Do you miss home?

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mrnicey1966
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Do you miss home?

Post by mrnicey1966 » December 14, 2009, 3:25 am

Do you stayers miss your home country , you will probably say that thailand is your new home but deep down you must admit that your country of birth is your real home , the country you grew up in , the country where your parents , relations and friends live or lived .
you will never be accepted on an equal level as a natural thai and what happens if you cant financially support yourself , will you be able to claim benefits ?



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Laan Yaa Mo
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Re: DO YOU MISS HOME

Post by Laan Yaa Mo » December 14, 2009, 3:38 am

Your question is disjointed because you wander off from the original issue of missing home to venture into other issues such as equality, poverty and benefits.

Maybe it would be better to start four different threads: 1) do you miss your home country? (2) Is it possible to be treated on an equal level to a natural Thai (or even Sino-Thai)? (3) what do you do if you can no longer support yourself financially? (4) Can non-Thais claim benefits?

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BKKSTAN
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Re: DO YOU MISS HOME

Post by BKKSTAN » December 14, 2009, 3:58 am

Well put Tilokarat! =D>

Philrjones
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Re: DO YOU MISS HOME

Post by Philrjones » December 14, 2009, 7:53 am

Well, I'll take the "do you miss home" question!

I think to a large extent it depends on your makeup and individual circumstances. Yes I miss home terribly - but home for me is Udonthani. I'm currently in Aussie, but my wife and kids are there, so hence I miss it. But I miss everything else about it too. Things like the balmy nights sitting at an open air restaurant, sipping a cold one, eating fantastic food - having a beer with some mates, wearing shorts and t-shirts all the time, never being cold, the ease at which you can go see a doctor, dentist, go for a haircut, get the car serviced, wandering around the night market etc etc. I really appreciate it more when I come back to my previous home.

Re makeup and individual circumstances - I'm a fairly independant person, so when I left the UK to work in Europe for 4 years, I didn't miss "home" (the UK) at all, and home became Belgium. Then in 2000 I left the UK again and my family and returned to Australia (having been raised there) and again I didn't (and don't) miss the UK at all. When I'm in Udon, I don't miss Australia even though my parents and siblings are now there having all emigrated again.

Others may find they do miss home - that being the place they come from - but others may not, or just certain aspects of it. It helps being able to get the little things in Udon such as HP sauce, decent sausages etc and yes when I'm there I think of my family (parents etc) sometimes. But Udon has become home despite the difficulties of fitting in and learning about the culture, ways and norms and that is where I choose to live. I guess it comes down to home is where the heart is and mine is certainly in Udon. I love being there in Thailand and I all I can say about being somewhere else is that I "like" it - there sure is a difference.

Cheers
Phil

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jackspratt
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Re: DO YOU MISS HOME

Post by jackspratt » December 14, 2009, 8:39 am

Good response Phil.

I tick many of those boxes as well (other than being a Pom for a while :shock: :D ).

I miss my kids and grandkids from time to time, but there is not much I miss about Sleepy Hollow (aka Perth). And when I visit Perth, I am always happy to get back home. \:D/

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Shado
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Re: DO YOU MISS HOME

Post by Shado » December 14, 2009, 10:55 am

Honestly, I rarely think about my home in the United States. I still have a house and property there that is looked after by my sons. Unless someone mentions it, or during some holiday or celebration time, I will go for days or weeks without even thinking about people, activities, food, shopping or play back home.

I’d lived and worked in foreign counties before retiring to Thailand. Adapting to a different culture and accepting things as they are has not been difficult at all. As far as eating goes, the availability of western food continues to grow at an astonishing rate. The difference between what was available four or five years ago and what you can get now is really amazing. I always liked to eat Thai food and I’ve noticed that as time goes by I actually enjoy some of the really hot and spicy Isaan dishes that I that were a bit too much a few years ago.

I agree with Philrjones and jackspratt. Udon is my home and this is where I am most comfortable. I have no intentions of leaving Thailand and I have no regrets for moving here in the first place. I truly enjoy spending time with the wife, trying to learn the language, understand the culture, going fishing, and living a fairly stress free life in a warm climate with nice people. And yes, for the most part I find the people here to be decent, honest and considerate. My good experiences far outweigh the bad.

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BKKSTAN
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Re: DO YOU MISS HOME

Post by BKKSTAN » December 14, 2009, 7:46 pm

I miss having longtime close intimate friends!I miss being part of a majority versus being a part of a distinct minority.I miss my hot tub jacuzzi and pool to cool out in.I miss living near the ocean.I miss my Mustang convertible.
But I don't miss any of enough to leave Thailand.I went for a visit about 8 years ago and probably won't visit again! :D

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parrot
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Re: DO YOU MISS HOME

Post by parrot » December 14, 2009, 9:57 pm

If I missed home, I wouldn't live here. If I felt like a second-class citizen because I couldn't own land or vote or because of the color of my skin, I wouldn't live here. My wife and I came here because we wanted to enjoy a relaxed lifestyle in our retired years....within means of our pension/savings. Udon offers that and much much more. Take us out of Udon for a few days, and we miss home.

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Galee
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Re: DO YOU MISS HOME

Post by Galee » December 14, 2009, 10:06 pm

I don't intend to return to the UK, but never say never. The plus's far outweigh the minus's for staying in Thailand but here are a few of the things I miss.
My son and parents.
Long daylight hours in the summer
The beauty of the countryside
Decent TV
Biscuits
Mums Sunday roast
Being able to converse with everyone.
Obviously there are other things but these come to mind now. It would be far easier to write a list of things I don't miss.

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KHONDAHM
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Re: DO YOU MISS HOME

Post by KHONDAHM » December 14, 2009, 10:18 pm

Ditto all above. I am currently "working" back in the USA. I would rather make the 26 hour flight back home to my wife and daughter in Thailand than the 45 minute drive to where I grew up.

When I am home in Thailand, with few exceptions, life usually is "perfect" and I dread the passing of each day because that is one more day closer to when I have to go back to dealing with life in the USA...

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Re: DO YOU MISS HOME

Post by globalwanderer » December 14, 2009, 10:44 pm

Sorry but my home is in Thailand, and in particularly rural Udon.

My country of birth is not my real home and has not been for years. Before moving finally to Thailand I lived in many countries outside the UK and would go back to the UK in preference of any of them.

Like many I've planned for my life here. Worried about not being accepted... I find that once you are willing to embrace them they reciprocate. It is a wonderful place and the last place I want to be in back in the country where I was born... it is not my home country, Thailand is.

A bit like the old... you can choose your friends, not your family saying

YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR HOME, BUT NOT YOUR PLACE OF BIRTH.

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Re: DO YOU MISS HOME

Post by Wisdom » December 15, 2009, 2:45 am

I haven't left home yet, but it is interesting to read of those that have made the move to Thailand. In UK, Australia is the most popular place to emigrate to. My eldest daughter's best friend has just moved to Perth in Aus. She and her partner love it there. (compared to London i'm not surprised) However, as jackspratt has gone from Perth to Udon area and feels that's better, perhaps instead of Perth, they should have gone straight to Thailand, and cut out the middle man!

I agree with many who think it has been a great move, but that some things are missed, like close family links, long summer daylight, HP sauce! It all has to be weighed up, and i think on balance, that next year i will retire to Thailand. However, is there a limit as to how many HP sauce bottles you can bring through Thai customs! :roll:

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KHONDAHM
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Re: DO YOU MISS HOME

Post by KHONDAHM » December 15, 2009, 4:23 am

PhilR wrote:it has been a great move, but that some things are missed
REAL American hot dogs and TV dinners, and markets that sell cake mix AND real frosting (still amazes me that they carry cake mix but never the frosting). :confused:

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MALC
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Re: DO YOU MISS HOME

Post by MALC » December 15, 2009, 7:21 am

iam born in uk spent many yrs in south africa. retuned to uk. now retired been in udon 2yrs ame back on 23 sept still here see specialist 22nd dec. i have hated it every day since been back. there is no comparision to udon. i know udon has some bad points but there are way more bad points here in uk i promise u

STARS
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Re: DO YOU MISS HOME

Post by STARS » December 15, 2009, 7:33 am

Good reading here.

I miss Udon. Only lived in Udon for about 2 years and the place has got me.
Been back in the US for over a year and it is cold, snowing, and sad.

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Shado
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Re: DO YOU MISS HOME

Post by Shado » December 15, 2009, 7:35 am

PhilR wrote: "is there a limit as to how many HP sauce bottles you can bring through Thai customs!"

HP sauce is readily available here. No need to tote any through customs.

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Texpat
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Re: DO YOU MISS HOME

Post by Texpat » December 15, 2009, 2:49 pm

I don't have a "home" to miss. Lived in several states growing up -- none for more than five years. Spent nearly my entire adult life abroad. My family is scattered across the US.

I currently live here. It's my home.

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UdonExpat
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Re: DO YOU MISS HOME

Post by UdonExpat » December 15, 2009, 6:39 pm

I am home.

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Khun Paul
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Re: DO YOU MISS HOME

Post by Khun Paul » December 15, 2009, 8:59 pm

What a question, does one miss the old country, homestead or pad, whatever, well in truth i expect many of us feel on occasions that 'Back home' would be better then here, when the Immigration are difficult, when the Political situation gets a tad serious, when we are ill.
But for many years I have always said 'Home is where I rest my head' right now that is Thailand, udon Thani, but in years to come it may be quite different, smae country different town, or even diffeent country, one really does not know what is around the corner.

Missing home is a quaint expression that indicates we have a place we call home elsewhere, many of us who have lived here for a number of years do not have anywhere else to live or even to call home as it were, sure we all have families or relatives who would on occasions love to see us, but living there thats a no no.

So toi be succinct, yes I am sure we all miss 'Home' but do we wish to change our situation....No thanks.

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virginprune
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Re: DO YOU MISS HOME

Post by virginprune » December 16, 2009, 1:01 am

to quote Don Van Vliet...."my head is my only house unless it rains" I have not made the full move yet but at this time I can think of nowhere I would rather be than Udon :D

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