Outsiders trying to fit in
Being back in the UK, its great to be a regular part of the furniture - no sticking out like a sore thumb, and never any feelings of not belonging or only being wanted for financial purposes.
During my time in Thailand, the sight of farangs desperately trying to fit in with their adopted society was always good for a giggle, and it was plain to see that these were the guys that had been spat out by their birth country (even though they always claim that it was them that did the spitting out) thus needed a fresh chance. This need provided the motivation for them to do some or all of the following:
- wearing yellow shirts (I confess to having done this, but only as a more comfy alternative to shirt and tie in the office)
- wearing a yellow (orange) wrist band
- wearing a fuck-off big gold buddha
- refusing to eat western food or drink western beer
- adopting Thai mannerisms
- etc
On that last point, last month during a quick visit I watched a tv programme where a Brit living in a wooden shack in isaan was interviewed. He had been working the land there for 20 odd years, and had a wife and kid. Every aspect of his mannerisms were that of a thai rice farmer. Each to their own, and all that....