Looking at Thailand from a cultural perspective.
The best things about living in Thailand?
The expat lives without being judged or interfered with.
The best thing about Thailand for expats? Just about everything. Many things work differently here; it does not mean they are wrong, they are just different. Thailand will evolve at its own pace and to suit Thai people, not expats.
How much Thai can you learn through Thai songs?
Every song can be a mini language lesson
Over and above the benefit of learning the language, listening to Thai songs will allow the learner to ‘get a feel’ for the country – how it thinks, how sentiments are communicated, the culture, the essence of being Thai, at least in the context of relationships.
Which partner will 'yield'?
Deciding which country to live in with your Thai partner
Cross-cultural relationships are challenging in the best of circumstances. One party within the couple needs to have a strong desire to take on the other party’s culture, language and lifestyle. Even where the Thai partner speaks good English or the Westerner has learnt Thai, one partner often needs to ‘yield’ more than the other
The key to learning Thai
Listening and speaking – it’s that simple!
Get out there and listen and you will hear real Thai. Speak, make mistakes, be embarrassed, humiliated and come out of the process much, much stronger.
Culture clash!
Thais are not being rude or deliberately evasive. It’s just a culture clash…or is it?
Anyone who has lived in Thailand for any length of time beyond a two-week holiday is likely to pick up on certain local patterns of behaviour that seem annoying or rude or just plain wrong. But what is the reason behind these ‘misunderstandings’? Who is at fault?
