Why have we chosen this life of uncertainty?

I was having a coffee at the shopping mall today. I was doing some serious people watching. I saw Thai workers arriving and waiing each other, which is an act I have always felt uncomfortable doing. I observed the girls applying their powder and makeup, which I feel should be done at home before they leave the house. I heard talk of what they wanted for lunch and of the big sale on shoes at the store two doors down. I caught the sound of the laughter of the Thai workers as they commenced to their normal childish horseplay. Grown women pushing and shoving each other like junior high students in school hallway might do.

As I watched the all Thais off to their daily tasks I suddenly felt that I although I have a life here, I really don't fit into their world. Their thought process is different, their language is different, the way they look is different and their food is definitely different.

No matter what I do, I will never fit into their world. I will never be accepted, never be allowed to vote, and always be the farang; the white man in a crowd of Asians.

The Thai rule book is in a perpetual state of editing. We never know when the immigration goal posts are going to be moved so far that we can't possibly be a player anymore.

I ask myself, can I forever be content being a sojourner in this land? A visitor that is more like a tumbleweed than a living breathing person because my life here is in the hands of the Thai government?

Today I can, but tomorrow I may feel different.

So why am I here? Maybe all of the above is the big reason. The lack of a permanent situation subconsciously appeals to me for some reason. I have never liked to be chained down in any situation. Maybe Thailand fulfills my "flying by the seat of my pants" persona.

I won't be building any houses here nor will I allow myself to be dead set on grounding my roots here in any way.

I have chosen Thailand for the lack of commitment, the lack of a permanent home and the lack of any sort of a life structure.

So why have you chosen a life in Thailand?

Seemed like a good idea at the time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MeMock

Seemed like a good idea at the time.

---

A long winded guy aren't you? :)

"I have chosen Thailand for the lack of commitment, the lack of a permanent home and the lack of any sort of a life structure."

This explains my situation... After a lifetime of the above, it's time to shed the ties which bind...

Came to run a business, but that is a very difficult task over here...

your post and observations are spot on for me as well, Chi...

To much cultural difference, and basically no local friend after 10 years is strange or revealing perhaps...

Going to the Phils soon will be for a better tomorow i feel...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chitown

Why have we chosen this life of uncertainty?

---

Life carries no certainties no matter where you live.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chitown

So why have you chosen a life in Thailand?

---

Didn't chose to. No great plan. Just ended up here. Guess I'm just the type person who goes with the flow and if the river of life takes a left turn, I find it best to go that way. Been this way my whole life. Maybe that's why I have no stress or related health problems.

Thailand is the only country where you can marry three or four women, have several kids and get them all looked after by relatives

easy

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chitown

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MeMock

Seemed like a good idea at the time.

---

A long winded guy aren't you? :)

---

Funny you should say that as usually I am and am forever being told to 'cut it short; by friends.

The thing is I read your post twice and thought about a real intelligent answer for quite a while and well.... you got it!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chitown

No matter what I do, I will never fit into their world. I will never be accepted, never be allowed to vote, and always be the farang; the white man in a crowd of Asians.

---

Don't worry too much about fitting into other peoples worlds. Just be comfortable in your own world. At least that way you can enjoy being a fly on the wall watching it all go on around you without being too attatched to anything.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Thailand is the only country where you can marry three or four women, have several kids and get them all looked after by relatives

---

Or even be 60 years old and live with a 17 year old shiela and think it acceptable.

Basically, I like it here. I've moved around a fair bit over the years, so if the time comes to move on it's not earth shattering- and my next port of call wouldn't be a permanent commitment either. Or the next.

But I see no reason, have no ambition, to move on. Reckon I'll stick around for a fair while yet.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chitown

So why have you chosen a life in Thailand?

---

Cheap cost of living and wide supply of cheap prostitutes.:chitown:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Thailand is the only country where you can marry three or four women, have several kids and get them all looked after by relatives

easy

---

are you sure you aren't confusing Thailand with Saudi Arabia ?:confused:

The makeup thing should be done in the bathroom.

Get on the bar girl special sky train from On Nut around 4pm and they are all at it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wefearourdespot

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Thailand is the only country where you can marry three or four women, have several kids and get them all looked after by relatives

easy

---

are you sure you aren't confusing Thailand with Saudi Arabia ?:confused:

---

oh, maybe I am

life is very confusing with three wives

The only good thing about Saudi Arabia is there are no Thais there.

Most everything in the world is way over-hyped. We people first get involved in something they think 'This is it.' but eventually the truth is hard to deny. Religion, politics, love, diets, children, friendships, etc, etc. Even the American dream, is and has always been pretty much a great big failure for most. It might be easy to stay here because of years of let downs by the rest of the world. Why on earth would someone who can move to something better stay here unless they are in some way tied to this place?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rattanaburi

Why on earth would someone who can move to something better stay here unless they are in some way tied to this place?

---

maybe they are happy? maybe there is nowhere better?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chitown

I was having a coffee at the shopping mall today. I was doing some serious people watching. I saw Thai workers arriving and waiing each other, whic is an act I have always felt uncomfortable doing. I observed the girls applying their powder and makeup, which I feel should be done at home before they leave the house. I heard talk of what they wanted for lunch and of the big sale on shoes at the store two doors down. I caught the sound of the laughter of the Thai workers as they commenced to their normal childish horseplay. Grown women pushing and shoving each other like junior high students in school hallway might do.

As I watched the all Thais off to their daily tasks I suddenly felt that I although I have a life here, I really don't fit into their world. Their thought process is different, their language is different, the way they look is different and their food is definitely different.

No matter what I do, I will never fit into their world. I will never be accepted, never be allowed to vote, and always be the farang; the white man in a crowd of Asians.

The Thai rule book is in a perpetual state of editing. We never know when the immigration goal posts are going to be moved so far that we can't possibly be a player anymore.

I ask myself, can I forever be content being a sojourner in this land? A visitor that is more like a tumbleweed than a living breathing person because my life here is in the hands of the Thai government?

Today I can, but tomorrow I may feel different.

So why am I here? Maybe all of the above is the big reason. The lack of a permanent situation subconsciously appeals to me for some reason. I have never liked to be chained down in any situation. Maybe Thailand fulfills my "flying by the seat of my pants" persona.

I won't be building any houses here nor will I allow myself to be dead set on grounding my roots here in any way.

I have chosen Thailand for the lack of commitment, the lack of a permanent home and the lack of any sort of a life structure.

So why have you chosen a life in Thailand?

---

Thanks for this, Chi. I'll have to extend heartfelt kudos toward your consistent contributions of personal commentary and newsworthy items since your return. Even as we can be at odds occasionally {50/50}, your contributions are valued by many.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Norton

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chitown

So why have you chosen a life in Thailand?

---

Didn't chose to. No great plan. Just ended up here. Guess I'm just the type person who goes with the flow and if the river of life takes a left turn, I find it best to go that way. Been this way my whole life. Maybe that's why I have no stress or related health problems.

---

I imagine this paragraph could be used to describe many lives.....might be more common than not.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chitown

I was having a coffee at the shopping mall today. I was doing some serious people watching. I saw Thai workers arriving and waiing each other, whic is an act I have always felt uncomfortable doing. I observed the girls applying their powder and makeup, which I feel should be done at home before they leave the house. I heard talk of what they wanted for lunch and of the big sale on shoes at the store two doors down. I caught the sound of the laughter of the Thai workers as they commenced to their normal childish horseplay. Grown women pushing and shoving each other like junior high students in school hallway might do.

As I watched the all Thais off to their daily tasks I suddenly felt that I although I have a life here, I really don't fit into their world. Their thought process is different, their language is different, the way they look is different and their food is definitely different.

No matter what I do, I will never fit into their world. I will never be accepted, never be allowed to vote, and always be the farang; the white man in a crowd of Asians.

The Thai rule book is in a perpetual state of editing. We never know when the immigration goal posts are going to be moved so far that we can't possibly be a player anymore.

I ask myself, can I forever be content being a sojourner in this land? A visitor that is more like a tumbleweed than a living breathing person because my life here is in the hands of the Thai government?

Today I can, but tomorrow I may feel different.

So why am I here? Maybe all of the above is the big reason. The lack of a permanent situation subconsciously appeals to me for some reason. I have never liked to be chained down in any situation. Maybe Thailand fulfills my "flying by the seat of my pants" persona.

I won't be building any houses here nor will I allow myself to be dead set on grounding my roots here in any way.

I have chosen Thailand for the lack of commitment, the lack of a permanent home and the lack of any sort of a life structure.

---

Great thread that is appropriate for us, from time to time.

Quote:

---

So why have you chosen a life in Thailand?

---

The positives here outweigh the negatives.

I feel the same way you do, in many of you points noted above.

But I also understand this and I accept this.

We are foreigners. No, we won't cross-over.

Yes, Immigration laws can change, at any time.

This is why we always have to have a back-up plan.


I'd rather be here than in the US. Although, I will return one-day, I'll always try not to get "trapped" inside the US, as living as an expat will be an option I'll always want to have.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rural Surin

Even as we can be at odds occasionally

---

At odds? I had not noticed. I thought we just agreed to disagree on some things. :)

Nice post chitown. A green winging its merry way to you.

The longer I stay here, the more I wonder why. I love my lifestyle, the relaxation, the fun, but I wonder about the future.

Most people stick about coz its better than wanking over a bird with staples through her tits.

Indeed, why have you? I can only say why I have not.

I enjoy it here in TH, I feel that it is me that are in a position of strength, and I am "taking" what I want and need from this place, I never came here with the ambition to become part of Thai soceity, I don't want to be part of it, I'm perfectly happy to be the Farang on the fringe of things.

I do like most of the Thais I meet, but I know the Thais look at me as the perpetual outsider and that they sometimes are deliberate obnoxious, but I don't mind, if I where in their shoes I would probably do the same, in reality they know very well that most of us are much better of than they are, and they know that most of us quite cynically use the place to maximise our enjoyment and money, so why should they take us seriously, as many of the answers in this thread shows we really don't invest that much of our self in this Country as such. (There are exceptions of cause)

So when the Immigration officer or other Thais I deal with get difficult, I just take it with a smile, I have oceans of time and probably earn more money every month than they do in a year, they know it just as I do, so they sometimes wield the only power they have resting in their rubber-stamps to feel better, I understand that and it's OK with me, after all I can get out any-time I want, they cant!!

Thailand is a great place to be as long as you have realistic expectations, and an understanding of how the style of our presence must be perceived by many Thais.
You just imagine how you would feel if the tables was turned and it was your home town/country being over run by rich sex tourists behaving like elephants in a porcelain's shop.

:)

After having spent 25 years married to the Wicked Witch of the East, and having a near fatal heart attack on her birthday, I decided that I was in need of a change, big time. Having been to Thailand once before and knowing what was available, it seemed the logical choice.

As Bangyai said in another post, don't worry too much about fitting into other peoples worlds. Just be comfortable in your own world. We will never be what others expect us to be, so just learn to be content with who and what you are each and every day. The hard part is learning how to do it.

^ True. Thailand was wonderful at first. Simple lifestyle. Then you start acquiring things and becoming part of the village mold and having to be more responsible. But, the key thing is to keep busy with something or you go cuckoo.

Way of the World . WE make it complex. For ourselves and from everyone around us.

Life goes in cycles, 3 yearly for me.

Materialistic , non-materialistic. Bizarre. Now at 45 years old the non-materialistic cycle prevails more. Thankfully.

My life is now much less complicated. Wouldn't have been possible in London.

M

Dunno really, to be honest life back home aint that certain, and I've always found my jobs in Asia 100% certain, including the whole visa business, or perhaps I'm just niave.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by larvidchr

behaving like elephants in a porcelain's shop.

---

Is that a bit like "a bull in a china shop"?

I think some people enjoy being outsiders and dont want to fit in. I totally believe the Thai village lifestyle will fit me to a Tee. Mabey some people are like me in that they need to learn new things constantly of they go slowly crazy. I find in Thailand I have everything to learn from the language and writing to the plants and animals which I am sure would keep me busy for many years.

I didn't choose Thailand, it chose me (through a series of random events and happenstance).

:)

I spend most of my spare time in Thai pursuits (when not on here) guess it's a bit unusual to spend all of your spare time, and that's a lot, going to one concert after another with visits to TV studios in between to watch luktung and morlam performers as well as the odd lukrung act. I have probably been to about 500 concerts now so everyone knows me as do a lot of the singers. But I still get treated like a falang and it does get on my nerves when I get the treatment from some joker who never saw me before. This always starts with, 'hello where you come from' and ends up with something about football 'Manchester United very good' Now I just say Ma jak baan phom, which normally makes them laugh.
It has been interesting to watch over the years how the audience, normally all Thai except for me and a Jap friend behave. Lots of childish arguments about seating and who knows which singer best, plenty of puzzling comments about some being low class along with social grovelling to those who have to be respected, like the retired army colonel and the 'big policemans' wife. Then there's the eating of course and the sharing of it along with helping each other out, the white envelopes for making merit that always seem to be around and talking about which singer is being given fake malis and swapping info on up coming events as well as meeting the singers.Without it I would be off like a shot as much of Thai life outside of music I find annoying, I lost interest in Bar life long ago and even the weather gets me down at times.

I remeber when I first started travelling I met another more experienced traveller and he asked me "Have you found what you're looking for?". I didn't understand it at the time but now it is making more sense after a few years on the road.

I guess I am searching for something. I came here to find a piece to the puzzle, I did and now it's time to move on as I know the search is not yet complete.

That's how I ended up here. About a month or 2 ago I had a moment and realized my time here is up. It was so clear.

I will be back however just not in the full time capacity like I was for the last 4 years.

So, maybe you're searching for something in Thailand chi. Who knows you may have already found it and just not realized it yet.

I love Thailand, and I love living here, but despite having a Thai wife and two kids, I'm here for the money only.

I left in 2002 when the salary wasn't good enough and we'll all pack up leave again if I can't earn what I earn here now.

Hard to leave yes, but i won't be one of those guys taking lesser jobs and salaries just to stay here. It doesn't mean that much.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by larvidchr

behaving like elephants in a porcelain's shop.

---

Is that a bit like "a bull in a china shop"?

---

Smart arse :) I used a translation of the Danish saying, not knowing the English one, I do now thank you.

:)

Somewhere along the line, I came to believe that life in the West had lost it's Mojo.

The daily grind, the routine, the conformity, the relentless, expanding bureaucracy (paid for by my daily grind and Consumption), the keeping up with the Joneses, consumer culture, the petty jealousies and competitiveness, vapid celebrity culture. All very shallow in the end.

All thats expected of me here is life itself, and of course being able to pay for it- but hey, it's a lot cheaper too :). It is a much more relaxed existence, at least for this misfit, once I'd left the rat race behind.

Came here for my son at the time, now for 2 of them staying.

Also not one to settle in one place for long.

Also no family much left back home, so little reason to stay for family reasons.

When you think about being the outsider here....simply look back at your country and think how all those immigrants into your own country have also felt....now you know.