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Forcing Yourself to Feel Lost Again is a Good Thing

Momma always said that it’s very easy to get in what she called a ‘comfortable rut’, and she was right. After a while in any job/location/relationship/yoga position, you get comfortable; staying where you’re at is easier than moving on, and consequently, a lot of people never bother to change their situation. A drastic shakeup is usually not necessary, but a quick metaphorical head-shake is usually a great idea. That’s why as an expat, despite the fact you already live in an exotic land, it’s important to get out of Dodge every once in a while and get your compass realigned.

Greg2016-11-17T15:48:34+00:00Asia, Bangkok, Culture, Thailand, Travel|0 Comments

Sexpats, Thai Stereotypes, and the Pleasure in Avoiding Them (the Stereotypes)

There are always tons of stereotypes for any situation/person/country, and even the best of us can’t help but fall victim sometimes. Indeed, I'd be a lot more nervous going on Jeopardy! if I was up against an Asian kid with glasses than I would against an unshaven dude from Alabama wearing a wifebeater. (Let's be honest, I'd probably lose to both). But in a country like Thailand, where political correctness has yet to take hold make an appearance, stereotypes are everywhere, and most have to do with ‘the sexpat’. Often times, they’re true, other times, they’re anything but. I know, because I’m (thankfully) a freak when it comes to many of the stereotypes in Thailand.

Greg2016-11-17T15:48:35+00:00Asia, Bangkok, Culture, Thailand|19 Comments

Five Great Non-Christmas Christmas Movies for Expats

thumb Christmas is a special time for everyone who grows up in a western country. For me, it's a time of chilly nights, warm fireplaces, heavy snowfall and quality time with family and friends. I love Christmas; it's my favorite time of the year and has been since I was wee. But when you're living overseas, it's not as easy as simply jetting back for a few days; plane tickets are expensive and in many places, such as Thailand, December 25th is simply a regular workday in a regular week. So, what's the best thing to do? You want to avoid overloading yourself with reminders of what you're missing but still get a taste of home. With that in mind, I picked five of my favorite Christmas movies that give you a healthy dose of Christmas cheer but distract you with other movie goodness so as to avoid leaving you a wine-soaked lump of homesick wretchedness.

Greg2016-11-17T15:48:36+00:00Asia, Culture, Holidays, Thailand|0 Comments

Careful! That DVD May be Fake!

The longer you live overseas, the bigger the chasm between 'normal' in the motherland and 'normal' in your new adopted home becomes. The things that seemed crazy, strange, unique, weird or even offensive when you first moved here eventually become normal, and it's often hard to remember which aspect of your new life your friends back home would find odd. I was struck with this feeling today when I read a Wired.com article on an MPAA press release instructing people how to detect counterfeit DVDs. How cute.

Greg2016-11-17T15:48:40+00:00Asia, Bangkok, Movies, Technology|0 Comments

Self-Censorship in Thailand

zip2 Free speech has the ability to make you behave in much the same way that a child does after a bowl of sugar-coated Corn Flakes - once you've tasted it, going back to how you had it before is a kick in the head. Be it a rant against The Man or a punch-bowl full of sugary goodness, it feels good to exercise our freedom to speak and/or eat. (It's in the Constitution, I checked). So it was interesting a while back when something happened and I thought to myself, "I should put this on my blog" but then decided against it. But the thing that stuck in my craw was the reason I decided against it.

Greg2016-11-17T15:48:46+00:00Asia, Culture, Politics, Print Media, Technology, Thailand, Web Media|0 Comments

Some Amusing Reading – “A Description of Siam in 1829”

thumb4 If only I was as interested in history in high school as I am now, I may even have passed a class or two, instead of getting stared at by teachers bewildered as to how I made all the way to 16 without killing myself in a tragic fruit accident. At any rate, it's a topic that sure interests me now, and one that I occasionally give a boost by doing some reading. I thought it would be neat to put up some snippets of a letter that I just finished titled A Description of Siam in 1829 by Frenchman Barthélemy Bruguière. I normally stick to more 'accessible' fare (coughArchiecough). but had some time to kill, and ended up really getting into it. It's an interesting - and slightly funny - read.

Greg2016-11-17T15:48:46+00:00Asia, Culture, Education, History, Religion, Thailand|0 Comments

Is That Résumé Legal? In Thailand, Probably.

help There are many, many things in Thailand that make you do a double- or triple-take when you see them for the first time. Your brain says, "There's no way that'd be allowed back home!" But then you realize that TIT (This is Thailand) and not everything works the way it does in the motherland. And not even crazy stuff like police bribes or mobs shutting down airports - I'm talking about little things. Dudes hanging from a rope painting the side of a building... secretaries in high heels walking on rutted sidewalks oblivious to buses whizzing by six inches away... construction workers in flip-flops... pit-stains at board meetings, etc. Another thing that's likely to jump out at you if you stay here long enough is the info you're expected to divulge on a resume.

Greg2016-11-17T15:48:47+00:00Asia, Thailand|5 Comments

An Afternoon With a Tea Master

Like many big cities with a strong 'crossroads' element, Bangkok is a place where cultures, personalities, and histories merge into one big socio-economic stew. There exists almost unlimited opportunities to see things you've never heard about; experience things you've never thought of; and talk to people you never would have met otherwise. It's a hell of an opportunity to learn some pretty cool stuff. At a recent lecture at the Siam Society, I met a gentleman named John Toomey, an American who is, ahem, steeped in the ancient and intricate tea ceremonies of Japan and Korea. He very graciously invited myself and a few others to his house to take part in a tea ceremony, and this is how it went down. A warning - if you don't really dig tea or cultural nuance, this post might be a bit long for you.

Greg2016-11-17T15:48:48+00:00Asia, Culture, Food|3 Comments

An Olympic Scrap at the FCC

That a country like China can claim the international prestige of hosting the Olympics is pretty ridiculous. I won't bother getting into their flagrant human rights abuses, censorship borne of a fear of knowledge and unmitigated arrogance on the world stage; that would be redundant. The question sometimes comes up as to whether someone with the same views as me is anti-China or anti-Chinese government. For me, the answer is most certainly the latter. China's long history and complex culture is one that any country would be proud to have; I have nothing against China or their people. It's their frightened, power-hungry, abusive government that has to go. Last night I had the privilege to attend a talk at the Foreign Correspondent's Club here, with a panel consisting of representative of the Chinese government, a former monk and student of the Dalai Lama, a member of the Free Tibet Network, and a journalist with extensive Chinese/Tibet experience. It was entertaining to say the least.

Greg2016-11-17T15:49:03+00:00Asia, Current Events, Politics, Religion, Thailand|0 Comments