StevenHeidbriderSr 58 Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Looking for comments about what I have noticed in the Nong Khai area when I go to Tesco, Global etc.. I say hello and smile but the Farangs I meet for the most part want no part of what would be normal banter at home. They seem Gruff and unhappy in a situation where one would think they would be more than happy to converse with a fellow Xpat. Maybe they are hung over or something I don't know But I just HAD TO ASK. P.s I did meet a one Canadian at Makro that was very friendly and Outgoing. Link to post Share on other sites
IsaanAussie 1,687 Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Doubt you are alone in finding this sort of reaction. I'll bet the Canadian is more at peace with his life here than some poor souls that seem to spend most of their time holding the closet door shut for fear the skeletons will escape. I am 17 years older than my wife of twelve years, and no, we didn't meet on the ballroom floor of a five star hotel. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post David48 10,662 Posted May 23, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted May 23, 2013 Why, on Earth, do you think that they wish to acknowledge you ... let alone interact with you? Relevant just before the 1 minute mark. If that same person (you mention in your OP) was back in your home country and you met them in a TESCO/WalMart etc ... would even engage in eye-contact ... we both know the answer is no! So why, once you have made the great swim across the pond, do you think that the other person shares anything in common with you? It's actually a racial comment in your OP because you are making a decision based on skin colour. You OP says more about yourself then others. Just relax. If you wish to make friends from your Culture ... great ... but picking them up in TESCO maybe not the smartest strategy. Yep ... I know where my coat is. 7 Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post IsaanAussie 1,687 Posted May 23, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted May 23, 2013 Hi Dave. Mate I think you have this wrong. Neither the OP or the people referred to are in their home country and in Issan there is as many miles between farangs as there are in the Top End where Dundee came from. Live here all year and see if your attitude changes. Hogan's character is outgoing and typifies people who are not surrounded by their peers everyday. Visitors always welcome here. 4 Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post Carib 2,099 Posted May 23, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted May 23, 2013 (edited) What bothers me is that during the rest of the day these miserable gits will probably post on TV... Oops, I forgot; Have a nice day... Edited May 23, 2013 by Carib 3 Link to post Share on other sites
IsaanAussie 1,687 Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Sad, but keeps the brain active.There are many farangs here that IMHO are living "Groundhog Day" lives. 10am go buy Bangkok Post, 12pm go restaurant to met the boys, 4pm home and computer..... Drive me crazy. Asked a guy what he was up to and he said he had a doctors appointment Friday week. That is the main event in 10 days? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
stiggy 407 Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Every time I go to tesco it's to shop a task like many people I find boring and just wish to get it over with.If I wish to socialise I go to cofee shops, bars, resturants,town squares or other known places that people meet to exchange ideas or strike up conversation. Guess there is a time and a place for everything, a complete stranger trying to strike up conversation,whilst I'm getting elbowed by the natives in the veg dept weighing queue.Just because I'm white or foreign will generally get the p-ss off I'm Russian act. No offence meant but that's my take on it. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
manarak 5,966 Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Looking for comments about what I have noticed in the Nong Khai area when I go to Tesco, Global etc.. I say hello and smile but the Farangs I meet for the most part want no part of what would be normal banter at home. They seem Gruff and unhappy in a situation where one would think they would be more than happy to converse with a fellow Xpat. Maybe they are hung over or something I don't know But I just HAD TO ASK. P.s I did meet a one Canadian at Makro that was very friendly and Outgoing. That's because they don't live in Pattaya... 5555 Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post canuckamuck 30,609 Posted May 23, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted May 23, 2013 I find that the times when I have befriended the extroverts, I have had to work to get rid of them later. That being said, if you meet me in the mall and you talk to me, I will talk to you. But I Usually won't encourage it going any further. Too many people carrying extra baggage over here, and I just like having my carry on. 8 Link to post Share on other sites
fatfather 381 Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Doubt you are alone in finding this sort of reaction. I'll bet the Canadian is more at peace with his life here than some poor souls that seem to spend most of their time holding the closet door shut for fear the skeletons will escape. I am 17 years older than my wife of twelve years, and no, we didn't meet on the ballroom floor of a five star hotel. ... so you are 29 and she is 12..... no reason to smile, rather strange Fatfather Sent from my phone 2 Link to post Share on other sites
stevo2 95 Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Posts like this make me chuckle. I can just imagine everyone going shopping in the UK, USA , Canada, or where ever saying "Hello" to everyone. You'd be in the supermarket forever. Just a side note. Do Thais say "hello" to every Thai that they see in BigC too? Link to post Share on other sites
JLCrab 9,146 Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 My guess would be that many who arrive in Isaan do just as the gent in Post #1 has commented. But over the years, after you've been stung enough times, you smile and be friendly but then, 'Sorry, I'm running late to catch a train." Link to post Share on other sites
Payboy 7,113 Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 It must be because of Tesco, Global, etc. Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post Michael Hare 558 Posted May 24, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted May 24, 2013 Posts like this make me chuckle. I can just imagine everyone going shopping in the UK, USA , Canada, or where ever saying "Hello" to everyone. You'd be in the supermarket forever. Just a side note. Do Thais say "hello" to every Thai that they see in BigC too? When Thais are overseas they fall over one another trying to make contact, eat Thai food and talk in Thai. Not all but many. They have this circle of Thai friends, regardless of background back in Thailand. The main difference with Thais overseas and farangs in living in Thailand, is that most Thais are happy living overseas but with a lot of farangs here in Thailand they are not generally that happy. They are here because it is cheap. It is increasingly difficult to live on a pension back in their home countries. 5 Link to post Share on other sites
wayned 5,817 Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 Every time I say hello and smile to the only Farang that lives near me he says hello and smiles back! Mirrors are wonderful! 2 Link to post Share on other sites
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