The downside of emigrating to Thailand
For the past few years I have been visiting Thailand talked to many expats and retirees. Both the advantages and disadvantages of emigration were discussed.
Usually the familiar list comes along such as cultural differences, finances, relationship problems, housing, visa problems, etc. Some conversations were very candid and provided insight into the problems that living in Thailand such as alcoholism, boredom, loneliness and homesickness. This article is about the disadvantages of emigrating to Thailand.
Dutch people abroad: dead 20 years earlier
Radio Netherlands Worldwide previously wrote an article that caused quite a stir. The headline stated that Dutch people abroad die 20 years earlier. A study showed that the chance that the Dutch die in Southeast Asia is nine times greater than in their own country. The main causes of death abroad are cardiovascular diseases and accidents. The average age at which a Dutch person dies outside the country's borders is 56,1 years, in the Netherlands it is 76,4 years. (source: the Havenziekenhuis in Rotterdam).
This statement was somewhat nuanced in a later article by Radio Netherlands Worldwide. The registration of the causes of death turned out to be insufficient.
In a second article on this subject, the high mortality rate was associated with, among other things, suicide. It was surprising, for example, that suicide abroad was the cause of death in 5 percent of deaths (in the Netherlands, this is between 1 and 1,5%).
Alcoholism
Although to my knowledge there are no research figures available on this problem among emigrants, you could draw some tentative conclusions based on your own observation and conversations. You could say that there is heavy drinking in Thailand. Some farang open the first can of beer at 10.00:XNUMX am and that is certainly not the last. The main reason for this is usually boredom.
Because the chance of being caught is small and the fines are low, quite a few farang get into the car with a lot of alcohol behind the teeth. This significantly increases the risk of a (fatal) accident.
Boredom
The most common complaint among farang in Thailand is boredom. Now some will categorically deny this because the family in the home country also reads along and people mainly want to uphold the image of paradise Thailand. However, there is a flip side to this coin.
Homesickness
Another problem is homesickness. “I don't miss the Netherlands, no!”. When someone emphasizes it like that, there is usually something going on. Often the opposite is the case. Homesickness is a normal emotion associated with such a big step. In the beginning you see everything through rose-colored glasses, but after a while the harsh reality comes. You miss the familiarity of your old life and your social contacts. Then loneliness and boredom can start playing tricks on you.
Loneliness
Loneliness is a problem that should not be underestimated. You can have a whole Thai family in your house and still feel lonely. Saskia Zimmermann (psychologist and emigration consultant) writes the following about this: “You may have made many acquaintances and even a few friends after your emigration, and still feel deep in your heart that you still lack the real connection. You can live in a beautiful house and go on spectacular trips every weekend, so to speak, and still feel bad that there is no one to really pour your heart out to. Your wife can be a treasure, but she can't replace your best friend, the volleyball club you used to belong to, or the neighbor with whom you could chat about soccer for a while.
Every person needs connection with others. Not all to the same degree, that's for sure. But without enough connection with others, we can become lonely. It is important to be part of a community, in the figurative sense of the word. These aspects can contribute significantly to the feeling of being at home.
Loneliness is experiencing an emptiness in your life. The contacts with other people do not have the frequency or the depth that you would like. And that hurts. That gives a sense of loss. Loneliness after emigration also has a lot to do with the lack of connection with the world around you. You feel cut off from the world. You miss your loved ones from the Netherlands. You also lack familiarity with things around you.
Sometimes it is only when we emigrate that we discover how connected we were with our surroundings and how that familiarity gave us something to hold on to and security. And it is actually very logical that what you have built up in the Netherlands over all these years cannot simply be replaced.”
Taboo
It is not easy to talk about the problems that emigrants encounter. For many it is a taboo to admit that an emigration does not quite live up to expectations. If you intend to take such a step, bear in mind that you may encounter the problems mentioned. Don't make it look better than it is, stay realistic and don't immediately burn all ships behind you so that you can still go back.
Sources:
- Side effects of emigration: loneliness and boredom
- Dutch people abroad die 20 years earlier
- Dutch people abroad die earlier (2)
I don't have any statistics, but it seems highly unlikely that emigrated Dutch people die 20 years earlier than if they had stayed in their own country. If I look around the Dutch Association in Hua Hin, would these people in the Netherlands be very old? Most Dutch people who emigrate are already over 60.
It becomes a different story when you involve the holidaymakers. For example, Thailand is the most deadly holiday destination for the British. Drink. no helmet and then tear up on a big motorcycle. Also, vacationers often participate in dangerous excursions in the jungle, with quad bikes, jet skis and rock climbing. Because they don't know the rules, they get into fights more often.
These figures have already been mentioned once before and I think Hans reacted then too. In my opinion, completely justified. No criticism of Peter, because he only quotes figures from an official report, but it seems very stiff to me that the average age of death is 56 years. I understand that the percentage of suicides and accidents is higher abroad, but that number cannot be so large that it creates a gaping hole of 20 years difference, it seems to me. Hans mentions the association in Hua Hin. I understand that the association in Bangkok is also rather gray. Could it be that people who emigrate at a later age have not been counted?
If it is true, then I could come up with two reasons for this:
1. Many people may return to the Netherlands at an advanced age, so that the figures do not show that they survived the emigration adventure.
2. I think many people already go abroad with poor health. Someone who is physically or mentally ailing often seeks refuge abroad in a country where the weather is warm and life is less busy. When I visited a friend on Koh Samui, he explained to me what was 'going on' with the other farang living around him. Almost all of them had something.
Whether or not the figures are true, that the lifestyle of many farang does them more harm than good, is certain. For many, Thailand destroys more than you love.
No need to go into that 20-year difference so seriously, since the article already mentions the unreliability of the research data. It was a very unbelievable result of research.
Nor for many.
When I was preparing for my emigration to Thailand I read somewhere that if you go to Thailand for a longer period of time, you feel 10 years younger. If you actually live there, it will even be 20 years younger. I agree, that's how I feel as a 66-year-old and during certain activities(!) I sometimes think, hey dude, you're not the youngest anymore.
I'm not (yet) bored or lonely, but when I hear my most English friends drinking together here, I sometimes think of a nice pub with friends in the Netherlands.
I think what Peter's story says about boredom and loneliness is correct. You have to overcome many unknown aspects and objections, especially if you have never been outside Europe. Life is really different here.
I think it's also important to have a hobby. There are plenty of options, think of sports, golf, darts, badminton, tennis, fitness or, for my part, saving amulets or stamps. My hobby here is pool billiards, playing and organizing tournaments. Writing for thailandblog.nl was added later. Both hobbies are very satisfying and keep me off the streets.
I think Peter's observations are based on Pattaya, where I think things are a bit worse than the rest of Thailand. Still, I think it generally applies to Thailand as a whole. The problem is that there is a huge difference between vacation and emigration. Many people (read: single men) decide to move to Thailand because it seems like paradise. Beautiful weather, beautiful beaches, beautiful girls. Not a bad combination and many would like to spend the second part of their lives here. However, everything gets boring, even going to the pub every night and being surrounded by willing ladies. But if you have nothing else to do, you will find yourself at the bar almost every evening. This often leads to financial problems, because when you went to Thailand, you hadn't budgeted to really drink every night. However, there is no way back, because you are already old and finding a job in the Netherlands will no longer be possible, if you could settle there at all. Physically and mentally you deteriorate and languish in solitude. Incidentally, the scenario does not only apply to pensioners. I've seen young people around me become addicted to cocaine and gambling. For one reason or another, many in Thailand lose the thread of their lives.
I myself can honestly say that after 4 years I still enjoy it very much and never think of returning. It is important that I have a full time job. As a result, I have more to do than hanging out in the pub and when it's the weekend, I can really enjoy the free time. I'm already looking forward to the upcoming long weekend. I am also lucky that sports is a great passion and that there is a very nice expat football competition in Bangkok. As a result, I met a lot of nice people within a month. A completely different type of people than the figures you often encounter while going out. I have kept few lasting social contacts from my many catering visits.
I hardly ever miss the Netherlands. Very occasionally I miss playing tennis on clay courts (and the associated social aspect) and touring on the motorcycle. I maintain contact with family and friends via skype and email. Still, I go back to the Netherlands once every 2 years and plan to continue to do so. Not because I like to be in the Netherlands for two or three weeks (I would like to use my vacation days to travel through some other countries), but because I want to maintain the relationship with my friends in the Netherlands. Maybe one day I will go back to the Netherlands and cherish the social contacts I had/have there. The visits to the Netherlands do confirm the correctness of my choice. My friends are all in the house-tree-animal phase and their lives seem a bit too boring to me. Nice to catch up and drink a beer, but I like to get on the plane back home (=Bangkok). Never a dull moment in Bangkok. On the other hand, I have to say that I sometimes miss a somewhat deeper friendship here. In the Netherlands I have many friends with whom I can really read and write. Here I also have quite a few social contacts, but it is still more superficial. That's the only drawback for me. You just have to bump into someone with whom you are exactly on the same wavelength.
If there are people who read this blog and are thinking about emigrating to Thailand, I would like to stress to them that they will have to find something here that will keep them busy. You must have a reason to get out of bed in the morning, such as work or hobby. Wherever you live, balance is important. It also helps if you have a flexible personality and self-discipline. Pretending to be on vacation permanently will also get boring. Really 😉
Good story Maarten, but why on earth is it a bit worse in Pattaya now?
I haven't been there very often, which is why my statement was accompanied by the words 'I think'. Pattaya has a reputation for being home to a relatively large number of downcast foreigners. That's what I meant, realizing that this certainly doesn't apply to every foreigner in Pattaya. I myself know people who live in or near Sin City (I didn't make up that nickname) and who live a pleasant social life, blazing with health, ... excuse me, lead 😉
Peter, maybe start a blog here for the Thai: http://www.hollandblog.co.th. Can we also find out more about what the Thai ladies think of us, although I don't know if I dare to look in that mirror 🙂
Hello Jan. Finding a job is not easy. I think you will have to arrange that here on the spot. I came to Thailand on spec to see how I would like it. After half a year I sent some open applications to companies in the industry in which I already had 9 years of experience. I am now working on my second job. I also know others who have lost a job and now have a job here that earns enough to live comfortably and also to put something aside for later. It is important to have certain specialist experience or qualities. In addition, perseverance and luck play a major role. If you have been here for a while and have built up contacts, the chance that you will find a job through your network increases. I haven't found any good job websites for farang yet. On the Thai sites it is often not mentioned that only Thai are eligible, even though that is the case. Then you are applying for… uh, do you have a short surname? 🙂 To get an impression of the kind of jobs available to foreigners, I advise you to look at the expat forum of thaivisa.com. You will see that there is quite a bit of demand in IT/internet and sales. You could start teaching and go from there. Good luck.
I recognize a lot in Maarten's story. Very realistic. Work here is also just work. And no shorts above 30 degrees or taking a day off because of the nice weather 😉 And have a lot of patience working with Thais - you have to chew everything and you can hardly delegate real responsibility.
The weekends and holidays are all worth it. Sports, relaxation, good food… that's what we do it all for in the end. I'm also not averse to a beer and a party, but if I go out twice a month, it's a lot. The notorious bargoers I meet don't seem very happy, by the way.
Here I am again :). The figures from the said study intrigued me. As a researcher myself, I have developed a good nose for nonsense studies, and unfortunately there are too many of them. Moreover, I always don't feel like working between Christmas and New Year (I'm sure I'm not the only one) and I decided to google a bit at work to find out more about the numbers. I also found the conclusions that Peter presented on the site of the Havenziekenhuis. So no blame towards Peter. You should be able to assume that such a hospital is based on thorough research.
I think criticism towards the researcher is in order. Arina Groenheide has scraped together her figures by, in the absence of better data, asking 1800 GPs for information about patients who died abroad. That's how she gets her grades. She makes no distinction between people who die while traveling or people who have emigrated. She doesn't seem to realize that many people who emigrate no longer have contact with their Dutch GP. In addition, it is known that people die relatively often on holiday, due to stress and a higher risk of accidents during typical holiday activities. She should therefore make a distinction between holidaymakers and people living abroad. I don't think you should lump those two groups together in such a study.
Groenheide is quoted on an English-language website: “Family doctors do not actually register the deaths of patients separately who die abroad. But as it is out of the ordinary for a patient to die abroad, they were able to answer our questions from their experience. The target group for our survey includes Dutch travellers, pensioners, people who spend the winters in warm countries and expats who leave the country for a couple of years and stay in contact with their doctors.” Not really a reliable record, in my opinion.
The researcher also does not shy away from some unfounded blows in the air: “One possible reason why more Dutch men than women could be abroad because they are less careful.” Is this a reference to the Dutch man in Thailand? 🙂
And I am also not impressed by the following conclusion: “According to the research, the risk of dying in Belgium is lowest (0.028 fatalities per 100,000) and highest in Kenya (12.18 per 100,000).” In a few years' time, when the aging population in the Netherlands is at its peak and the elderly are falling over in droves, she will probably start shouting that it is dangerous to live in the Netherlands. The logical advice will then be to emigrate.
I therefore do not agree with her final conclusion: “The research means we can adjust the advice we give people for certain regions and countries. It makes it possible for us to better assess the risks to travelers and expats abroad, which is good.” To be able to draw useful conclusions, actual death rates abroad will have to be registered more reliably and the difference in the profile of holidaymakers, expats and those staying at home in terms of age and health must be taken into account.
In short: Dutch people in Thailand, don't be scared. Don't fear your 56th birthday and seize the day. Wishing you a healthy 2012 🙂
The second article on this subject already shows that the figures from the harbor hospital are inaccurate. There is no proper registration. It was not possible to distinguish the groups such as tourists, expats, etc.
Still, it's a good discussion piece.
Finally we have the leak over. This concerns all Dutch people who die abroad and have a Dutch GP. That's quite a big difference.
This also applies to our Thai women who come to live here in the Netherlands. When I read Kuhn Peter's story, I also see all the problems that the Thai have when they come to live here in the Netherlands.
Making friends who don't really click with afterwards, because they only became friends because of their origin. Not having someone to cry to. Feeling very lonely sometimes despite a caring husband and in-laws etc.
If you have kids together, it's a whole different story. My wife is exclusively focused on our son, and the fact that she can also have a financially normal existence with safety and security, and old age provision in the Netherlands. Things that are missing for her in Thailand.
I always say happiness you have to make yourself and if you succeed it's in yourself. This applies everywhere and for everyone.
It is a bit strange that especially as suggested here in Pattaya the mortality rate is so high, while on the other hand people complain that you see so many old men with young women in Pattaya. Those men, statistically, should have been dead by now, but they are alive and kicking because Thai women are very afraid of zombies.
But a little more serious. Loneliness with associated drinking and suicide are factors that play a role, as well as road safety and perhaps medical care, which is not equally good everywhere in Thailand. That this leads to a difference of 20 years is unlikely, because most men die around their 80th birthday and only go to Thailand to live after their 60th birthday. They don't all die right away. Married men in the Netherlands probably live longer, but they are punished twice, because they often have a partner they are tired of and also have to look at it for a longer time.
Do you realize that 1 or 2 25-year-old Dutch tourists who die in fatal accidents because they have never been on a motorcycle has been included in this statistic?
That brings down the average quite a bit.
Just like the "average age in the Netherlands" : that includes all those people who died at the age of 40 due to accident, bad luck with illness. Once you are 60, the world is open to you again until you are 85.
A nice discussion about emigrating to and living in Thailand.
I think that before you think about emigrating to Thailand, you should also realize that you have to learn the language and get to know the customs.
I also see too many Dutch couples in TV documentaries who emigrate ill-prepared and think that they will manage with “a bed and breakfast hotel”. As if the average tourist is waiting for them…
A very good reaction on 27 December from reader Erik: you have to make your own luck.
Totally agree. Everywhere in this world you will have to “fight” for your happiness and well-being. Also become a member of local associations if there are any or organize something yourself.
I think Thailand is a beautiful country and often go there for holidays - but emigrating to - that's a completely different story.
I wish all Dutch people in Thailand a happy new year and a happy 2012.
Fortunately, I don't have to boast to my family that it's so great here. The chance that you will be happy here is reserved for few of us.
When I came here for the first time, I really thought I had found paradise. Now years later I know better. If I could ever do it over again, I would really choose another country to live. (now I wouldn't immediately know which country that would be, maybe Belgium or something)
Even though I see Thailand through Thai eyes, I can't agree with the general mentality here, the disrespectful behavior, stingy or greedy. The lying around us and especially the denial of the truth, after all it is always someone else who did it. You can never hold a Thai responsible for their actions. Respect, you will never receive real respect, you will always remain a third-class citizen.
I think it can be different, happy new year.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I read “maybe Belgium or something”…
I am Belgian myself and have seen it here.
I would even dare to say that in many areas things are worse here than in the Netherlands.
And you don't have to come here for the warm weather, I think that's clear.
In general, you can say that the old adage “to choose is always to lose a little” always applies to some extent, wherever in the world.
I do indeed think that exhaust fumes and pollution in general are THE biggest health problem in the major Thai cities, especially Bangkok.
And just look at the many thousands of people, especially Thai people who eat every day a few meters away from the steamy trucks and (especially) hopelessly outdated buses. The black smoke is blown directly into your face.
Even when you go into traffic on the motorcycle you have it in no time.
It is a pity that there is no such thing as an annual technical vehicle inspection in Thailand. Or maybe it exists… in theory (like so many in Thailand), but is not put into practice.
Emigrating means adapting and also finding a meaningful activity in your new country. I've lived in Thailand for almost 20 years, and I really haven't regretted it for a day. More than in other countries (I have also lived in the US and France), it is more important that you have a Dutch, or at least Western, circle of friends, because that is a 'home front' that you continue to need.
My 'meaningful activity' is mainly conducting charity projects in all parts of Thailand (sometimes beyond) – from fundraising to implementation. As a result, I also know very capable & extremely amiable Thais who are always ready to help, also for personal help, because connections are sometimes necessary. However, due to the many small & large cultural differences, Thais will rarely, if ever, become real soul mates.
It strikes me that many texts contain stereotypical and fairly exaggerated information. The best characterization/advice is that of emigration consultant Saskia Zimmermann. She speaks of the need to actively 'be part of a community', and to me that means a circle of friends as well as a meaningful and creative pursuit.
She does not mention another important condition for success in your new home country: recognizing cultural differences and accepting them as well as possible. Wherever you are in the world, some cultural differences really never get used to. Incidentally, I am surprised that many foreigners – even though they have lived in Thailand for many years – still understand very little about Thai/Oriental culture. For that reason alone, they will never feel 'at home' here.
And let us not forget the short summary that our Buddhist John Wittenberg gives about what Buddhism means, namely: life is suffering and suffering comes from desires, so we must restrain our desires. And of course that also applies to our stay in Thailand.
And besides, no one lives in a constant state of happiness. Usually it's happy moments that you experience and you can already be happy with a 'peaceful mind'. And 'don't think too much' ; many expats are a bit older and have already lived a whole life with mostly good, but also bad memories in the business and/or relational field.
So I would say, 'count your blessings', put your dissatisfaction about your stay in perspective to something temporary, knowing that it is 'always something' and that 'the neighbour's grass is always greener'.
I have been living in Thailand for 20 years, but I return to Belgium twice a year as a Dutch Belgian and I enjoy being able to communicate with everyone in my own language and seeing old friends again, enjoying the Flemish cuisine. , the cinema offer and much more.
But after 6 weeks I appreciate the pleasant things of life in Thailand all the more and I am happy to get on the plane again to Bangkok, that unique metropolis, and then to Chiangmai.
No, I'm never leaving here and I've already seen a lot of the world!
Yes, therefore perfect for me 5 or so months in Thailand, the rest just in the Netherlands. Fortunately, I have a partner who also likes to be in the Netherlands cold, hot or whatever. Permanently in Thailand, no thanks.
Can especially agree with the latter (don't burn all ships) before you take the step.
I did, and I still regret it daily.
Fortunately, next spring my apartment is ready.
for many this is an opinion piece, but for me it is reality: Asia is fun to experience and to be back there in a year's time. The best of 2 worlds is the variety 🙂
Immigrating to Thailand was the biggest mistake of my life.
I emigrated to the Philippines first,
that was an error.
Then to the Netherlands, Amsterdam where I lived for 26 years
have enjoyed
and with 58 to Thailand where I find my soulmate – ( woman )
have found and where I plan to be now for the rest
to stay of my life.
Do I miss Austria and Vienna?
Not really .
Since I don't drink alcohol, this is not a problem either.
Got here 15 km further on an Austrian
with a restaurant where I use my language (not German but Austrian)
can talk along with a tasty 'Wiener Schnitzel'
which I couldn't do all those years in Amsterdam due to lack
to Austrian acquaintances.
Fortunately I have enough to do in the garden here.
Everyone is different and everyone has their own
idea of living here. It works for one
not for the other.
It works really well here for me!
Except that an expat would die 20 years earlier than in his home country, of which Khun Peter additionally writes that these numbers are not very reliable, I think he has correctly described the rest of the disadvantages. There will certainly be exceptions, very much depending on where they live in Thailand, who don't feel bored or lonely, or at least act that way in front of others.
However, someone who lives in the countryside and has little contact with his own culture, even if he speaks Thai well, will soon notice that he will soon reach his limits in terms of Interests.
Either the person is born alone, who has no further need for social contact, where an interesting discussion can also go a little further in depth.
For many who are not bored, a Dutch-speaking TV channel, and the hours of use of the internet, is the zero plus Ultra.
Mostly activities, which you can also enjoy in your home country, supplemented with other benefits, while retaining all your rights, which are at most obligations in Thailand.
Nice all these pieces, each with its own experience, I have been working in Thailand for 30 years as an expat in and around Thailand with Thai staff and now as a pensioner I have been here permanently for 16 years and I have never been bored for 1 second. Find a nice woman and make a nice house where you can do your hobbies occasionally go to the pub to grab a pint and chat then you live in paradise and nostalgia for the Netherlands is hard to find.
All retirees and expats have a pleasant stay here in beautiful Thailand, Btw I am 73 years young.
I think the average age of an expat will be around 65…. and the average age at which the foreigners die is 56! Are there really a lot of zombies walking through Thailand… maybe that's the alcohol that kills the bacteria in the body. Just like on strong water!
However, I can imagine that many people here die earlier than they would in the Netherlands. If you're already drinking beer at ten o'clock in the morning and don't do anything about your beer belly.
Fortunately, all my acquaintances are much older, so they already have the 56 years behind them. Many I know are fitter at 70 than some I know back home who are nearly 20 years younger…
Recognizable, but you can do a lot of things yourself. For example, learn Thai, go to a fitness club where more farangs come, or if there is a farang association, go there, etc. Hanging out in the pub with other farangs is not such a good idea. The Dutch tax system is also a disadvantage. Since 2015, someone who simply has to pay tax in the Netherlands is no longer entitled to any deduction. No elderly person's deduction, no general tax credit and no other deductions are allowed, such as alimony. So, just like a Dutch person living in the Netherlands, you can pay the taxes in full, but all the benefits they do have have been canceled for Dutch people outside the EU.
Many Europeans come to Thailand after their career in the Netherlands is over. They live here for the climate. I don't think it applies to me. I have done most of my work outside the Netherlands. .. I left the Netherlands when I was 20, and I especially liked Asia.
That's why I'm here. Live in Jomtiem, love the sea Mar this again. Have a good Thai partner.
You just have to limit yourself with alcohol consumption. No, normally a beer before dinner and a whiskey before going to bed. This is easy to keep up. Think I wouldn't be happy in the Netherlands..
This is an interesting topic, because emigrating to Thailand has many advantages, but also disadvantages.
You have to take into account both.
Look before you leap is an absolute must when you decide to emigrate to Thailand.
Are you able to turn the knob when it comes to cultural differences?
Are you willing to learn Thai?
Do you have the necessary social skills to make cash with the locals?
In any case, it is advisable to start with a partial emigration. By this I mean that you start with a few months in Thailand without burning the ships in the Netherlands behind you.
You can do this a number of times before making a final decision.
I have lived in Thailand for many years, speak the language reasonably well and do not miss the Netherlands at all.
I recently visited the Netherlands and bless the day that I made the decision to emigrate to Thailand.
The excellent medical facilities help keep me in great shape, although I am approaching 80. The quality of life in Thailand also plays a major role.
It should be noted that I hardly drink at all.
Two things that have been mentioned.
Boredom: What would people have done in the Netherlands that apparently cannot be done here?
Loneliness: This is also a problem in the Netherlands, how can one help lonely elderly people?!
So what's the difference here? You will have to hang the party garlands in your life yourself!
a good story with important tips and directions for those planning to emigrate to Thailand. I myself am also thinking about either going forever or staying in Thailand for an annual period of 5 or 7 months, and yet I feel more and more for the latter.
Very wise Gert. Don't forget: you are Dutch (Flemish?) in heart and soul.
You have a lot of good and nice things in Thailand and a lot of good and nice things with us. Enjoy both.
You will only notice the negative things in Thailand 'when the smoke around your head has cleared' and then it's nice to be able to say: we'll put it aside for six months.
Change of food makes food…never blow all the bridges.
I think that all statements are generalized too much. I am almost 67 and have only been in the Netherlands for a few years where my GP had promised to help me survive until I returned to Thailand. I had been in Thailand from 1989 to 2011. I went to Thailand at the time for the country and the people. I do not deal with Dutch people or other foreigners if it is not necessary. How can one better understand a foreign (Thai) culture than living with Thai people on a daily basis? I dare to say that it is impossible if you spend a lot of time every day with Dutch or Belgian compatriots. I drove from Nakhon Ratchashima to Buengkan this week and drive a lot. I feel at home on the Thai roads. The few years that I had to stay in the Netherlands because of a lonely old mother, I languished from homesickness and literally became deathly ill. I have completely revived here and feel 20 years younger again. But I'm not negative so there's a big chance that my story won't be posted. Of course I feel quite superior to many Thai people. I don't have the right to do that and often have to hold back so as not to criticize. If one looks at the Thai with more understanding and acceptance, one can live very pleasantly with it. Just change your glasses.
To arrive at an average life expectancy of 56 years, a very large number of young people must die.
Even if you count the holidaymakers, that won't work, since a very large part of the people living in Thailand are already older than that when they start emigrating.
Maybe someone swapped 5 and 6?
But even then it still seems too young to me.
The problem of loneliness is probably caused in large part by a lack of knowledge of Thai.
How can you make friends if you can't talk to them?
And yes, I occasionally see them at immigration.
My dear wife does the talking and the husband sits there and every now and then gets a piece of paper on which he can put his signature.
Completely helpless without his wife.
Then you will indeed be lonely.
In the Netherlands we all talk about integration, everyone who is going to stay in the Netherlands must adapt, including norms and values, culture and habits and…. the language clothes!
In the Netherlands it is written that loneliness among the elderly is or is becoming the biggest problem. The chance that you would become lonely in the Netherlands is greater than in Thailand if you integrate in Thailand.
In 2011 I went to the Netherlands for a few years because my mother could no longer make the long flight to Thailand. She told me to be very lonely and that it is better to be very ill (then you can go to a doctor), than to be lonely because they don't have any pills for that.
Of course you have to think carefully if you emigrate from the Netherlands to Thailand. You also have to do that if you – as I did in the past – move from the center of the country to a small town in Friesland (Fryslan for intimates). There they also speak a language other than Dutch and the rural youth really knew what drinking was, my teenage children did not. Then from such a small town with 3500 inhabitants to Bangkok with an estimated 15 million inhabitants.
The difference between expats who are happy and not happy in Thailand is their own attitude, their own motivation and the drive to make something of your life every day. Everyone does this in their own way, with their own qualities and talents and with people who are dear to them now. I do different work than I did in the Netherlands, I undertake different activities than I did in the Netherlands; i now have adult children who can take care of themselves. I have other plans with my further life than I would have in the Netherlands. I don't live in the past, I live in the now with my face to the future. And I am very happy.
A large part of the advantages and disadvantages of emigrating (to Thailand) has been mentioned above. However, I am missing one, for me, important topic:
What to do if you end up in the “confused persons” category? For example, become demented?
You can have such a good partner, but she cannot provide the specific care that is/will be needed in such a situation.
In the Netherlands, at least, there is a safety net for something like this, which may not be ideal, but it exists.
How can you ensure that, should it happen to you, you will end up in this care circuit again in some way?
Who knows may say.
When I become demented , I do not know it myself .
Then I don't care either. Mai pen rai!
But with my pension I can pay someone for this,
(you can still arrange that in time with lawyer or family)
who takes care of me for 24 hours , something you can not afford in the Netherlands .
Been living here for almost 9 years now, and I really wouldn't know what the downside would be of emigrating to Thailand.
And the Netherlands? Here, too, the elderly cycle through various cityscapes to fill the day. In Thailand you don't have to be lonely like in the Netherlands. Here in the Netherlands I only see my children once every few weeks. In Thailand people often stay with their in-laws against will and thanks. Could be cozy. But what gives the impression of loneliness more than the farang sitting at a packed restaurant table with his in-laws, everyone happy, only he is visibly bored because he doesn't speak the language?
Nothing is more lonely than being in a company and not speaking the language well enough.
Then it is even better to be alone.
and that farang with a large Thai party at a restaurant table and he cannot follow the conversations, he is waiting to be presented with the bill and is very worried while the Thai can fully enjoy because they know that the farang will because he is completely dependent on them.
Well then that farang is doing something wrong… If you are going to live somewhere you can at least try to learn the basics of the language or at least try to have a nice evening with some English and hands and feet. Being dependent on someone else is no fun. A little partner tries to make his/her other half independent enough to manage a bit in the new home country, otherwise it won't get any better for the immigrant. If your partner doesn't help you here, an alarm light should go on anyway. If you get the bill time and time again, the alarm should go off. Otherwise you will help yourself into the abyss prematurely, I think.
Of course, everyone's attitude to life is different, but there have been several studies into places in the world where people live much older than average.
A newspaper article discussing this includes: http://www.trouw.nl/home/hoe-japanners-gezond-en-fit-100-worden~a4a4cdf7/. I myself think, after having lived in several places in the world, that it is especially wise to first stay in Thailand for a longer period of time before you burn your ships behind you. For those who regret I hope they can return to Belgium or the Netherlands. Anyway good luck.
I'm just glad I don't speak the Thai language, so I don't hear all that nonsense that is being vomited around me. I love that now that I don't have any jammers for once.
I am interested in history and then you see that Thailand is a feudal country in the 21st century.
In the early years that I lived in Thialand, I regularly went to NL to see family and friends again. But then I rarely see them because they are all busy, if I manage to make five appointments in a month then I am already a great buyer. Now I haven't been to NL for the last 2,5 years and the question is whether or not (more) will come to NL. I tend more and more not to go to NL anymore. The idea of being in NL again for a while already suffocates me. Firearms are prohibited in Thailand without a permit and yet I am surprised that quite a few Thai neighbors own a firearm without a permit. to have for. My Thai wife constantly warned me to be especially careful, because the combination of a Thai who by definition has long toes with a firearm is not really ideal to have a difference of opinion with.
So the chance that I will die here earlier due to an “accident” is very real.
I keep myself busy with investing and follow Dutch and especially European politics and I am also often a driver for my Thai wife, who ensures that I come out almost every day in addition to the care of the 4 admitted stray dogs. Many Thai women are interested in me and my wife knows that I am sensitive to that, so she knows how to pop that balloon by asking those women how old they think I am. I always come out very cheap ranging from 45 – 55 years old and then she casually tells me that I am 68. Not that that's an argument for them, but I automatically withdraw. I have to do something about that ;-))
It strikes me that it is in any case suggested that when you return to NL permanently, it is seen as a regret on your aunt, which is of course utter nonsense.
My motto is therefore never regret your choices, not even for Thailand, because in every period of your life you make choices that are or seem favorable to you. Be flexible and consider yourself a citizen of the world Don't depend too much on your needs that only limit you in your development and if you think you've grown and can't transfer your knowledge and experience to anyone, isn't it time to step out of this world? ???