Expat - Thailand - Living in Thailand - Questions - Moving to Thailand

QUESTIONS ABOUT LIVING IN THAILAND Thanks to those who say thanks.
HOME Questions: About Living in Thailand About Thailand From Students Thai Life:* Working in Thailand What I've learned in Thailand Students* Writing Resources for Students and Teachers Links and Link Partners Photos Color Black and White Previous Photos of the Moment About Me* Michael's Resume My Writing Instead of a Journal Building a House in Thailand EXPAT! Cultural Literacy I'm Sorry: Cross-Cultural Apologizing Places* Places in Thailand I have visited Map of Thailand Countries Visiting Ajarn Michael Cities Visiting Ajarn Michael Favorites People and Things Internet Favorites Shareware Other Stuff* * Pope John Paul II in Thailand	You many also want to check out General Questions or the Expat Encyclopedia. Politics and Land I recently got an email asking me two questions - one never asked and one frequently asked. Never asked was whether I thought Thailand would remain politically stable. My answer is yes. While there have be coups and other political strife, the country has still remained a stable and safe place to live. There are two reasons for this. One is the King, who is a wonderful man, respected and loved by all. He is wise and cares deeply about the country. The other reason is the Thai people. They are fundamentally decent and while sometimes patient to a fault, know when enough is enough and make their voices heard. I have been asked, and answered, the other question in the email very often. Can foreigners own land? The answer is no. They can own condos or building, but not the land itself. Thai Men Q: I love Thailand but the one thing I have not been able to work out is the sensitive subject of Thai men. I have several Thai friends, but they are all women. I love my wife’s family but I find her brother irresponsible and incredibly self centered. I read others have had similar experiences, but always avoid believing in generalities? Any comments? A: Good question, but one that is hard to answer without generalities.I'll bite the bullet anyway. Thai men are vastly different than Western men -- even ones who have spent time in the West. It took me many years to feel comfortable around Thai men. Like you, nearly all my friends were women. It wasn't until my spoken Thai reached a reasonable level that I learned to appreciate Thai men more and get a feeling of where they are coming from. Now, with guys I like, I can laugh, joke, drink and be philosophical. For me, the language and fairly deep understanding of the culture helped a lot. Land Prices Q: My wife is from the areas you live in - Si Saket Province, near Khukhan. Can you tell me how much one rai of rice paddy land would be? A: Prices vary depending on how close to Khukhan the land is, how close to the road it is and whether there is a nearby klong. When I asked around, prices ranged from 30,000 to 60,000 baht per rai. (The baht has stayed around 40 to the US dollar for some time.) Weather Q :I would like to let you know i very much enjoy your book, I Walked Away, It has been helpful in making a dream, i the next two years i hope to be living in Thailand.I hold on to your book, so that Iwill do the same. Its great to hear that things are going good with you and family. Your web site is very helpful.Would you know where the best place is to live in Thailand, that is not always hot? A: Thanks for the good words about my book. Your question about the weather is a good one. You do NOT want to live in Bangkok. It is almost always hot. Places that are more temperate, but still hot sometimes, include Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai). It can be very nice in the cool season. The hot season is hot alright, but not as bad as Bangkok. Areas near the ocean - Phuket, Hua Hin, Pattaya - have the moderating influence of the seas breeze and are more comfortable year around. Northeast Thailand has a lovely cool season where it actually gets chilly at night. I woke up to 66 degrees F this morning. However it is blazing hot during the hot season. Good luck with your dream. I wish you happiness Living Comfortably Q: What kind of income would I need to make in order to live comfortably there? I guess for me, I'd like to live an equivalent lifestyle as I have now. We go out to dinner about twice a week, on Wednesdays to the cheap Thai restaurant we can walk to and on Fridays out to not-so-cheap sushi. My wife is an exceptional cook so we eat at home other days. I let her choose anything she wants as far as groceries go. Most any appliance she wants for the kitchen, I'll usually get for her. We each carry a cell phone. We clean our own house, do our own laundry, although I pay a service to take care of the yard. Through my work we have pretty good medical insurance. Since we have a small baby, we don't go out to the movies but I like to rent one now and again. I love to read and I imagine that the public libraries there won't be full of books in English. I reckon I'll be buying most all of my books. I like to drink a beer or two everyday. I also like a night out on the town in Thailand, but it's not something I've done more than once a week, even when traveling as a tourist. I don't really want to live right smack in the middle of Bangkok, but I don't think I'd fare very well too far out either. Of course as with anyplace, where one lives is largely determined by where one can work. We will want to be able to send our daughter to good schools and to university when the time comes. A Thai friend of my wife told me about $1000/month was "middle class". Does that sound like the kind of income that would support the lifestyle I have been accustomed to? A: Living comfortably on $1000 a month in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket or Pattaya would be difficult. You'd need at least half again that much, maybe double. One reason I say that is because of you mentioning wanting to send your daughter to a good school. Most people mean by that an international school and they can be very steep - $10,000 a year or more. A reasonable private school, like the Catholic school my son went to in Bangkok, is more economical at about $50 a month. The accumulation of other stuff, especially electric, cable TV and internet, will be roughly $100 a month. Your grocery bill is going to be in the area of $200 a month, maybe more. Renting a decent place in Bangkok is about $300 a month or more. It's cheaper in the suburbs, but then you have travel expences and a nightmare commute. So, you can see, you're already well on your way to $1,000 a month but haven't considered transportation, telephone, medical, entertainment, clothing, holidays or anything else. On the other hand, for $1,000 a month here in Khukan where I live, you'd be living the Life of Riley. Working in Thailand Q: What kind of work is available in Thailand? A: Click here for the answer to that question. One Year Visa? Q: Can you give me details about obtaining a one year visa. A: I am afraid I'm going you let you down on that one. It is not an area I have any expertise in and really hesitate to say much. I will tell you a few things that I THINK to be the case, but you'd be wise to check other sites on the internet that speciaize in this. Be warned, there's lots of misinformation. The only things I am fairly confident about relative to a one year visa are that you can get one if you have a work permit or if you are married to a Thai. There is also something called a Retirement Visa. I'm sure you can find info on that somewhere. Are there other ways? I don't know. Sorry, but that is the best I can do. I don't even feel confident enough about this to suggest links to you. Building a Home for Use in the Future Q: In a few years I plan to move to Thailand with my wife. In that regard, I plan to build a home while on an extened vacation this summer. What do you think of that? A: That largely depends on what you mean by "extended." If you mean three months or so, then it is a possibility. However, it would put you on a fairly tight schedule and that is generally not a good idea. Thais are not known for being good about deadlines. This would put stress on you and probably result in you pushing the workers -- not a good idea either. I think there are two better possibilites. The best one is to wait until you move to Thailand to start building your house. Rent a place in the area you are going to live. (This can be quite cheap in rural towns -- my rent is $35 a month.) This way you would not be under so much pressure to get your house completed. Another possibily, not as desirable but passable, is to build your house in stages during periods you are in Thailand. For more info on building a house in Thailand, click here. SUMMER HOME IN THAILAND Q: My beautiful Thai wife of almost 2 years and I are planning another trip "home" this summer and will start looking for land to buy for our eventual summer home (Summers to start with, hopefully a retirement home later) in the province of Phayao. I just finished reading your great book "I Walked Away," for the third time and was wondering if you might have anything of a major nature to add? Although most of our problems are still down the road, like how to build when we can't be there all the time (we both work full time and can get away for only 3-4 weeks a year), and how I can choose the right spot to build, but not get the Farang price, but it seems wise to start thinking about it now. Thanks for writing such a great book! A: Thanks for your good words and for buying my book. Your questions are so good that I need to think about them a bit. In addition, you caught me at exactly when I am planning on leaving Bangkok and building a house on some land we have in the TOWN near my wife's village. I emphasize town, because I really don't want to live in a small village again. It was a great experience the first time, but I have no need to return. Quick answers to your questions are: The essence of my book is still OK I think. There have been lots of changes, but most of them are details like the price of things. Yes, there is a lot I would add - one of the things being more details on building a house. Leave as much as you can up to your wife. Don't get too mixed up in ANY of it. If you can't be there to supervise things you MUST have someone you trust watching the construction. If your wife is young, you must tell her she has to be strong and not afraid of Thai men -- especially those older than her. You should have proper papers for the land. Unfortunately many villages don't have such land. I wouldn't be too close to the in laws. Where I am going to live is about 15 miles away from them. If you are only going to live there 3-4 weeks a year, a lot of this doesn't apply to you. You might want to check my "Building a House in Thailand." MOVING TO THAILAND Q: I just read through a big part of your website. I am a professional 33 year old music teacher from Sweden. For a few years I have been interested in living in Thailand for a while. I have been in contact with all of the international schools and some bilingual schools, but with no luck so far. I have a master's degree in music with music education as my special field of study. I also have several years of experience in teaching all levels except kindergarten. People have told me that since I am a qualified teacher it should be really easy to get a job, but it seems to be hard even to get a reply for my mails. I will be in Thailand on vacation and I am planning to go knocking on doors. Any advice about how to go about in finding a rewarding and reasonably paid job in Thailand is highly appreciated. I attached my Thank you for your time! A: I know nothing about teaching music and very little about teaching at international schools. I do, however, think you are correct to check them out because they are probably your best bet for getting a music teaching job. They might be your only bet. Having said that, I must note that you are not from a country where English is the mother tongue. You write English fine, but perhaps the lack of response from schools can be attributed to concern about you not being a native speaker of English. I would also add that I think it would be very difficult to get a job at an international school where English is the medium of instruction if you have a heavy accent. I should mention too, that international schools begin their school years in September, unlike most Thai schools which begin in June. Good luck and sorry I couldn't be of more help. ****************** It can be hard to stay in touch with friends and family when you move abroad. Luckily, there are international cell phone rental services available. You can use a world phone to stay connected with friends, and you won't have to pay high fees. You can even try satellite phone rental if you're in a remote area of the world. **** Q: I recently read your book as I am planning to do something similar to you in a few months. My wife is Thai and I'm Irish, both in our early thirties and we are planning to move to Thailand from America in the new year. My wife will probably open a business and I will probably take a TEFL course and teach English. My gut tells me that I should adopt the "mai pen rai" attitude and just roll with the punches during my transition into life in Thailand. I've lived all over the U.S. and Canada and enjoyed the adventure of being in new places and "seeing how I get on". Anyway, I was wondering if you had any words of wisdom to guide a potential and probable expat. As you are married to a Thai lady, could you tell me about the visa through marriage process? Does the visa automatically entitle me to a work permit? Can I apply from within Thailand once I get there on a tourist visa or can I organize it before we go? Is it a relatively easy process or is it an ordeal? Minor questions: Can one get BBC if one has a satellite dish? I play traditional Irish music and I was wondering if there are any other musicians or sessions in Bangkok. That would make a big difference if I knew that I could continue playing in Thailand! I would very much appreciate it if you could respond to my questions. Thanks for providing such a great website and resource for expats in Thailand. A: Thanks for your questions and the good words. I'm not sure how satisfactory my answers will be, but I will do the best I can. These probably aren't words of wisdom, but here goes. Be patient. More patient than you have ever been in your life. Mai Pen Rai is OK up to a point. Buddha's Middle Path is a better way to approach things. Make sure you do things (visa, drivers license, etc) correctly, even if it takes time and is frustrating. Always be polite to those in authority. As for a marriage visa, I know essentially nothing. I was married here in Thailand, not the States. I am a permanent resident of Thailand and thus do not need a visa. I don't know much about getting a work permit either, as my employer takes care of everything for the foreign teachers. Many universities do, but I have heard of some that don't. In any case, I feel fairly certain that having a marriage visa does not automatically get you a work permit. When I came to Thailand many years ago, the best option was to get a non-immigrant visa. There are Irish pubs in Bangkok and other big cities. I don't know whether they have traditional Irish music or not. BBC is available on cable and cable is available in most bigger cities. Good luck with your adventure. I have never regretted my decision, even though there have been challenges, setbacks and frustrations. YOUNG AND LOVING THAILAND Q: First and foremost I would like to thank you for your informative website and book. I bought your book some months ago It was very helpful in giving me a short glimpse into life in the Land of Smiles. I have just come to Bangkok about 2 days ago and feel very much how you seem to have when you first came here, (if I can be so presumptuous as to assume what you were thinking). Suffice it to say I am in love with Bangkok and the Thai people. Even though I only speak VERY limited Thai and have only been here a short, I could easily see myself living here and being 1000 times more happy than back in the states. Only being 25, I believe I'll have to go back and save a bit before I can entertain the thought of moving here permanently but that just makes it all the sweeter once it happens non? I'm sorry to ramble like this but because I'm so young living as an expat sometimes seems a bit daunting and so it is good just to know that it can be done. In any case I'll go back and finish my associates degree in Poetry/Philosophy and hopefully be back here in a year or so. In the meantime, Keep up the good work and thanks again! A: Thanks for the good words. Being an Expat is not always easy but I have never regretted my decision to move to Thailand. I still feel a sense of awe at being here. After you finish up your AA Degree you may want to think about getting a BA in English. You can then easily get a job in Thailand. You might want to get a TEFL certificate at some point as well. Once again thanks. All the best. **** RETIRE IN THAILAND? Q: I am really fascinated by the thought of eventually making Thailand my home. My issue deals with expatriate status in Thailand....more specifically, the viability of such a venture. I am a retiree with about $2500/mo annuity and about $60,000 in cash to bring into the country. I know that Thailand, or any country, is not a panacea but I have grown so discontent with the US political landscape that I can no longer pretend to support many of it's basic tenets which somehow seem to have taken hold in this country. A: Unless you have expensive vices or tastes, you can live here very comfortably on your retirement income. In addition, your $60,000 will set you up very nicely in a home or business. Having said that, let me add that if you haven't been to Thailand before or you have only come on vacation, you should come prior to burning any bridges. It is best to learn as much as you can before investing in anything here. That means knowing the country, laws and people. ******* What are the Formalities About Living and Working in Thailand? Q: Thank you for your most informative and refreshingly "candid" site - I really enjoyed reading the information you listed! I have been to Thailand numerous times and now have several good relationships with people in the tour and travel business. I have also been able to develop some real quality friendships over the last few years. Recently, I have spent a 2 month period in Chiang Mai as a "mini-test" to see, how I would enjoy living there - and it was a good success! I speak very BASIC Thai - just enough to communicate some on a daily basis - and what you say about even knowing a little of the language is of course VERY true............. For some of the exact same reasons which you list in your commentaries, I am ready to leave the US soon and I am very interested in teaching the English language in Thailand and I understand, that there is a tremendous need for good English teachers there. My question to you is the following: what steps do I take to be able to get a Thai work-permit as a teacher and how difficult would you say it is? I appreciate very much any information you can give me! A: Thanks for the good words about my website. If you get a job as a teacher at a reputable school or university, getting a work permit is only a formality which many places will do for you and all will help you with. Prior to moving here, you can save yourself a bit of trouble and expense if you get a non-immigrant visa rather than a tourist visa. If you don't, it will necessitate a trip out of the country to get one after you have a job offer. Other than that, just head over and find yourself a position. You may want to check out my book about moving to and living in Thailand. You can order it from Amazon. The name of the book is "I Walked Away". BEST TYPE TEACHER FOR THAILAND Q: What type of teacher is best suited for a university in Thailand A: Professional academics from abroad in Thailand are a minority. There are some and they are often married to Thais and have a family. There are a lot of novices. They don't tend to stay at a university for long and have varying motives for being here. These include a sense of adventure, desire for a challenge, love of Thailand, craving for fun and nightlife and the search for romance or sex. Thailand is a wonderful place and teaching here can be rewarding for some. It is vastly different than teaching at an American university. I know because I taught in the States for many years. What's different? Everything -- but especially the students, most of whom have come through an education system that emphasizes rote learning and a group mentality rather than individual achievement. If you have never been to Thailand, visit before you move. If you've been here before on holiday and move here, leave your holiday mentality at home. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE THAI EDUCATION SYSTEM? There has been a strong push from the government and various ministries to upgrade the quality of education, particularly in the areas of critical thinking and student centered learning. There is still a very long way to go. Government schools in Thailand, whether in Bangkok or elsewhere, still tend to stress rote learning and group think. Asking questions is not encouraged. Disagreeing with the teacher is taboo. International schools are better in some ways but in my opinion, they frequently create prigs. In addition, they are extremely expensive – usually hundreds of thousands of baht a year. I send my son to a Catholic school. While it is far from perfect, it is about as close to a happy medium as I can come. The language of instruction is Thai but they teach English. I supplement that with informal lessons in English at home SMILING FACE OF THAI RACISM Is there racism in Thailand? There are racists in every country. In general, Thai racism is not as ugly or violent as it is in other places. I sometimes think of it as "the smiling face of Thai racism." A few examples of racism are double pricing (white and black people pay more), laws forbidding foreigners from owning property and favoritism of Thai teachers at schools and universities (no promotions, sabbaticals or study loans). Black people are more often the victim of racism than white people. For example, it is nearly impossible for a black person to get a teaching job. In addition, some Central Thai people (including Bangkok) are prone to look down on Isaan (Northeast) Thais with stereotypes of dirty, lazy and dishonest frequently being held. Finally, Thai women accompanying Western men are often thought to be prostitutes. Overall, I would say that racism in Thailand brings about injustices and frustrations, as it does in other places, but one need not fear violence anywhere in the country merely on the basis of race. However, racism is more widespread than it is in, say, the USA. ** AIDS IN THAILAND Q: Is AIDS as serious a problem as they say? A: That depends on who you mean by "they." Whenever I return to America, I get the sense that most people have an exaggerated view of how serious the problem is. I also get this feeling from the media. I don't like the term 'epidemic' relative to AIDS. It paints a picture of people falling down on the streets and dying. I don't know anyone in Thailand who has AIDS or who has died from AIDS. Highway deaths are a much worse problem here. I HAVE seen people dead on the street and thousands die every year. Over the last New Year period alone (four days), over 500 people died in road accidents. So, is AIDS as serious a problem as "they" say? No. Is it a serious problem? Yes. *** MEDICAL INSURANCE** Q: I have a question. I read your critique of the health care system of Thailand on your web-site. Can a foreigner buy medical insurance in Thailand? Or, how can a foreigner obtain needed medical services and prescriptions in Thailand? A: Yes, health insurance is available in Thailand and I THINK it is reasonably priced but am not sure because I am covered through my job. Almost all medicine is available over the counter -- including drugs that require a prescription in the US. By almost all I mean heart, blood sugar/pressure, asthma, antibiotics, pain killers, ulcer, etc. etc -- you name it. Walk into a drugstore and buy what you want at a reasonable price, with no prescription and completely legally. UPDATE (August 2005): If you have worked legally in Thailand and paid taxes, you have been covered by what is called "Social Welfare." That is state health insurance. If you stop working, you can maintain this health insurance for about 400 baht a month. It entitles you to health care at the state hospital in the province where you live.

QUESTIONS ABOUT LIVING IN THAILAND

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You many also want to check out General Questions or the Expat Encyclopedia.

Politics and Land
I recently got an email asking me two questions - one never asked and one frequently asked.

Never asked was whether I thought Thailand would remain politically stable. My answer is yes. While there have be coups and other political strife, the country has still remained a stable and safe place to live. There are two reasons for this. One is the King, who is a wonderful man, respected and loved by all. He is wise and cares deeply about the country.

The other reason is the Thai people. They are fundamentally decent and while sometimes patient to a fault, know when enough is enough and make their voices heard.

I have been asked, and answered, the other question in the email very often. Can foreigners own land? The answer is no. They can own condos or building, but not the land itself.

Thai Men
Q: I love Thailand but the one thing I have not been able to work out is the sensitive subject of Thai men. I have several Thai friends, but they are all women. I love my wife’s family but I find her brother irresponsible and incredibly self centered. I read others have had similar experiences, but always avoid believing in generalities? Any comments?

A: Good question, but one that is hard to answer without generalities.I'll bite the bullet anyway.

Thai men are vastly different than Western men -- even ones who have spent time in the West.

It took me many years to feel comfortable around Thai men. Like you, nearly all my friends were women. It wasn't until my spoken Thai reached a reasonable level that I learned to appreciate Thai men more and get a feeling of where they are coming from.

Now, with guys I like, I can laugh, joke, drink and be philosophical. For me, the language and fairly deep understanding of the culture helped a lot.

Land Prices
Q: My wife is from the areas you live in - Si Saket Province, near Khukhan. Can you tell me how much one rai of rice paddy land would be?

A: Prices vary depending on how close to Khukhan the land is, how close to the road it is and whether there is a nearby klong. When I asked around, prices ranged from 30,000 to 60,000 baht per rai. (The baht has stayed around 40 to the US dollar for some time.)

Weather

Q :I would like to let you know i very much enjoy your book, I Walked Away, It has been helpful in making a dream, i the next two years i hope to be living in Thailand.I hold on to your book, so that Iwill do the same.

Its great to hear that things are going good with you and family. Your web site is very helpful.Would you know where the best place is to live in Thailand, that is not always hot?

A: Thanks for the good words about my book. Your question about the weather is a good one.

You do NOT want to live in Bangkok. It is almost always hot.

Places that are more temperate, but still hot sometimes, include Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai). It can be very nice in the cool season. The hot season is hot alright, but not as bad as Bangkok.

Areas near the ocean - Phuket, Hua Hin, Pattaya - have the moderating influence of the seas breeze and are more comfortable year around.

Northeast Thailand has a lovely cool season where it actually gets chilly at night. I woke up to 66 degrees F this morning. However it is blazing hot during the hot season.

Good luck with your dream. I wish you happiness

Living Comfortably

Q: What kind of income would I need to make in order to live comfortably there? I guess for me, I'd like to live an equivalent lifestyle as I have now. We go out to dinner about twice a week, on Wednesdays to the cheap Thai restaurant we can walk to and on Fridays out to not-so-cheap sushi. My wife is an exceptional cook so we eat at home other days. I let her choose anything she wants as far as groceries go. Most any appliance she wants for the kitchen, I'll usually get for her. We each carry a cell phone. We clean our own house, do our own laundry, although I pay a service to take care of the yard. Through my work we have pretty good medical insurance. Since we have a small baby, we don't go out to the movies but I like to rent one now and again. I love to read and I imagine that the public libraries there won't be full of books in English. I reckon I'll be buying most all of my books. I like to drink a beer or two everyday. I also like a night out on the town in Thailand, but it's not something I've done more than once a week, even when traveling as a tourist.

I don't really want to live right smack in the middle of Bangkok, but I don't think I'd fare very well too far out either. Of course as with anyplace, where one lives is largely determined by where one can work. We will want to be able to send our daughter to good schools and to university when the time comes. A Thai friend of my wife told me about $1000/month was "middle class". Does that sound like the kind of income that would support the lifestyle I have been accustomed to?

A: Living comfortably on $1000 a month in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket or Pattaya would be difficult. You'd need at least half again that much, maybe double. One reason I say that is because of you mentioning wanting to send your daughter to a good school. Most people mean by that an international school and they can be very steep - $10,000 a year or more. A reasonable private school, like the Catholic school my son went to in Bangkok, is more economical at about $50 a month.

The accumulation of other stuff, especially electric, cable TV and internet, will be roughly $100 a month. Your grocery bill is going to be in the area of $200 a month, maybe more. Renting a decent place in Bangkok is about $300 a month or more. It's cheaper in the suburbs, but then you have travel expences and a nightmare commute.

So, you can see, you're already well on your way to $1,000 a month but haven't considered transportation, telephone, medical, entertainment, clothing, holidays or anything else.

On the other hand, for $1,000 a month here in Khukan where I live, you'd be living the Life of Riley.

Working in Thailand

Q: What kind of work is available in Thailand?

A: Click here for the answer to that question.

One Year Visa?

Q: Can you give me details about obtaining a one year visa.

A: I am afraid I'm going you let you down on that one. It is not an area I have any expertise in and really hesitate to say much.

I will tell you a few things that I THINK to be the case, but you'd be wise to check other sites on the internet that speciaize in this. Be warned, there's lots of misinformation.

The only things I am fairly confident about relative to a one year visa are that you can get one if you have a work permit or if you are married to a Thai. There is also something called a Retirement Visa. I'm sure you can find info on that somewhere. Are there other ways? I don't know.

Sorry, but that is the best I can do. I don't even feel confident enough about this to suggest links to you.

Building a Home for Use in the Future

Q: In a few years I plan to move to Thailand with my wife. In that regard, I plan to build a home while on an extened vacation this summer. What do you think of that?

A: That largely depends on what you mean by "extended." If you mean three months or so, then it is a possibility. However, it would put you on a fairly tight schedule and that is generally not a good idea. Thais are not known for being good about deadlines. This would put stress on you and probably result in you pushing the workers -- not a good idea either.

I think there are two better possibilites. The best one is to wait until you move to Thailand to start building your house. Rent a place in the area you are going to live. (This can be quite cheap in rural towns -- my rent is $35 a month.) This way you would not be under so much pressure to get your house completed.

Another possibily, not as desirable but passable, is to build your house in stages during periods you are in Thailand.

For more info on building a house in Thailand, click here.

SUMMER HOME IN THAILAND

Q: My beautiful Thai wife of almost 2 years and I are planning another trip "home" this summer and will start looking for land to buy for our eventual summer home (Summers to start with, hopefully a retirement home later) in the province of Phayao.

I just finished reading your great book "I Walked Away," for the third time and was wondering if you might have anything of a major nature to add?

Although most of our problems are still down the road, like how to build when we can't be there all the time (we both work full time and can get away for only 3-4 weeks a year), and how I can choose the right spot to build, but not get the Farang price, but it seems wise to start thinking about it now.

Thanks for writing such a great book!

A: Thanks for your good words and for buying my book. Your questions are so good that I need to think about them a bit. In addition, you caught me at exactly when I am planning on leaving Bangkok and building a house on some land we have in the TOWN near my wife's village. I emphasize town, because I really don't want to live in a small village again. It was a great experience the first time, but I have no need to return.

Quick answers to your questions are: The essence of my book is still OK I think. There have been lots of changes, but most of them are details like the price of things.

Yes, there is a lot I would add - one of the things being more details on building a house. Leave as much as you can up to your wife. Don't get too mixed up in ANY of it. If you can't be there to supervise things you MUST have someone you trust watching the construction. If your wife is young, you must tell her she has to be strong and not afraid of Thai men -- especially those older than her.

You should have proper papers for the land. Unfortunately many villages don't have such land. I wouldn't be too close to the in laws. Where I am going to live is about 15 miles away from them. If you are only going to live there 3-4 weeks a year, a lot of this doesn't apply to you.

You might want to check my "Building a House in Thailand."

MOVING TO THAILAND

Q: I just read through a big part of your website. I am a professional 33 year old music teacher from Sweden. For a few years I have been interested in living in Thailand for a while. I have been in contact with all of the international schools and some bilingual schools, but with no luck so far. I have a master's degree in music with music education as my special field of study. I also have several years of experience in teaching all levels except kindergarten. People have told me that since I am a qualified teacher it should be really easy to get a job, but it seems to be hard even to get a reply for my mails.

I will be in Thailand on vacation and I am planning to go knocking on doors. Any advice about how to go about in finding a rewarding and reasonably paid job in Thailand is highly appreciated. I attached my
Thank you for your time!

A: I know nothing about teaching music and very little about teaching at international schools. I do, however, think you are correct to check them out because they are probably your best bet for getting a music teaching job. They might be your only bet.

Having said that, I must note that you are not from a country where English is the mother tongue. You write English fine, but perhaps the lack of response from schools can be attributed to concern about you not being a native speaker of English. I would also add that I think it would be very difficult to get a job at an international school where English is the medium of instruction if you have a heavy accent.

I should mention too, that international schools begin their school years in September, unlike most Thai schools which begin in June.

Good luck and sorry I couldn't be of more help.

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It can be hard to stay in touch with friends and family when you move abroad. Luckily, there are international cell phone rental services available. You can use a world phone to stay connected with friends, and you won't have to pay high fees. You can even try satellite phone rental if you're in a remote area of the world.

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Q: I recently read your book as I am planning to do something similar to you in a few months. My wife is Thai and I'm Irish, both in our early thirties and we are planning to move to Thailand from America in the new year. My wife will probably open a business and I will probably take a TEFL course and teach English. My gut tells me that I should adopt the "mai pen rai" attitude and just roll with the punches during my transition into life in Thailand. I've lived all over the U.S. and Canada and enjoyed the adventure of being in new places and "seeing how I get on".

Anyway, I was wondering if you had any words of wisdom to guide a potential and probable expat. As you are married to a Thai lady, could you tell me about the visa through marriage process? Does the visa automatically entitle me to a work permit? Can I apply from within Thailand once I get there on a tourist visa or can I organize it before we go? Is it a relatively easy process or is it an ordeal? Minor questions: Can one get BBC if one has a satellite dish? I play traditional Irish music and I was wondering if there are any other musicians or sessions in Bangkok. That would make a big difference if I knew that I could continue playing in Thailand!

I would very much appreciate it if you could respond to my questions. Thanks for providing such a great website and resource for expats in Thailand.

A: Thanks for your questions and the good words. I'm not sure how satisfactory my answers will be, but I will do the best I can.

These probably aren't words of wisdom, but here goes. Be patient. More patient than you have ever been in your life. Mai Pen Rai is OK up to a point. Buddha's Middle Path is a better way to approach things. Make sure you do things (visa, drivers license, etc) correctly, even if it takes time and is frustrating. Always be polite to those in authority.

As for a marriage visa, I know essentially nothing. I was married here in Thailand, not the States. I am a permanent resident of Thailand and thus do not need a visa.
I don't know much about getting a work permit either, as my employer takes care of everything for the foreign teachers. Many universities do, but I have heard of some that don't. In any case, I feel fairly certain that having a marriage visa does not automatically get you a work permit. When I came to Thailand many years ago, the best option was to get a non-immigrant visa.

There are Irish pubs in Bangkok and other big cities. I don't know whether they have traditional Irish music or not.

BBC is available on cable and cable is available in most bigger cities.

Good luck with your adventure. I have never regretted my decision, even though there have been challenges, setbacks and frustrations.

YOUNG AND LOVING THAILAND

Q: First and foremost I would like to thank you for your informative website and book. I bought your book some months ago It was very helpful in giving me a short glimpse into life in the Land of Smiles.

I have just come to Bangkok about 2 days ago and feel very much how you seem to have when you first came here, (if I can be so presumptuous as to assume what you were thinking). Suffice it to say I am in love with Bangkok and the Thai people.

Even though I only speak VERY limited Thai and have only been here a short, I could easily see myself living here and being 1000 times more happy than back in the states. Only being 25, I believe I'll have to go back and save a bit before I can entertain the thought of moving here permanently but that just makes it all the sweeter once it happens non?

I'm sorry to ramble like this but because I'm so young living as an expat sometimes seems a bit daunting and so it is good just to know that it can be done. In any case I'll go back and finish my associates degree in Poetry/Philosophy and hopefully be back here in a year or so. In the meantime, Keep up the good work and thanks again!

A: Thanks for the good words. Being an Expat is not always easy but I have never regretted my decision to move to Thailand. I still feel a sense of awe at being here.

After you finish up your AA Degree you may want to think about getting a BA in English. You can then easily get a job in Thailand. You might want to get a TEFL certificate at some point as well.

Once again thanks. All the best.

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RETIRE IN THAILAND?

Q: I am really fascinated by the thought of eventually making Thailand my home.

My issue deals with expatriate status in Thailand....more specifically, the viability of such a venture. I am a retiree with about $2500/mo annuity and about $60,000 in cash to bring into the country. I know that Thailand, or any country, is not a panacea but I have grown so discontent with the US political landscape that I can no longer pretend to support many of it's basic tenets which somehow seem to have taken hold in this country.

A: Unless you have expensive vices or tastes, you can live here very comfortably on your retirement income. In addition, your $60,000 will set you up very nicely in a home or business.

Having said that, let me add that if you haven't been to Thailand before or you have only come on vacation, you should come prior to burning any bridges. It is best to learn as much as you can before investing in anything here. That means knowing the country, laws and people.

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What are the Formalities About Living and Working in Thailand?

Q: Thank you for your most informative and refreshingly "candid" site - I really enjoyed reading the information you listed!

I have been to Thailand numerous times and now have several good relationships with people in the tour and travel business. I have also been able to develop some real quality friendships over the last few years. Recently, I have spent a 2 month period in Chiang Mai as a "mini-test" to see, how I would enjoy living there - and it was a good success! I speak very BASIC Thai - just enough to communicate some on a daily basis - and what you say about even knowing a little of the language is of course VERY true.............

For some of the exact same reasons which you list in your commentaries, I am ready to leave the US soon and I am very interested in teaching the English language in Thailand and I understand, that there is a tremendous need for good English teachers there.

My question to you is the following: what steps do I take to be able to get a Thai work-permit as a teacher and how difficult would you say it is? I appreciate very much any information you can give me!

A: Thanks for the good words about my website.

If you get a job as a teacher at a reputable school or university, getting a work permit is only a formality which many places will do for you and all will help you with. Prior to moving here, you can save yourself a bit of trouble and expense if you get a non-immigrant visa rather than a tourist visa. If you don't, it will necessitate a trip out of the country to get one after you have a job offer. Other than that, just head over and find yourself a position.

You may want to check out my book about moving to and living in Thailand. You can order it from Amazon. The name of the book is "I Walked Away".

BEST TYPE TEACHER FOR THAILAND

Q: What type of teacher is best suited for a university in Thailand

A: Professional academics from abroad in Thailand are a minority. There are some and they are often married to Thais and have a family.

There are a lot of novices. They don't tend to stay at a university for long and have varying motives for being here. These include a sense of adventure, desire for a challenge, love of Thailand, craving for fun and nightlife and the search for romance or sex.

Thailand is a wonderful place and teaching here can be rewarding for some. It is vastly different than teaching at an American university. I know because I taught in the States for many years. What's different? Everything -- but especially the students, most of whom have come through an education system that emphasizes rote learning and a group mentality rather than individual achievement.

If you have never been to Thailand, visit before you move. If you've been here before on holiday and move here, leave your holiday mentality at home.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE THAI EDUCATION SYSTEM?

There has been a strong push from the government and various ministries to upgrade the quality of education, particularly in the areas of critical thinking and student centered learning. There is still a very long way to go.

Government schools in Thailand, whether in Bangkok or elsewhere, still tend to stress rote learning and group think. Asking questions is not encouraged. Disagreeing with the teacher is taboo.

International schools are better in some ways but in my opinion, they frequently create prigs. In addition, they are extremely expensive – usually hundreds of thousands of baht a year.

I send my son to a Catholic school. While it is far from perfect, it is about as close to a happy medium as I can come. The language of instruction is Thai but they teach English. I supplement that with informal lessons in English at home

SMILING FACE OF THAI RACISM

Is there racism in Thailand?

There are racists in every country. In general, Thai racism is not as ugly or violent as it is in other places. I sometimes think of it as "the smiling face of Thai racism."

A few examples of racism are double pricing (white and black people pay more), laws forbidding foreigners from owning property and favoritism of Thai teachers at schools and universities (no promotions, sabbaticals or study loans).

Black people are more often the victim of racism than white people. For example, it is nearly impossible for a black person to get a teaching job.

In addition, some Central Thai people (including Bangkok) are prone to look down on Isaan (Northeast) Thais with stereotypes of dirty, lazy and dishonest frequently being held.

Finally, Thai women accompanying Western men are often thought to be prostitutes.

Overall, I would say that racism in Thailand brings about injustices and frustrations, as it does in other places, but one need not fear violence anywhere in the country merely on the basis of race. However, racism is more widespread than it is in, say, the USA.

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AIDS IN THAILAND

Q: Is AIDS as serious a problem as they say?

A: That depends on who you mean by "they." Whenever I return to America, I get the sense that most people have an exaggerated view of how serious the problem is. I also get this feeling from the media.

I don't like the term 'epidemic' relative to AIDS. It paints a picture of people falling down on the streets and dying.

I don't know anyone in Thailand who has AIDS or who has died from AIDS. Highway deaths are a much worse problem here. I HAVE seen people dead on the street and thousands die every year. Over the last New Year period alone (four days), over 500 people died in road accidents.

So, is AIDS as serious a problem as "they" say? No. Is it a serious problem? Yes.

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MEDICAL INSURANCE

Q: I have a question. I read your critique of the health care system of Thailand on your web-site. Can a foreigner buy medical insurance in Thailand? Or, how can a foreigner obtain needed medical services and prescriptions in Thailand?

A: Yes, health insurance is available in Thailand and I THINK it is reasonably priced but am not sure because I am covered through my job.

Almost all medicine is available over the counter -- including drugs that require a prescription in the US. By almost all I mean heart, blood sugar/pressure, asthma, antibiotics, pain killers, ulcer, etc. etc -- you name it. Walk into a drugstore and buy what you want at a reasonable price, with no prescription and completely legally.

UPDATE (August 2005): If you have worked legally in Thailand and paid taxes, you have been covered by what is called "Social Welfare." That is state health insurance. If you stop working, you can maintain this health insurance for about 400 baht a month. It entitles you to health care at the state hospital in the province where you live.