That's the other thing that gets to me. Too many Thai people assume all westerners are wealthy and have disposable income to share. I am a US Navy veteran and have always struggled with making money. I barely have enough for myself but I am seen as an American who should share his wealth...wealth I don't have. They don't understand that the cost of living where we come from is also higher so it's not that different than here. We make more but we have to spend more too.
I have also heard never assume you can fight one Thai guy that seems weak because they protect each other. So if you fight one, others will come help him. This is different from America where people just video record the fight and nobody helps. 😛
Just be careful out there and choose your battles wisely. I heard about a taxi driver taking an American where he wanted to go but then the driver asked for more money and they fought. The driver ended up killing the guy with a machete or sword. And he only wanted like one extra US dollar. It's not worth the fight sometimes.
Exactly. I feel like it takes major dedication and time to learn it. And my wife and I have been dealing with the stress of sorting out our separate lives, trying to make it one, while also dealing with family health issues. And I have little energy to focus on learning a new language. I just pick up a sentence here and there. Hopefully one day it sticks. But I listen to my wife speak thai for an hour or more on the phone and it just drives me insane. It's like hearing crazy noises that make no sense to me for a solid hour. 😅
Yes, I have never understood this about these types of drivers and restaurant owners in Asia. They trick foreigners into paying more and if they do this, then word-of-mouth will spread and they will lose business. It's better to get many small sells than one big sell. They do not understand this.
How long did it take you to get a good grasp of thai? It drives me nuts. After 2 years it still sounds like just a lot of fast noises instead of words.
Many motorcycles piss me off in Bangkok; not for prices but for their driving. I've had many get way too close to me when I am walking as far away from the street as possible. I almost slapped the helmet of one driver from reflex because he sped an inch past my leg. And they will drive right into you in parking lots too. They seem to not care if they hit you or not. They leave it up to you to move or get hit.
Using agents for visas is always risky. My Thai wife used one for her US visa application, which I warned her not to. The agent used info she was not told to use and US immigration knew it was suspicious. They denied my wife's visa. It's best to do these things yourself and tell 100% truth.
