Curious Newbie says thanks, I'm confused

[Dani69]

From my knowledge I think it could be a very difficult language to learn especially if you intend to write it.

[x in pattaya]

From my knowledge I think it could be a very difficult language to learn especially if you intend to write it.

The best time to learn a new language is when you're young which, if you're planning your retirement, you aren't ... relatively speaking.

I've been making the effort , but using a different alphabet and having to deal with the dreaded TONES when speaking & hearing the language, make it even more difficult. I'm not trying to discourage you. It is a good idea to try. Even if you can manage only a little Thai, people will appreciate the effort you make. But it can be difficult and frustrating, especially when you learn a little Thai but no one understands you when you try it out.

There are some good references for learning materials here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Programs- ... 32352.html (http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Programs-Learn-Thai-help-Please-t232352.html)

and more generally here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thai-lang ... 60c3836541 (http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thai-language-f43.html&s=9156adae92a9827af5c32e60c3836541)

but I would suggest you NEED a native Thai speaker as a teacher helper. Obviously the largest supply of same is here in Thailand, but in Southern California you might find a few too. Getting the tones right is tough, but important and a good Thai teacher is the best way to do that.

Once you're here, if you can manage to use just a little everyday, you can start to build on that.

Your message seems to imply you haven't been to Thailand before ??? Or maybe I'm misreading that.

If you've not lived outside the US before and/or have spent no time in Thailand, please proceed slowly. Keep your life in the US intact and plan to spend 3, 6 or 12 months here in rented accomodation before you make any irreversible decisions. Some people (like me) love it and are quite content to spend the rest of their lives here. Some people think they'll love it and become disappointed in their decision to take up residence and rapidly descend into an unhappy, bitter world of regret, splitting their days between alcoholic intake and complaining non-stop about everything in the country. Even if you've spent short holidays here, you really need to experience 6 months to a year as a non-tourist to decide if it's for you. That could also be a good time to get into learning Thai.

[Shuee]

i know many retiree's in thailand, who between them much thai is not known nor used, its no surprise that they get along just fine, thai people learn english in school & then as there are so many falang around learn even more of the language, so just to let you know you will get by fine

a twit, but I'm a pretty flexible guy even outside the bedroom

A Very Lucky Guy ! :clown:

[luvthai-2]

Learning the language would give you a definate edge if yu decide to live in LOS. It is a very tonal langaue and I have tried on several occassions to learn it. I make good progress but then loose everything when I go home and when I return have to relearn all over again. Unless I am there for extended periods of time I find myself just getting by learning a few popular sayings.
Relationships are much the same. Long distance relationships just don't work. I tried to have a relationship for 4 years only to find I was one of many trying to have one with the same guy. Now I butterfly but have a few favorites I see alot.

[painai2]

Learning Thai is definitely one of the more difficult languages to learn. However, if you are retired and living in Thailand you have no excuse for not learning the language. It makes it so much easier when you get a Thai friend and you actually what to communicate with him. The trouble with learning a language is that you don't learn to speak it overnight, it takes at least 7 years for an adult to master a new language. That's how long it takes a child to master his native language. Many of the farangs I know took lessons for a few months and dropped out when they didn't learn fast enough. If you plan on spending your retirement years here, the time would be well spent to keep at it.

[Bob]

I say go for it. A X said, the locals will appreciate your efforts to attempt to speak a little thai.

I spent some time on my own 7-8 years ago (when I was your age....you puppy!) to try to learn the language a little and I can tell you it's hard as hell to retain anything. I could read it, say it, and then remember it for about 2 minutes. But, after a while (many months after maybe a couple of times a week), it became a little easier and more of it remained in my peabrain. My thai is poor at the very best but I seem to be able to get by doing it (I probably sound like an idiot kindergartner to Thais).

It's a hell of a challenge and I hope to continue the challenge in February and take a language class in Hua Hin a couple of days a week for a couple of months. It'll give me something to do and I do want to learn the language.

[Smiles]

" ... I could read it, say it, and then remember it for about 2 minutes ... "
Perhaps it might have been easier if you weren't trying to learn Thai language in a GoGo Bar!
Besides the difficulty in hearing and being able to view subtle facial expressions related to tones, I would also suggest that " ... do you bottom? ... " or " ... can I cum in your mouth? ... " will get you precisely nowhere cruising for the tastiest Som Tam in Hua Hin (to which by the way, I can lead you).

Cheers ...

PS ... how's the battle scars from the Palestinian wars over on Baht-Stop?

[MARK]

I lived in North Africa Morocco for nearly 15 years after 6 month I felt frustrated and wanted to speak Arabic so I learnt 2 new words ever day. After 6 month I could speak Arabic fluently I have lived here 6 years and still speak very basic Thai and yes I tried the same method but it did not work, Try to learn the language it is frustrating at times not being able to communicate properly with some one you really want to.

[Bob]

Perhaps it might have been easier if you weren't trying to learn Thai language in a GoGo Bar!

Hey, I was spending time in temples, you should know that. In fact, even my elders have on occasion escorted me to a temple or a palace or some such place....


Besides the difficulty in hearing and being able to view subtle facial expressions related to tones, I would also suggest that " ... do you bottom? ... " or " ... can I cum in your mouth? ... " will get you precisely nowhere cruising for the tastiest Som Tam in Hua Hin (to which by the way, I can lead you).

Ah, to be led by the blind....just so I can use some som tam to burn the chrome off my bumper hitch...
And, by the way, I have no idea how to swear in Thai, you dag ling!



PS ... how's the battle scars from the Palestinian wars over on Baht-Stop?

Well, guess I'm a zionist motherfucker (which applies, as I understand it, to everyone but the chorus there).

It is another world if you can speak thai, you not only stop all the frustrating confusions between you and a non English speaker, you can make a wonderful friendships with people who would normally just say hello and go.

If you want to learn Thai, this is voted the best web site to teach you, even though many schools like to teach you to write the language first.

http://www.its4thai.com/free/converse_lessonlist.php

Join and you will receive free lessons on top of the free web site Info.

[Smiles]

" ... PS ... how's the battle scars from the Palestinian wars over on Baht-Stop?
Well, guess I'm a zionist motherfucker (which applies, as I understand it, to everyone but the chorus there) ... "
I can do you one better. With me they just skipped by the rather limiting insult of 'Zionist' and went right to simply calling me a 'Jew'. I guess that's enough in some folks' books.
I staunched the urge to retort smartly that 'they' are just 'a bunch of Arabs'.

Cheers ...

[x in pattaya]

I moved to Manhattan without visiting first, then to Chicago after visiting once & then to San Diego without seeing it,

Not quite the same thing as moving to a place where most people speak a language you won't understand ... [in descending order of totally incomperhensible foreign languages you'll have to deal with (1) English speaking Irish, (2) English speaking Australians, (3) English speaking English, (4) Thais as well as the (5) Germans and (6)Russians, not to mention Canadians, eh?]. As you are probably aware, Americans are the only people who speak English without an accent ...I'M KIDDING, I'M KIDDING.

Food, TV, newspapers, stuff in the supermarkets, etc ... all these day-to-day things are essentially the same in Manhattan, Chicago and SD, but worlds different in Thailand.

True, if you stay in an urban area you can still find McDonalds or pizza and watch Fox News (uggghhh. :argue: ), but you really don't want to come to Thailand and then seek out other farangs, other Americans or familiar tasteless food or Bill O'Reilly :pukeleft: .

Again, I'm not trying to discourage you. Many people, including me, never look back, but it can be more than some people can happily deal with and, unfortunately, their inability to adjust is expressed as bitching & moaning about Thailand and the people, which is totally stupid.

Don't burn bridges before you're certain and leave yourself an easy out if you change your mind. If you end up unhappy and you feel trapped, you could turn into a Hedda or Thonglor ... and the world doesn't need any more of those.

[Smiles]

" ... I expect the most difficult, out of a number of challenges, will be the weather, so was thinking of visiting during Monsoon season to see it at it's worst. At least that's what I understand. Unfortunately, SD has perfect weather.
Thanks! ... "
OK, I'll bite.
If you go during the high rainy season you are talking essentially about August through 'about' the 1st or 2nd week in November. June and July are also wet, but it's not all that predictable.
You can expect August, September and October to be incredibly humid and sticky, although the extent and volume of the actual rain itself is quite different depending on where you intend to shack up: south of ~ let's say ~ Chumphon or Surat Thani you'll find the monsoon rain to be a downpour for at least a few hours every day.
In the central part of Thailand (i.e. generally north of Prachuap Kiri Khan all the way up past Bangkok, across to Pattaya and over into Trat) the rains will not be so predictable (though can be equally as heavy).
Northern Thailand (the mountain areas surrounding Chiang Mai and all 'round) can be delugious ( LOL / :clown: ). Northeast Thailand (Isaan) can be lacking in any rain at all for longish periods, and then pelted for days on end, becoming great floods on the flat landscape.

But the intense humidity is everywhere, whether it pours or not. The sun going down does not change the heaviness very much. The stickiness gets overbearing on some days, and a big dump is on the way you can be sure.
This year in Sept. and Oct. the humidity was very heavy here in Hua Hin even though it's average rainfall is quite a bit lower than most other parts of Thailand.

About the middle of November everything changes. The stickiness in the air dries up, the rains become fewer and further between, dwindling down to hardly ever . . . blue skies predominate day after day. The evenings are often quite cool in November and December, sometimes into January (they are here quite lovely and very pleasant right now) ... great times to sit in outdoor bars and restaurants.

Cheers ...

many dont bother to learn because you dont need to speak thai to live here. most thais speak pretty good english in the cities. if you want to live out in the boonies then maybe learning is a good idea. maybe try and purchase the rosetta stone sprogram. a lot of people have said it works well and you can work at your own pace at your own home.

many dont bother to learn because you dont need to speak thai to live here. most thais speak pretty good english in the cities. if you want to live out in the boonies then maybe learning is a good idea. maybe try and purchase the rosetta stone sprogram. a lot of people have said it works well and you can work at your own pace at your own home.

I have Rosetta Stone, as well as a few other books and CDs, and also attend a Thai language school. I would rate Rosetta Stone as mediocre and overpriced at around $170 USD (of course illegal copies are available at Panthip Plaza or online via bittorrent). Very little of the content is in a conversational format, and much of the vocabulary is formal and not in common use. I think there is no substitute for attending a class.

[adman5000]

I would recommend learning the language.
I have been learning it for several years during each visit and find it is an excellent social interaction tool. Most Thai people love that you are trying to learn their language because so few visitors do. But it is something nearly all Thais will enjoy helping you with and I find they more quickly become friendly with you. I also find it to be so much better when with a friend who only speaks Thai. At first I always looked for someone who spoke some English, now it doesn't matter to me. I try to learn through my everyday interaction as immersion is the best way to overcome the natural fear of trying to speak a new language. I find lesson books and tapes boring.
Although the alphabet is a bit difficult, I find the biggest advantage to knowing it is to assist in pronunciation. I learned the alphabet in a formal setting so I can correctly write and read the writing to at least sound out the words. If I don't understand a word, I ask them to write it out and frequently find the true sound much different than what I was hearing. Tones are challenging and come with time. It has been the most difficult part for me but I am now finally progressing. But on my most recent visit I was getting more compliments on my speaking
I have a good laugh when the Thai people think I understand more than I do and speak in their normal rhythm to me and I have to slow them down. .
Again, I feel having improved social interaction is the biggest reason to learn. I can easily sit on a bus or at the beach and chat with someone in Thai and learn a lot more about the people and culture.

OK, I'll bite.

I did too, Smiles, until Brandon wrote "Yes, I realize I can't even realize how much change, learning, acclimation I'll have. But that's one of the reasons I like Thailand".

Anyone who "likes" anything they have never tried is, to me, a moron. Apart from Mexico for pharmaceutical products, there is no indication that Brandon has been anywhere outside the continental US.

No offence intended, Brandon, but surely you are not planning to learn the language and retire here before even visiting? If you are, I think Alzheimer's has already set in.

[Brad the Impala]

I am researching a few cities, Thailand being one

Research clearly hasn't gone far yet.

What I enjoy, and what I'm seeking, is a situation foreign and completely unknown to me,

Maybe you could avoid all the expense and trouble of re-locating and just try to use your brain rather than your keyboard - that would seem pretty unknown territory.


I enjoy the experience and challenge of being "dropped off" in a place with no familiar guideposts

If this "experience" is limited so far to your own country (the USA) and the neighbouring parts of Mexico, as it appears, you are deluding yourself - you have never had such an experience.


I am researching a few cities, Thailand being one

Thailand is a country.


I need to experience Thailand's humidity before I could commit to the country.

Go to Florida for a week - the humidity there in the summer is usually around 50%, whereas in Bangkok at a similar time it is some 45%.

Brandon, I may be wrong but I am getting the distinct impression you cannot be quite as stupid as you are making yourself out to be.

[Sen Yai]

Not to mentoion
1 people who can't spell
:clown:

[Smiles]

" ... Hello (regarding 'Gone Fishing's avatar) ... You look like an actual Thai, ... "
I suppose, using that logic, I shot myself in the head some time ago?

Cheers ...

[Aunty]

Not to mentoion........

2. people who pretentiously use Thai words in English sentences when there is a perfectly acceptable English word

Does that include, darling, junior members who pretentiously use Thai names as their username as well?

Does that include, darling, junior members who pretentiously use Thai names as their username as well?Or posters who fancy themselves as film stars?

[Aunty]

I think you just outed yourself luv. Everybody, Curious is thonglor55! I just wasn't quick enough

Before he had modified his post he, Curious, wrote in response to my post to, thonglor55 : My username comes from 55 Sukhmvit rd, Bangkok, or something like that. I had already logged off but by the time I had logged back in he had modified his post to what you see above.

You stupid old fool!

Curious=thonglor55

[x in pattaya]

I think you just outed yourself luv. Everybody, Curious is thonglor55! I just wasn't quick enough

Before he had modified his post he, Curious, wrote in response to my post to, thonglor55 : My username comes from 55 Sukhmvit rd, Bangkok, or something like that. I had already logged off but by the time I had logged back in he had modified his post to what you see above.

You stupid old fool!

Curious=thonglor55

And his/their obsessive-compulsive disorder seems to center on some of the same things that used to get another old sociopath on this board into tantrum mode.


people who pretentiously use Thai words in English sentences when there is a perfectly acceptable English word

Obviously the fact that he's been resident in Thailand for decades and still hasn't learned a single Thai word feeds his sense of "self-loathing." That and the fact that the NHS refuses to replace his dentures with a model of his own design that facilitates sucking cylindrical objects.

So I'll ask you, how do you like the idea of catching a terrible illness, like Lou Gherig's Disease, or being in a fatal car crash, or accidentally causing grevious harm to a friend? Since we know that anyone who says what they like, without trying it first, is a moron, and we also know that you are not a moron, I know you have to try each of these experiences before you can answer my questions. I eagerly await your response, complete with answers. Good luck with the experiments!

Brandon, totally wrong again. You must enjoy it.

You originally wrote "that's one of the reasons I like Thailand", which I found bizarre as you have never been here. Had you written "... I like the idea of Thailand" that would have been perfectly reasonable, as would my liking or disliking " ...the idea of catching a terrible illness, .... etc", which requires no experimentation prior to forming an opinion. Totally different concepts.

Evidently you "know" very little, as you are proving beyond any doubt.

[x in pattaya]

I am researching a few cities, Thailand being one

Research clearly hasn't gone far yet.

Yes, you are definitely right, I'm just starting my research. Often people on bulletin boards or blogs are very helpful to Newbies or people who don't know much about a topic, although there are the obvious exceptions.

I think he was pointing out that Thailand is not a city. Similar problem as faced Sarah Palin who thought Africa was a country.


You look like an actual Thai, so I'm probably a victim of my own cultural barriers to understanding.

Using the picture of a sexy Thai guy as his avatar doesn't necessarily mean that's he or that he is sexy or Thai.

More generally I think you are grating (or "greating" as preferred by some) a few nerves, because you are clearly planning on possibly making a major life altering decision, you have wisely sought some feed back, but you reject the most fundamental advice being given you. You may in fact be one of those people who can jump into an entirely new experience and adjust without blinking an eye. On the other hand, since you have spent all your life in the US and have no idea what life is like in Thailand, you can't really claim that it won't be a problem.

Retirement alone presents all sorts of problems that many people have difficulty dealing with. Although you have lived in different places in the US, there's very little substantial difference between different cities in the US. There are substantial differences between the US and Thailand. Many of those differences are not the ones you may think matter. They will be the 101 subtle, inconsequential things that begin to scrape your nerves over time.

There are probably thousands of farang living in Thailand who knew they would have no problem adjusting and that life in the Land of Smiles would be paradise worthy of the envy of all their friends back home. This is pure conjecture on my part and not based on any valid poll, but based on what I hear, what I read on the message boards and the never-ending parade of pathetic, ridiculous farang who make the local newspapers, I'd say a clear MAJORITY of them do not make the transition very well. They turn into bitter old bitching nuisances who spend their day complaining about everything in Thailand and reminiscing about how wonderful everything was back in farang-land... and yet they never seem sufficiently driven to actually go back to the heaven-on-earth from whence they came. Their mantra is тАЬTiT,тАЭ coupled with a condescending, slightly maniacal smile.

You can believe it or not, but until you've lived here for at least 6 months to a year, it is totally impossible to predict whether you should commit to living here long term.

IтАЩve spent 35 years living in countries other than the US where I was born, and the one thing thatтАЩs been common to each place IтАЩve lived is the presence of a whole lot of expats who were extraordinarily unhappy about being there and counting the days until they could leave.

Making the adjustment (or failing to) is not like anything youтАЩve experienced тАжbased on what youтАЩve told us. Again, pure speculation, but I would say the probability that someone settles in and is perfectly, permanently happy here would be about 10%. Maybe another 30% will muddle through, most likely in an alcoholic haze, feeling happy at times and pissed off at other times. Everyone else will either cut their losses and run or remain here nursing a simmering lunatic rage that will periodically boil over to fill the pages of the Pattaya People newspaper and/or lead to bungy jumping off a balcony without a cord attached.

They turn into bitter old bitching nuisances who spend their day complaining about everything in Thailand and reminiscing about how wonderful everything was back in farang-land... and yet they never seem sufficiently driven to actually go back to the heaven-on-earth from whence they came. Their mantra is тАЬTiT,тАЭ coupled with a condescending, slightly maniacal smile.

...
IтАЩve spent 35 years living in countries other than the US where I was born, and the one thing thatтАЩs been common to each place IтАЩve lived is the presence of a whole lot of expats who were extraordinarily unhappy about being there and counting the days until they could leave.


This coincides strongly with my own experience living as an ex-pat in Asia and visiting ex-pat communities in other Asian territories, but I do have a large number of friends and acquaintances who have made the transition to contentment in Asia. I couldn't put numbers on the malcontents as they have buggered off from my social scene; and good riddance.

Most of those content have the means to return to their origin at least once a year when it becomes quickly apparent why they left. I rather think the whingers have "grass is always greener in current abode minus one" syndrome which I think with some is a sort of attempted one-upmanship play against the locals.

I am researching a few cities, Thailand being one

I love that little suburb just outside Thailand, Bangkok.

Using the picture of a sexy Thai guy as his avatar doesn't necessarily mean that's he or that he is sexy or Thai.

Well, I readily admit that I am not Thai .... the rest is in the eye of the beholder (and I think my partner badly needs glasses!).


IтАЩve spent 35 years living in countries other than the US where I was born, and the one thing thatтАЩs been common to each place IтАЩve lived is the presence of a whole lot of expats who were extraordinarily unhappy about being there and counting the days until they could leave.

I have a similar experience to you and 555, although I made the decision to live here (Thailand) after only some 15 years of living abroad, primarily in the Middle and Far East, and I was fortunate enough to avoid most of the whingeing expats (something I still do!).

[x in pattaya]

[quote="x in pattaya":181ie2p3]Using the picture of a sexy Thai guy as his avatar doesn't necessarily mean that's he or that he is sexy or Thai.

Well, I readily admit that I am not Thai .... the rest is in the eye of the beholder (and I think my partner badly needs glasses!).[/quote:181ie2p3]

Well I did leave the door open by saying "doesn't necessarily mean."

Thais are always pleased when a foreigner makes an effort to speak Thai even when we make lots of mistakes. Trying is better than not bothering..

...and that is something that differentiates the Thai from many other East Asian cultures.

Well said, Fattman.

[Smiles]

There goes 'X' again ... denigrating 'alcoholic hazes' this time. :angryfire:

Cheers ...

[x in pattaya]

There goes 'X' again ... denigrating 'alcoholic hazes' this time. :angryfire:

Cheers ...

Never! Some of my favorite hazes have been alcoholic.

[Wesley]

Great points and thank both of you.

You're right, I'm no kid! I'm 53, stopped working at 50, but thanks to the terrible US economy I've decided to go back to work for a few years to bulletproof the retirement acct. My plan's been to live on the east & west coasts of the US, and the midwest, then retire outside the US at 60 and, depending, move to another country at 70.

I'd planned on retiring to London at 60, but decided I'd like to go to go somewhere without such an emphasis on age (or a different emphasis), and where sex with cute young guys is easy to find. I'm looking at other places but I've not visited any yet, including Thailand, and figured in another couple of years I'd take a year & travel & live & have a better idea.

I realize it's more different than I can imagine, and so at times I sound like a twit, but I'm a pretty flexible guy even outside the bedroom (I think). Though extremely different in degree, I moved to Manhattan without visiting first, then to Chicago after visiting once & then to San Diego without seeing it, but my partner did. In each case I quit my job in one city & started looking for another when I got there, and am comfortable with a lot of uncertainty. However, hearing the voices of people with experience (of many kinds, I'd imagine) as I do here is, for me, a great way to start. Thanks.

Pattaya passion will be posting a Blog on the Philippines, it may be an option for you if you like to bareback, The boys here rarely use condoms unless you buy them and put them on for them. Honeslty its kind of sad, most can't afford them. It seems the goverment would do soemthing to provide them for those in the high risk catagory, like many bars do in the USA. But here I guess they would take the free ones and sell them. Anyway. Ill post a link to the blog when it is posted. They are checking it for content to make sure I have not broken some rule I am not aware of in their posting guidlines.

Wes

[Do you actually look like an X, and do you constantly rotate? So much so he's usually disappearing up his own asshole.