Category Archives: Life in Transition

Avoiding Loneliness as an Expat in a Foreign Land like Thailand

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lonelyOne of the major personal challenges for an expat is coping with loneliness.  If you relocated to North Dakota, it probably would not be long before you made new friends and felt right at home, but if you relocated to a strange new country that speaks a language you have not mastered, with new customs that are not easily understood, it is not easy to avoid loneliness.  And loneliness can be the gateway to many other problems, including depression, despair and anxiety.

My home city of Chiang Mai is full of expats that have escaped the economic chaos and erosion of personal freedom perceived in Europe and in America, but it is not an improvement if you are alone in a new country with no one to talk with, share ideas and experiences.  It is an essential part of our human nature to have this.  In Thailand, I believe it is even more difficult with adult Western women that may be alone.  The “dating scene” amongst expats (expat guys with expat girls) is just about non-existent, but one can develop expat friends with a bit of effort.

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What does an American Expat in Thailand miss about living in the U.S.A.?

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thailand2Thailand is absolutely my home now, having gradually moved here over a period of decade traveling back and forth, and then a couple of years ago made my final return trip.  I am very comfortable in my Chiang Mai home, but like anywhere, it is not perfect.  Knowing that I have traveled extensively in much of the world, a Thai friend asked me what my favorite country was.  He seemed quite (pleasantly) surprised when I truthfully told him it was Thailand.

Just a little about me:  America is my homeland.  The first time I set foot outside of the country was when I joined the military still a teenager.  They sent me to a far off place in Southeast Asia I could never imagine (and under not so good of circumstances).  But after my war zone “tour” (what a distortion of the word), I spent another 3 years in other parts of Asia.  After the military time, I was educated in the US, built some small businesses and made California my home.  During that time, often connected to work, I was able to see much more of the world outside my American borders.  When it came time to find a home for my “declining years” (which is now), I chose Thailand.

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Straight Facts about Leaving the US with Unpaid Personal Debt

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I get this question asked by many in the US thinking about leaving the country.  Much of the info available online is judgmental and flatly incorrect, so I would like to outline the straight scoop for someone in this position.

Please note that I am NOT AN ATTORNEY, so you need to take this information as only from an experienced layman. Having been an independent and educated business person for a lot of years, almost always dealing with being a debtor and a creditor and a collector of debt owed to me, I have a more than a reasonable amount of experience in this area.  I have been in small claims courts and superior courts on both sides of the room, and have dealt with too many attorneys in my career – Expat

With the economy being run the way it is right now, there are a lot of Americans — probably most Americans — that have a debt problem.  Sometimes it can be solved with bankruptcy, sometimes not.  In most cases, you cannot file a second bankruptcy within 4 or 7 years (depending on the situation) of the first one.  Sometimes a debt cannot be relieved by bankruptcy at all (as in federal student loans).  There are situations where the thought of leaving the country seems to be the best option to escape crushing debt, but it is important to understand what you are doing and plan well.

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American Expats are Renouncing their Citizenship!

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AMERICAN EXPATRIATION By Adam Bilzerian                                                               The Bilzerian Report – 08 November  2012

reprinted with permission from the author

In 2011, more than 1,800 Americans renounced their citizenship. This figure exceeded the numbers from 2007, 2008, and 2009 combined. The US government is notorious for under-publishing the full list of Americans renouncing though, so 1,800 is likely on the low end. What is known for certain is that the numbers of Americans renouncing their citizenship have become so great in some jurisdictions that the State Department has actually scheduled mass renunciations for rooms full of people. Over the last decade, the number of Americans choosing to renounce has exponentially increased almost every year. The vast majority of these people are extremely wealthy, highly-educated Americans who are cashing in their US assets and taking their resources to more hospitable locations. At a time when the top 1% of American earners pay about 37% of all the federal taxes, the US can ill-afford to lose even a few super-wealthy taxpayers. Unfortunately, this trend will surely continue and have a significant impact on the American economy in the near future.

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Why You Need a US Passport Now! At a future point, it may be impossible to get one.

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If you are one of the 70% of Americans that does not have a passport, you better get it right now.

by Robert Wenzel - Economic Policy Journal – 19 October 2012

PapersPlease.org reports on what the State Department is planning for future passport applicants:

The new U.S. passport application forms are back, worse than ever.

Ignoring massive public opposition, and despite having recently admitted that it is already using the “proposed” forms illegally without approval, the State Department is trying again to get approval for a pair of impossible-to-complete new passport application forms that would, in effect, allow the State Department to deny you a passport simply by choosing to send you either or both of the new “long forms”.

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Cutting my Ties to the US and going to My House in Chiang Mai Permanently

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Leaving Chaos and Coming to Paradise

In June 2012, I will be cutting off the last ties to homes I have had in the US, and making my Thailand house my only home.  My last piece of property in California is about to be rented out, and then will be sold.  It is pretty much out of my hands completely now.  A big change in my life.

Here is my house which is located near San Francisco, California:

This area was once one of the more expensive housing areas of the US.  Back in 2005, this house was appraised at a value of $718,000(US) (that’s 22.25 M Baht).  In 2012, the value of the house has been appraised at $385,000(US) (that’s 11.935 M Baht).  The collapsing American economy has wiped out almost half of this house’s value in 7 years — and the wiser economists are saying it ain’t over yet.   Property taxes to the local government on this house is $4000(US) (124,000 Baht) per year.  That huge loss in the value of this house over the last 7 years was given entirely to me, the homeowner, wiping out perceived money that could have supported me for many years.  The banks that held and transferred the loan to unknown financial entities (without even paying the meager transfer tax) will not be taking any of that loss.  They don’t share that risk.

Another US Housing Collapse on the way?:  From Business Insider – 30 May 2012 KEITH JUROW: Prepare For The Coming Housing Collapse

Ah, but now it is time to completely forget the past, and look at the present and future in my life — making my Thai house my only house.  This house was built for us in 2007 and sits in a nice gated community about a 15 minute drive from central Chiang Mai.

My House in Chiang Mai, Thailand

The cost of this house was $96,775 (US) (3M Baht).  It is larger and more modern than our California house and there is no property tax.  There is also no loan, no bank, no financial hassles of any kind related to this house.  Our community has a huge swimming pool, tennis courts and other recreation, along with security guards at the gate, with home owner association dues less than $20 (US) per month.

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Meet the Lisu Hill Tribe People of Northern Thailand

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The Proud Lisu Hill Tribe travel their own path.

written by the American Expat in Chiang Mai

Right now, in this third week of January, the Chinese New Year is being celebrated worldwide.  And in Thailand, there are a very proud Hill Tribe people, the Lisu,that are also celebrating their new year.  Since they

Lisu Girl

originated from Southwest China and Tibet, they carry the same date for new years as the Chinese, and in the hills of Northern Thailand it is an important celebration.  The Lisu maintain the same Lunar Calendar that the Chinese used in the original homeland, and for four days and four nights, the Lisu villages have colorful and elaborate celebrations that outsiders are all welcome to attend.  All of the Lisu people dress in their traditional colorful outfits, with traditional dancing and feasting going on during this time.  It is an exciting event for a Westerner to attend. Continue reading →

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Thailand’s Sex Nightlife Explained

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Expat – When a farang (foreigner in Thailand) or male tourist in Thailand refers to Adult Nightlife in the Kingdom, they are more than likely talking about Thailand’s notorious Naughty Nightlife for Men.  The following report gives a good general description of what this is, and puts it to perspective.  It is really only one small dimension of Thai life, but it always seems to be of interest to Westerners. 

Thailand At Night – A Travelogue

written by J. F.  Gump

reprinted from Gather.com – 01 April 2007

Someone once said, “Once you have seen one naked woman, well, then you want to see them all naked.” That is a typical male perspective of course, but I have known a few women who probably feel the same way. I suppose it has more to do with hormones, physical pleasure, and animal instinct than procreation, but without it we would eventually would cease to exist as a species. But that is not the topic of this article; it’s only my feeble attempt to provide a reason for what follows.

First let me say that I am not a pervert. Or at least I don’t think I am. Certainly no more perverted than the average person you meet in everyday life. However, I am a human with hormones and I’m not opposed to seeing a naked lady or two whenever the opportunity presents itself. I know I am not alone or gentlemen’s clubs and Playboy magazines would not exist. Perhaps the country of Thailand wouldn’t either; at least not as it exists today.

I have been coming to Thailand on and off for the last 11 years on company business. Sometimes I’m in Bangkok; sometimes I travel to the resort city of Pattaya. On this trip, as on my last three trips, I am stuck in Bangkok. Continue reading →

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Take Off Your Shoes! some Traditions & Customs for Western Expats to learn in Thailand

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Everywhere in Thailand, as well as in some other Asian countries, it is a mandatory tradition that before you enter a house, you first remove your shoes.  The same applies to Buddhist temples, and sometimes in very small shops.  And never step on the threshold, as this is considered impolite.  Always carefully step over the threshold.  Reasons why can get a little complicated, but it has to do with the spirits in the home (which are in almost every Thai house) and stepping on the threshold could offend them and bring bad luck to the living residents of the house. Continue reading →

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Making My Decision to Move to Thailand

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When I meet people and tell them that I am working to relocate myself to Thailand, they often ask “Why Thailand?”  That’s on the other side of the world, and a world apart from life in the USA.  Here’s my story.

Chiang Mai – One of the most affordable places to retire comfortably

Consider settling down in Chiang Mai, perhaps the world’s most affordable place to retire comfortably. A retired couple can live here for as little as $1,100 per month, including rent and other basic expenses.

A frugal person could live here on much less. I know a single American man living in Chiang Mai on only $200 a month, with half of that going for rent. He makes a sport out of spending as little as possible. Another Thai American woman who bought an apartment in a small town outside Chiang Mai manages on her Social Security income alone, which is $600 a month. These are special cases, but you can live very cheaply in this part of Thailand.

House and apartment rentals can vary a great deal. You can rent a small home outside Chiang Mai for $100 to $150 a month. For a house or apartment that most American retirees would be happy living in, figure about $400 a month.

US News & World Report – Money – “6 Affordable Places to Retire Abroad in 2012″ – 29 Nov 2011

For me, Thailand was introduced to me by my wife.  She is Thai but has been living in California for a dozen or so years before we met.  We got married a little late in life (me in my mid-fifties and her in her mid-forties, and not the first time around).  I am a typical Caucasian American, and had a limited experience with other cultures.  Outside of America, experience was mainly with Europe and Mexico.  There was very little I knew about East Asia.  After our marriage, we took small vacations to Thailand every 3 or 4 months. and my wife showed me the country (“Land of Smiles) from top to bottom, and I learned to love the place.  Pretty soon all I wanted to do was learn about Thailand. Continue reading →

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