Culture Shock

[Warrior]

After reading and enjoying several threads at this forum, on subjects as different as the weather, BG´s, dangerous jobs in Iraq, a.s.o., I want to post my first thread.
But not before I have introduced myself: I am of Dutch origin (and that doesn´t necessarily mean I like to go dutch, although… I now have warned you! ), and visited LOS for the first time approx. 20 years ago. Since then, I have been back a great number of times, I have lost count.
During these visits, I have gone through most of it, including upcountry visits, local hong nam´s, BF´ning BG´s, marrying (and divorcing) a Thai woman, struggling and failing to learn the Thai language, just to mention a few.
And no, I am not an expert – not at all, in fact. I guess it´s impossible for a farang to understand it all, unless you were born and raised in LOS – but then again, then you´re not really a farang anymore I assume.
That brings me to the subject of this thread, that I have called Culture Shock, after a book by Robert and Nanthapa Cooper. I have been reading and re-reading this book several times, as it is very entertaining and informative at the same time. Reading it will put some of the subjects of threads in this forum in a different – i.e., Thai – perspective. For those we have been to LOS, they will recognize several topics, and for the first time visitors it is a great way to get a feel for Thai culture and customs.
Enjoy!



PS I am in no way related to the authors of the book, nor do they pay me or do I otherwise gain from mentioning their book here – but in case they read this post, they are obviously more than invited to contact me and we might be able to work something out