My Smeg Thread

[njdesi]

Don't usually start a thread devoted to criticizing Thais, but there is something that I find odd about the Thais I've met in America. I can speak some basic phrases and follow simple conversations about everyday topics. And I know the difference between "thaan ahaan" and "gin khao", "mai ow" and "mai tongaan". In other words, I don't speak bargirl Thai in front of polite company and use words like "joa chuu" and not pronounce the "r" in khrap.

Without fail, after the initial shock of seeing a foriegner speak Thai in US wears off, the first question they ask me is, "Do you have a Thai girlfriend?" Seems like an innocent question, but then I thinking what the implications are. The educated Thais here will all claim that people visit Thailand for the food, temples, culture, or laidback lifestyle until they are red in the face. So why is this the first question they ask?

If someone spoke French, would you assume he had a French girlfriend? Or would you more likely assume he had an interest in French culture?

If I met a white person that spoke Hindi, I would probably think he worked with many Indians or had a keen interest in the religion before thinking he had a Indian wife.

So do Thais believe that the only reason someone would stay for an extended period in their country is for the women? Do most of them automatically assume this is primary reason farangs live in LOS?

BTW, not saying that their assumption is completely inaccurate in my case.

[in4zip]

good post njdesi
speaking very in general
if someone palefaced spoke hindi i very much doubt they'd be married to an indian gall since these rarely marry outside the indian community...unless things have very much changed but from the little i've seen in sizeable indians communities abroad (never been to india), the girls are not allowed much freedom of choice

with thais, maybe the lower earning ones, taxi drivers, in the catering/service biz often pop the Q. ""Do you have a Thai girlfriend?"" with enphasis more on "mia" rather than on "phan"... so i'd say this group might just see us foreigners more here for the meat rather than for anything else

the other side of the thai spectrum rarely has asked if i had any local bird on the hook...
prolly just more polite or just couldn't be arsed..go figure

[mrsquirrel]

I can understand the Thai girlfriend thing but what I can never get my hed around is "Do you like Thai food?"

Stupid fuckign question

[colourful-era]

BTW, not saying that their assumption is completely inaccurate in my case

I think all Thais, whether educated or not, know that 90% of long term male expats/tourists stay in Thailand for the women - as you have just indicated about yourself.

[colourful-era]

I can understand the Thai girlfriend thing but what I can never get my hed around is "Do you like Thai food?" Stupid fuckign question

Couldn't agree more - Thai food is foul!

[Marmite the Dog]

Doh chai!

See, I can speak Hindi (sort of).

[kingwilly]

great post Nj - and it does seem to be the case - prolly cos in many cases that's the correct situation.

[kingwilly]

BTW, not saying that their assumption is completely inaccurate in my case

I think all Thais, whether educated or not, know that 90% of long term male expats/tourists stay in Thailand for the women - as you have just indicated about yourself.

90 % - where did u get that figure from ??

i'm not here for the women - yes i hav a thai g/f but that immaterial in many ways and i come here for work not because i was looking for girls
and i stay here because of many reasons not easily available issan girls etc

[Whiteshiva]

BTW, not saying that their assumption is completely inaccurate in my case

I think all Thais, whether educated or not, know that 90% of long term male expats/tourists stay in Thailand for the women - as you have just indicated about yourself.

Actually, I stay here because of the children......




















My children, that is.......

And because of my job........and my house......and my friends....and the good food and pleasant climate......and.....there must be some thing more..........


oh yeah, my wife is Thai - that's it....

[colourful-era]

i'm not here for the women - yes i have a thai g/f

[DrAndy]

those two are mutually exclusive CE

I have worked in many countries and found girlfriends there. I actually went for the work, but a social side is also necessary to a nice life

as for Thais asking "that" question, it is a reasonable one as that is often the best reason for learning Thai (it is not really a language you would learn without a good reason). And Thai g/fs are very popular!

[njdesi]

Doh chai!

See, I can speak Hindi (sort of).

Do you have an Indian girlfriend?

[stroller]

It's not even worth responding to most of the drivel TD members post.
Looking forward to the end of my suspension on TV.

[Marmite the Dog]

Doh chai!

See, I can speak Hindi (sort of).

Do you have an Indian girlfriend?

No, she's Thai.

[lom]

Looking forward to the end of my suspension on TV

Ah, you draw the short sentence stick..
Sorry to hear that you feel you gotta leave , put your postcount and repo's on the hallway table on your way out, will you ?

[stroller]

Not leaving at all.
Just got a few scores to settle elsewhere...

[njdesi]

Doh chai!

See, I can speak Hindi (sort of).

Do you have an Indian girlfriend?

No, she's Thai.

Sorry, my poor attempt at a joke.

[Torbek]

Looking forward to the end of my suspension on TV.

As are many of us here...

[ChiangMai noon]

^


You seem to have become more cynical of late Torbek.
Something to do with the Bangkok move?

I was miserable as sin when i lived there. Didn't leave my apartment for the last 6 months apart from going to work.

[aging one]

I am sure glad I live out in the burbs of BKK.

[DrAndy]

I always enjoyed living in Bangkok, but I like CM much more

[danbo]

I didn't know how much I didn't like living in Bangkok until I moved out. There's a moral there. Stop doing something and see if you realise that you never actually enjoyed it. Nothing important mind, like breathing, something trivial, like flushing the toilet.

[kingwilly]

I didn't know how much I didn't like living in Bangkok until I moved out. There's a moral there. Stop doing something and see if you realise that you never actually enjoyed it. Nothing important mind, like breathing, something trivial, like flushing the toilet.

well i stopped wanking - and realised that i missed it - so i started again.

[Whiteshiva]

I didn't know how much I didn't like living in Bangkok until I moved out. There's a moral there. Stop doing something and see if you realise that you never actually enjoyed it. Nothing important mind, like breathing, something trivial, like flushing the toilet.

I moved out of Bangkok just over a year ago, and this is exactly the way I feel about it. No more pollution, noise, tourists (sex- and otherwise), blocked pavements, smelly drains, etc. Sitting on my balcony or in the garden having a drink and reading the newspaper after work, I sometimes wonder what the hell I was living in the city for....

Must admit though, that having become both a husband and a father in the last 3 years had something to do with the change in my outlook. Had I still been single, I may have viewed things differently.....