who join the pack and must abide by its rules and remain within its territory. Of course, when all else falls short of the mark, there is no substitute for a loyal and trustworthy, canine companion and a long walk to the dam.
While often clearing the cobwebs from my mind, on occasion I find myself in deep contemplation as I proceed down the trail. Today I found that I was lamenting the role that age plays in this paradise that I live in. It is not just that I find the resident farangs, to be for the most part, so very old. Village life itself is devoid of whole generations for most of the year. Just as in small hamlets and villages around the world, the young lust for a city life, departing at the first opportunity. Their leaving behind the very young to be cared for by the very old, I fear damages the very fiber of the community. Children are often cared for by those who are least well equipped to do so. Sometimes illiterate and clinging to superstitions and practices from a bygone era, their best efforts are often not enough to prepare their grandchildren for the modern world.
I was not so very different, in that I shunned this village life until after I passed the half century mark. Even so, I am young in comparison to many a farang, who usually had to wait for the maturing of children, jettisoning of the ex, retirement and the late-life discovery of Thai girls. I lament that village life bears no resemblance to the vibrancy of the city and the limitless representation of age groups and lifestyles. The city itself, however, I do not miss.
While I have come across some individuals of interest, many including the Thais I’ve met, are just passing through. They often live elsewhere and are what I refer to as temporary imports. Friends from overseas or brought up from Bangkok, or thereabouts, with a mutual payoff in mind. One escapes the turmoil of the city, if only briefly, while the other enjoys a level of discussion and banter not to be found locally. We are finding it difficult to extricate some of our city friends from their entrenched routines but remain hopeful that they will relent during the cool season. It is possible to benefit from others who have the same idea, at times. One Thai neighbor who visits often with his local girlfriend has brought in friends to see his new house. I stumbled into their midst one day and enjoyed the trip down memory lane as they quizzed my knowledge of their world. They being a good ten years younger than I, had nonetheless been present in many of the same environs. They brought back memories of a time a place almost forgotten and impossible to share with others who inhabit the village.
By way of explanation, my Thai village neighbor from Bangkok, is an outgoing and gregarious sort. His close friends were an interesting and diverse group. One studious fellow, with his horn-rimmed glasses, had his nose buried in the newspaper and only spoke in his rich baritone to deflect the chiding of his more verbose companions. The other less talkative friend was cut from the mold of the strong silent type. He had ridden up from the central plains on a new BMW 1200 and had a quiet self-confidence that speaks volumes, without speaking at all. The obvious leader of this boisterous pack sat me down and proceeded to interrogate me in the most disarming manner. Done clumsily this kind of thing leaves me looking for the exit but done well, as on that day, is the equivalent of a verbal dance.
So there are ways to fill the voids in age and intellect that permeate village life. Simply import friends from Bangkok or overseas, and to fill the time between visits, there is always Skype and email. Not insignificantly a blog can play its part as well. In a way this all suits me and my nature. Though some will assume a loner to be a social misfit, we are often far from socially inept. To the extent that joining groups is seen as a limiting thing. Confining one to a hunting range of restricted proportions. The lone wolf is a more flexible creature and often ranges far and wide unlike those who join the pack and must abide by its rules and remain within its territory. Of course, when all else falls short of the mark, there is no substitute for a loyal and trustworthy, canine companion and a long walk to the dam.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Leaving Questions Unanswered...
Seeing that the resent surge in hits from Thailand ISPs has subsided, perhaps it is safe to once again come out to play. Tempests in teacups, disgruntled detractors, all hopefully faded to nothing more than an unpleasant memory. I am sometimes drawn to see what lies beyond my field of view. To venture on foot or by vehicle, even metaphorically, to explore what lies around the bend. Often one has a very good idea ahead of time, what is there, but to see it first hand does lend a measure of authenticity and veracity.
With 30 plus years in Bangkok, one might safely assume that I have had a smattering of experience with expat circles. I thought it perhaps presumptuous on my part to assume, however, that my observations were universal. I therefore set out to see if expat fauna of the Rai differed from that of the Big Mango. Not unexpectedly, I found evidence of the usual suspects. Ranging from the dregs to the do-gooders, they were not hard to spot, even with the variance in dress code afforded to this less than urban environment.
As the pot was stirring recently, over I know not what, emails were exchanged that I naively thought were addressed to one individual. I opted not to use the bully pulpit of my blog and instead resorted to emails that were promptly forwarded to a half dozen other individuals. A more sophisticated approach would have been to use the bcc: function in the letterhead of the email. That way, I would have been none the wiser. Subsequently they had me at a disadvantage, knowing what I was saying while I knew nothing of what they were discussing amongst themselves. It all leaves me wondering what could possibly be in it for me, to revisit a repeat engagement.
In a round about way this got me reexamining my readership and from whence it comes. The majority are from English speaking countries, and many but not all, have some sort of Thailand connection. The total number of countries represented is impressive and some seem to use translations. I often wonder how well my words cross from one language to another. I am clearly not someone who picks his topics from news services or other bloggers and therefore I post at irregular intervals. That leaves me wondering why there are so many of you who click so regularly on my page. An RSS feed, set up in one of the many Readers out there, would surely be more functional and alert you to any new postings. Some seem preoccupied with downloading every picture I post, to which I do not object. But then again, one does wonder what is being done with them.
The software which is supposed to tell me who you are and where you are from, leaves me with many more questions than answers. While many of you have been in contact there is an equal number who still lurk in the shadows and keep me guessing. Perhaps that is as it should be. The urge to answer all questions and remove all mystery could lead one down the path to a dreary, less colorful tapestry of life. So part of me wants to know, while another part of me does not. If recent events are anything to go by, perhaps it is best to leave some things to the realm of imagination.
With 30 plus years in Bangkok, one might safely assume that I have had a smattering of experience with expat circles. I thought it perhaps presumptuous on my part to assume, however, that my observations were universal. I therefore set out to see if expat fauna of the Rai differed from that of the Big Mango. Not unexpectedly, I found evidence of the usual suspects. Ranging from the dregs to the do-gooders, they were not hard to spot, even with the variance in dress code afforded to this less than urban environment.
As the pot was stirring recently, over I know not what, emails were exchanged that I naively thought were addressed to one individual. I opted not to use the bully pulpit of my blog and instead resorted to emails that were promptly forwarded to a half dozen other individuals. A more sophisticated approach would have been to use the bcc: function in the letterhead of the email. That way, I would have been none the wiser. Subsequently they had me at a disadvantage, knowing what I was saying while I knew nothing of what they were discussing amongst themselves. It all leaves me wondering what could possibly be in it for me, to revisit a repeat engagement.
In a round about way this got me reexamining my readership and from whence it comes. The majority are from English speaking countries, and many but not all, have some sort of Thailand connection. The total number of countries represented is impressive and some seem to use translations. I often wonder how well my words cross from one language to another. I am clearly not someone who picks his topics from news services or other bloggers and therefore I post at irregular intervals. That leaves me wondering why there are so many of you who click so regularly on my page. An RSS feed, set up in one of the many Readers out there, would surely be more functional and alert you to any new postings. Some seem preoccupied with downloading every picture I post, to which I do not object. But then again, one does wonder what is being done with them.
The software which is supposed to tell me who you are and where you are from, leaves me with many more questions than answers. While many of you have been in contact there is an equal number who still lurk in the shadows and keep me guessing. Perhaps that is as it should be. The urge to answer all questions and remove all mystery could lead one down the path to a dreary, less colorful tapestry of life. So part of me wants to know, while another part of me does not. If recent events are anything to go by, perhaps it is best to leave some things to the realm of imagination.
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