I was once approached for an interview about Thailand. I refused that then, because I knew what it would be about. The only interviews I gave were about the Preah Vihear Hindu temple and protests in Bangkok. Those were business stories. But I categorically refuse other interview requests.
I once heard a radio interview with an ex-employee of Thailandblog. The interviewer wanted to talk about the prejudices that exist about Thailand. I would have said: I don't want to talk about that. His question 'Why' I would have answered with: Because they are prejudices. Prejudice is persistent. By combating prejudices, you actually confirm them.
I found the last question of that interview shocking: Are Thai women good in bed? I would have responded with: Vlegel, go wash your mouth. Or something more serious: I wouldn't know, I don't know all 30 million of them.
Tell someone in the Netherlands that you are going to Thailand or live in Thailand and you will see all that brooding look, which some have accompanied by some chewed-out clichés about Thailand, as if the country is one big whorehouse, all Thai women are whores and all single men who go on holiday to Thailand are whore runners. How they know that is a mystery to me.
Married to an ex-bargirl
Some expats are also not averse to clichés. They claim to have married an 'ex-bargirl'. Excuse me, what is he saying? Are you disrespecting your wife by turning her back into a prostitute, which translates as bargirl? What kind of nonsense is it to pin someone down on one aspect of their life? Is that person typed with that? Scarred for life?
Every person has many roles and many faces. If someone calls me an annoying schoolmaster, I say: Ho, ho, wait a minute. Yes, I was a schoolteacher, but I am also a father, husband, family man, former journalist, former university teacher, former freelancer, Bach lover and much more.
Gay and straight booths
I had sent a letter to an acquaintance in which I tried to explain that you cannot get along with the boxes of gay and straight in Thailand. Is a ladyboy gay or straight? Are Tom & Dee two lesbians? Maybe yes and maybe not.
Sexual preferences can even change or co-exist over the course of a lifetime. A woman works as a bargirl for a while and then takes on the mother role again. Or become Tom with a Lady. What is a young man who works as a gogo boy for a while and then marries: gay or straight or both? Have you ever noticed that many Thai young men have feminine features. Look at the face and you wonder: do I see a man or a woman? All very confusing.
The fish and the water
I shouldn't have written that letter, I later realized. My acquaintance, by no means unintelligent, had understood nothing of it. She was unable to see beyond her own boundaries. And that is actually understandable. Our cultural preconceptions are essentially invisible to ourselves. It's only when you get to know another culture that you find out that those ideas aren't universal.
An oft-repeated aphorism in communication theory attributed to Marshall McLuhan reads: We are not sure who discovered water, but we do know that it could never have been the fish. Water is the only environment for a fish, and a fish – assuming it can think – cannot imagine a life outside that environment.
You must have been there?
Perhaps there are readers now who say: your story boils down to the cliché 'You have to be there to judge it'. No, I am not arguing that. Of course, if farmers don't get paid, if people go to jail innocently, if cops collect bribes, you really don't need to have been to Thailand to judge that.
But my letter was addressed to a deaf person. Her letter of reply reaffirmed my belief that I should remain silent about Thailand. I wouldn't know which of my acquaintances would be able to listen to my story with an open mind, unbiased, without a pre-constructed image of Thailand. Post about the weather, food, temples and beaches: okay, but otherwise I'll keep my mouth shut.
Position
I ask you: Is that also your experience? Should we keep silent about Thailand? Respond to my statement: You can't do anything but keep silent about Thailand.
Antonin Cee
I asked Antonin Cee to respond. He wrote: Everyone thinks within a socio-historical frame of reference colored by personal experience (which, viewed negatively, may be no more than a euphemism for prejudice). I see no reason to be silent in this.
Part of development is precisely the clearing of prejudices. Get a little wider. No one possesses the universal wisdom, because it simply isn't there. But within the dialogue – if it is sincere – you kind of pull in that direction. The exciting interpersonal adventure that is never finished. Fortunately, because otherwise it would be very boring.
As expats we have – in some cases despite ourselves – wandered somewhat into the wondrous Thai universe. But it continues to amaze. Explaining how it works to people who have not done this trek is not easy.
Bert van Balen
I asked Bert van Balen to respond. He wrote: Why should I keep silent about Thailand? Why should I keep quiet about my legal wife who has been in a coma for nine years with severe brain damage? Why should I remain silent about the fact that I have been living with cancer for over eight years? The only reason might be to spare myself from people who pass judgment on your actions while your wife is in such a situation, or to spare myself from the sympathy of people who hear that you suffer from cancer.
The nice thing about getting older and also living with the knowledge that you suffer from an incurable disease that significantly shortens life expectancy is that there is so little left of what really matters. Not much really, except for your own judgment about things that happen in your immediate environment. Do these things still serve my well-being? I am not silent about anything unless it could negatively affect my well-being. And this is not much more.
I've learned that people who use prejudice, especially when it comes to Thailand, can best take the wind out of their sails by affirming everything they think about the country and its people. Everything they think about expats and tourists as well.
Why should I care about the judgment of Calvinist citizens with their group travel mentality. They are, in my opinion, a lot lower on the development ladder and have never been able to subject themselves to a bit of self-reflection. If they were to take this step, they would most likely be expelled from the group and they think they could not continue to live without this. While just then life begins.
Keeping silent about Thailand is like keeping silent about gays, pedophiles, prostitution, about drugs, about the dangers of alcohol. . . you name it. Why would you shut up about it. It all exists. The fact that it is a hot item for some journalists to highlight just one country with regard to these matters says more about his or her readership. Give them bread and circuses.
Khan Peter
I asked Khun Peter to respond. He wrote: You could ask the question: Should you have an opinion about something you don't understand? I think Thai society is complex for us, partly because a Thai prefers not to show emotions in public and will lie if necessary so as not to hurt you. We Dutch are very direct and tell it like it is. That is hard but also easy. You know what you have in common.
I often hear 'In Thailand nothing is what it seems' and that is quite true. Fits under the heading Eastern mysticism. That will of course change due to western influences and the internet.
The question is therefore whether it makes sense to have an opinion if you do not understand something, perhaps it is better to remain silent.
Gerrie Back House
I asked Gerrie Agterhuis to respond. He wrote: Questions with a built-in answer usually come when people know you live in Thailand. If your answer is not up their alley, they will look at you strangely.
To some people I ask the question: 'Have you ever been to Thailand?' If the answer is 'Yes' then I ask: 'And where?' If the answer is Bangkok and Pattaya, then I respond that they have not been to Thailand. have been to Thailand. The real Thailand is something more than the capital and Walking Street.
First take an organized tour and go the following year to the region that appealed to you the most during the organized trip. Take three weeks to look around the countryside at your leisure and don't be tempted to stay in expensive hotels in the big cities. Try to get in touch with the ordinary hard-working person, let it sink in and then come back to me.
People who come up with stories of which I think: They have seen that from someone who has heard it, I pay little attention. Let them continue living in their little world. Don't lose sleep over it yourself and know better.
You can also go on holiday to Greenland. Nothing wrong with that either.
Submitted communication
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I have heard someone say, if you want to lose your prejudices, you must travel! Perhaps this is a good tip for people with prejudices about Thailand, for example.
Keep silent about Thailand, no I won't, Thailand I get up with it and go to bed with it, because my wife is from there my life is Thailand!
If I meet someone with a prejudice about Thailand, I will try to disprove it.
I also agree with all the comments above.
The prejudices about Thailand, but what about those of us bloggers?
Because what strikes me in the comments is that the word stupid or not really smart or not intelligent is used regularly, I can't handle this very well smart and stupid I just think it's an arrogant rotten word it says more about yourself than about the other , and I wonder how do people know this, what is this based on?
And isn't this a prejudice, everyone can be an expert in his or her field, but how is he or she in daily life?
Someone who has never been to Thailand, and who has to rely on the information from the media and has based his prejudice on this, does not have to be a stupid person, naive would be more appropriate.
I think everyone has stupid and smart moments, it has to do with so many aspects of life.
You have touched a sensitive chord with me, I am a widower and go on holiday a lot, I have been to Thailand a few times, and with the first time when I told my daughter about Thailand, she called me a pedophile, whore runner ,and that doesn't come across as nice.But I can't spend too much money,because if I get out of time,then they're afraid there won't be anything left.I don't want to see them again now either,and I'm already working with a notary,to to donate everything to someone when alive. But they don't take my vacations away from me, but I think it's so stupid, if I want to go to a public woman, then I can also stay in the Netherlands, if I said, I'm going to Indonesia, then I am very right, then I must enjoy life, but I now have a consolation, the prejudices are not only with me.
Greetings,
Geert
Dear Geert,
Pretty intense what you said, doesn't come across as nice, I think it's putting it mildly if your own child calls you out for this.
It is understandable that a statement like this comes across as intense, and as far as your daughter is concerned, I assume that she knows her father so well that she must realize that she is hurting you very much with this.
I agree with you that you say no one takes away my holidays because I can assume that you have also worked hard all your life and can now enjoy your well-deserved retirement.
Perhaps it is an idea for your daughter to plan a holiday to Thailand, together if necessary, so that she can experience for herself that Thailand consists of much more than sex.
I can't interfere with your private life, but I hope you don't burn all the ships behind you too quickly, because your children are your greatest asset that you can have.
I wish you the best of luck and hope that everything ends with a fizz.
greeting
In my humble opinion, we owe these prejudices largely to sensational programs with a very high SBS6 and RTL4 content, many of their viewers have suddenly become experts when it comes to Thailand!
Not just sbs and rtl. A few weeks ago there was an article about the situation in the south in Het Parool. Sure enough, a third of the article was about the bargirls, tuk-tuk drivers offering girls, etc. This article was also published in the Dagblad van het Noorden. I have responded to that and my letter has also been posted. I have also written to the journalist who seems to be traveling around SEA. Because what does that have to do with the attacks, as far as I read it here, the attacks are not aimed at the tourists and the bars. So why put so much emphasis on this. He wrote back that it was precisely the cafes, etc., that were the target. But he would go into more depth one more time and write an article, yes, yes
Anyway. There are prejudices about every country. If there is an article in a foreign newspaper about the Netherlands, it is also about tulips, wooden shoes, wallets, coffee shops, etc. I did volunteer work in Thailand for three months and met many foreigners. They also know nothing else about the Netherlands and if they want to or come here, they go to Amsterdam. I gave them the tip to also go to Maastricht, Amersfoort, Groningen and the islands
People who come up with stories of which I think: They have seen that from someone who has heard it, I pay little attention. Let them continue living in their little world. Don't lose sleep over it yourself and know better.
Dick,
“The fish cannot see the water, nor the bird the sky.”
This statement is 2.500 years old and comes from Buddha. Look, if you're talking about Thailand, it's better to bring in Buddha than McLuhan...
Hans Mondeel
Good addition, but I think there are more Westerners who know who Marshall McLuhan was than there are Thais who know Buddha's sayings.
Moderator: your comment does not comply with our house rules.
I wouldn't want or dare to doubt the moderator's judgment. However, I would like to say a word of thanks: by removing my reaction I see that the statement is correct and has only gained in eloquence.
I worked as a doctor in an abortion clinic for a year and later as a general practitioner performed euthanasia at the request of the patient, the latter occurring 1-2 times a year. These two things were often just as difficult to discuss in the Netherlands as the things in Thailand that Dick is talking about. I was often silent about it, it was simply impossible to talk to many about this. It is difficult to bump into incomprehension, stupidity and prejudice; and then it does not matter much whether it is about Thailand or about other countries, subjects or situations. So I doubt that talking about Thailand is that much more difficult, or that Thailand is exceptional in that respect. I see here more of a universal human weakness that can emerge with every subject, with every person and everywhere.
And let me add that in my many conversations with relatives and friends about Thailand (and Tanzania), I have rarely encountered any prejudice or misunderstanding. The few times it did happen I thought: certainly not well explained or maybe you're annoying……………and I kept silent about it.
The best way to respond depends on your interlocutor. Would you rate him as someone with blinders on, someone stuck in prejudices, someone who is looking for answers and questions?
After all, questions are free, and if they are ridiculous, you simply don't answer, ask what the questioner is referring to, or give an absurd answer.
“Those Thai ladies, aren't they…?” could I answer with “How am I supposed to know, I only know 1 out of millions out there”, “yes, I have personally slept with all 50 million, well you should know, you just survive that not!" or “Why don't you ask Maxima? Who knew that the Dutchman does not exist, so neither does the Thai, or would all those oranges have been importing brides and grooms for generations because Germans and Argentines are so much better?”
I also sometimes see questions, reactions or statements that (whether consciously or not) create a stereotype. Then I can only think: since when are all millions and billions of people the same? You can talk broadly about positive and negative biases, there may even be a general grain of truth in it, but in the end it comes down to individuals. It's fine that you become acquainted with stereotypes and prejudices, then you have to go out yourself and see what you can discover for yourself in all corners.
Nb: The interview Dick refers to was on Radio 2 in 2012, Knooppunt Kranenbarg:
https://www.thailandblog.nl/relaties/thailandblog-thaise-vrouwen-radio2/
They also had a question of the day last week: how did you meet your foreign partner. They were surprised that there were mainly people who had not met their partner via the internet, because that is no longer taboo, is it? Everything in response to a new RTL program about men dating Russian ladies… Eventually 1 man on the phone who said that foreign love happened to him unexpectedly on vacation, and in the end an administrator of a dating agency with Russian women, etc. I could just thinking: sorry. When you talk about dating in the Netherlands, are you also surprised when most respond with “we met at school/work/disco/museum/beach/street/…”?
Know these arguments of the people who give their unvarnished opinion without having been there.
Very common do you only go to Thailand??? (I have been married for more than 10 years) Or these small children are abused there. (As if all of Thailand consists of pedophiles)
Often I don't even go into these unsalted opinions. (Just think! another question from a world strange person)
Always easy to judge something without having been there! Thailand is so beautiful if you look a little further when your nose is long.
I've been going there for years with pleasure, alone or with my family and think with a leo in my hand leave the know-it-alls!!
The other way around is also possible: some Thais think that all Western women want sex and with everyone. I was also asked how German women are in bed, after all I already had a German girlfriend a few times. A German could have asked how good flight attendants are in bed, because they were all colleagues. Or they can say again, all flight attendants easily sleep with someone.
Cool cool all this.
So I hardly talk about it. I don't feel like explaining anything to people who are too lazy or too stupid to inquire about Thailand or any country for that matter.
Then I can also tar Thailand with Brazil, Cuba, Kenya, Philippines or the Dominican Republic.
Every country has its own unique background. In every country you also come across women who are looking for a provider. But it doesn't mean that's all that matters to you.
You can also turn things around.
When it comes to a male interlocutor with prejudices. For example, do you start with the archetype of the whores and goblin runner; types that you get out of it. You see one in every run-down café. If not in your own favorite pub. At work…
Just tell ladies with prejudices that there is a woman on every street who has affairs. Whether or not for financial reasons or simply because she can't keep her hands off it.
Then the prejudices are sometimes quickly brushed aside.
After all, you confront your interlocutor with the fact that it is ultimately his own country or fellow villager who saddles him with these prejudices. And either another subject is quickly discussed, or you start telling yourself in scent and color about the culture, nature parks, whatever you want, ... If you still want to talk about Pattaya, you can always talk about the beautiful region 'Chonburi' . Where both the culinary connoisseur, the sociable pacesetter and the bar philosopher and green boy find their niche. And this invariably surrounded by the obliging Thai smile of your host country.
Oh prejudices. I don't care what people have about Thailand in terms of prejudice, it says more about those people than about the Thai people in general. most important: for me it counts that I have found the love of my life in Thailand, I think the country is beautiful, the culture is special and the food and life there are delicious.
When people try to draw me out of the tent by forcing their prejudices on me, I simply answer:
I do not criticize your faith or way of life and that you feel called to do so towards me shows jealousy.
Usually a whole explanation follows that I see it wrong, then I ignore everything that people say. I am happy there and that is one of the most important visions in my life. Happiness is important after health. Others with a higher aspiration, usually translated into fake wealth, pride themselves on being able to show it off.
I leave them in that delusion and ask only respect for my choices in life.
I love my thai wife and thailand and nobody can take that away from me.
Well… what do you have to tell people? It is a fact that 8% of the female Thai population is directly or indirectly involved in prostitution.
That's nice, especially if you know that this industry in Europe shows the same %.
If you say this and know that in NL more than 33% go to the whores! It becomes a bit clearer what we are talking about.
We are those pointers and that is easy, we did that at primary school, didn't we?
Let them talk and think about Thailand, have you ever seen a 14-year-old Dutch woman unload a truck by hand? They don't know what they are talking about!
Thailand is like so many other countries in the world, if you travel a lot and visit countries then you see what it's all about. Ordinary; luck; love; family; security, that is what people are looking for. Money is not even the most important thing, but it is easy. So actually we Westerners are just judging and certainly not looking deep enough. We are Western and always know better. How short sighted can we be.
I have encountered these prejudices in my circle of friends, but in the meantime they have completely disappeared after they met my Thai wife in October 2013.
I remember that well LOL…
I told my friends last year that I was going to a different country and they were allowed to guess which country it was based on a few questions. And I started with: the country in question has the longest reigning head of state in the world. Nobody knew which country it was about. Then… the capital is the warmest city in the world according to the Guinean Book of Records. No one knew the answer. Then… 65 million inhabitants. Nobody had an idea. Then… the only Asian country that has never been colonized. Not even a history teacher knew the answer 🙂
But when I said it was about Thailand, I got "sex" and "Pattaya" as responses. Then I asked the people: Thailand has 65 million inhabitants. For the sake of simplicity, let us assume that half are women. So a good 30 million. Do you think a country functions well with only 30 million prostitutes? Then they started to think 🙂
So there is indeed an image of Thailand among many people that is not at all in line with reality. Thanks to the media. The least commercial here is, that's how I personally describe it, sexualized.
As Peter says above: that image says more about their own way of thinking than about the reality in Thailand: many Thai ladies are conservative and do not tolerate that kind of jokes or views.
Meanwhile, my Thai wife is very well liked by my friends and I have not received such prejudice anymore.
Full of admiration for this statement by Dick van der Lugt, I posted the following on my Facebook page:
“You can't do anything but keep quiet about Thailand” is a valid and fascinating article for my friends who 'perhaps' have some prejudice; and also for all other friends of course 🙂
Ever talked to such an arrogant Dutch “cow” about those “bargirls”. “Well, if necessary I will go behind the cash register at AH”, was the answer. Until others explained to her that there are not that many supermarkets in TH, even less shops, and if... many were competing for those few jobs, and even among them many were significantly better educated, so... there ARE NO JOBS. What do you tell your kids? That there is no food again? Not to mention clothes, school, etc., all of which have to be paid for by the parents?
I've lived in Naglua long enough to know that there are all kinds of ladies there: honest as gold, but... there must be food in the cupboard, through various degrees of commercial service to as deceitful as rat poison. For the first group I can only have a very high regard, for the second group very strong understanding.
And what someone else thinks of it, especially those NL people, whose empathy doesn't reach the length of their nose... it's all right with me.
It is not necessary to take a cow from an arrogant Dutch woman. 🙁 Such gradations in assessment are often used by men who cannot yet decorate a women's bicycle in their own country and therefore try their luck in Thailand.
Speaking of confirming prejudices…
Completely agree dear Dick! Finally, "silence about Thailand" has been spoken well!
Whoever is silent agrees. But I'm not going to defend myself either. I have been in a relationship with a lovely Thai woman for years and I still know 30 in her circle of acquaintances. It's no different if you think about it that way. And…. as is the worth, he trusts his customers. I prefer to save my energy for other things.
Ignorance is closer to the truth than prejudice.
the first 15 years I partied 3 to 4 times a year to Thailand usually Phuket sometimes Pattaya or Bangkok Had an apartment in Patong for 3 years was cheaper than a hotel in high season. Rented a car 3 times and drove around then you see how beautiful Thailand is . in 2010 my wife met on the internet, she was looking for someone who could teach her english. she runs a small restaurant in Prakhonchai Buriram. married on Valentine's Day 2012 , I am a happy person. All my friends have prejudices until they have been there. My opinion is you can tell about it prejudices are there, will remain there, but I know better and I like to explain
Agree that Thailand is unfortunately often portrayed negatively and is certainly more than just Pattaya and Bangkok with scantily clad women present who are willing to provide related 'occupations'.
In fact, it is undeniable that many men (of all walks of life, classes and ages) from various countries go there for only 'one thing' that is simply undeniable, nothing against it in itself, but let's not beat around the bush .
Often I am approached by (usually divorced) men who ask surreptitiously where they can best go, and I, slightly annoyed, then hasten to say that Thailand is more than just women and the associated well-known prejudices about them.
Usually they take it as notice and have no further message because, as said, they actually only want 'one thing' and then, to be honest, there is little left to recommend Pattaya to them, which I invariably do after termination of receive a phone call or email during their holiday with the message: 'good tip, next time I will definitely go again'!
In short, I deliberately do not keep silent about it because tell about Thailand as it is described in the tourist travel guides, but on the other hand tell just as easily that a man can feel completely drowsy in certain places…
Well, sorry that the latter reinforces the prejudices about Thai women and single men, that's just the way it is.
speaking is silver, silence is golden 🙂
I completely agree with this statement of the week. It will mean something to me when I return to Belgium in May after having been in Thailand for almost 5 months. Know in advance which questions will be fired at me. Will have to verbally defend myself again. But this time they get the address of Zaventem airport. That they will see for themselves...... what about those stories. Think they'll bounce back from a barren journey soon. But there is a slogan that says; hearsay…. lies a lot”
The prejudices about Thailand are a nuisance, mainly because they often contain a kernel of truth and are difficult to refute.
Personally, I don't think it's very mature if you can't separate your personal life from those premature judgments.
My guideline is the statement of Aletta Jacobs when she was spotted in a red light district a century ago: Everywhere I am, it is self-evidently decent.
Dear Alex
I'm familiar with that first sentence.
That is also the reason why you will not hear me about Thailand
If you correct someone who is telling nonsense stories,
And that in the company of several people
Will he drag everything in to get his point. And because they indeed often contain a kernel of truth, it becomes an endless discussion.
It is mainly about money whores and rotten bitches
I am very good at keeping my personal life separate from those prejudices
But I understand very well that Pon does not like those kinds of discussions.
She is a Thai woman. And that's what it's about. During such a discussion, she is also regularly looked at by the gentlemen. Which she considered very unpleasant.
So we shut up and wink at each other. Let them talk.
After 38 years I've had it with that talk.
So sometimes it's wise to keep quiet. Shame
Don't you think jealousy is one of the determining factors behind all these prejudices? I have to laugh hard while writing this here … ask yourself the following question … all those people who criticize when they see that we all go through life together with a lovely Thai lady … who do they wake up next to in the morning? :):):)
Moderator: Please do not chat.
Bye Dick
Love to read your pieces and are always very clear, without formatting, again so nice and double clear
I usually start with which TV channel it was and then you already know enough, I cannot fail to say that the age of most of them is wrong, I think that is where the misunderstanding arises, for me it is a beautiful country with nice people
Hi, there are several ways to respond to this:
(a) Cultural awareness. I myself have been living and traveling around the world for 15 years, and when you come into contact with many different cultures, your eyes open, and no matter how you look at it, you change, and in my eyes, you get a more "round" soul. The problem is that the difference with the Dutch is getting bigger and bigger, in the early years, you can still explain it, but gradually, the difference becomes too big, and then you start to adapt (or you keep silent). Perhaps a pity, but you can only worry about what you can change, and the opinion of Dutch people who have not lived abroad, well, forget it. Advantage: we now have a very varied circle of friends, worldwide, and that is worth more than trying to reduce the Dutch people's prejudices.
(b) Happiness: Something we have always experienced, wherever you go, you always meet yourself, so there is no point in determining your happiness by what others think of you or what you do, you must above all find peace and happiness find in yourself. So from that point of view, don't worry about other people's prejudices, worry about your "real self"
(c) Personally, I have not lived in Thailand, but traveled around Thailand with my wife, and we were so surprised with the smile and welcome of Thai people, the nature, the beautiful islands. All I can say is, you live in paradise, count yourself lucky, and we will definitely come back to Thailand as soon as I stop working (soon)
Prejudices! There must be prejudices about every country on this planet!
Exactly as if they do nothing but grow drugs in Bolivia, well, after all, people love sensation, otherwise life would be boring (I think these days).
The Dutch are stingy, they say so, and as I can read here, it is! So that is not prejudice, but the truth.
Since the Dutroux case came to light, all Belgian men are suddenly pedophiles! How can you say such a thing!
Sometimes I think: pff let me not talk about my Thai plans, because you are going to live there exactly in a brothel according to many! Then I try to debunk that by saying that these are just a very small percentage of women and men who do these activities, and then I say, what about this? I therefore take the liberty of explaining to them why they do this. That they are so lucky in Belgium and the Netherlands when they can retire and the pension money is paid in every month.
Sometimes I see the greedy male looks at my wife, then I think suckers, you must not have liked it at home again, and do you really think that…..
But also in LOS there are prejudices about the Westerners! My father-in-law had a preconception that I was a drug dealer who came to Thailand for supplies!
Well, there are prejudices all over the world!
But whether you should be silent about it, I leave that to each of you.
I read it 3 times because the essence of your story is so high above the claptrap (sometimes) on the blog. Very intelligently and thoughtfully written. I thought it was a bit Edward Douwes Dekkel in Multattuli: I want to be read.
Wonderful I want more of these submission stories.
Well, prejudices are as old as humanity, wars have arisen because of them, so it is wasted energy to talk people out of them.
Do your own thing and try to spend your energy usefully, what I do with whom I live, etc. is nobody's business, people who are disturbed by that I will delete from my list.
My advice is to keep quiet because any discussion about Thailand often leads to nothing.