Cheap Charlie in Thailand
Cheap Charlie?
We Dutch are a thrifty people. From an early age, we are taught to put money aside for worse times. We also save frantically for our old age. Wasting money or displaying our wealth ostentatiously is not a good idea according to Calvin's standards and values.
Jay Dee
How different is it with the ภาษาไทย. Thais find it quite normal to show and share your wealth. Someone with a good heart, 'jai dee', shows his 'name-jai' which stands for being generous. Such a person gives money away to others who are less fortunate.
Thai life by the day, planning and saving is often not there. Money is a means to have more 'Sanuk'. So money has to roll. And if you don't have any money, why don't you borrow it somewhere? This much to the chagrin and despair of farang, who have to teach the ladies how to handle money.
Money press
The Thai believes that every farang has a printing press at home with which he can print euro banknotes himself. Have you run out of money? Ask for a farang because he has enough. Does payment have to be made? Look at the farang because it will print money again.
A farang who wants to put the brakes on the spending pattern of his Thai wife or girlfriend is quickly accused of being stingy. The discussion becomes even more complicated when the financial support of the family is discussed. In addition, Thai women find it normal that you show love and affection by throwing money and presents.
Tesco lotus
When all this was still new to me and I proudly said that I would go to Isaan to meet my girlfriend's family. Did I hear from other farang: “Are you going to Isaan? Oh, then put on your Sinterklaas suit!”.
Now I couldn't imagine that much until I took my, perhaps future, in-laws to Tesco Lotus. It also seemed that I saw something of pity in the eyes of the other Thai people who were walking around there.
The extra large shopping carts there, are they specially made for when farang come shopping?
Cheap Charlie
The family puts things in the shopping cart and the farang is allowed to pay. If you say something about it, you'll soon be a 'Cheap Charlie' or a 'farang kee nok'. Both stands for stingy, the second is certainly not meant nicely.
It is therefore important to quickly set boundaries and make good agreements with your sweetheart and her family, unless of course you really have a money press.