About Mike and moving to Thailand.
"I'm a 39 year old Aussie, married and with two great boys. One, Jake, was born in Oz and the other, Taj, born here in Issan.
I first came to Thailand over 12 years ago as a tourist. I was nearing the end of a world tour and I came to lay on the beach and unwind before going home to Australia. I was impressed by the friendly people, cultural heritage, cheap living and of course .. the pretty girls. I only spent a couple of months here but Thailand 'got under my skin'.
I came back in early 2004 for a 4 month holiday with the intention of finding a new 'home'. I had been working casually in the diving industry in Australia and planned to finish the last month of my holiday finding a job in the industry here and perhaps, staying on for a while.
I began my holiday in Bangkok, doing the usual sightseeing for a week or so before heading north. On the 4th day, I was walking along Samsen road from Banglampoo and decided to go into Siyan markets for a bite to eat. While I was eating I noticed a girl who was washing dishes, we exchanged glances and smiles. I started eating most of my meals there and we talked everyday (in broken Thai and English), until I traveled north.
I called her every few days over the next month, and decided to go back and spend a little time with her in Bangkok. Things were so good over the next month that I asked her to come traveling with me. Six months later we were married.
We went to live in Australia for a while and our first son was born there. While we were there I sold some property and we decided to come back to Thailand to live the Sabai life. Having lived a few different lifestyles over the years, I really enjoyed the Thai - mai pen rai / baw pen yaang attitude. I perceived it to be a 'laid back' society and the people to be relaxed and happy. I liked the idea that, for a relatively small outlay, we could build a home and business and support ourselves away from the 'rat race'.
And so it started, we made the move to Thailand.
Been living here in Thailand about 3 years now, but built a small house on land 'my wife bought' just over two years ago. I built a shop for her to sell this and that out the front and it has been doing well enough for us to stop bringing any more money into Thailand. I reckon an initial 2 million Baht outlay, has us set well enough to live a fairly sabai life. Should be a dream really and is in many ways. We are living, working and staying together as a family and life ain' t too hard here."
I first came to Thailand over 12 years ago as a tourist. I was nearing the end of a world tour and I came to lay on the beach and unwind before going home to Australia. I was impressed by the friendly people, cultural heritage, cheap living and of course .. the pretty girls. I only spent a couple of months here but Thailand 'got under my skin'.
I came back in early 2004 for a 4 month holiday with the intention of finding a new 'home'. I had been working casually in the diving industry in Australia and planned to finish the last month of my holiday finding a job in the industry here and perhaps, staying on for a while.
I began my holiday in Bangkok, doing the usual sightseeing for a week or so before heading north. On the 4th day, I was walking along Samsen road from Banglampoo and decided to go into Siyan markets for a bite to eat. While I was eating I noticed a girl who was washing dishes, we exchanged glances and smiles. I started eating most of my meals there and we talked everyday (in broken Thai and English), until I traveled north.
I called her every few days over the next month, and decided to go back and spend a little time with her in Bangkok. Things were so good over the next month that I asked her to come traveling with me. Six months later we were married.
We went to live in Australia for a while and our first son was born there. While we were there I sold some property and we decided to come back to Thailand to live the Sabai life. Having lived a few different lifestyles over the years, I really enjoyed the Thai - mai pen rai / baw pen yaang attitude. I perceived it to be a 'laid back' society and the people to be relaxed and happy. I liked the idea that, for a relatively small outlay, we could build a home and business and support ourselves away from the 'rat race'.
And so it started, we made the move to Thailand.
Been living here in Thailand about 3 years now, but built a small house on land 'my wife bought' just over two years ago. I built a shop for her to sell this and that out the front and it has been doing well enough for us to stop bringing any more money into Thailand. I reckon an initial 2 million Baht outlay, has us set well enough to live a fairly sabai life. Should be a dream really and is in many ways. We are living, working and staying together as a family and life ain' t too hard here."
When things started to change.
"Since we began living here, it has become obvious that we (farang) aren't wanted here .. just our money is. I don't think we are welcome and probably never will be - immigration policies and restrictions on property ownership are the clearest indicators of this. While these things are irritating they're not my main reason for leaving Thailand however.
My initial perceptions of Thailand and it's people have been replaced by reality. The reality that you can only come to understand by living here, interacting with the people, understanding the languages and attempting to become part of the community. There have been many personal experiences that have proved to me that Thailand and 'Thainess' has a number of serious faults which I no longer want to ignore, excuse or support."
My initial perceptions of Thailand and it's people have been replaced by reality. The reality that you can only come to understand by living here, interacting with the people, understanding the languages and attempting to become part of the community. There have been many personal experiences that have proved to me that Thailand and 'Thainess' has a number of serious faults which I no longer want to ignore, excuse or support."
What factors or events triggered Mike's decision to repatriate.
•"Last Sonogran a nice gentleman took it upon himself to fondle my 2 year olds genitals while we were at a family get together. This guy has a long history of this type of thing we are told. We complained to a policeman neighbour but were informed "this man is an important person" so nothing could, (will) be done. I am still considering my 'options' with this guy.
"
•"A few months ago a person on a motorcycle crashed into my car and I had to pay him. He was not injured (I took him directly to the hospital for x-rays and the doctor gave him an injection and a big bag of assorted pills and said "baw pen yaang" .. and his motorcycle was not seriously damaged. He was on the wrong side of the road and drunk when he decided to cut in front of me. No point in me refusing to pay as his son-in-law is a high rank policeman here in our town."
•"Two months ago a perpetually drunk teacher came to my wife's shop, abused her in front of our two boys (for not giving him credit) then when I came out of the house, abused me. My wife and I told him several times to leave, which he eventually did, only to return again minutes later. I told him again "Bai si", he refused and decided to try to push his way in through the gate (what he hoped to accomplish, I do not know). I then forcibly removed him from the property. General opinion around town is that a farang shouldn't manhandle a Thai in Thailand and certainly not a local teacher."
"I've often said to my wife when these things happen "keep chopping and the tree will fall". The drunk teacher was the last 'axe blow'. We have our flights booked and all arrangements are being made.
I'm not thrilled about going back to Australia but in reality it is a better place for our boys education and overall well being. If I were to stay here I would surely be doing an injustice to my children. On the surface, Thailand is great in many ways but underneath it has some serious problems."
•"A few months ago a person on a motorcycle crashed into my car and I had to pay him. He was not injured (I took him directly to the hospital for x-rays and the doctor gave him an injection and a big bag of assorted pills and said "baw pen yaang" .. and his motorcycle was not seriously damaged. He was on the wrong side of the road and drunk when he decided to cut in front of me. No point in me refusing to pay as his son-in-law is a high rank policeman here in our town."
•"Two months ago a perpetually drunk teacher came to my wife's shop, abused her in front of our two boys (for not giving him credit) then when I came out of the house, abused me. My wife and I told him several times to leave, which he eventually did, only to return again minutes later. I told him again "Bai si", he refused and decided to try to push his way in through the gate (what he hoped to accomplish, I do not know). I then forcibly removed him from the property. General opinion around town is that a farang shouldn't manhandle a Thai in Thailand and certainly not a local teacher."
"I've often said to my wife when these things happen "keep chopping and the tree will fall". The drunk teacher was the last 'axe blow'. We have our flights booked and all arrangements are being made.
I'm not thrilled about going back to Australia but in reality it is a better place for our boys education and overall well being. If I were to stay here I would surely be doing an injustice to my children. On the surface, Thailand is great in many ways but underneath it has some serious problems."
About what Mike feels he will be giving up.
"So apart from the dollars/baht we will be giving up, there is the time we spend together as a family. Australian life doesn't exactly allow for that type of existence. Leaving behind the things I have built for my family - house, garden, shop and furniture, will be hard, as I built everything with my own hands, for them.
We're training up the relatives here to run the shop and house .. teach them to fish and they will feed themselves .. you know what I mean. Though truthfully, I imagine when left to our family here to look after, it won't take long to fall into disrepair. Perhaps something for me to do when/if we return for 'another' retirement?"
We're training up the relatives here to run the shop and house .. teach them to fish and they will feed themselves .. you know what I mean. Though truthfully, I imagine when left to our family here to look after, it won't take long to fall into disrepair. Perhaps something for me to do when/if we return for 'another' retirement?"
Mike's preparation for repatriation
"Car is up for sale and the proceeds will pay for airline tickets, exporting some personal stuff, a spend up in Bangkok and a long diving holiday at Koh Tao just prior to leaving .. can't take Thailand's Baht out, can we!
We are going back to Australia in about 4 months, mid May is the target. Our kids are both dual citizens and my wife has been granted her permanent spouse visa .. preparations made previously, just in case we needed to jump on a plane asap.
Not sure of where we are going to live yet (North Qld or WA), so we are starting new again. I have valuable land assets in my hometown but not really interested in "going back" and using them just yet. Better left for the boys if we don't need them. So really it is a clean slate for us and the kids. A little bit of an adventure really.
We have enough cash in Oz to set us up again initially. We knew there would one day be a need to fall back on something if Thailand 'didn't work' anymore, so not too worried about living in the short term.
Long term .. 6 mo - 2 years. Will get Prem (my lovely wife) into some English and prevocational study. Like most Issan ladies her education was less than sufficient for Australian life. Her background is cooking and kitchen duties so there is work there in Oz if she needs, but she is really interested in doing something new.
I will get back into building homes and furniture initially. I am a timber furniture manufacturer/restorer by trade. It always has given me a good fall back in the past. We work well together (most of the time) in our corner shop business, so have talked a lot about continuing that trend in a small business."
We are going back to Australia in about 4 months, mid May is the target. Our kids are both dual citizens and my wife has been granted her permanent spouse visa .. preparations made previously, just in case we needed to jump on a plane asap.
Not sure of where we are going to live yet (North Qld or WA), so we are starting new again. I have valuable land assets in my hometown but not really interested in "going back" and using them just yet. Better left for the boys if we don't need them. So really it is a clean slate for us and the kids. A little bit of an adventure really.
We have enough cash in Oz to set us up again initially. We knew there would one day be a need to fall back on something if Thailand 'didn't work' anymore, so not too worried about living in the short term.
Long term .. 6 mo - 2 years. Will get Prem (my lovely wife) into some English and prevocational study. Like most Issan ladies her education was less than sufficient for Australian life. Her background is cooking and kitchen duties so there is work there in Oz if she needs, but she is really interested in doing something new.
I will get back into building homes and furniture initially. I am a timber furniture manufacturer/restorer by trade. It always has given me a good fall back in the past. We work well together (most of the time) in our corner shop business, so have talked a lot about continuing that trend in a small business."
Problems Mike anticipates after repatriation.
"We are both aware that, in varying degrees and ways, each of our respective countries has a stereotypical view of mixed race/culture marriages. It has caused us a few problems in the past in OZ and here.
In Australia Prem is going to be isolated from her comfort zone, just as I have been while living here. An Issan moo baan isn't exactly Bangkok, so occasionally an 'alien' feels the isolation when he/she has a problem and not an English speaker to be seen.
I am a little sad for her in that she will be alone, in many ways, for some time to come.
We traveled a lot together in Asia and Oz before we settled back here in Issan and built our nice little life. This time we will be doing it with two small boys in a rather less relaxed location, so I expect it won't be as 'fun' all the time.
For the boys, though they are quite young and won't remember before long, their grandparents and relatives here really do adore them. There is no such family network for them in Oz. Initially, until we have a base and life returns to a normal pace, they will be discontent, I'm sure.
The final word on problems is the return to the Oz version of the rat race and beliefs of most, on what is needed for a happy 'normal' existence. I have been traveling and living abroad for over a decade and am sure the fast lane doesn't make my wife and I happy.
Though both Prem and I dislike extravagant living and we avoid it as much as possible, making a decent life for our kids in the next couple of decades will come at a cost."
In Australia Prem is going to be isolated from her comfort zone, just as I have been while living here. An Issan moo baan isn't exactly Bangkok, so occasionally an 'alien' feels the isolation when he/she has a problem and not an English speaker to be seen.
I am a little sad for her in that she will be alone, in many ways, for some time to come.
We traveled a lot together in Asia and Oz before we settled back here in Issan and built our nice little life. This time we will be doing it with two small boys in a rather less relaxed location, so I expect it won't be as 'fun' all the time.
For the boys, though they are quite young and won't remember before long, their grandparents and relatives here really do adore them. There is no such family network for them in Oz. Initially, until we have a base and life returns to a normal pace, they will be discontent, I'm sure.
The final word on problems is the return to the Oz version of the rat race and beliefs of most, on what is needed for a happy 'normal' existence. I have been traveling and living abroad for over a decade and am sure the fast lane doesn't make my wife and I happy.
Though both Prem and I dislike extravagant living and we avoid it as much as possible, making a decent life for our kids in the next couple of decades will come at a cost."
