@Gene ********

That’s exactly what I thought.

@Simon *******

Are they within their rights? They’re asking for documents that aren’t on the official list.

Following

@Ron ******

I know someone who cleared an overstay at the Aranyaprathet crossing.

I’m a “qualified teacher” (Master’s degree) who did a year in Thailand. Yes, a key reason why I left to teach in Japan was the crazy bureaucracy at all levels. But I never got the impression that it was caused by racism. Thai people have to deal with the same whenever they deal with the government.

And Thai people suffer indirectly from the red tape with visas and schools and agencies. Since people with options are put off teaching in Thailand, schools frequently have to scrape the bottom of the barrel to get anyone in the classroom at all. Thai students lose out when they have to learn from alcoholic sexpats who are only teaching because they can’t do anything else. You complain about foreign men in Thailand, but you don’t really have to associate with or rely on those kinds of people if you don’t want to.

Since Thai schools are so desperate for teachers that they’re willing to keep such lowlifes (absolutely nothing against boozing and whoring, but please don’t do it when you have people relying on you the next morning), it’s hard for me to believe that teachers get fired for suggesting common-sense ideas. Ignored yes, but fired?

Actually given what I saw foreign teachers put the agencies and schools through, I can’t blame them for becoming jaded with foreigners. And I didn’t really see much prejudice against foreigners anywhere else in Thailand.

The same goes for gossip: I never saw Thais gossip more about foreigners than they did about each other.

You talk about feeling like Thai people are stupider, but remember that foreigners in Thailand are a select group who inherently have broader horizons than most. There are lots of dumb and narrow-minded people in every country I’ve visited, including my home country of Australia.

And as for sugar in the food: I personally like my som tam and fruit shakes with on sugar, and it was the easiest thing in the world to ask the sellers not to put it in.

Even though I can’t see myself working in Thailand again, I’m glad I got the chance to experience it, because I got to see a side of life I otherwise never would have got to see. And I still like the place and enjoy visiting from time to time.

Take Chiang Mai (or anywhere in Northern Thailand) off your list unless you can get away from there for a few months around March-April.

@Duncan ******

Yeah but the law’s crazy. It’s foreigners that will be held responsible, but what are they meant to do if their landlord refuses to file the TM30?

@Nongnuch *******

But it’s not the foreigner who complies or does not comply with the law. They have to get the landlord to do it and many landlords don’t.

@Fasya ****

Thanks for the tips!

@Carsten ***********

That’s a relief 😌