Thai temper

[Farang]

No, I hear you loud and clear Skycop, if we are to reflect onto our planet and see the misery and injustice one might think to not stress the small stuff.
I too live a quiet simple life with my wife, work from 8am till 9pm regular, 6 days per week, sometimes finish at 11pm. I never complain because I love my profession, I'm a Chef...
But being in the field that I am logiccally I've moved around alot. Mostly for the experience to gain, not just from food but also from culture.
But you know there is one thing that struck me like a lightening bolt; I also have my own culture which I cherish.
Just like back home in Toronto, where I'm from you have people living there from all corners of the planet, name me a nationality and promise you'll find them.
Saying that, as an individual I have response to things, and as much as I keep myself aware of the situation on earth and in Thailand some things are just tough to swalllow.
As for why I'm not too happy here, well it really relates to my job. As a Chef I've already paid my dues and working here has taken away a part of the Chef that I sould be. This affects the quality I want, freshness, ect... What to do right? Right...
I too have to turn a blind eye to theft, bribes, so on and so forth...That's not how I want to continue my career, I guess to each their own.
I realize some have had wonderful exposure to wonderful parts of the Thai culture. Don't get me wrong, I have many friends and my wife is amazing, we get along so well.
Working in an environment which requires constant attention and willingness to please paying guest takes a big part of your energy. Add that to a local work force that is unhappy and demands more than they recieve. Considering by Thai standards salary and benefits are competitive, I can't help but feel unhappy to have to justify every move or consequence when in fact me and the other expat hoteliers are taking more of the ownership, even on behalf of the many that refuse to take their own.
All and all this whole "Thai temper" thing in my opinion is legitimate. This is my experience and for many as well. Perhaps there is a difference when being exposed to Thai's in differnt scenario's. I read your's and Frogblogger's humble lives and your connections with the Thai's.
Doesn't prove much too me though, sorry...I have a brilliant connection with them, hard to explain but since you live here you might know what I'm talking about.
I just need to make clear T.I.T (This is Thailand) - Good smiles, lovely people, hospitable, but also expolsive behavior, unfair attitude, violent reactions to small things.
We can go back and forth, really that's as much as I can write at this point. Even with Frogbloggers points, but it also just struct me! Sorry one last comment...Frogblogger, you're also a Farang, will be forever, you can live in Thailand for 10years. But remember you're still a "Farang" like the rest of us, never forget that.

[skycop51]

Have a real perspective and a good handle on the truths here in LOS. I can not write a huge paragraph about all that I have done/seen. Would need a book that no one would read. I have traveled wide and far, I am tired and not well. I too am in love again for the first time as John Lennon once said.
Would love to come eat at your resturant that is a real hard job. I have worked in a kitchen at a upscale establishment. Have seen how touch it is. All the best.

Originally Posted by Farang

No, I hear you loud and clear Skycop, if we are to reflect onto our planet and see the misery and injustice one might think to not stress the small stuff.
I too live a quiet simple life with my wife, work from 8am till 9pm regular, 6 days per week, sometimes finish at 11pm. I never complain because I love my profession, I'm a Chef...
But being in the field that I am logiccally I've moved around alot. Mostly for the experience to gain, not just from food but also from culture.
But you know there is one thing that struck me like a lightening bolt; I also have my own culture which I cherish.
Just like back home in Toronto, where I'm from you have people living there from all corners of the planet, name me a nationality and promise you'll find them.
Saying that, as an individual I have response to things, and as much as I keep myself aware of the situation on earth and in Thailand some things are just tough to swalllow.
As for why I'm not too happy here, well it really relates to my job. As a Chef I've already paid my dues and working here has taken away a part of the Chef that I sould be. This affects the quality I want, freshness, ect... What to do right? Right...
I too have to turn a blind eye to theft, bribes, so on and so forth...That's not how I want to continue my career, I guess to each their own.
I realize some have had wonderful exposure to wonderful parts of the Thai culture. Don't get me wrong, I have many friends and my wife is amazing, we get along so well.
Working in an environment which requires constant attention and willingness to please paying guest takes a big part of your energy. Add that to a local work force that is unhappy and demands more than they recieve. Considering by Thai standards salary and benefits are competitive, I can't help but feel unhappy to have to justify every move or consequence when in fact me and the other expat hoteliers are taking more of the ownership, even on behalf of the many that refuse to take their own.
All and all this whole "Thai temper" thing in my opinion is legitimate. This is my experience and for many as well. Perhaps there is a difference when being exposed to Thai's in differnt scenario's. I read your's and Frogblogger's humble lives and your connections with the Thai's.
Doesn't prove much too me though, sorry...I have a brilliant connection with them, hard to explain but since you live here you might know what I'm talking about.
I just need to make clear T.I.T (This is Thailand) - Good smiles, lovely people, hospitable, but also expolsive behavior, unfair attitude, violent reactions to small things.
We can go back and forth, really that's as much as I can write at this point. Even with Frogbloggers points, but it also just struct me! Sorry one last comment...Frogblogger, you're also a Farang, will be forever, you can live in Thailand for 10years. But remember you're still a "Farang" like the rest of us, never forget that.

[King Silk]

THIS is what I have been looking for! A Forum where people disagree, without being disagreeable! Try having a nice discussion like this in Thai Visa forum and the like.
All you will gets is insults!
Really nice to be a part of things here......

[frogblogger]

Originally Posted by King Silk

THIS is what I have been looking for! A Forum where people disagree, without being disagreeable! Try having a nice discussion like this in Thai Visa forum and the like.
All you will gets is insults!
Really nice to be a part of things here......

Hear hear, some of the stuff that goes on there is unbelievable.

[skycop51]

with you. There is a very informative site, but you see alot of obscene things easy to see, get insulted and subjected to rude and obnoxious stuff. Excuse spell.
The name of the site is (teak???) has good side if you go just to get info, but not discussion IMHO.

Originally Posted by King Silk

THIS is what I have been looking for! A Forum where people disagree, without being disagreeable! Try having a nice discussion like this in Thai Visa forum and the like.
All you will gets is insults!
Really nice to be a part of things here......

[oon007]

Been in Thailand 8 years now,,,,never seen a problem,,,but i do live in the Country !!!!!

[KhwaamLap]

I know a Thai that broke his wife's arm by twisting up behind her back until it snapped. Both bones in the forearm - compound fractures that came through the skin. He was stone cold sober (didn't drink). No apparant reason for such a violent action, she asked him about his trip to Udon and a certain girl who had texted her (he had borrowed her mobile) with suspicious messages ('i miss you' etc). He had been caught out and, I gess lost face, so snapped.

This was several years ago now (both worked together running a business that was sucessful back then) so no money worries or real pressure. The have been divorced for about five years again and both have new partners. She still says she fell over - I guessed straight off and both of them admitted it to me. She was ashamed and he felt very guilty about it.

Snap!

[KhwaamLap]

Double post - OK why does this keep happening? Is it MaxNet or just my laptop?

[frogblogger]

I'm on Maxnet too in CM, and that's one problem I'm not getting...

[Serendipity2]

Originally Posted by Farang

No, I hear you loud and clear Skycop, if we are to reflect onto our planet and see the misery and injustice one might think to not stress the small stuff.
I too live a quiet simple life with my wife, work from 8am till 9pm regular, 6 days per week, sometimes finish at 11pm. I never complain because I love my profession, I'm a Chef...
But being in the field that I am logiccally I've moved around alot. Mostly for the experience to gain, not just from food but also from culture.
But you know there is one thing that struck me like a lightening bolt; I also have my own culture which I cherish.
Just like back home in Toronto, where I'm from you have people living there from all corners of the planet, name me a nationality and promise you'll find them.
Saying that, as an individual I have response to things, and as much as I keep myself aware of the situation on earth and in Thailand some things are just tough to swalllow.
As for why I'm not too happy here, well it really relates to my job. As a Chef I've already paid my dues and working here has taken away a part of the Chef that I sould be. This affects the quality I want, freshness, ect... What to do right? Right...
I too have to turn a blind eye to theft, bribes, so on and so forth...That's not how I want to continue my career, I guess to each their own.
I realize some have had wonderful exposure to wonderful parts of the Thai culture. Don't get me wrong, I have many friends and my wife is amazing, we get along so well.
Working in an environment which requires constant attention and willingness to please paying guest takes a big part of your energy. Add that to a local work force that is unhappy and demands more than they recieve. Considering by Thai standards salary and benefits are competitive, I can't help but feel unhappy to have to justify every move or consequence when in fact me and the other expat hoteliers are taking more of the ownership, even on behalf of the many that refuse to take their own.
All and all this whole "Thai temper" thing in my opinion is legitimate. This is my experience and for many as well. Perhaps there is a difference when being exposed to Thai's in differnt scenario's. I read your's and Frogblogger's humble lives and your connections with the Thai's.
Doesn't prove much too me though, sorry...I have a brilliant connection with them, hard to explain but since you live here you might know what I'm talking about.
I just need to make clear T.I.T (This is Thailand) - Good smiles, lovely people, hospitable, but also expolsive behavior, unfair attitude, violent reactions to small things.
We can go back and forth, really that's as much as I can write at this point. Even with Frogbloggers points, but it also just struct me! Sorry one last comment...Frogblogger, you're also a Farang, will be forever, you can live in Thailand for 10years. But remember you're still a "Farang" like the rest of us, never forget that.

Farang,

Thanks for the interesting perspective that many of us don't ever see.

I'm wondering if part of your dilemma is your job. Obviously you love your work as a chef and must be good at it or you would have been long gone since being a chef is pretty demanding. You seem to have a great marriage too and love Thailand. So perhaps you should rethink your employment? Maybe I'm off base but perhaps not. Why not consider finding a more hospital area of Thailand to live in, raise your family - and start your own restaurant? You would then only need to please your guests and as your guests they are free to patronize your restaurant or not as they choose and you don't have to try pleasing a boss, staff and clients - sometimes an impossible task. Keep the restaurant small, simple and family - or as near to that as possible.

Perhaps Chiang Mai would be a better place to live? [OK, I'm lobbying for your relocation] but all in all a pretty nice place. You would probably find a more appreciative clientele too!

Serendipity2