What is your name?Peter
What is your current age or age range?
52
What country are you native to?
England
What area of Thailand do you current live (Providence, City, general area etc.)
Chiang Mai, North Thailand
How long have you lived in Thailand?
2 years, on and off between Thailand and France, but mostly in Thailand. Before coming to Thailand, 20 years in France, Italy, Spain, and a few months in North Africa (Morocco).
When you moved to Thailand, did you bring your family? What do they think?
No. Some think I am crazy - others are extremely envious. Mostly the latter I reckon, if truth be known - though they may not admit it!
What made you decide to relocate to a different country?
Anglo-Saxon attitudes and lifestyles had been grating for some time ... time for a break from the stresses, self-indulgence and intolerance of modern-day Western-style living, the increasing lack of respect for others. Everyone for him-or herself. There's a lot to learn from exposure to different cultures and peoples around the globe. The world would be a safer and much more tolerant place if more people experienced the alternatives - and that doesn't mean finding a comfortable hotel and beach on the other side of the planet filled with fellow tourists, before going home after a fortnight saying that they've 'done' Asia now - next stop Africa, or wherever!
Why did you choose Thailand, or what factors helped you to decide to choose Thailand?
A relatively stable country, renowned for its smiling, tolerant people. Inexpensive. Unspoilt areas. A 'live today for today', 'why worry about those things you cannot change', philosophy. Nothing is perfect, but two years into my stay, I feel more than justified in my choice.
What other countries did you consider? Why didn't you choose those?
I've lived in a few - Spain, Italy, France around Europe. A few months in North Africa. Loved France in particular, still do. But it's changing fast - the Anglo-Saxon, fast-food, fast lifestyle influence is taking over inexorably. But nothing beats the Asian acceptance of strangers, its laid-back lifestyle. Even here in time things will change - they already are. But I'm making the most of it while I can. So as for which other countries I would consider, I think I would be equally happy in Vietnam or Cambodia, both of which I have since visited and liked very much. Laos as well, although I was rather unfortunate in one visit there! (see my blog ;-)
Was it difficult to get the documents you needed to live and/or work there? (residency and/or working permit)
Not particularly. The Thais are rather possessive and protective of their culture, their jobs, their way of life. But I can understand and accept that. I'm a guest in their country, and if I don't like it ... I can leave!
What was the most difficult part of the transition?
The first couple of weeks I felt completely exposed to what seemed an utterly alien lifestyle. No knowledge of the language, superficial understanding of the way of life, difficulty getting accustomed to the strange and spicy cuisine (with the inevitable effects) ... But the welcoming Thais soon make you feel at home... and the sense of alienation soon dissipates.
What was the biggest mistake you made in the transition to living in Thailand?
Nothing notable. But I'm a very cautious kind of guy, and have lived away from my country of birth for a large chunk of my life, so rarely make impetuous blunders. Before coming to Thailand I hadn't been home to England for ten years, in fact. But I see plenty of others trying import their lifestyles and cultures with them, which is both likely to fail, and is disrespectful to the Thais themselves.
What was the easiest part of making the transition?
Finding the place just as I had hoped it would be, having not so much as visited Asia for a holiday before.
Do you plan on returning to your home country? Why or why not?
Partly answered this question above... No! But with every recent arrival from England that I meet, the impression is reinforced that I couldn't have made a wiser decision. A dog-eat-dog society back home, look after number one, no community spirit, no family cohesion, no respect from your kids, work yourself to death until you're 65 and can retire (or aren't they putting it up to 68 soon in the UK?...)(Assuming you're lucky enough to last that long anyway!). No thanks!
Do you miss your family, friends or old home and habits?
Family - yes of course. But they love coming over here. Friends too. Old home(s), habits? When you've moved around as much as I have, nothing gets familiar enough to feel like you really have any roots.
What do you miss the most about your home country?
Walking on the Yorkshire Moors (on the rare occasion when you can see through the clouds more than 50 metres). That's about it - really.
Are there the same recreational activities in Thailand?
Well yes... what a question... had to think about that one for a while! Of course, the Thais have arms and legs just like us, they're not from outer space! So they swim, walk, cycle, do sport, go out to eat, watch films and TV... They might eat cockroaches, bamboo maggots and water beetles occasionally, but in most respects they're just like you and me!
How easy has it been to make new friends in Thailand?
Extremely easily, although you have to be prepared to learn about and respect their customs. It's very easy to upset someone without even knowing it if you act like a brash Westerner over here. I quite understand the Thais' resentment of those who treat Thailand just as a place to live on the cheap, and the Thais themselves as an inferior sub-species. That 'colonial' attitude is all too common, I'm afraid.
Do you have many friends from your home country in Thailand?
Very few indeed. It's not that I avoid them, I just don't go out of my way to meet them. That said, there are plenty of expats here who are fascinating, respectful, tolerant people - not necessarily representative of their fellow nationals back in their home countries!
What are your favorite activities that are available?
Photography, walking in the jungle. Lazy afternoons on the shaded terraces of coffee bars.
What are the top ten things you miss about the place you left behind?
Um. Er. Give up, sorry. Oh, there is one thing - (snow on the Alps).
What are the top ten things you DON'T miss about the place you left behind?
Lack of respect for elders. The everyone for him/herself attitude. The gradual disappearance of community spirit. Stress. The miserable look on people's faces. The damp and cold. Hypermarkets/superstores. TV adverts. The sense of Western superiority towards all things and all people from anywhere else. Lack of anger management/road rage.
Do you speak the language of Thailand?
Not nearly enough yet. I speak fluent French, some German, Italian and Spanish. Thai is difficult to learn to the extend that I would like - ie the ability to have truly in-depth discussions with the people on all manner of topics.
Do you think it is crucial to know the language in Thailand, or can you get by with a handheld translation dictionary for a while?
You can get by - but you miss so much.
Was medical insurance difficult to get before you went or after you first arrived?
Not at all.
Did you move to your new location after retirement, or are you currently working or looking for work?
I'm 'semi-retired'. Or should that be 'nine-tenths retired'! I worked like a dog before until my late thirties. Most of the work I've done since has been non-remunerated, for various charitable causes.
Are there local customs that would make it difficult for foreigners to fit in?
No. It simply depends on how adaptable and flexible you are as an individual.
What are the top ten things you like about Thailand?
Tolerance, kindness, acceptance of and respect for others, the weather, the countryside, the cuisine (once you've got used to the liberal inclusion of chilie peppers in most dishes!). Geckos (because they feast on my pet hate, mosquitoes). Buddhist temples and their delightfully welcoming monks. Tuk-tuks (three-wheel taxis). Thai cleanliness.
What are the top ten things you DON'T like or find strange about Thailand?
Corruption. Political instability. Mosquitoes. 'Thai time' (ie I'll come round and mend your plumbing in 30 minutes - not). The terrible driving standards. Pollution. The taste of insects (and I've tried them all, from bamboo maggots to scorpions to cockroaches to crickets). Being automatically mistaken for a tourist because of your white face. The excessive use of air-conditioning set at somewhere around 45°F when you enter a coffee shop from the constant 100°F outside. Embarrassing, loud-mouthed Western tourists.
Do you have plans to move again or travel in the future or what are your future business plans?
Plans mean thinking and worrying about tomorrow. Been there, done that, now I'm trying to make the most of today.
Did you buy a new home or did you decide to rent?
Rent. It's very cheap indeed, and the laws of ownership for foreigners make it difficult to buy safely.
What is the average cost for housing in your area?
You can pick up a nice 3 bed detached home on the outskirts of town (Chiang Mai) for as little as 50K euros.
Was it difficult to find housing in your new country?
Nothing easier. There are any number of comfortable places to rent from single bedroom condos up (from as little as 75 euros a month).
Is the cost of living comparable to what you experienced before? Explain the difference.
Much cheaper. Of course it depends to an extent on whether, for example, you feel the need to eat in the more expensive expat foreign cuisine haunts on a regular basis, or whether you are happy buying Thai dishes from street vendors. The latter is just fine for me. Food and drink in the shops is much less expensive, travel is cheap, accommodation as well.
List some things that are more expensive in Thailand
I genuinely have come across any. I think buying a new car works out more expensive, but I've no need of one.
List some things that are less expensive in Thailand
Everything that I've come across.
How do you feel about the local people? Are they friendly?
Pretty much answered this above, but the answer is clearly yes. It all depends on your attitude towards them.
What is the best thing about people in Thailand?
Their sense of community and family. Grown-up children consider it an honour to support their ageing parents with a sizeable proportion of their income each month. Hardly the same attitude as in the West!
Do you have any suggestions for people who are thinking about moving to Thailand?
Leave prejudice behind. Read extensively about those habits and practices that, while perfectly acceptable to you in your own country, would seem insulting to the Thais. If there are Western values and customs that you simply can't do without, instead pick a country that greatly resembles your own. Unless you are of Asian origin, that country certainly isn't Thailand!
Do you think you will stay in Thailand, or it is not suitable for the long run?
I hope so - but as I've said before, we spend a lifetime worrying about the future, and many of those plans and concerns do not come to pass, or are superseded by entirely unexpected events. So I try to take each day as it comes...
Do you have any blogs or websites that you find enjoyable about Thailand for people living there?
The Thaivisa.com forum is a very useful place to ask questions of the many members who have lived in Thailand for some considerable time. The advice can, however, be contradictory!
Please enter the name of your Blog
Frogblog-Thaidings
Please the url of your Blog
Frogblog-Thaidings
