Thinking about moving to Thailand. Talk me out of it.

[srabadan]

Hi there. First post.

About 17 years ago, I met my amazing wife working at a record store. She moved to the states from Bangkok about 6 years before we met.

FF to now, no kids planned, we have both been building our careers and things have been smooth for quite some time. I have a strong career in apparel manufacturing and she is a brand manager for a cosmetics line. We are doing pretty well.

My work takes me to SEA several times a year mostly to Vietnam and China but my company does have resources in BKK. I have been thinking the experience of living and working in Asia is something I want to do in my life, even if just for a few years. I have always felt my wife's experience of being transplanted like she was, has made her an amazing person. If it could do that for me...I want to try it.

The prospect of packing up and leaving everything familiar scares me a great deal. Learning a new language, learning where everything is, the heat, all of it. Very scary. Really though, the wife has family a place for us to live, some money in the bank. I think we both have skills that could translate well to work. With a cool head and a plan, it might not be that bad at all.

I could use some help planning this out. Language learning resources, where to look for apartments, anything and everything someone planning a move like this might find helpful. Please share. There are probably many aspects to this I am not thinking of so don't be gentle. If this is a dumb idea I want to know.

Thanks!

[Neverna]

You haven't thought about it much, have you?

[srabadan]

We aren't planning to move for about 24 months. You could say we are in the thinking about it phase right now.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[BaitongBoy]

Welcome to the Buffalo Board, srabadan....Good luck with it all...Should be a few "responses" forthcoming...

[Pragmatic]

Talk me out of it.

Why? Up to you whether you make a success of it or not. What's your history of visiting Thailand? Welcome to the forum btw.

[Lancelot]

Living abroad is not like visiting.

Try living in Thailand a minimum of six months before you consider a permanent move.

In any case, good luck!

[Immigrunt]

Yes, six or twelve months. Then have a plan A to stay longer if you like it and a plan B to go home if you don't. Don't sell up everything and make a permanent move before you've done at least that.

[Norton]

the wife has family a place for us to live

A big plus long term or short if you decide you want your own place later.

All sorts of Thai language schools in Bangkok. Having Thai speaking family is helpful as well. I would get a private tutor.

Living and working in Thailand as in any country requires visa and work permit. You need to determine how in your case to get appropriate for you and wife. If your wife has retained Thai citizenship will be straight forward to get long stay visa based on marriage.

Bangkok is a very large metropolitan area. Not much different than some in the US. Downside is congestion and traffic. Upside is availibility of restaurants, markets, et al. Of course hotter and much wetter than US cities.

my company does have resources in BKK.

Work out some sort of deal with your company to work out of Bangkok for them. Your wife should do same with her cosmetic company.

scares me a great deal

As some famous guy once said "Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself”.

Don't sell up everything and make a permanent move before you've done at least that.

Yep.

Go for it. You are miles ahead in making a move than most.

Welcome to the forum.

[Passing Through]

I see the Teakdoor mods have been cribbing from the Thaivisa handbook of moderating. No admitting that other forums exist, eh. Oh well. I hope you enjoy this forum's dotage.

[Latindancer]

1... Get some good health insurance.

2....Never get on a motorbike in Thailand....there are endless sad stories about foreigners who had prangs and need to be airlifted but don't have the money.
Or who don't understand the way locals drive and expect them to act the same as in the West.

3 ..Bring money....as much as possible. Cash is king in Thailand and those with it can have a great lifestyle.

4...No matter how angry you get, never show your anger to a Thai by shouting or behaving badly. Guys here will hit you from behind, and they will pounce on you in a group. Keeping your cool (or appearing to) and being polite gives you the moral high ground, too.

[Lancelot]

^ Good advice.

But I do admit to ridding bikes there

[12Call]

Check out downtown Ladprao.

[taxexile]

bringing your wife back to thailand will render her susceptible to the corrupting and noxious influence of her immediate family, much to the detriment of both your relationship and your finances.

think on lad.

[ENT]

Hi there. First post.

About 17 years ago, I met my amazing wife working at a record store. She moved to the states from Bangkok about 6 years before we met.

FF to now, no kids planned, we have both been building our careers and things have been smooth for quite some time. I have a strong career in apparel manufacturing and she is a brand manager for a cosmetics line. We are doing pretty well.

My work takes me to SEA several times a year mostly to Vietnam and China but my company does have resources in BKK. I have been thinking the experience of living and working in Asia is something I want to do in my life, even if just for a few years. I have always felt my wife's experience of being transplanted like she was, has made her an amazing person. If it could do that for me...I want to try it.

The prospect of packing up and leaving everything familiar scares me a great deal. Learning a new language, learning where everything is, the heat, all of it. Very scary. Really though, the wife has family a place for us to live, some money in the bank. I think we both have skills that could translate well to work. With a cool head and a plan, it might not be that bad at all.

I could use some help planning this out. Language learning resources, where to look for apartments, anything and everything someone planning a move like this might find helpful. Please share. There are probably many aspects to this I am not thinking of so don't be gentle. If this is a dumb idea I want to know.

Thanks!

How old are you, 40 something?
It sounds as though your life's going really well for you and your wife where you are.
You're looking to relocate here, a big move in your mid-life, when hormones change and youth is slipping away, while energy levels can also play tricks on you, needing to prove yourself.

Thailand's appeal fades fast after a few months, and you'll need a break from it periodically, so stick to visits and holidays in Asia, it's a lot easier on the nerves and budget IMO. Thailand's not the lucrative commercial hub that some folks dream of, too many arbitrary rules and bribes (sweeteners) to attend to.

You know the old adage,

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Good luck.

[Passing Through]

4...No matter how angry you get, never show your anger to a Thai by shouting or behaving badly. Guys here will hit you from behind, and they will pounce on you in a group. Keeping your cool (or appearing to) and being polite gives you the moral high ground, too.

That depends somewhat. It generally looks much better not to get angry but depending on how you fit into the local hierarchy, you can, just as Thais do, get away with shouting at people.

Anyway, since my earlier post was inexplicably deleted, have a look at womenlearningthai.com for resources on learning Thai (obviously enough). If you want a school, go to Sumaa. They're not cheap but you get what you pay for.

Also, you might want to look at other forums for more practical advice.

[ENT]

Living abroad is not like visiting.

Try living in Thailand a minimum of six months before you consider a permanent move.

In any case, good luck!

Very good advice.

[ENT]

bringing your wife back to thailand will render her susceptible to the corrupting and noxious influence of her immediate family, much to the detriment of both your relationship and your finances.

think on lad.

I agree with that too.
The tales of death/disaster for Farang by in-laws abound in Thailand

[Passing Through]

He's not moving to fucking Jupiter. It's really not that big a deal.

[thaimeme]

He's not moving to fucking Jupiter. It's really not that big a deal.

Perhaps or perhaps not.
Too many never adjust nor acclimate, in most regards.

Always the foreigner - and the corresponding hypocrisy in their lives.

[CaptainNemo]

^Yes, look what it did to Jeff, inhaling all that Jovian atmosphere.

Ultimately, Mr Srabadan, you have to examine what the real reason is for you to:
a. move
b. more there
c. move there now

We can speculate on the answers to those questions, but only you really know the answer; and for every answer, there's always a better one... there'll be something else niggling underneath - perhaps just trying to understand your bird in some way before you begin procreating? Or enjoy that wealth gap, living it up for a bit, kiddie free? What's wrong with your bit of the USA? As said, a nice long holiday or gap year might get the culture vulture or adventure muscles exercised; if retirement, escapism, or cheap wine and women isn't on your agenda, then is it the ageing parents of your Mrs that is the beckoning finger?

[baldrick]

^ I had thought it was the fumes from uranus

[CaptainNemo]

^ I had thought it was the fumes from uranus

No-one would survive that

[Norton]

The tales of death/disaster for Farang by in-laws abound in Thailand

They do indeed but just because they do doesn't mean there are more untold tales where farangs enjoy a perfectly good relarionship with wife and her family.

Best I figure the OP has been married 17 years so by now he would be quite aware of any family "issues" he would expect to encounter moving here.

[redhaze]

To me it boils down to whether you both can remain secure in your jobs and be paid (roughly) the same while working in LOS. That wasn't made completely clear in the OP. But if you can, why the hell not? Double that sentiment if you could move back to the states and retain your jobs if things go tits up. There is virtually no risk involved with that, and you'll likely have a great time

As far as selling/getting rid of all your stuff to make the move, I gotta laugh at people advising against that. If you really stay in a place and live your life there simply because of the crap you own...man that is pretty sad way to live IMHO

[Gazza]

Thinking about moving to Thailand. Talk me out of it.

If you come to Thailand I'll kick your fuckin' head in.