SEARCH

Filter by

Showing 4,071-4,080 of 4,081 results

Sort by

    Forum

    Why do ONLY foreigners get special promotion?

    By Anonymous, Created on: 28/01/2008, Last updated on: 05/02/2014

    » The advertising board on the way to Airport is shown "Foreigner Zone.. Buying house (somewhere around Bangkok..) Foreigner, with Special Price!!" I know the property company may want to attract foreigners to invest in property in Thailand. But, what about Thais who also want to own the...

    • Anonymous commented : Ian, It is difficult for a western cultured alien to understand the common personality of ordinary Japanese, and to be worse, Japan and the people have been wrongly introduced to the world by western scholars and, to be funny by Japanese descendants whose ancestors migrated to US in 19 and 20c. In general, their studies are full of mistake or too imaginery products. I can say there is no racism or racial discremination in modern Japanese society. However there is a rigid value among them, say, distinguishing MEIMOKU and HONNE. The former is external appearance that shall socialize with others including foreigners, and the latter is the internal faith or real desire of an individual. In other's eyes, it is shown as a double-ty or confused personality. A Japanese ususally form two groups around him, one is formal or open society and other is the group of inner people. When they play golf in a team and if the team is inner cicle people, they used not to invite a lone alien player into their group. However if the team is a gathering of 'international' people, they are friendly and open to anyone. Here their MEIMOKU works well, like paying bill alternatively, in strick golf rule and atiquette by way of carefully chosen conversation. Because the rule of Meimoku is not to disturb others and not loosing own face. This whole picture is seen by westerners as 'discrimination'. Also Japanese people is ones who feel easily "shyness" to, especially to westerner because the western culture is advanced and "they may cajole our Nato eating culture". (Nato is deeply fermented soy bean paste, generally emits strong, unacceptable odor. Also the raw fish eating is same.) Befriending a Japanese is initially difficult but once got it, they are very pleasant people. Getting into the inner circle - Honne group is the matter. Korean and Chinese know this very well and they deal Japanese very well. Also few of them feel they are discriminated by a Japanese. Rather they often cajole clumsy Meimoku protocol Japanese demonstrates. "You must endure long greeting ceremony when you meet first Japanese business partner" Once CNN reporter reported. Many Japaneses too laughed at this report. Today most of internationalized biz people or youngers are same one as found in London. They are rude, impolite and aggressive, as long as in the eyes of the old generation of Japanese.

    • 81 replies, 319,453 views

    Forum

    Thai Marriage Laws

    By Anonymous, Created on: 18/05/2007, Last updated on: 11/08/2010

    » I am trying to understand why Westerners living and married to Thai nationals are denied permanent residency status once they are legally married in the kingdom. In the west a Thai national receives residency once they are officially married to a western citizen. Procedures are followed and intensive...

    • Yasoboy commented : [color=#FF0000:23l060dr][color=#FF80BF] by Aussie John on Mon Jul 12, 2010 1:07 pm [quote="Aussie John":23l060dr]Yasoboy. Early last century there were many Chinese immigrants who resided in the kingdom but were refused full citizenship. The king at the time gave them the opportunity to gain full citzenship and they had to change their surname, Many of these immigrants grew to become much of the Thai elite today. Yes indigenous Thai have some Chinese blood historically but their cultural background was Thai. The indigenous elite and that of the sino/Thai inter married. I do not wont to get into another racial argument about who controls who. But just because some one changes their surname does not mean they reliquish their former culture . [/quote:23l060dr][/color:23l060dr][/color] In early last century at least the Thai had the right to refuse the Chinese full citizenship. The Chinese Thai did not bring their army from China and ask the Thai people to accept them as citizen. Like you’ve mentioned, the Chinese Thais citizenship [u:23l060dr][b:23l060dr]was given[/b:23l060dr][/u:23l060dr] by the King. And Chinese Thais are willing to change their names and surnames to compromise. Unlike in US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, some Africa counties and all the South America counties. When few centuries ago, White landed in these countries with their armies with guns and steels, colonized them and claimed that their lands. The indigenous people don’t even have the right to refuse the White. Many centuries ago, the Chinese are the most advance and stronger in the region, but they have never tried to colonize anyone. They only trades with in South East Asia countries and eventually settled down in these countries. In this world nowadays, people are all the same regardless where you are from, your race, background and religion. We are so mobile and move around and migrate. The strongest, smartest, willing to change and work hard will make it to the top and all the above that I have mentioned is history. So please stop mentioning Chinese Thai in Thailand of what they have achieved. We Thais know better than you. If you want to mention again, then you should look at your own backyard of what you White have done to those countries that I’ve mentioned above. Many Thanks for reading. Yasoboy

    • Aussie John commented : Hi Yasoboy. Thanks for your response, its quite rare to have a Thai respond to outsiders who question what happens in Thailand. I will try not to go over what I have written about the immigration laws that affect foriegners trying to reside in Thailand. Yes Australia is a multi cultural country where everyone who becomes a national is free to move forward with real opportunity. Referring to things that happened in Australias past they are not relevant to the way the country is governed today. As Jason wrote outsiders who have become Australian may enter politics, buy homes, run businesses for themselves as well as express their cultural identity. It is enshirened in Australian law. I am a mixed blood Australian with over five blood lines, I wish I could be a global citizen but thats just dreaming. When I have children they will be also multi cultural both Thai and Australian they will be taught the beauty of all cultures. Race in Thailand like wealth is of importance as I have experienced not only with my extended Isaan family but from many other cultural groups in the kingdom. At the present time there is true disharmony in the kingdom between not only political groups but cultural groups. The wealthiest group are of Chinese origin and yes are hard working, industrious and good at business that is why they were given the opportunity to become full citizens all those years ago. Yet they also have centralised that power and wealth in the capital working alongside indigenous elites to creat the social environment you have today. They have the best schools and universities, while rural provinces have had little infrastructure.They have the strongest representation in government which benifits their friends and families. Is this a fair democracy.? This has caused much division. My wife and all her family acknowledge this. They for some reason accept what they know they can not achieve due to the way they are indirectly treated. Yes they are all Thai but treated different. You know this and I dont need to keep emphasising it. If there were true equality and no double standards you would not be experiencing what is presently happening. A true democracy is made by the people for the people not just for one small group who for so long have controlled not only the economy but many of the instituitons in Thailand. Thailand does need social and educational reform. Saying one cultural group is intellectually inept due to their lack of education is a farce as they havent being given equal resources. I have been to schools in both Isaan and Bangkok. I see the differences. They do to and now they are asking for real change. I have Chinese Thai freinds who when I told them I would marry someone from Isaan informed me I would have stupid children with dark skin. I have never thought in this way yet many in that cultural group do discriminate in this way. Even the Thai media portays this cultural group in a negative way. If they had the resources and education their own provinces would prosper. This is how democracies in western countries work not perfectly as you keep reminding me but better. I would love to live in Thailand because I cherish the real Buddhist culture, one that upholds ethics and morals and treats all people equally. yet it is not this way at present. No one looks down on my wife in Australia except those Bangkok Thais she has to work with. I tell her not to worry as in Australia she can be whoever she wants no matter her cultural background. She is given the opportuntiy and resources, that is what matters to her. She has never been a bar girl but yet many Thai in Australia assume she is. This is discrimination and I will stand up for her and her family if they are treated this way. So Yasoboy you look into your heart and then tell me all Thais are equal no matter their cultural background and if you tell me they are I will not believe you as I am not a stupid farang who doesnt understand Thai culture. I live with it eveyday it is part of me now.

    • 68 replies, 108,200 views

    Forum

    Chainese Thai customs, meeting parents, etc.

    By Anonymous, Created on: 08/11/2006, Last updated on: 03/09/2007

    » Dear all, I am a foreigner legally working in Thailand for the past 3 years. Right now I am dating a Chinese-Thai girl whom I like very, very, very much. People - including this girl - tell me that Chinese-Thai culture is rather different in many ways from Thai culture. She is a "Proper"...

    • Anonymous commented : You must know the culture and tradition of China, Korea and Japan. These three countries regard it very much Shameful to their society if son or daughter marry foreigners, especially farang. They regard especially local woman carrying farang or mixed blood children, as 'prostitute' who gave body at money. Because through farang invasion into China, USA occupation of Japan, Korean war, they saw it by their own eyes. They avoid absolutely marrying African, Arab, Indian and south eastern asians whose complexion is deeply darkened. Three countries people in inter-marrying among them is not regarded cross-marriage and even today many millions of marriage are existant, in Shanghai, Manjuria, Seoul, Busan, Tokyo, Osaka or any part of this region. Today they accept northern Vietnamese man and woman because they are racially similar. However they avoid marrying Thai man and woman although there are some common-law relations seen but they do not take the Luk Geung (children with Thai wife) back to their own country but raise in Thailand. Auther here, I believe your marriage certainly have problem within three years, with many reason. Be careful.

    • 3 replies, 2,902 views

    Forum

    Sin sod and in-law

    By Anonymous, Created on: 13/09/2006, Last updated on: 25/12/2008

    » I supported my gf through colleage and Uni (her parents are not rich), now that she has graduated, i wanted to marry her. But her parents are asking for 1Mil Baht for dowry. I had the money through hard earned savings (i am just a salaried worker), but i find the dowry excessive. I am afraid this...

    • Anonymous commented : You must give sinsot when marry. Today the rural parents look ingnorant but later they might bring up hundred reasons to break your family by chasing their daughter to divorce. Trust me. Try to give them 50 or 100,000 baht and declare clearly "This is Sinsot in front of Village head Man". Now you might support her schooling or when you visit her country house, you may hand over some 10,000 or, Such things are all "donation" from affluent foreigner but later that doesn't mean much when you family encounter a crisis. When you marry and live together, your wife may remit some small money to her parents. Just close your eyes but If it is too much, you must set a rule with her. after married, some siblings of her ask for help to do own business, you must be very scrupulous to check their real intention. For such kind of matter, you wife is usually silent or favouring to her own sibblings. It doesn't mean she doesn't love you. One thing last, when your wife feel happy, you will be happy. You must control her and yourself at same time. Making a good family is not easy until your family has own firm culture and value. be patient.

    • Anonymous commented : passerby,in my eyes if i,m picking up the tab she will have to adopt MY culture ,if its the other way round i,ll adopt hers ,i bought a 5 bedroom house more than 3 years ago 4 bedrooms were empty then and they are still empty today , its all down to how you look at life here in thailand and believe me there are no set rules on how you have to live it ,only for the spineless doormats who grovel to there wifes and her parents, in closeing there is no padlock on my fridge to keep her brothers from helping thereselves to my beers which seems quite the norm for many of the total weaklings who live here ,regards ,colin .

    • 77 replies, 64,745 views

    Forum

    Estimate of Dowry for Girls family

    By Anonymous, Created on: 14/05/2006, Last updated on: 24/01/2007

    » I am a good Thai girl.. To marry to Thai girl you need to have ceremony and dowry ( no dowry it dosn'r mean marriage) for poor family is about 60,000 this is for non eductaed girls nore good job. ( if not she will lose face of whol family and all will gossip)- 2 if she has a degree or good...

    • Anonymous commented : Hi Ian, actually I gave my comments didn’t really mean to apply to Isaan or some specific area. It’s true that the dowry tradition is very much alive, and not only in Isaan, it’s a part of Thai culture! As you mentioned that most farangs posting here married with Isaan women, so probably you guys know better how it is for real from your own experience. I told the story of my brother’s wedding without demand of dowry from the bride’s parents, the fact is she is from Nakorn Ratchasima – Isaan as well. No matter where it is, I don’t think you can generalize. You’re absolutely right about different child-rearing among Thai-Western culture. Western kids become independent from their parents much earlier than Thais, that’s why most farangs are more mature than Thais at the same age, Anyway, I don’t see anything wrong with supporting parents when they get old. My parents never ever told me that it’s obligation to support them when they’re too old, but I’ll definitely do that because I love them, it’s family connection. I really don’t think that I can give them back as much as they’ve given me. By the way, I’m not talking only about money, I become who I am today because of their love and how they raised me up, it’s invaluable! In my opinion, the idea of supporting parents has nothing to do with dowry at all. I agree that most people view it as proper respect towards parents who have worked hard looking after their children. But as I said, how can you value that? The working hours of the parents? The university tuition fee of the bride? The thing is: if the couple is stopped from marriage only because the parents are not satisfied with the number (not to mention “negotiation process”) I can’t see it something else but “selling”

    • 37 replies, 18,794 views

    Forum

    Dowery

    By Anonymous, Created on: 26/05/2004, Last updated on: 09/03/2007

    » Hello and thanks to all that responded to my last questions. Those of you who have been following my last questions thanks. I am set to marry in Nov or Dec and I talked to her family. My dowery is set at 2 milllion bath and I already gave a 200,000 bath strater to show that I was interested. What...

    • Anonymous commented : I read Rooster’s commenting on Gina on the above and think this man is sexist and arrogant with his one-sided opinions, a lot of times with no proves. The choice of words in his explanations proves that he has had a high education, but the way he expresses it is low and cheap. No need to explain more. Let’s get back to the subject. Dowry is not a rule. It’s just a tradition that people have hold from the past, the past that Thailand was (and is) an agricultural society… When a Thai woman is married, two things happen. One, she moves out of her family. Two, she becomes a member of her husband’s family. This moving in and out doesn’t only mean the bride’s family is losing her as a beloved daughter, but they are also losing one labor that will work in a field. That means everybody in the bride’s family will have to work harder in order to gain the same amount of crops. And in the opposite, the groom’s family gains one more labor. To be fair, the price of the lost labor needs to be paid. (Please notice: getting married in this context doesn’t have anything to do with love.) It is all about economy. The price of the dowry is based on the value of the woman. The strong, smart plus beautiful=high price. Lazy, ugly, and has bad breath=low price. It’s all about demand – supply. It’s that logical. (In a way, I think it’s universal.) Another reason, agree with Rooster, the man has to prove his manhood that he can take care of his family and has ability to make their (Thai) dream comes true. With all these reasons, the dowry system existed and worked. 2005, life styles have changed. The woman whom you ask to marry with is no longer a farmer’s daughter. Nobody thinks anymore about the lost of labor in a family. However, the tradition is still in practice (yes, because it is a “tradition.”) It’s not unusual that any tradition that has lost its connection and meaning becomes a nonsense practice—especially when people in the society take advantage of the tradition to feed their greed. Plus today, the value of “goodness” has changed to “richness;” things get messed up like this, it’s easy to see the tradition itself as bad. To me, the tradition isn’t bad, but the way the society has changed and the way people handle it, make it seem bad. It is up to your judgment, I think. If the tradition makes sense to you, support it (with your good reason.) If it doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t make sense. Nobody can force it to make sense. In my opinion, culture is an organic thing. It has to change over time by people’s values and lifestyle. Culture has to serve the society’s needs. Now, Thailand is at a turning point of its cultures. There are clashes of cultures everywhere. Old cultures seem to be conflicting with the new. No one to blame. It is the obligation people here have to live with. And, perhaps try to create and adapt the good values as they can do.

    • 61 replies, 27,697 views

    Forum

    Learning about Thai ladies in marriage and culture

    By Anonymous, Created on: 23/08/2003, Last updated on: 21/10/2007

    » I would like to learn about the Thai lady in marriage and the Thai culture. The reason for this, is that after literally travelling the world for many years, during work commitments, and meeting along the way many ladies for serious relationships. I met along the way a lady from Thailand. We met many...

    • Anonymous commented : Well, I think you should not confuse Hispanic or Arabic cultures with Thai. No Thai women do not cut your foods for you at the table. Thai foods are pre-cutted and usually prepared for single bit sizes. There are usually variety of foods serving at dinner. Thai women do not walk behind their husbands either. Usually, you can view their relationship as high and low. For example: husband's head is highest in the family as respect so she should not touch him above his shoulder or joking around him publicly. Public displaces of affections usually are not done...unlike young Thais of today. Oh, many wealthy men are still keeping minor wives in the same large home or multi-buildings. Since most Thai estates are with high fences for privacy, most people do not see what is going on inside. Thai women do not like to be embarrassed publicly or among their social circles - so what ever going on outside their home should be kept separated from their homes. You should only to remember to keep everything under the roof and be very discreet.

    • Anonymous commented : Why are you worry about their relationship? If you valued recent western version of marriage, then that is your prerogative. The late Western values and version of marriage caused increase divorce and separation in Thailand and in their home countries. It is this type of foreign values that help caused the degradation in Thai society. One version of Christian religion of the Mormon faith does not belief in the same values as the other Chirstian faiths. They were suppressed by the mainstream Christian religions. However, there are pockets of Mormon communities in mostly Western US that still continued to practice polygamy according to the bible. However, ...let face the true fact. It is not about religion or culture. Today, it is all about women' feelings and how they viewed institution of marriage - which mostly influenced by foreign cultural fads like a bad fashion for family.

    • 27 replies, 16,641 views

First Previous 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 Next Last

Your recent history

  • Recently searched

    • Recently viewed links

      Did you find what you were looking for? Have you got some comments for us?