Frustrations in daily life in Thailand
I need to tell my story. Our granddaughter attends a private school in Bangsare (Julateep). The former manager has been removed for filling his pockets and neglecting the school apart from banging some pretty ladies.
A new manager arrived from Bangkok. The man has already earned his spurs. After his retirement he took on a new challenge. The school was renovated. There was a swimming pool. Everything was renovated. In a room 30 computers, etc.
He called a meeting for the children's parents. It was also about safety when leaving school. There had already been several accidents involving children crossing the narrow street without looking. Made rules for picking up the kids. Less than 20 percent of parents/carers attended the meeting.
That went well for a week. The staff escorted the children to the exit.
Today the frustration of not even a real Grandpa (it's not my blood). No more guidance from the staff and one (stupid Thai) who parked his car right in front of the entrance. Been there for at least 20 minutes and engines flew behind the car at great speed. That nothing happened was a miracle. Yes, I scolded him. My wife told me I shouldn't have. And the Thais, who laughed. Stupid as always.
Come back to a story about myself. There is no way back for this boy. The blood pressure is now back to normal after a few hours.
And tomorrow life will go on as usual.
Cor van Kampen
Frustrations… indeed and not just a little bit. In the meantime, I suggest that in Pattaya the farang die because they fall off the balcony, in Phuket because they slide out in the bathroom and in the rest of the country out of sheer frustration. It is and remains a people with different customs and habits, but, with our Western background, we would get gray hair (if we didn't already have it). We, my Thai other half and I moved to Hua Hin from Khon Kean. On the one hand because of the too high temperatures, but mainly to live further away from her family. We rent a house in a village, recent house with all the trimmings for a very reasonable price. One problem: the 3 toilets do not flush properly, so it must be the septic tank. The landlord called in; had the pit emptied and everything back in order… for 9 days, same problem again. Going to investigate the matter myself and the connecting pipe between the first and second well is apparently clogged. Back in the landlord, let the firm come back and the matter solved, I thought. 10 days later the same problems again, the landlord is there and he tells me casually: we have lived here before and had the same problem ... according to him it can be solved by pumping the well empty every week (there is indeed a submersible pump) directly into the sewer . And in the meantime he just keeps smiling. My wife says: no problem, I can do that, but I refuse: since we pay with good money, it must also be in order. I wonder if he will keep smiling at the beginning of July if I don't pay the rent until it's all right.
Rather him frustrated than me.
Everything else is fine in Hua Hin, we finally get some much needed rain.
Dear Cor, would it not have been more convenient in this case to ask the man in question
park the car elsewhere? I don't think the man understood your anger
there will have been no sign and no line on the sidewalk, so you park
as close to your goal as possible. That's not stupid, that's thoughtless.
And in education and during driving lessons (in a parking lot with pawns).
our Thai fellow human beings have not been made aware of their own responsibility or causes
consequence and that is why you cannot even blame them for their behavior in traffic.
I have learned that anger in Thailand will not get you anywhere.
Asking, explaining, discussing and showing respect create miracles.
You have to take the time for that, but if you have been waiting for 20 minutes, that time was there, I understand. The fact that the Thais were laughing does not mean that they found the event "fun or laughable", it must have been more of a laugh than a kind of
settlement in fate, “it is as it is” , “mai pen rai ” . As for the schools….
I can't really name a school in the provinces of Rayong and Chonburi where I attended
Dutch person would like to send my child there.
Superb attachment (I mean the link).
I've experienced it that way several times, but I can't describe it that way.
Life as it is….Thailand.
But on the other hand, if you can learn to live with it, wonderful people.
And if you ever do something stupid yourself........ (or don't we westerners do that?)
Dear Hans, nice to hear that you have found a good school. I think
it is a catholic school? My grandchildren have been in Thailand for a few years
went to school, to various schools and we were not happy about that. When they returned to the Netherlands, they turned out to have a huge backlog in numeracy and –
understandable calculation. They attended bi-lingual schools. As Cor also writes, interest
the parents were hardly there when measures were needed or something else had to be organized such as parties or meals.
Perhaps the expensive international schools are better, I have no idea.
Our children lived in Banglamung, the travel time to school was quite long, we brought and picked up ourselves, so Sattahip was never considered.
ilona,
Normally I am not allowed to respond to and comment on an article that was posted by me on the blog. Did you read my story properly? Not so.
It was about a meeting of the school board where only 20% of the parent guardians showed up. Rules were drawn up there for picking up the children at school. You are talking about questions, explaining. What did the school board do? you know nothing about the situation on the spot. You wouldn't really put your child in a school
in Chonburi or Rayong. Do you live in Thailand or are you just a tourist.
For people like you, I would no longer bother to post an educational article for people who also think positively about Thai society
and try to do something with it.
Not for you, but for myself I'm just going through that.
Cor van Kampen.
Dear Cor, I think you misread MY response. I only responded to your annoyance about smiling Thais and illegal parking.
I assume that you are also allowed to comment on this blog as a tourist?? have an opinion??
Not that I am a tourist, I have enjoyed living in my homeland for years
my choice, I love Thailand, I speak the language, I have many Thai friends and stay
far from the international clubs and associations etc. precisely because I do not want to belong to people who propagate Western prejudices and ideas.
My husband and I are avid hobby photographers, which is why we regularly travel around the country.
We have never experienced anything bad with or by the Thai people…..
DOES with Westerners who don't know their place or who have a complete lack of respect.
We will not write that we are the
Thinking Thais stupid, that would be stupid and short-sighted. That the Thai people have a different way of thinking than we Westerners, in a different culture and are therefore raised differently, I have told you that
try to tell in the response what you think is fairly oversimplified
have responded.
Dear @ Cor van Kampen,
Why react so violently to an article posted by you. If it is, as you say, an educational article?, why then so negatively against a negative reaction for you.
Is the education article only aimed at the Thai ??
First, you might wonder if the Thai people are waiting for your education council let alone appreciate it
I would like to advise you to go through life in Thailand with your eyes open. Because we are !! (Westerners) value norms and values, so also learn the values and norms of the country where you are staying, and the stay will be a lot more pleasant
Dear Cor,
As you know, there is an immense difference between West and East: also in how people experience everyday reality, and therefore in how people deal with everyday things. This enormous difference cannot be resolved by projecting one's own norms, values, feelings and behavior from Western thinking onto Eastern actions. I am quite touched by the fierceness with which you react after frustration. I don't think it's right.
Apparently you assumed that the situation at school would be and be as you thought you could expect. In Thailand, however, there is no such thing as, and certainly not what anyone thinks it is. For whatever reasons. Incidentally, this is the case in almost all surrounding countries and the Far East.
It would have been smarter if, knowing that things are handled differently in Thailand, you would have kept in touch with the new manager. You then support him in his attempts at change, and you make each other responsible for the circumstances that have arisen. And that's what you were there to do. Next time: think before acting. It also helps keep your blood pressure stable. So: tomorrow healthy again!
Regards, Ruud
ilona,
I do not know you. With tourist I only wanted to indicate that those people cannot really pass judgment on Thai society. Before I came to live here permanently, I have been here as a tourist for many years. After many years of staying here among the Thai, I have a different opinion. You have enjoyed living here for many years. Good thing, too.
I have also enjoyed living here for many years. I myself taught at Thai schools as a volunteer in the English language. The fact that you write that you have never experienced anything bad with or because of Thai society comes to me and I think many expats who live here are very
incredulous for. I will not respond further because your opinion is quite colored.
I love Thailand and so do most of the people here, but you can criticize.
Cor van Kampen.