[euylvaygdq]

Quote[/b] ]If you are fluent in Thai, your habits are almost Thai etc.. you will be seen nearer the halfway mark ie not a Tai but still not so Farang.

When I stay in Thailand, albeit not permanently yet, I wear paasarong and paakamaa, I stay at the family home, sit on the floor on a bamboo mat, and I am learning to speak Lao. Everyone jokingly refers to me as "Farang Lao." My point is, no matter how native you go the farang part will always be there. When people describe you, they will almost always do so by using the word farang. You could live in the kingdom for 50 years and this would still be the case. IMHO But, of course, since I don't currently live in the kingdom, I have no concept of reality

[VtLe67WR]

No, it was just immature, but that goes without saying, by now.

Jerome, I would have challenged anyone's post if the person merely rephrased the OP and make it look like his/her own addition. I find redundancy very annoying and shallow, regardless of who does it.

[oplapofffe]

Thanks for the constructive comments there Seeker, wrote you a comment back over there at thai-blogs especially your bit on the word Farang. To lazy to write it again!

steve

[oplapofffe]

You could be born in Thailand and be of Thai nationality but of course you will always be a Farang. That is how Thai people are.

Other exaples of this are:

'Jek' still used in Thai language to refer to a Thai of Chinese decent, though its usage is now rather derogatory.

'Kaek' still popularly used (just like 'Farang') refers to people of Indian, Pakistani, Iraqi etc.. descent.

'Kaew' still often used to refer to Vietnamese or Vietnamese descent, a little derogatory.

'Ai yoon' old derogatory word for a Japanese, coming from WW2.

I once had a friend here, a black london guy. Quite funny. I remember twice when a Thai asked him "Where you from?" to which he replied 'London', rather confused, the guy went on to ask "I mean where you really from?" irritated by this my friend replied again "My mother'

[VtLe67WR]

Quote[/b] ]As for stayingalive, if he really has lived all his life here then for an outsider farang to argue with him about 'what life is like for people like him' is unfair

Very well said, Steve. Who are the outsiders to tell us, living in the Kingdom? 100% commitment is the real deal.

Quote[/b] ]However, it easier to attempt to 'mix' with the local culture in a way that is accepted - like, sugar mixes in milk!

I like this analogy, Trangam. Sugar is sugar, and milk is milk. Clearly separable, each with its own distinguishable features. However, once they get mixed, the two are practically inseparable. Can you tell me where is the sugar in sweet milk? The two are in unity, forming an indistinguishable One. Just like certain Farang who have the qualities to "dissolve" into Thai culture.

Other farangs may feel that it's an impossible task - and for them it very well may be! Just like adding sand to milk. No matter how hard you try to mix them: stir, boil, etc. they will never mix inseparably.

Again, excellent analogy!

[freevideoandoicsI]

Man I would be terrified to try that!
It would be just my luck to get an honest one too.

[VtLe67WR]

Hey Steve, I don't know about you, but don't you find it irritating when someone comes into your topic, paraphrases one of your points and then pretends it to be his "own addition"? I find that extremely annoying in my topics, and I can't help but to assume that the writer is too shallow to come with some original points.

Case in point:
1. Your quote:

Quote[/b] ]Don’t complain about Thailand’s politicians, ours aren’t exactly worth writing home about.

2. The "original" addition:

Quote[/b] ]DON'T

Make negative comments about the Thai government or its officials.

Last time I checked, the Thai government is a subgroup of Thai politicians, making the above comment a redundant, wasteful clutter. Wait; "complain" was also changed to "make negative comments" - now that makes a difference!

I have the feeling that the original post didn't really matter in this case. Were this topic about pink flamingoes and white elephants, the quoted reply would have likely been the same. Trangam and Paul were spot-on, noting the obvious, pitiful reason.

[euylvaygdq]

Good one Jerome. I would certainly invite him to kiss something. Oh, wait a minute, was that catty too?

[oplapofffe]

What's up, no-one wants to comment? Otherwisae check out thai-blogs.

Cheers

Steve

[VtLe67WR]

I agree. If you guys noticed, my latest responses were nothing but asking him to snap out of it - to simply let it go, exactly because of the reasons you two mentioned above.

Sadly, it seems that my plea fell on deaf ears, as you can see it in the other thread. After repeatedly asking him to stay on topic, and writing along the lines of the original topic, he just keeps coming back with the same old. I hope that if enough of us keep asking, the message will get through.

[VtLe67WR]

Yep, this was another funny one! I especially agree with your advice and reasoning for eating out. However, I can't agree with the one where you advise against criticizing Thai politicians:

Quote[/b] ]ours aren’t exactly worth writing home about.

Whose are 'ours' , Steve? For people who live in Thailand, who are their politicians?

Finally, the word 'Farang' can, in some cases, be derogatory, spoken with insults in mind. It really depends on the situation.

Quote[/b] ]Do go for a 100 baht haircut, you will be impressed by the service.

I went for the 120Bt haircut just the other day, and their service was excellent indeed!

[euylvaygdq]

Good advise stevesuphan. It also doesn't hurt to slip them a little something to help move things along. Sometimes I wish this technique would work on American bureaucrats

[euylvaygdq]

Quote[/b] ]Man I would be terrified to try that!

It was a bit awkward for me at first too, but it is a pretty common practice in LOS. When my wife was getting her police report for her visa she slipped the police a 500 baht "expedition fee" to help move things along more quickly. It is a very subtle and unspoken practice. There is a lot of "wink, wink" and smiling involved, but never any open discussion of specific amounts. You would be amazed how much more quickly things move along, how much better the officials "understand," and how your paperwork doesn't seem to get "lost."

[oplapofffe]

After a lot of you guys enjoyed a right laugh at the expense of the Thais after my other dos and donts i thought i would whip up a bit of revenge 'siding' this time with the Thais.

Have a look in the mirror with 'Dos and donts of dating a Farang guy' over there at http://www.thai-blogs.com, one of the sister sites. Or just click on the link above.

I was going to get it posted here but i feel that ive started enough topic starters for now.

Steve

[OgrGlgHu]

[DON'T

Make negative comments about the Thai government or its officials.

Become a political activist, especially a communist.]


So my Jit Pumisak tee shirt design is not really a good idea then?

[oplapofffe]

Dos and donts of coming to Thailand……. again

DOS

Do run up the nearest hill and not go look for the sea if you see that the sea isn’t there, it will come back, it is a scientific fact.
Do get rid of that big hairy moustache, you won’t get a part on a Bollywood movie here.
Do, as a guy, ‘dress-up’ when going to a disco and not wear shorts, your hairy legs will not impress the local girls.
Do be careful when walking along a Bangkok street at night, falling down a manhole is not a memorable experience.
Do as the locals do and barge your way on to the bus, you don’t need to be stood at the bus stop all day.
Do realise that the Bridge over the River Kwai ought to be pronounced ‘Kwae’, you don’t want to inform the locals you are off to see the Bridge over the Buffalo.
Do, as a girl, not sit next to a monk on the bus, the poor fellow does not need to dash off the bus at the next stop.
Do cover up or put on repellent , allowing the mosquitoes to bite you for fun of it isn’t a very wise idea.
Do put on a strong sun-block on your first at the beach, you don’t want to resemble a tomato.
Do eat out, the guesthouse cuisine is as close to original Thai food as Pizza Hut is to Italian.
Don’t take a Khao San Road upcountry bus, you don’t need one of their villians to go through your luggage when you are asleep.
Do watch a Thai movie, they aren’t as bad as you think.
Do go for a 100 baht haircut, you will be impressed by the service.


DONTS

Don’t jump into the big water container when taking a shower, it for water to be scooped out of, not for you to dive in to.
Don’t, as an American brag about everything American, the Thais prefer everything Japanese these days.
Don’t, when finding a dead chicken cook it up for dinner, you don’t need to come down with the Chicken fever.
Don’t walk up and down the beach bare-footed, Thailand’s creepy-crawlies are not the world’s friendliest.
Don’t go wearing one of those big farmers’ hats in Bangkok, you don’t want the locals to have a right laugh, at your expense.
Don’t show your map of Bangkok to a tuk-tuk driver, he doesn’t even know where Thailand is on a world map.
Don’t complain about the hotels’ standards here in Thailand, you won’t exactly get a $15 room in your own country.
Don’t complain about Thailand’s politicians, ours aren’t exactly worth writing home about.
Don’t go popping any chemicals before entering a Bangkok disco, you don’t need to be pee-pee checked by the local police.
Don’t, when going to a disco take home a girl you have just met, you don’t want to wake up to find an empty room.
Don’t go walking across a zebra-crossing without looking both ways first, you don’t need to be the recipient of a nasty hospital bill.
Don’t go complaining about the standard of acting on Thai TV, it isn’t the actors’ fault they are that bad.
Don’t go putting a bottle to your mouth without wiping it clean first, you don’t know how many dogs have mistaken it as a small tree.
Don’t go dozing off underneath a coconut tree, you may not live to regret it.
Don’t arrive at the airport on an over-stay with no cash left, you don’t need the company of 200 room-mates for the next few nights.
And finally, don’t feel insulted by the word Farang, it is not derogatory.

My first part of dos and donts somehow, miraculousy found there way to another couple of sites around the Net besides thai-blogs. So here is another part for your entertainment.

I asked for any other ideas the last time but didnt get any, what about this time round, can you think of any?

Steve

[freevideoandoicsI]

Allright you two, enough already!
Quit it. It's just so catty. like a couple of women's blouses.
I think you two should and make up.

I was going to ask who Jit Pumisak was, but then I just Yahooed him.

[VtLe67WR]

Nice blog, Steve, really funny!

I could relate to more than one of those points, while some others are just way out there.

I especially like the following:

Quote[/b] ]Do check up if he spends more time in his home country than with you, you don't need to find out later he has been deceiving two girls.

Folks who try to ride two horses with one bottom could lack committment, so she better be suspicious!

Quote[/b] ]Don’t presume he doesn’t love you just cause he goes out with his male friends and doesn’t invite you, just call up your friends and do the same thing.

Actually, for a second I thought you are talking to the guy about his girlfriend. I know that some (usually Thai) guys could get very upset if their girls spend some time with other guys.

Good stuff. Keep'em comin', mate!

[Coededgeme]

Quote[/b] (visionchaser45 @ Mar. 09 2005,18:11)]DONT
Forget that you are farang and will never be accepted as Thai, no matter how much you try to identify with the locals.

i dont agree, I've lived all my life in thailand, speak read write fluent thai, all my friends are thai, i chill out with all my thai friends, even though both my parents are dutch, and im as white as they come, they dont see me as any different to them..

[entaifsfets]

The circumstances and purposes why the earlier immigrants settled in Thailand against what some guys on this forum are aiming for - I think, is quite different. Specially, the earlier immigrants, like many Indians I saw, live in groups. The current immigrants (in this forum) are more individual in their decisions to move in, as of now. And most of them profess love for thailand and seem to be getting back some too, have a certain freedom of choice, personal power and hopefully will be known for their benevolence and perceived on that.

Whether they end up grouped and defined too and not be able to (or choose not to) 'mix' - I guess, time will tell.

India is a good example of different people across regions. There are regions where differences in origins is still a stark differentiator. But there are regions, where physically very different people are living in relative harmony and one never speaks (or I say, we do not think. Its a non-issue. Like the plug is out of the socket) much of the differences. The behaviours are similar across all - common language, common festivals and no aggresive grouping.

In many a cases the most difficult mix is when you are an immigrant and take up jobs that will always be controversial - like trading, farming etc. These jobs are often seen as intrusive ...


Just my observations. Not scientifically concluded!!!