Thread: Hello from Shyaporn, American-born Thai.

Hello all,

My name's Shyaporn, Shy for short, and I'm an American-born Thai fellow. My mother came to the States for college, stayed for higher-education and career and, after 30+ years in the U.S. finally returned to Thailand when opportunities in the field of education and civic work beckoned. She sadly passed away unexpectedly at the end of December 2012 while doing academic outreach work with children and educators in Burma, as a result of complications from a fall she took that led to a stroke. (I'd post a link to a blog post I made detailing her many accomplishments, but apparently I need four more posts for that

As for myself, I was raised in the States and had only come back to Thailand three times during summer breaks in my childhood, until about the age of 10 or 11. I remembered picking up the language while I was here and then promptly forgetting it upon my return home. My parents divorced at an early age and no one ever really spoke it to me, and I was a rather rambunctious child with little patience for linguistics, so it sits somewhere in the dark recesses of mind.

Which brings us to the here and now. With my mother's passing I've returned to Thailand again, some 30 years later. I don't speak the language, let alone being able to read it. And while my aunts and uncles live in houses across the street from my mother's home in the far West of Bangkok, around Sala Thammasop‎, they speak only a smattering to a fair amount of English amongst them. Communication is fine, but lacks the nuance I'd like to really get to know them better. I've little sense of the geography of the city, region and country and, being from New York, can't really drive all that well.

But I'd like that all to change. I'd like to learn (or re-learn) the language, familiarize myself with the culture, both traditional and modern, as well as explore the city and country. I was excited to see the gardening section here as my mother was an avid garden, as I, too, have become in recent years, so I'd like to maintain the large garden space here at the house she recently built for herself to retire into.

I do also have access to a mostly vacant condo that my mother was in the midst of trying to sell in downtown Bangkok, and will no doubt consult the boards for advice on that particular bit of business.

I will be here through the end of January attempting to, at least partially, put my mother's affairs in order, and expect to be back in a month or two to study Thai, get to know my family and my long-lost motherland a bit better as well. I think my life will still mostly be in New York, but I'm just realizing now that I have a home here in Thailand as well.

I'm delighted to have found this site, as it seems that most of the things I'm looking to accomplish with regards to Thailand are dealt with here. I look forward to getting to know the site and all of it's posters better in the coming months.

Cheers,

Shy

can't really drive all that well.

you'll do just fine in bangkok then.

welcome to the forum.

Originally Posted by taxexile

can't really drive all that well.

you'll do just fine in bangkok then.

welcome to the forum.

Thanks!

Even after being here a few weeks, I'm still finding the left-side driving quite disconcerting. Even now, I keep walking to the wrong side of the car for the passenger seat.

welcome Shy , hope you have a reasonably thick skin , suspect you will need it .

^ Should be a fresh, or refreshing perspective..

Welcome

just be ready for the forum members overwhelming racism that is levied toward the people of Thailand.

Welcome.

Originally Posted by English Noodles

just be ready for the forum members overwhelming racism that is levied toward the people of Thailand.

Welcome.

Ah. Well then... this should be interesting.

Originally Posted by Mid

welcome Shy , hope you have a reasonably thick skin , suspect you will need it .

As soon as the periodic fits of weeping come to an end, I'm sure my reliable New Yorker armor will return as thick as ever.

Originally Posted by Shyaporn

Originally Posted by English Noodles

just be ready for the forum members overwhelming racism that is levied toward the people of Thailand.

Welcome.

Ah. Well then... this should be interesting.

It's not really, becomes quite tedious after a short while. Even the episodic breaks for homophobia, sexism and general bigotry fail to liven it up.

Anyway enough about that, welcome!

Great introduction you've done there.

I've lived in Thailand for what most consider a lifetime and look forward to reading your posted input and opinions.

Good luck and crack on.

Originally Posted by quimbian corholla

Also, there are a few posters who are very critical of Thais but most seem to just shrug and live with the day to day minor grumbles that pretty much go with living anywhere.

And then there are others that at every given chance refer to them as, chimps, monkeys etc.

Welcome Shy we are all no that bad & you being Americanm well we will not hole that against you .
I hope that you hang around & have a good time with fellow members.

Sorry to hear about your Mother . Shy.

Welcome.

Originally Posted by Shyaporn

Originally Posted by English Noodles

just be ready for the forum members overwhelming racism that is levied toward the people of Thailand.

Welcome.

Ah. Well then... this should be interesting.

It is an interesting study and paradox, Shy..

Welcome to TD.
Fitting in is casual.

Interesting situation- being Thai but fully farangised, in Thailand. I knew a few people in that boat in HK- westernised Chinese (half or 100%), who had been brought up or lived all their lives in the west. The local chinks used to give them a very hard time about their western ways, poor lingo etc- to the point they mainly shunned them, and just hung out with westerners or fellow 'oddballs'. I have a feeling the Thai will be a lot more easy going though.
Welcome to TD- do let us know how you get on.

Welcome to the Buffalo Board, Shy...Very interesting introduction...Best wishes with your endeavours...

Originally Posted by FailSafe

Welcome- where in NY are you from (I'm a Brooklyn boy myself)? This forum has a love for Americans in general, but we New Yorkers hold the most special place in their hearts.

Sorry for the very late reply - I currently live in Astoria, Queens, but have lived in Greenwich Village, Brighton Beach and Chelsea.

And thanks all for the kind welcomes and condolences. Again, apologies for the year-long delay. 2013 was a bit of a blur and I only just now returned to Thailand. It took the Thai consulate in Washington, D.C. 11 months to locate my Thai birth certificate, which I needed to settle affairs here. That finally in hand, I've managed to make my way back in time to enjoy the last bits of cool weather!

Happy New Year, everyone!

Welcome back Shy.

Hi Shy and sorry, RIP the Mam...

Welcome to TD, Shy. Sorry for the loss of your Mum. Lost mine in Sept, and even now, in my 40's, it's difficult.

Hope you get what you want out of TD and contribute what you can. And ignore the eejits! Chok dee ka

On behalf of kingwilly, welcome.

Welcome back.

Good first post.
Welcome and good luck.