Thread: Are long-term "ajarns" in Thailand all arrogant & insane?

Originally Posted by watterinja

Who wears the pants in 'old one's' home? Are his assets in his, or his wife's name? Could he make a go of it back home...

I remember senile one saying his wife paid for the house, and he could never have afforded it himself. He also said that he doesn't love her but respects her as a businesswoman and the mother of his kids. That sounds bizarre, but each to their own.

He has been flip-flopping about going back to the US for the past couple of years. He can't afford an international education for his kids here, but probably couldn't fare that well back in the US career-wise having been away for so long and for being old. Despite having worked for a Thai university for years, a US university would laugh if he submitted a job application, because he teaches English to non-native speakers; bugger all use for that in any US uni unless it runs a foundation course.

Anyway, lets not single him out anymore. I previously did so because the tone of his replies in the quoted ajarnforum thread did and always does make me raise an eyebrow, but he can't be the only one who has lost his marbles in this way. I see 8-ball on that forum as another one; in true thai-bloke style he is currently in debt after buying a Toyota Camry, a car bigger than he actually needs and can afford to run, but a required status symbol for a guy trying to fit in to a society which revolves around gaining face.

Originally Posted by Smeg

Originally Posted by tuferguson

So is Smeg a minority of a minority of a minority of a minority of a minority?

Just does where he fit? Apart from his shoes that is.

I'm certainly no transcultural! I'm happy with the culture I grew up in and will return to, and glad that I've been able to live in another culture. Living abroad is an interesting aspect of life, but for me, not the most interesting. Things I did before I came to Thailand gain that award, as I hope those I plan to do will to. Thailand hasn't and won't overwhelm my life in the way it does some people. I've enjoyed my time in Thailand and I'm looking forward to my future back in my homeland.

I didn't know it before I lived in Thailand, but now I know that I was lucky to be born and educated in the UK. I also feel lucky that I feel like I do about Thai people, because it means I could never get addicted to the place and commit virtual suicide in my homeland by never returning. To me, it is a sad and sorry person who has nothing worth returning to. Stuff like this....

Originally Posted by aging one

a guy who couldnt make it here

make me realise that some people are in that boat, both because they see making it in Thailand as crucial, and because they ridicule anyone who doesn't feel the same way as having failed.

I agree ^. After being married and and having lived in Thailand for almost 7 years, I was fortunately able to go home with my kid, get re-established, a new place to live, and a new job (and I'm an English teacher by the way ).

Originally Posted by Happyman

I have been a minority of a minority for over 40 years, and am perfectly happy!
Lived and worked in a professional capacity in 1st, 2nd & 3rd world countries and met the "fleeced foriegner" in all of them !
Thailand does not have the monopoly!
In 80% of the time they have 2 brains between their legs which over rule the one between their ears and before they know it they are sucked in ( no pun intended) and cant pull out without losing everything.
The sad ones are those in the remaining 20% who are nearing geriatric age and need a companion to replace wives who have passed away, and can look after them until they are the main guest at the local crematorium.
They are deep in the smelly stuff when their "companion " does a runner with all his assets !
I retired to Thailand - warts and all-as I accept the dipshit mentality,love the climate( good for my arthritis) the fishing is good , and it is affordable on my pension !
Have a small circle of friends - expats and Thais- dont have or want a status symbol car - and not bothered about finding a teelak !
Just another viewpoint !

Agreed; all of these guys are the authors of their own misfortune. If they get involved with the wrong people that's their problem. But regardless of wealth, men are drawn to Thailand because of the women and simply dread returning to the dreary scene back home and will do anything to forstall it and who can blame them.

maybe you need to analyse your real reasons for thinking and posting pompous drivel - how many skilled Thai men do you know ? how many Thai engineers have you worked with ?

I have worked on construction jobs now with Indonesians , Singaporeans , Indians , Malaysians , Thais and Chinese. These projects have all been multi million or billion dollar projects and the men have performed the work to the standards required to be certified by what ever international requirement was needed for the job. All the races had smart boys and dumb cnuts , trustworthy and reliable blokes and shifty and useless bastards - same as it is in the west , and it is a lot easier over here to get the hopeless and stupid removed from the job , you just go and take their ID card off them - game over.

every time one of these threads pop up on the various forums with people saying " all thai men are hopeless " you have to wonder about the men the posters have interacted with or wonder about the poster. Either he/she has only met scumbag idiots or they are scumbag idiots whom are shunned by most.

my contractor at the moment is part of the largest Thai construction group and the site manager is quite a switched on bloke - he learns quick and gets what is required to be done done. Many of his supervisors are very good also , only one or two I would consider marginal.

have a bit more of a look around before you start with the condemnation.

^
Agreed. Smeg only seems to see things from a teacher's perspective.
How about the many, many people that earn very good money in hard currency that could live anywhere in the world, yet, still choose Thailand over all other countries including their own.
Phuket has a large expat population that ranges from people that are on the bones of their arse to multi-millionaires. For every one expat that lives there, there are ten that want to.

I'm also British and there are many countries in Europe that I would rather live in than England. It is now, not the same country that I was brought up in.
Immigrants have taken over were I used to live. The high-street that used to be the main shopping area for hundreds of thousands of people is now virtually a no-go area filled with those 99p shops. Chavs and hoodies all over the country have taken over towns so that it is no longer safe to go out after dark. Old people stay home in fear. Anti-social behaviour has increased and is out of control. The present government has created a Nanny State that tells you what to do and what not to do. Many, many Brits that I have met want to move to Thailand to escape all this.
Why is it only Thailand that has such a huge population of Expats with ten times more wanting to live here? The same can't be said for Malaysia, the Philippines, or, Vietnam, yet, they all have beautiful, available women.
It isn't just about the women IMHO. It's also about the freedom of action and the freedom from fear.

^ ....

I would imagine everyone is completely happy with their long-term security & residential arrangements. Reporting every 90 days, guaranteed visa extensions once per year, living in LOS until death do you part, right of residence assured... etc

Life seems amazingly idyllic. Am I missing something here?