I experienced just the opposite- I was shocked at how much the USA had changed in just a year and a half away. When I visited briefly I couldn’t get back to Thailand fast enough!
I can believe that. Of course, it’s a rapidly changing world, and especially vis-a-vis the USA, the government has become far more intrusive into our affairs, and a lot of previously uncomplicated things are now . . .complicated.
1. Buy health insurance from a Thai company (Only a tiny percentage of western insurance companies have a direct pay to hospital agreement with Thai hospitals, which means you have to pay the bill in full and hope your insurance pays you back). Most hospitals have a list of insurance carriers who they accept direct payment from. Check out the lists from a couple hospitals you might use before signing up for insurance.
2. Keep two US bank accounts. (in case one gets closed - US banks often dislike customers who spend too much time abroad and will cut you off given the slightest excuse). Also, make sure you set up the online banking ap BEFORE leaving the US. See above.
3. Get a Thai bank account with a good ap and a debit card. Can be done with any type of visa but you may have to try a few different branches. I find Bangkok Bank the easiest but there are other good choices too.
4. Use Wise to transfer money from your US bank to Thai bank.
5. ALWAYS have a plan B. And plan C.
6. Make sure you inform your US bank(s) of your travel itinerary so they don’t decline your credit or debit card when you try to use it here. You can usually do that in the bank ap.
7. Get a Thai SIM card and phone number upon arrival. Make sure the ap is set up properly on your phone before leaving the shop.
8. If possible, try to keep a USA phone number for banking business, verifications, etc. Be aware that financial institutions actively seek to block usage of virtual phone #s for any kind of “official” changes or verifications. Even resetting a password or changing a PIN can become a huge problem if you don’t have a working US phone number that is deemed acceptable.
9. Set up a VPN before leaving the USA and use it religiously on all your devices. And setting one up from outside the US can be tricky.
10. Have your mail receiving, scanning and forwarding via email sorted before you leave. Either with a VERY trusted relative or friend, or use a commercial virtual mailbox with an address in a state that has no income tax.
11. If you’re planning on working to cover your expenses while here, make sure you have a firm grasp of Thai immigration policies, Visa and work permits. If you choose to break the rules, first understand the potential risks and consequences of doing so.
12. Thais are a completely different culture from Americans. Understand basic social and cultural protocols here to avoid possible rough situations. They have kings and queens, prime minister and other officials who took power via a coup and can be very touchy about things you wouldn’t expect. From bar security staff to motorcycle taxi drivers to Thai boyfriends to the PoPo, they WILL fuck you up if you show too much ass and get confrontational. But they can also be surprisingly forgiving and helpful if you show a little respect, humility and courtesy.
13. Most westerners find the language to be extremely difficult to learn. But give it a serious shot. You CAN get by with zero Thai language skillls, but most Thais really appreciate it when falangs at least try. Plus it’s good to know what they’re saying about you when they think you don’t understand.
14. Stay far away from toxic expats who whine about every damn trivial thing and ridicule everything Thai constantly. Not every expat suffers from this ugly disease, so cultivate friendships with those who actually like Thailand and its people.
Best not to characterize an entire company on your own very limited experience. There may be unique factors that impacted your two shipments.
I have used Kerry for dozens of shipments - every one with perfect tracking, notifications, driver contact pre-delivery and timely, damage-free delivery.
I have also had good experiences wirh the Thai post office.
At a time when millions are displaced or otherwise impacted by war, millions more facing winter with heating prices up 10X, severe food shortages, violent weather and flooding everywhere, and a nuclear power credibly threatening to unleash their arsenal on the rest of us.
Be careful - Thailand hospitals accept direct payment from insurance company from a very small and limited list of foreign insurance companies.
They will typically bill you and expect payment in full at time of service, and then its up to you to seek reimbursement from your insurance provider. Which can take weeks.
If you purchase insurance from a Thai company, much more likely they will accept direct payment from the company.
Most hospitals have a list of the insurance companies they accept direct payment from. Check the list before you purchase insurance.
I don’t get your connection between being “woke” and feelings of entitlement. Conservative whackos are far more likely to be entitled Karens than woke liberals are.
I assume your country offers the option of a passport with a large number of extra pages?
Next renewal, get one. Trying to change Thai Immigration’s stamping procedure strikes me as an extravagant waste of your time.
Not only that, but Thai immigration officials are known to get grouchy. Trying to micromanage the way they do their job is likely to lead to unexpected negative consequences. Remember that individual officers have extremely broad personal discretion in granting visas and extensions. Your hissy fit over a stamp could easily result in a denial with no recourse of a visa, extension, or re-entry permit. Seriously.
