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#1
24-09-2006, 05:12
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Thailand vs Europe (the west)..Pros and cons
This a question for expats in LOS. Especially the ones from the nordic countries and europe. What are the pros and cons as u see it?
ps: I did a search and couldnt find a topic like this. I found some "phuket vs samui - pros and cons" but couldnt find this.... 
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#2
24-09-2006, 17:28
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welcome to the board ,i guess you have not been to thailand,go and have a look my friend and it will hit you like a brick in the forehead what the differences are!
__________________
i love wales for its climate ,its ladies and the exotic food 
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#3
24-09-2006, 21:06
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Ive been twice but im wondering how it is to live there permanently. Besides the obvios reasons like the weather, the girls etc. What are the other reasons? Are there other reasons? What are the cons?
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#4
24-09-2006, 23:46
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there's two reasons good enough for me on their own!! 
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#6
25-09-2006, 00:02
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Who Needs 2 Reasons?
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The Weather is what it is.................! Its the Girls...... Girls...... Girls...... Girls...... 
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#7
25-09-2006, 03:23
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Overall quality of life
If you have been reading the archives (see IJ - I don't have to yell "use the search") you will realize that it is a life style move.It's not all about sexy women and sleaze.
 There is a lot more to living here on a permanent basis that sex.  It is about not having to live to European/USA standards and be politicaly correct and eat crap at work from anyone.  If you have the money to be here you can live the life you want without being critized about it.The Thai culture and in fact most other Asian cultures allow you to come into their back yard - just don't abuse the hospitality .
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If you can't take a joke you shouldn't have joined up!!! 
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#8
25-09-2006, 18:41
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Thailand vs Europe.
That's a bit unfair isn't it ? 1 country vs a continent. Asia vs Europe, bring it on, let the battle commence
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#9
26-09-2006, 02:05
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Well said Crusty...these are the very reasons we are moving to LOS... Yippeeeeeee...Today's the day...we leave for LOS today...will be in Patong Thursday... 
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"If you want an opinion, ask us...if you want a second opinion, just ask us again!!"  ROTF LOL
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#10
26-09-2006, 03:10
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Good luck with your move Marcia, and have a good trip.
__________________
I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my Granddad Not screaming in fear like his passengers
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#11
26-09-2006, 09:48
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Loius cifers post was asked of euro and nordic mb EX PATS, how come all you others (apart from crusty) posted on our very own expat thread??? huh???
and I thought Nordic countries were in Europe, now if they are not then I reckon this will seriously effect the attack and could even give the Thais a 1 or 2 goal advantage!!!
__________________
If I havn't done it already, then i'm gunna do it today.
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#12
27-09-2006, 11:04
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Asia V.S. Europe... 5555 Europe will never stand a chance... Lets see, Asian women are nicer, much less of a pain in the ar*e and they generally don't turn into whales after the age of 40. Cons, their boobs are generally smaller, difficulty in communication (parts of asia) Cost of living in Asia is considerably less than Europe with the exception of HK, Singapore and japan. Cons, being an expat makes certain things eg (buying a house) more complicated than it would be in your home country. Asian food is better IMO (no con here) Shall i go on??? I think the winner is quite clear.
__________________
Sleep is for the weak
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#13
27-09-2006, 13:02
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Cons.
Intelligent discussions minimal (with women and often barflys) Further education impossible (nightschools, interests). Hobbies and interests you could pursue back home can be hard to pursue here. Hard to make a good living (much harder to start a real business) I see it also being bad (fun but not good for them) for teens and young 20's.. I know a few parents who have had sons come out at 17 / 18.. Of course they love it but really they are just living in their dads pocket. It teaches very bad habits (no job worth doing.. Not making thier own money.. Drinking culture early) and can be a real drawback as they are ruined for going back and being in Europe. Very poor start into adulthood IMHO. It reduces thier self sufficency, reduces thier work ethic, reduces thier working skillset, hard to start a carear late, etc etc etc.. I would also feel that the education that exists here is lesser than what someone would recieve in home countries, not only the schooling education but learning to be an adult growing up, being on the street in your local community, hustling jobs, etc. Life experiences in the farang expat sector very different to youth experiences back in the west. Music, style, fashion, relationships etc are all what shape us as we are young and I think those are probably not as diverse in Thailand (would change that pereption perhaps with bkk or KL or Sing).. Just laying a few con ideas out there.. I am definately pro and dont wish to live outside of the tropics ever again but theres lots of reasons that make it imperfect. Children would radically effect my thinking and I doubt I would raise a child into thier teens here.
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Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich. Last edited by LivinLOS : 27-09-2006 at 13:06.
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#14
29-09-2006, 11:12
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Don't mean any argue just liked your post as usual (always enjoy reading what you write Livin) and thought i share my view if you don't mind.
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Well i think this is highly dependant on the places one visits. But i do agree with you in a general sense. Quote:
Night schools yes i agree, but what do you mean you can't pursue your hobbies and interests here??? Yes i agree its not as easy to pursue at times but still doable. Quote:
Def agree here. Although can be easy provided there is a lot of funding available and with the right contacts. For the ones on shoe string budgets yes very difficult. Quote:
Well yeah when they come to Asia at the age of 17/18 they are no longer dependants and cannot get a job in the country their parents are working in be it thailand or any other asian country. Don't really know much about the education system in Thailand be it International schools or Local schools. But one thing i do know is that Asia does have some of the best International schools in the world. Although granted they are in Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. I think its largely dependant on the child. Some are more likely to get led astray than others. Yes the drinking culture starts for kids at a much earlier age in asia due to fake id's and western kids generally looking older than their Asian counterparts. But on a whole i think the experience can be quite good for one's children. You meet people from many different cultures; you have friends all over the world. I think it makes people more tolerant of each other and teaches kids acceptance of other cultures without prejudice. In addition, if you were to bring your child to asia at an early age, they are able to get a part time job as they would in their home country. When i was in High school in Singapore and Indonesia i worked... Only part time as a waiter and did some hotel internships as well, but i was able to work. I see where you're coming from Livin and i agree with you to a certain extent but to reiterate what i said before i think it is very much dependant on the type of individual the person is. I know many of my friends who have turned out great living and growing up in asia but i also know many who have made absolutely nothing of themselves. Quote:
Well again depending on the asian country you're living in, i can see where you're coming from Livin but don't you agree that asia offers a much safer environment to raise your kids in?? Crime rates being lower, penalties for drug offences are higher. Yes your kids might start drinking a little earlier than kids in the western world but at least in general they are kept away from drugs and crime. I think there are certain dangers parents will always try to shield their kids from but if their kids are absolutely intent on going in the "wrong" direction, it doesn't really matter where they live IMHO.
__________________
Sleep is for the weak
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#15
29-09-2006, 11:58
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I think we are mostly on the same page.. Its just different ways of looking at things. And I also admit that I was thinking of living in 'Thailand' and not Singapore, HK or even perhaps BKK where more cosmopolitan attitudes and opportunities exist.
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Depends on what the hobby or interest entails. If it needs items as part of it those things tend to be really hard to get. For example some hobbies of mine.. I used to fly model planes and crash helicopters I have always had a thing about flight and flying things, I used to make kites as a kid (big impressive buggers sometimes if I do say so myself) and hangliders, paragliders, etc all have been fascinations. This RC stuff is actually kinda cheap now days as when I was a kid I used to use slope soaring as engines fuel etc was big and expensive. I tried to buy some things mail order.. Ended up costsing 250% of what it actually cost me by the time shipping and being raped by the tax guy all came out.. Need a $10 part.. Expect to wait a month and end up costing $50. Sure its not impossible but its definately hard.. also when I wanted to learn there was a club and people taught you what to do.. There is none here. Another interest has been odd electronic interests (robotic toys).. Got a maplins catalogue or CD and you have access to 10000's of odd constructive things for pennies for each one delivered in a day or two. Now I know thats 2 kind of odd things (but I am a kinda odd guy) but they are just 2 that I know I cant do easily here that are very easy in the west. That creative streak and educating hobby is if not outright impossible certainly so difficult that the fun has gone. Then theres the collaborative hobbies.. People go to drama classes, film schools, film clubs, book clubs, poetry readings. The diversity of musical clubs and venues (thats probably going more into style than hobbies but kind of my point). Then how about the danger sports things.. As I mentioned I have spent time paragliding, hangliding and skydiving.. There were clubs within a drive from me for each of these things. There was training, there were safety instructors, there was a training system. Not to mention the ambulance that could come and get you if you screwed it up !!! Phuket has loads going for it.. But you make a choice when moving to a remote tropical island to give up access to many things that are surrounding you in a more cosmopolitan environment. Quote:
I agree with you on the schools part if they are in the major city locations in asia.. High quality schooling and my comments were not really thinking of Sing / HK / etc but more Thailand and even perhaps rural thailand or phuket. My point wasnt really the education more the streetwise education.. What you learn growing up outside of the school environment in the west is a different set of life experiences. Here I would feel that expat kids are sheltered from street life.. They dont learn to make a buck in the same way.. They dont hustle jobs.. Probably dont get into the same scrapes. I guess my perspective is odd in that I had parents that gave me immense freedoms.. I was allowed to do my own thing a lot.. They left the country for months when I was 15 and still at school.. I used to hitchike all round the country as a mid teen.. Then hitchiked all round Europe as a late teen... I always made my own money.. I always had hustles and some game on the go. If I hadn't grown up doing those things I wouldn't have the personality I have.. I don't see that it would have been possible to do that as an expat kid here in Asia and even though there are risks in letting a kid make his own mistakes if I was a parent (of a boy) I would let him go and get into trouble to learn. Of course there are probably different opportunities.. Ones I am not seeing.. I dont know how much the old school buy tie network still extends into private schools and the international banking community here.. Perhaps theres massive advantages I dont expect. Also I dont think we are really at opposites I am just making some comments on what I meant.. I love living in the topics.. I find the advantages outweigh the drawbacks for my life situation, age, and circumstances. but I can also understand those who feel it doesn't fit their life ambitions or goals.
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#16
29-09-2006, 18:31
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man o man...that is so true!
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#17
29-09-2006, 22:17
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i just do not see the appeal of bringing up your children outside of your country
i am from the old school where kids grew up, have a base of friends and have a "home" to go to for the rest of their lives now, being a little broader thinking than most of my family i will push my children to learn and experince more of the world whenever the chance but i would want my children developing a "home base"
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#18
03-10-2006, 14:17
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Well as someone who has moved around a lot (dad used to be in the hotel business), i come from a mixed marriage (asian mother, caucasian father), you sort of end up having two home bases (where grandma and grandpa are from mom and dad's side) Having never been raised in one place i have no idea what its like growing up with the same classmates or even living in the same city/country for more than 10 years. However, being an international student in the past, i currently have friends all over the world, something i probably would not have had if i stayed in one place... I like to think the people you meet in life shape the way you are as a person growing up, taking a little bit from everyone you meet. I'm not saying one is better than the other (growing up in one place as opposed to many places) but both do have its advantages and disadvantages. I wouldn't be so quick to throw out raising your kids in a different country until you've looked at all the pros and cons. In the end home is where the roof is. Just my opinion
__________________
Sleep is for the weak
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#19
03-10-2006, 22:54
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i understand your point and i do think there are advantages to be had with groing up internationally. you sure have a maturity and intelligence at your age that I am sure is due to your upbringing but I think the only way i would raise my kids in anywhere different than US or Canada is if the money I was making was so far above what i could make in No America
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