guaranteed how to overcome a broken heart
"The experiences of" flow "(7) – Living Well? Farangs and Finance: The Myth"
"Prosperity: The eternal flow of all that is good in life … "
By Carl "JC" Pantejo, Copyright January 2008
(Author "My Friend Yu – The Prosperity Mentor, "Copyright August 2007. Pantejo – Yes Vurce Publishing.)
* Below is the seventh in a series of real life events experienced by the author. The only deviations from the truth may be the names of people and places. These stories are also incorporated in "My Friend Yu – the Prosperity Mentor: Book II, "Pantejo – Yes Vurce Publishing. Release Date: 2008.
– The Myth of Farang Finance —
There is an unwritten rule about the cost of anything in Thailand: There is a Thai price and a price of Farang. Since the Thai believe that "all farangs are rich," the price of everything Farang is much higher (sometimes triple!).
Of course, this is a myth.
But why the Thais believe that all farangs are rich (including the "poor" Farang English teachers)? For many reasons. But they can all be placed into three broad areas: tourism, foreign exchange and standard of living.
– The Tourist Syndrome —
Like most of Asia, Thailand attracts tourists from all over the world.
Plan and save future tourists all year for your holiday in the tropics. The warm sunny climate, lush green landscapes, exotic cultures, beautiful, friendly people are just some of the many reasons by millions of tourists to Thailand.
While on vacation, most tourists, from ignorance or intention, willingly spend what local people Thais consider "small fortune".
Wallets and purses are opened more freely during your vacation.
Therefore, especially in the large cities of the main tourist sites in Thailand, most Thai people believe that farangs are rich because all they see tourists are free of charge.
What the Thai people do not realize is that most farangs "rich" working like dogs all year round to move a lot of money during their short visits to his country, having a great time playing their individual fantasies of celebrity.
– "A Clothing Farang in Thailand "(The double-edged sword) —
Tourists and expatriates enjoy the shade to the strength of their home currency against the Thai baht. By example, one USD = 33-35 Thai baht. This situation makes things seem ridiculously cheap.
Food, lodging, and all the vices known to man are easy to obtain for obscenely low prices. And, of course, the longer it remains Farang in Thailand, more than he / she will learn to buy things that are closer to the local Thai price.
Case in point: I have been in Thailand for about two years. I take my Asian appearance as much as possible by keep your mouth shut and let my Thai friends do all the haggling.
All vendors assume that I am a local Thai (to start talking about). I I do not say a word until operations are complete. This "not a word," habit of silence that I usually save between 30-50% in all markets local restaurants, bars, hotels, tourist attractions, etc.
It is frustrating for my non-Asian, Farang friends (especially those who have been in Thailand And more than I speak fluent Thai) whenever we're together. Everyone from the front desk to the taxi driver I spoke in Thailand and I'm supposed to translate what they say of them.
And, of course, prices for me are automatically lower.
When we are out of bars and singing karaoke, we women find me as a rare catch, indeed, a "double bonus" – not only am I a "rich" Farang, I look Thai is easily presentable to friends and family is extremely important in Thailand.
Do not misunderstand me.
Yes, there are many advantages of being a Farang Y looking Thais, but there are also disadvantages. It's a double edged sword cutting both ways. For example, I am an English teacher. Teachers of English in Thailand is supposed to look like farangs (ie, white skin, tall, brown or blond hair, light eyes, etc.).
Many times during my stay in Thailand, I have been rejected for a job because "it seems too Thai."
Once I applied for a teaching position at an international school where many of my friends Farang worked. They had a college degree. I have an MBA and was enthusiastically received by the Director of Employment.
But then a co-owner of the school saw me and immediately told the hiring manager to offer me a position at half pay FARANG NORMAL! In other words, although with more education, qualifications and experience of my fellow Farang friends, co-owner thought it "seemed too Thai" to keep the normal Farang payment.
I do not blame the co-owner. You see, parents of students in English pay a premium for English classes and want "Real farangs" teaching the class!
If parents do not like any teacher, only one of two things may happen: 1) The professor is excused (which is the standard) or 2) The parent has the student in another place for English classes taught by "Real Farang" teachers (which does not happen often).
– Culture Shock and live comfortably: Farang Style —
Let's face, to visit a place for a holiday compared to living in that place are two very different things.
Despite having a heritage of Asia through a local in any country in Asia, I (like all ex-pats) still suffered a severe culture shock when I decided to live in Asia.
Anyone who has lived in Asia can feel empathy.
Things are rarely on time. The Asians, with a perverse delight, apparently, are characterized by farangs keep waiting, or worse, does not appear at all. Without prior notice of cancellation. No remorse if you should happen to bump into them later.
There is a saying among us farangs in Thailand, "If you and agree an Asian in the morning to meet at 4:00 PM, the next question should be: What week? "
And what Westerners regard as "basic and normal" is considered "luxury" by most of Asians.
Clean, continuous water is not a guarantee. I've lived in many places in Asia where water jets are dried for hours every day. The smart thing to do is keep a large garbage can full of water all the time in the bathroom. Thus, even if the stream is exhausted, they can pull the chain (a western style toilet sitting or an Asian-style porcelain squatting "bowl stand) and at least take a bath.
Not clear, adding the electricity is rare. "Brown out" occur frequently. Each home is equipped with candles and flashlights for such occasions.
Locals only took it easy and have fun with the old art of conversation or, if you're lucky, even the older (and more fun) art sex. But most farangs are "forced" to "relax" and go along – even if hours of computer work I have vaporized into the ether!
When brownouts occur, people struggle to turn off all appliances (in preparation for the power of tides that occur when power was finally restored). Televisions, computers, stereos and routinely become irreparable harm by tides of these.
These minor annoyances "," tend to accumulate.
Find real toilet paper napkins in restaurants becomes vice a pleasure. Some semblance of health conditions in restaurants and other public places (ie: food, minus the flies and the smell of sewage – "Ahhh … the mist of urine and the smell of dog excrement ") makes one feel like a VIP!
Good roads, roads that do not threaten to throw you off his bike with every bump, make the "war driving" a little more tolerable.
Honest (or at least semi-honest) and also businessmen and policemen would be nice once in a while – and and the list goes on and on …
All the reasons given most farangs directed toward obtaining a standard of living they consider "normal" by Western standards, but is, however, a rule which seems very generous to the local Thai people.
Naturally gravitating to living areas more closely matching their usual level of life farangs aspect of cleanliness, comfort and convenience. This translates into apartments, condos and homes that can cost triple the monthly salary of normal Thai person.
Fortunately, since qualified farangs are scarce, wages Farang Thailand tend to be just enough to support some "tolerable" level of life of a Farang, a standard of living that seems totally bizarre by the standards of Thailand.
Who are not accustomed to (or willing to acclimate to) heat, farangs find places that have air conditioning. Most locals can not (or not) "waste" their money on air conditioning units and accompanying costly electricity bills high, perfectly satisfied with one or two electric fans.
Routinely farangs like to eat in restaurants, especially restaurants that are clean and offer a variety of Thai and international cuisine. Local Thai or cooking at home or eat at one of the street, many food stalls, thinking that eating in a restaurant is another extravagance reserved only for special occasions.
So Farang soon as you can afford to buy a car (or at least a motorcycle), while most of the Thai population cheap public transport (bus, Train, metro, taxi or motorbike). Travel by taxi is considered expensive and used mostly farangs and richest in Thailand.
All this (free-spending tourists power of currencies, and a life of luxury), reinforces the myth that ALL Thai farangs must be rich!
Continued … on "Experiences of" the stream "(7) – Living Well? Farangs and Finance: The reality, stupidity, and hard knocks."
"Until next time, find "upstream" and "Jump In! "
Your friend in this journey called life Intrepid
Carl "JC" Pantejo
Note: If want to read more about overcoming fear, unconditional love, exorcising past personal demons, and the secret of happiness illusory, please read the following Articles:
"The experiences of 'flow': From Heartbreak to Happiness"
"Experiences of" the flow " (2): Coincidence or Synchronicity: Relapse to miracles … "
"The experiences of" flow "(3): Lost and Found – Kindred Spirits and mistakes made in haste. "
"The experiences of" flow "(4): Lost and Found – Meant to Be?"
"The experiences of" flow "(5):" The Stray "
"Experiences of" current "(6): "New Beginnings, Old end '
"How dare you! Out of desperation I have learned to forgive"
"Remember Who are you!
"The need to heal your broken heart? Keep reading. Illusive Overcome Heartbreak and learn the secret of happiness."
(By Carl "JC" Pantejo Internet and published in all, the keyword: [title of article] or "Carl Pantejo")
Pantejo@ynvurcepublishing.com
About the Author
About the Author:
He is a retired U.S. Military veteran. Believing that school was too boring, he dropped out of High School early; only to earn an A.A., B.S., and MBA in less than 4 years much later in life – while working full-time as a Navy/Marine Corps Medic. In spite of a fear of heights and deep water, he free-fall parachuted out of airplanes and performed diving ops in very deep, open ocean water. He went to Thailand 1 year ago for a week’s vacation, fell into a teaching job, and has never left!
Carl “J.C.” Pantejo
Pantejo@ynvurcepublishing.com
Founder, Y.N. Vurce Publishing
http://www.ynvurcepublishing.com
