Thai opinion: The difference between a house and a home

[webfact]

STREETWISE
The difference between a house and a home
Achara Deboonme

BANGKOK: -- Shelter is recognised as one of the four basic needs for survival. But as we know, a shelter is not a home until those who dwell there feel they belong.

In prehistoric times, shelters were makeshift structures to protect against wild beasts. As humanity evolved, they became more sophisticated, with walls of wood, then finally bricks and cement for more security.

Domestic tools and appliances also grew in sophistication, bringing greater convenience for families. And recent years brought the trend for home decorations.

But however sophisticated a shelter - even one with secure walls, modern appliances and décor - it's not a home if the dwellers don't feel they belong. Harmony and peace between those under the same roof is the key ingredient, and that can only be achieved with love and mutual understanding.

Thailand was once a big home. "There's fish in water and rice in the fields" goes the old adage, describing a bountiful land of yesteryear where most people felt contentment and belonging.

That underlying happiness also fed the spontaneous hospitality that draws millions of visitors from around the world. But stripped of our famously warm welcome, the forested mountains, white-sand beaches and elegant temples would lure very few tourists. (Witness Brazil, where fear of being kidnapped is making visitors think twice about travelling to the World Cup.)

Notably, last year saw foreign visitor numbers to Thailand reach 20 million for the first time.

But the Land of Smiles has since had a change of face, with domestic strife bringing frowns. Once, we greeted even strangers on the street with a "sawasdee". That gentle greeting is heard less and less these days. So too the question "Have you eaten anything yet?" and the spontaneous concern for others it displays. Now, preoccupied with other things, we have no smiles left for our fellow Thais. We still greet foreign visitors with genuine warmth, but how long this lasts is anyone's guess.

Why the change? If it had taken place within a family, the finger might be pointed at a new, troublesome neighbour. But for us, the culprit is right here at home - in the widening inequality we can see all around us. Thailand now could be likened to the home of a lord in bygone days, full of children from several wives. The children of the second, third and fourth wives hold lower status but naturally yearn for equal care. A neighbour comes and offers these "inferior" kids sweets. Why wouldn't they take them?

According to World Bank: "Poverty in Thailand is primarily a rural phenomenon, with 88 per cent of the country's 5.4 million poor living in rural areas. Some regions - particularly the North and Northeast - and some ethnic groups lag greatly behind others, and the benefits of economic success have not been shared equally, especially between Bangkok, Thailand's largest urban area, and the rest of the country. Income inequality and lack of equal opportunities have persisted. Income inequality, as measured by the Gini coefficient, has fallen in recent years, but stays consistently high above 0.45."

The Gini Index measures the deviation of distribution of income within an economy, and in 2009 ranked Thailand even worse for income gap than Cambodia. (http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI)

This trend runs counter to the country's economic growth curve. Thailand's gross domestic product expanded by 9,459 per cent, from Bt133 billion in 1970 to Bt12.7 trillion in 2013, according to International Monetary Fund data.

Many Thais' income has risen accordingly. And the proportion of those living below the poverty line has reduced substantially - from 20.9 per cent (13.79 million people) in 2007, to 13.2 per cent (8.79 million) in 2011. Yet, by region, that figure is much higher in the North and the Northeast, the political stronghold of Thaksin's clan.

Thailand's rapidly expanding wealth has yet to secure a better life for all.

According to NationMaster, a global data compiler, only 35.3 per cent of Thai children pursued higher education in 2000, compared with 72.6 per cent in the US - the world's biggest economy. In Bangkok, a substantial proportion of children go on to university. That is far from being the case in rural villages.

The past decade has seen several poverty-reduction programmes introduced, including the universal healthcare scheme, village fund, pension payments for the elderly and the education loan fund. Unfortunately, all were poorly implemented, including the rice-pledging scheme. We thus need to admit that our system of monitoring for such programmes is weak. Most of us believe corruption is widespread, but how many charges of verdicts against graft have actually been landed?

In the broken family, one member is trying to restore harmony. Yet, stopping the supply of sweets from the neighbour alone won't help, as new neighbours with meaner intentions will surely surface. Redesigning the home won't help either, if all family members aren't given a say in the changes. The first wife's children should show compassion for their half-siblings, while the children of other wives should learn how to compromise.

Without this, inequality and a feeling of rejection will remain. Some of the inferior kids may be lucky enough to find prosperity elsewhere. But no people anywhere in the world really want to leave home if they can avoid it.

If we don't get to the root of our problems, misunderstandings will only flourish, and our sense of homeliness will disappear further for both the family and its visitors.


-- The Nation 2014-05-27

[nabbie]

The difference between a house & a home = the difference between a mind & a heart.

[BSJ]

2 paragraphs worth spun out to 2 pages worth! Ay corumba!!!

Edited May 27, 2014 by BSJ

[MMarlow]

2 paragraphs worth spun out to 2 pages worth! Ay corumba!!!

Absolutely nothing spun out to 2 sentences.

[Lunchbob]

Very well-written. Bravo.

[jaltsc]

"... it's not a home if the dwellers don't feel they belong. Harmony and peace between those under the same roof is the key ingredient, and that can only be achieved with love and mutual understanding."

I suppose this article wasn't written for the sake of expats who have decided to make Thailand their home. We will have to be satisfied with living in a beautiful house and with the small minority of Thais who have accepted us and are willing to share their lives and culture with us. That being said, I believe more people's lives would be enriched by more acceptance and sharing from both sides. But, then again, if people aren't willing to be compassionate with their neighbors, why would one expect them to be any more compassionate with "outsiders".

.

Edited May 27, 2014 by jaltsc

[belg]

in thailand, you can buy a house, but thanks to the law, it will never be your home

basic human rights to own your own house & business , and a right to work, not overhere

[JohnnyJazz]

The past few month have been an eye opening for the "green" expat that I am in Thailand.

I have to say that I love the people in the street. They make me feel comfortable, welcomed, safe. I used to carry a gun, I haven't apply for a license yet.

Unfortunately I'm a democracy lover. And to say that I've been disappointed by a number of my fellow expats and my "educated " local colleagues is an understatement.

I understand that given the current situation, I have to be careful with what I say. I have faith in the younger generation. A friend of mine who has been for more 40 years said to me that when he arrived there was only the riches and the poors. I can see the young middle class growing and I like it. Lets hope it's the last time Thailand has to go through a coup to solve its problem.

[Mentors]

What an exciting story. Remembers me more and more to the great newspaper 'New Light Of Myanmar',back in the 90s.

Edited May 27, 2014 by Mentors

[JohnnyJazz]

in thailand, you can buy a house, but thanks to the law, it will never be your home

basic human rights to own your own house & business , and a right to work, not overhere

Thailand is a landlord society. They haven't developed any other economy. They own the land, they rent it, that's how they make money. Think about it ...

[Nickymaster]

in thailand, you can buy a house, but thanks to the law, it will never be your home

basic human rights to own your own house & business , and a right to work, not overhere

Slow down with your human rights complain. The examples you give have nothing to do with it.

You can rent a house or apartment. You can buy an apartment. You can open a company and own 49% of the shares. You can work with a work permit.

[rreddin]

in thailand, you can buy a house, but thanks to the law, it will never be your home

basic human rights to own your own house & business , and a right to work, not overhere

Slow down with your human rights complain. The examples you give have nothing to do with it.

You can rent a house or apartment. You can buy an apartment. You can open a company and own 49% of the shares. You can work with a work permit.

quod erat demonstrandum. You have proved the point belg was making.

[JohnnyJazz]

In traditional Thai society, you used to have two classes. The land owners and the peasants.The peasants was of course uneducated. The educated landowners were employed in the administration, army ... very classical, There was a problem, a class of work that was not suitable for the educated elite and even less for the unedecuted peasants : business, traders of all kinds. Here come the Chineses who little by little infiltrated the Thai society.

The problem is very fast this merchant class is running the country. Problem

The Thai society has tried its best to integrate the "chineses", it even succeeded to avoid the race war. But the problem of the landlords who own the land but don't contribute to the prosperity of the country can't last for ever

[MaaTini]

not 100% complete, but one of the best writing about the Thailand of Nowadays IMHO

[Mister Max]

in thailand, you can buy a house, but thanks to the law, it will never be your home

basic human rights to own your own house & business , and a right to work, not overhere

It is also the right of a sovereign state to develop its own policy. Foriegn money could easily price homeownership out of the reach of Thais.

[Loles]

in thailand, you can buy a house, but thanks to the law, it will never be your home

basic human rights to own your own house & business , and a right to work, not overhere

.... air-ticket ?

[Cuchulainn]

Never mind indoor plumbing, an indoor bog, electricity, lockable doors and windows. A Thai house isn't a home until you have a 50' plasma TV blaring in the corner.

[schondie]

TL;DR

The difference between a house and a home is quite simple - a house is where I keep my mistress and a home is where I keep my wife

[Thai at Heart]

So there is massive income inequality in thailand

What to do?

Let's pump money and subsidies into the countryside to lift them out of poverty.

Naaahhh. That might cut the country in half and spark a coup.

The difference between a house and a home. In Thailand you can sell a house, but you can't sell a home.

Edited May 27, 2014 by Thai at Heart

[Fat Haggis]

Never mind indoor plumbing, an indoor bog, electricity, lockable doors and windows. A Thai house isn't a home until you have a 50' plasma TV blaring in the corner.

Brilliant post, it's made me snort coffee all over my screen, as I can 100% relate to this post..

The difference between a house and a home, a house is a nothing more than a possession, a home is a work of art.

[DrTuner]

Almost same as the difference between extensions of stay and PR.

[Cuchulainn]

Never mind indoor plumbing, an indoor bog, electricity, lockable doors and windows. A Thai house isn't a home until you have a 50' plasma TV blaring in the corner.

Brilliant post, it's made me snort coffee all over my screen, as I can 100% relate to this post..

The difference between a house and a home, a house is a nothing more than a possession, a home is a work of art.

Glad to be of service!!

[bigbamboo]

A house is where people live in Thai television soaps..... lihe a show home with everything spotless and no paraphernalia like magazines, personal knick-knacks or children to clutter up the place and spoil the design lines.

A home is where the rest of us live.

[perriwinkle]

I can only put down to the influence of western culture, (or as it's called civilization) that comes to Thailand via media, and westerners who come to live in Thailand. Why would Thailand has junk food restaurants of all kinds? To serve the need of western people, that's just one example.

I live most of my adult life in the western hemisphere after moving there at a young age. I hardly see neighbours talking to each other much, or greeting each other, or strangers on the streets. Children stay inside their houses most of the time. Parents teach them to beware of strangers when most often time the crime committed against them is from their own family or someone they know.

I believe some Thai people, not all, adjust themselves accordingly to the imposition of the western culture. Thailand today is not the same as Thailand I've known 60 years ago.

[Bellacissa]

The difference between a house and a home is quite simple - a house is where I keep my mistress and a home is where I keep my wife

So. Much. Truth. I might have to get this put on a bumper sticker.

[MAJIC]

In traditional Thai society, you used to have two classes. The land owners and the peasants.The peasants was of course uneducated. The educated landowners were employed in the administration, army ... very classical, There was a problem, a class of work that was not suitable for the educated elite and even less for the unedecuted peasants : business, traders of all kinds. Here come the Chineses who little by little infiltrated the Thai society.

The problem is very fast this merchant class is running the country. Problem

The Thai society has tried its best to integrate the "chineses", it even succeeded to avoid the race war. But the problem of the landlords who own the land but don't contribute to the prosperity of the country can't last for ever

"Here come the Chineses who little by little infiltrated the Thai society."

"Haven't you got the cart before the horse here" The Thais are descendants of the Chinese,so the Chinese were in Thailand first!

[Thai at Heart]

In traditional Thai society, you used to have two classes. The land owners and the peasants.The peasants was of course uneducated. The educated landowners were employed in the administration, army ... very classical, There was a problem, a class of work that was not suitable for the educated elite and even less for the unedecuted peasants : business, traders of all kinds. Here come the Chineses who little by little infiltrated the Thai society.

The problem is very fast this merchant class is running the country. Problem

The Thai society has tried its best to integrate the "chineses", it even succeeded to avoid the race war. But the problem of the landlords who own the land but don't contribute to the prosperity of the country can't last for ever

Indeed, there was another country with a class of rent takers similar to Thailand today.

It wasn't pretty.

[peterquixote]

To state that the article by Achara Deboonme is partisan, is the first truth.

The article is an emotional load, without the resource of evidence or maturity.

First up Achara, the visitors to Thailand were 25 million plus, but down this year, for reasons that may elude you.

The rest of her column a sad little piece of work , whining about the wealth and income gap

and without evidence for suggestion, or any possible remedy.

That is that this post claptrap , without intellectual or evidential merit.

Maybe she thinks the Pheu Thai party was there to help the inequality,

her post is weak I think she is very young, attended University and is without life experience .

Edited May 30, 2014 by peterquixote