Comments on: My Childhood in Canada vs. My Son’s Childhood in Thailand https://www.gregtodiffer.com/my-childhood-in-canada-vs-my-sons-childhood-in-thailand/ Stories, rants & observations about expat life in Asia's craziest city Wed, 31 May 2017 14:13:18 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 By: Greg https://www.gregtodiffer.com/my-childhood-in-canada-vs-my-sons-childhood-in-thailand/#comment-1241 Wed, 31 May 2017 14:13:18 +0000 https://www.gregtodiffer.com/?p=5160#comment-1241 In reply to Uncle Tony.

Thanks Uncle Tony, yes, your dollar certainly would go further here – Canada is so crazy expensive. I think they would be able to get nice rounded bi-cultural experiences in Canada too, but maybe not to the same extent as in CR.

]]> By: Uncle Tony https://www.gregtodiffer.com/my-childhood-in-canada-vs-my-sons-childhood-in-thailand/#comment-1240 Wed, 31 May 2017 08:25:57 +0000 https://www.gregtodiffer.com/?p=5160#comment-1240 Good -Greg. Very personal and thoughtful. Recently, I’ve been thinking about returning to Canada from Chiang Rai with three-year-old Sara and baby John, five months. But I think we can offer them a better life here. One reason is my pension goes a whole lot further here than it would on Vancouver Island. But another reason is that here they will be raised bi-culturally and may end up speaking Chinese, which could be an important language in their lifetimes. Chiang Rai is a medium-sized city with all the facilities we need but without the crowding, noise and pollution of Bangkok.

]]> By: Greg https://www.gregtodiffer.com/my-childhood-in-canada-vs-my-sons-childhood-in-thailand/#comment-1218 Mon, 10 Apr 2017 07:30:31 +0000 https://www.gregtodiffer.com/?p=5160#comment-1218 In reply to Mike.

Thanks Mike, that’s interesting. I can’t imagine moving back to my hometown after so long in Bangkok, I’d be bored to death too.

]]> By: Mike https://www.gregtodiffer.com/my-childhood-in-canada-vs-my-sons-childhood-in-thailand/#comment-1213 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 06:40:11 +0000 https://www.gregtodiffer.com/?p=5160#comment-1213 When my kids were young, we visited my mother back in Smalltown, South Texas. I grew up there and have great memories. However, my kids were bored stiff and couldn’t wait to leave. Different strokes I suppose.

]]> By: Greg https://www.gregtodiffer.com/my-childhood-in-canada-vs-my-sons-childhood-in-thailand/#comment-1123 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 07:31:18 +0000 https://www.gregtodiffer.com/?p=5160#comment-1123 In reply to Jesse.

Hey Jesse,

There’s always a possibility, although it would be with a different co-host. Tony is fully immersed in Japan these days. But it does come up every once in a while. If we go ahead, I’ll be sure to make an announcement. 🙂

]]> By: Jesse https://www.gregtodiffer.com/my-childhood-in-canada-vs-my-sons-childhood-in-thailand/#comment-1122 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 00:54:29 +0000 https://www.gregtodiffer.com/?p=5160#comment-1122 In reply to Greg.

Yeah, it’s a complicated scenario having children in Thailand.

P.S. Any chance of the Bangkok podcast coming back? I enjoyed listening to that show.
Do you still keep in contact with your old co-host? I see he made some Japan podcasts, but they seem to have ended too…I guess life gets busy.

]]> By: Greg https://www.gregtodiffer.com/my-childhood-in-canada-vs-my-sons-childhood-in-thailand/#comment-1114 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 08:58:17 +0000 https://www.gregtodiffer.com/?p=5160#comment-1114 In reply to Jesse.

Thanks Jesse, good question, and it’s definitely a big issue. We can’t afford an international school – even the very average ones can cost US $8,000+ per year, and top-tier ones can easily hit US $30,000 per year or more – for primary school! Thankfully there are lots of good options here – alternative schools, bilingual schools, private schools – that come in many shades of quality and price range.

True, if we moved back to Canada education is (almost) free and world-class, but that raises a ton of other questions, like what would I do for a job? My wife has a good job here, but she wouldn’t be able to match it in Canada as a non-citizen. And sure, education is free, but other costs (rent, food, etc) would be 4x what I pay now, unless I moved to the middle of Manitoba, which isn’t really that appealing. And while I’m proud to be Canadian, my home is in Thailand, and I’m not ready to leave yet.

It’s complicated issue and I guess all you can do is put together the best plan you can with the resources you have.

]]> By: Jesse https://www.gregtodiffer.com/my-childhood-in-canada-vs-my-sons-childhood-in-thailand/#comment-1113 Mon, 01 Aug 2016 00:30:38 +0000 https://www.gregtodiffer.com/?p=5160#comment-1113 What about your son’s education?
Are you planning on placing him at an international school in Bangkok?
As I’d imagine he’d get a better education back in Canada and cheaper too!

]]> By: Greg https://www.gregtodiffer.com/my-childhood-in-canada-vs-my-sons-childhood-in-thailand/#comment-1112 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 15:03:55 +0000 https://www.gregtodiffer.com/?p=5160#comment-1112 In reply to Paul Jorgensen.

Thanks Paul, that’s nice. I agree with you, a parent’s enthusiasm is what really turns a kid on. Looking back on the post I forgot to mention how much I like Bangkok and what a unique and culturally dense city it is, with many, many more options for immersive, ‘worldly’ experiences than I had. But the safety, the social systems, and the fairly care-free lifestyle is something that he probably won’t have if he decides to stay here.

]]> By: Paul Jorgensen https://www.gregtodiffer.com/my-childhood-in-canada-vs-my-sons-childhood-in-thailand/#comment-1111 Mon, 25 Jul 2016 08:55:11 +0000 https://www.gregtodiffer.com/?p=5160#comment-1111 I thought a lot about this raising my son in Washington DC – I grew up in the blinding whiteness but natural beauty of Salt Lake City. The key was not to give my son my SLC upbringing, but to engage him in the wonders and diversity of his birth town with all of the genuine “aha” excitement a father can bring. Having lived here for only a bit over a month, I can hardly wait to show my now 22 year old son the unique sides of Bangkok when he visits. Just remember, everywhere you show your son with joy and humor will ensure that he will always look back to with fondness for Bangkok and, of course, an appreciation for a wild, excitable dad.

]]>