Absolute. An obvious YES. NO.
From April 2008 to June 29, 11, HSBC, the world's largest financial services company and seventh largest company according to Forbes magazine, surveyed 2013 expatriates in nearly 7004 countries. A response of 100 or more was required from each country.
Unfortunately, Thailand cannot be classified in the overall ranking due to the lack of data on raising children. The survey is the world's largest survey of expats conducted.
I would like to give you my opinion on a number of points. I am curious to what extent you agree with me and whether you may also have an opinion on these and other points.
Thailand is number 1 in terms of healthy diet
It is true that in Thailand food occupies an important place, perhaps even the most important place in Thai life. The Thai eats, it seems, all day long and everywhere you see food stalls with delicious tropical fruit, rice with chicken and vegetables, soups and fruit juices and all of this freshly prepared. Fruit and vegetables are also very cheap and therefore affordable for everyone.
Unfortunately, there is a snag.
Many studies have shown that fruit, vegetables, but also herbs and peppers in Thailand contain many pesticides. Thai scientists are trying to convince farmers in Thailand to use organic fertilizers, but they still have a long way to go.
This topic has been discussed before on Thailandblog.
The oil in which people fry is not always fresh, which can also cause harmful substances and the dishes often contain considerable amounts of sugar.
So healthy? Yes in terms of everywhere available, affordable and large quantities of vegetables, fruit, herbs and peppers compared to the unhealthy snack for sure. But unfortunately in terms of the amounts of sugar in the dishes and sauces and pesticides no.
Access to health care and quality: 15th place
This surprises me, I expected that Thailand would score higher here, perhaps because I compare the health care with the Netherlands and only in Bangkok. I have experienced the health care in Bangkok as very accessible and the quality of the doctors in the better hospitals as very high quality.
Thailand is number 1 in terms of social life
Yes, I can agree. Life here mainly takes place outside and during dinner. The Thai is not in a hurry and takes the time for you.
Making local friends on the other hand is in 8th place, well that's a tough one. What do people understand by a friend, a Thai quickly calls someone his friend, my masseuse, for example, calls her clients who come to her for a massage once a year during vacation, perhaps she also calls me her friend?
The Dutch definition of friendship has many variants from acquaintance to good acquaintance, from acquaintance to good acquaintance, from friend to good friend. If one bases this result on a good acquaintance up to and including a good acquaintance, then I agree. Based on my definition of friend to good friend, I think Thailand scores lower.
Then a few last points, otherwise my summary will be very long.
The local weather, 3rd place
Yes, what should I cancel here? We Dutch like to talk and/or complain about the weather. So I could say it can be terribly hot here and if it's a bit bad you're out of luck in the rainy season and it rains for a long time.
But overall, I think it's fantastic! Even when it rains, the temperatures are very pleasant and unlike, for example, strong cold wind in the Netherlands, I experience strong wind in Thailand as a pleasant breeze.
Local culture and Local shops and markets at number 1
Anyone who disagrees has never been to Thailand!
Local transport at number 3
Absolute. For example, I was once standing by the road in our small village waiting for my transport when a moped came by and asked if I needed transport. This is not something special but everyday fare.
Just as one can arrange transport on every corner of the street, be it with a taxi, bus, boat, moped or a casual passerby who hopes to earn some extra money.
Finding accommodation on 2
An obvious YES.
Getting used to Thai food at 3
NO, as far as I'm concerned, that's number 1.
Learning the Thai language at 33
Yes, maybe even a bit lower and then I'm talking about learning the Thai language really well and not the holiday conversation.
Fitting into the new culture on 3
Yes, the Thai is flexible and understands not knowing Thai customs and customs and are happy to explain them patiently.
http://www.expatexplorer.hsbc.com/#/country/netherlands/thailand/
Submitted communication
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The survey was conducted among expats who WORK. And I suspect that HSBC used its own customer directory (and possibly those of potential customers) to conduct the investigation. In my opinion, the results are therefore not representative of the expats in a country (in some countries there are more retired expats than working expats), and not even for the working expats in a country. The customer base of HSBC probably contains many, many more expats at management level of internationally operating companies. Expats with a local contract or expats with a 'normal' job are not in the database and therefore not in the sample.
The results should therefore be seen and interpreted in that light.
Fitting into the new culture surprises me. According to me, few expats fit into Thai culture. The Thai may generally be very tolerant, but that does not mean that expats fit into the Thai culture. I would rate this very low for Thailand.
Moderator: You are chatting.
Moderator: you have given your reaction and Hans has given his reaction. If you want to discuss further than by email please.
I completely disagree with the statement that Thailand is number 1 in terms of a healthy diet.
there is a reason why the EU has an import ban on numerous fruit and vegetables.
If one regularly travels on the roads and then sees that fully loaded pick-ups with license plates of provinces are being transported hundreds of kilometers away from the capital, highly loaded with fruit and vegetables without any protection, in temperatures of 35 degrees and more, I have doubts about the freshness. .
When people see that in supermarkets meat, fish and poultry are simply lying in open bins where everyone can grab to their heart's content, I have my doubts.
If people are often plagued by a dry mouth and an almost unquenchable thirst after eating in many small local restaurants, I also have my doubts about the frequent use of MSGs.
When people know that the use of antibiotics in fish farms is unbelievably high, I also have my doubts
When one considers that food safety in Thailand is an unknown and unloved concept, one is forewarned.
And this is just a very limited list
In short, you don't know in what state of rot the food arrives on your plate, because it is so heavily seasoned that you just burn your mouth, the taste buds are simply destroyed and the natural flavors are simply no longer tasteable.
If possible, I will never purchase a food product, fresh or otherwise, from a Thai food manufacturer. Not even from a Chinese manufacturer.
Be aware that the number of colon cancers in Thailand is alarmingly rising.
And small side note….
Thai food healthy?
Yes, very healthy.
Too many pesticides?
Yes…….. But: how harmful are they? None is undoubtedly better, but that is easier in our country (the Netherlands) or is prohibited.
That we also had a lot of those substances in the past…. The influence is exaggerated (see the number of healthy very old people) - although of course undesirable if possible!
And the Thai food is not comparably much better than say Mc. Donalds and other chains. Everything, (really everything) contains so many more harmful substances that have not yet been banned, that the damage incurred as a result is many times greater than is often assumed. The full harmfulness of many substances is not yet known, but that will become increasingly apparent. (Softanon also seemed fine)
I understand the caveat, but I think it should be in very small parentheses.
If the average family in the Netherlands were to eat like this, adiposity, diabetes (that sugar in Thai dishes doesn't even compare to the sugar in KetchUp) and cardiovascular disease would be a much smaller problem, so that our healthcare system suddenly has a huge amount of money. would keep. (Including the relatively small damage from the pesticides)
Thanks for a nice review with comments.
Social life on 1? In his free time, the Thai spends almost exclusively time with family.
I am glad that my girlfriend's family considers me family and treats me as such.
Is dealing with family antisocial? Or not social?
If you are going to eat in some restaurant, you have to keep an eye on whether there is enough turnover of the dishes. Fortunately, the food is usually heated through so that the bacteria do not stand a chance. But beware of buying lukewarm dishes on the market, for example, that have been in a fly-free cupboard for a long time. I wouldn't buy meat from those open bins either, but you can imagine that the restaurateurs do this, for example at the Makro, so don't eat steak that is medium fried. And not to eat well done, or it must be pieces in the wok.