What we could all learn from expats

[withnallstoke]

life should be a holiday.

Quite.

[chassamui]

The OP is looking at this as a backpacker. He travels and he is open to new experiences. Likely going to hotspots in various countries where he will find expats who are bored with each other, so they find his travel stories interesting. This makes them appear open and friendly.
Before he has time to get bored, he's off on his next adventure.
We are a disparate lot from a range of backgrounds an we all have different reasons for being where we are.
I am retired but still young and healthy enough to enjoy the lifestyle. i like to keep fit and do a bit of travel in and out of country.
I had a handful of long term close friends already settled here when I arrived and I have since found a few more. Add in a larger group of like minded acquaintances and it's not a bad way to live.
The dickheads and alcoholics are easy to avoid and usually don't hang around too long anyway.

[armstrong]

just speaking for myself... i work hard here, i wish it was all beaches and bitches but it's not. it's basically the same as the UK except my money goes further here and it's a lot sunnier.

while i could go out every night i'd die a slow and painful death at work the next day.

when it does come to the weekend i just want to relax and fuck around at home or nearby not swanning off to some island for 5 hours before travelling back for a few hours kip before work again..

maybe i'm doing it wrong..

[FailSafe]

It's basically an article written by a guy who fancies himself an ex-pat telling us how wonderful ex-pats are- it's a bit self-serving... Sure, there are some fantastic people living outside their home borders- there are also a fair amount I'd like to hit with a shovel.

Let me tell you guys how great we New Yorkers are...

[Boon Mee]

Let me tell you guys how great we New Yorkers are...

We know.

Humble.

[FailSafe]

Let me tell you guys how great we New Yorkers are...

We know.

Humble.

That's just one of our thousands of wonderful traits- I could go on for days... I think I should write an article, actually.

[t.s]

i suspect the author has actually met a very small cross section of expats.

the piece is really just a collection of cliches and truisms.

it would seem the authour has not yet stumbled across thaivisa.

spout enough generalisations, and one or two are likely to be true.

[Primo]

Expats tend to be adventurous,

I do not know about that,I have met a few who live in Thailand but do not eat Thai food.

[ltnt]

I've met a few who don't live in Thailand, but eat Thai food...imagine that?

I do not know about that,I have met a few who live in Thailand but do not eat Thai food.

Another reason not to open the door.

[jamescollister]

Guess when you read the article, what you consider to be an expat will sway how you see it.

What I call an expat, will be different that what other think.

Here's the on;ine dictionary definition.


ex·pa·tri·ate (k-sptr-t)v. ex·pa·tri·at·ed, ex·pa·tri·at·ing, ex·pa·tri·ates
v.tr.1. To send into exile. See Synonyms at banish.
2. To remove (oneself) from residence in one's native land.

v.intr.1. To give up residence in one's homeland.
2. To renounce allegiance to one's homeland.

n. (-t, -t)1. One who has taken up residence in a foreign country.
2. One who has renounced one's native land.

To me I don't see long stay tourist, fly in fly out of shore workers etc as expats. Jim

[crepitas]

Guess when you read the article, what you consider to be an expat will sway how you see it.

What I call an expat, will be different that what other think.

Here's the on;ine dictionary definition.


ex·pa·tri·ate (k-sptr-t)v. ex·pa·tri·at·ed, ex·pa·tri·at·ing, ex·pa·tri·ates
v.tr.1. To send into exile. See Synonyms at banish.
2. To remove (oneself) from residence in one's native land.

v.intr.1. To give up residence in one's homeland.
2. To renounce allegiance to one's homeland.


n. (-t, -t)1. One who has taken up residence in a foreign country.
2. One who has renounced one's native land.

To me I don't see long stay tourist, fly in fly out of shore workers etc as expats. Jim

not about dictionary methinks ...many TD'ers are probably really expat wannabe's ..okay some are offshore workers using Thailand as they're current or dreamed of base. Others retire here and try to make the best of it some succeed others whine.
Strange that so many retirees come here really..lots of countries that pay indexed pensions?
The old saw..if you can't stand the heat..yada yada.
If ya think Thailand has what you want,dream of or need stay..if not stay on the bus and forget about us....

[MeMock]

Jim you keep bleeting on about one thing or another. Do you really think you're an isolated case? For fcuk sake you're becoming boring. There's xxx number of farang, myself included, that are in a similar position to yourself but .................. Jim you make your bed, you lay in it.

Location, where are you, that is that isolated, Lao, Burma, or are in in Thailand, if so where. Jim

A competition as to how isolated you are? *sigh*

Oh BTW - I win!

[astasinim]

Your still in Aus then Memock?

[MeMock]

In between stints in Thailand and Laos yes mate I am. All very isolated places though I assure you.

[jamescollister]

Your still in Aus then Memock?

Always is, every time I venture the 30 odd km to where his local Tesco lotus express is .
Not an expat Memock, just a visitor who likes to take pics and write a blog about his adventures in the hinterland.
Good for you, as you are one of the few that have been out this way, but you don't live here, only visit, When here next, come on over, or I can come on over. Jim

[Rural Surin]

In between stints in Thailand and Laos yes mate I am. All very isolated places though I assure you.

'Tis unfortunate you had to give up your lovely cafe/bakery in Ubon...

Ahh....the life.
Isolation.

[MeMock]

Your still in Aus then Memock?

Always is, every time I venture the 30 odd km to where his local Tesco lotus express is .

Why would you do that Jim when the much more established Tesco outlet is 10 kms from your front door?

[astasinim]

In between stints in Thailand and Laos yes mate I am. All very isolated places though I assure you.

'Tis unfortunate you had to give up your lovely cafe/bakery in Ubon...

Ahh....the life.
Isolation.

It is indeed. Great little place he had there. I still call in when passing by. That said, I havent been past for some time though.

[astasinim]

In between stints in Thailand and Laos yes mate I am. All very isolated places though I assure you.

From what ive seen, I`d say Aus was more isolated. Sounds like you`ve got the best of all worlds. Good on ya and all the best Memock.

[nigelandjan]

no thanks
I hate twitter and facebook.

Can you " Add me " ?

[sabang]

We are a disparate lot from a range of backgrounds an we all have different reasons for being where we are.

Precisely. The expat community, like the backpacking crowd, is so big these days I don't think a few aphorisms and cliches can describe it.

Ben Groundwater (OP author) is like smegs positive alter-ego. They should have lunch at McDonalds- I'm sure smeg would pay.

[jamescollister]

Your still in Aus then Memock?

Always is, every time I venture the 30 odd km to where his local Tesco lotus express is .

Why would you do that Jim when the much more established Tesco outlet is 10 kms from your front door?

Don't think you know where I live, take it you are referring to Buntharik. If you know the police box about 1/2 between you and Buntharik, turn there towards Lao and another 7 KM in. Dead end road, no one comes down, for army assess to the border.

Plus your tesco's has ham and bacon, unlike Buntharik, which has spam stuff. Jim

[MeMock]

I know the road well Jim, have been down it a few time many years ago for a look see. I don't live in Narchaleuy town, it just happens to be the closest large town to me and is about a 25 minutes drive away.

My tesco has ham and bacon and yours doesn't? Oh man - you win hands down. Sorry.

Actually seriously - it has ham and bacon? Must be a new addition as it sure wasn't there last time I looked. They can keep their ham but the bacon is edible.

[chassamui]

Isolation.

We can only live in hope.

[crepitas]

I know the road well Jim, have been down it a few time many years ago for a look see. I don't live in Narchaleuy town, it just happens to be the closest large town to me and is about a 25 minutes drive away.

My tesco has ham and bacon and yours doesn't? Oh man - you win hands down. Sorry.

Actually seriously - it has ham and bacon? Must be a new addition as it sure wasn't there last time I looked. They can keep their ham but the bacon is edible.

We just got a mini Tesco down the road from the relatively new 7...has potatoes and ham and lotsa stuff..case of beer is a whole 10bt more expensive though and those dumb purchase time limits. Buy compressed ham, bologna and hot dogs at 7 when I need my chemical food fix...
Only a 7 k trip each way .
....now have a new mid size tesco 20k away....even has an indifferent Mozzarella cheese in blocks!

Yeah I know ....you don't care right?