Expats v Tourists Behavior

[old-timer]

Heres something that I find interesting. You can put two people of the same age nationality and background side by side, one being an expat and one being a tourist - why is it, generally speaking the expats behavior is so different to the tourist. Tourists seem to go berserk where as expats are a lot calmer and controlled ?

OT....

[Billg]

Hi OT
I dont believe there is a difference, the tourist has only 4 weeks to get every thing done (drinking, womanising, spending his money), The expat has a year or longer so dosnt look so bad standing next to the tourist.

Do you think Im on the right lines???

Bill

[jimboLV]

Billg I was just going to say about the same thing. In addition, one thing I've noticed about many expats here is that they are a different personality type than most non expats. After all, it takes a special mindset and a certain amount of courage and self assurance to venture afar and start a new life. Some of my friends back home expressed envy at what I was doing. When I told them they could do the same it was always a horrified "Oh no! I could never go live in a strange country." Another guy where I worked, a 50 something bartender said "I want to be like you when I grow up!", after I told him about life over here and showed him a picture of my fiancé. He pretty much said the same thing. Although he was envious, he couldn't even think of making the move.

[old-timer]

Hi OT
I dont believe there is a difference, the tourist has only 4 weeks to get every thing done (drinking, womanising, spending his money), The expat has a year or longer so dosnt look so bad standing next to the tourist.

Do you think Im on the right lines???

Bill

Yes Bill, I see what you are saying, however, there are a lot of expats who do the drinking, womanising and spending money at the same rate as a tourist but in a more controlled way, in fact I know some tourists turn up with a backpack, not much money and still create havoc, buying their beers out of 7/11 and puking in the night market in front of the locals.

OT...

[Texpat]

After all, it takes a special mindset and a certain amount of courage and self assurance to venture afar and start a new life.

How romantic.

I was about to suggest it takes low morals and no standards to accept a second-rate life in a dirty, banana republic. Most expats are the wretched refuse from civilization, scratching out a meager living in exile.

There are expats of all sorts, just as there are tourists of all sorts.

[jimboLV]

After all, it takes a special mindset and a certain amount of courage and self assurance to venture afar and start a new life.

How romantic.

I was about to suggest it takes low morals and no standards to accept a second-rate life in a dirty, banana republic. Most expats are the wretched refuse from civilization, scratching out a meager living in exile.

There are expats of all sorts, just as there are tourists of all sorts.

I guess it all depends on who you hang around with. Birds of a feather and all that.

[rick]

Yes, plenty of flotsam and jetsam in Thailand. Just need good quality control in who you associate with! Your behaviour is noted by the locals; it is another country, fit in, you can do very much as you like as long as you are discreet. if too many obnoxious types, Expats will just be treated as a source of income (like Pattaya?), not a part of the community.

[jackspratt]

After all, it takes a special mindset and a certain amount of courage and self assurance to venture afar and start a new life.

How romantic.

I was about to suggest it takes low morals and no standards to accept a second-rate life in a dirty, banana republic. Most expats are the wretched refuse from civilization, scratching out a meager living in exile.

And just where are you living at the moment, Tex(pat)?

[Khun Paul]

Most expats are the wretched refuse from civilization, scratching out a meager living in exile.

While I might be ridiculed for replying to this obvious wind-up by a person who I do not know and in all truth would not want to, I find it offensive and downright inaccurate statements like this that colour the locals ( those who read this ) attitude to both expats and tourists.

I agree that many of us have blended in and tried to make base here mixing with both locals and opur fellow travellers from around the world, some living out in the deepest outback have few farang friends and regularly do the trip to Udon for a meal and chat.

I rteally have not thought of any differences between Us and them as it were, very white legs spring to mind and possible drunkeness in the morning as well as the evening, can be a sign of a visitor, but in all honesty I really haven't given it a thought.

Maybe there is a difference , may be I do not frequent those places which highlight the differences, but as I stated at the oputset, I do take umbrage at the remarks by texpat, wherever he lives, may he stay there.

[jimboLV]

Yes KPaul I to thought it to be an obvious windup and hesitated to respond.
But there is some truth in what the Tex(pat)says. I was in Chiang Mai last week on Consulate business, and since my appointment was for 1:00 PM, I had the morning free so wandered about the town in the morning, and frequently encountering an obvious farang, clad in shorts, tee shirt, ball cap, sandals and brown mid-calf socks, clutching a can of Chang with a rather vacuous expression on his face . I shuddered at the sight. I wondered at the time if this might be texpat, or his alter ego.

[Welshboy]

I am a tourist. I wear shorts,T-shirts/shirt,sandals,base ball hat,sun glasses.

I enjoy. The Ladies,beer,massage,culture,sun.

I am always happy and respectful to everyone i meet.

Yes i do like a drink and have some fun. [i am on holidays]

It is a lot better than going around with a rod up my ass, complaining about other people.

[Texpat]

My point is merely to provide balance to unbalanced, self-aggrandizing posts.

Not every tourist is a scummy drunk, ignorant and obnoxious. They're not all beserk.
Just as not every expat is a highly respected Thaiophile educated in the finer points of Thai culture. They're not all extraordinarily special, courageous or self assured.

These sort of blanket descriptions rarely work. There are expats of all sorts, just as there are tourists of all sorts.

[thrilled]

I guess you could call me A tourist even though the first time I was at udon was in 71.I watch myself.I don't get drunk.I respect the average thai.I do like to have fun and maybe raise A little he__ but try and keep it under control.

[Tilokarat]

We should be beholden to Texpat for...no, wait, let's start this sentence again. We should praise the Lord that Texpat has graced our presence to offer...no, no, no, that won't do either.

Texpat is a good source of mirth, and has added some needed balance to this thread. There is truth in what he says in his posts here, not the whole truth, but enough of it to rattle some cages, and to show there is no one stereotype that fits all tourists or all ex-pats.

It would be nice if Old-Timer could define his stereotypes of 'tourist behaviour' and 'ex-pat behaviour' with a bit more precision.

So three cheers for Tex...er...un...un...un

[pompui]

It would be nice if Old-Timer could define his stereotypes of 'tourist behaviour' and 'ex-pat behaviour' with a bit more precision.

Agree and good that O/T has found himself again with posts,instead of the oneliners with 'working for the community' etc