One of many reasons I love Thailand

[Michael C]

I just returned from a month-long period of field research funded by the National Science Foundation (US) with an American team of herpetologists working with Chulalongkorn University as the Thai coordinator, as required by the National Research Council (Thai), who granted the research permits. The senior herpetologist had contacted me earlier in the year to join them in their research; although, I ended up being placed in charge of the team, being entrusted by Chulalongkorn University to act as their coordinator for most of the period (something rarely entrusted to a foreigner). Over this time, we covered over 4,000km covering every region of Thailand with the exception of Isaan.

Over this period of time and all the distance travelled, we were only stopped once at a checkpoint, although there were many along the way; I said one word in Thai and we were immediately passed through. There is no secret to not being stopped at checkpoints- it is called following the rules and laws of the road!

The American team of herpetologists, which consisted of two university professors, a PhD student and two others in graduate school, were overwhelmed by the helpfulness of the Thai people and their what can only be described as reverence for scientific research. Twice, we were directly helped by rather high ranking government officials (เทศบาล) to where we could find our target taxa; one of those times, the government official actually arranged for specimens to be captured before our arrival. Everywhere, people where most helpful in any way that they could be, many going significantly out of their way to help us, calling me on leads that they had and refusing any payment for their help. Most of the team had worked extensively in other parts of Southeast Asia: peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. One has spent years working in South America, three worked extensively in Mexico and being American, all have done a lot of work in the US. None have experienced the graciousness and helpful attitude shown by the Thai people; in contrast, those of the other countries would only help if paid.

Because of all the help of the Thai people that we came across, our field research was tremendously successful. We were able to acquire 100% of the target taxa in 100% of the localities searched, which is a rarely attained goal in field research, especially when looking for multiple genera that are not sympatric. Although the American team credit me with the great success, it was the helpfulness of the Thai people, going out of their way to help in their reverence of scientific research that deserves the credit for our great success; I was only aggressive in seeking what was needed. These are not a long string of isolated coincidences; this is what I have experienced time and time again over the 24 years that I have coming to Thailand (often long term working with the Thai military) and exactly the types of things that I have experienced in the over 5 years of living here.

Think about this next time you are going to whine about Thailand! You would definitely not see this in any of the other countries that the forum members here originate from, yet from the incessant whining on this forum, you would never know.

[trubrit]

Michael . Thats great to hear. I wonder though how you equate your working with an American team with your statement on another topic that "You avoid contact with both American and English people .Is there a class divide between your work colleagues and those of us that have chosen to live here ?

[Michael C]

There is no class divide; I have yet to meet a herpetologist that became rich from that profession and I am certainly not rich. I do find too many of the people that come to live here as simply malcontents that would claim to have numerous problems if they were dropped off in paradise itself; at least, that is how it appears on this forum.

[trubrit]

As a herpetologist you should know that in nature many creatures are not what they appear to be. The same applies to forum members as well .

[BKKSTAN]

Michael C.,I find your post very interesting and i am glad you have such success in your relationships with Thais.The fact that you are engaged in scientific work,obviously admire their culture and customs,working with and for the Thai gov't,probably has you meeting and socializing with a ''different'' type of Thai than most of us and possibly helps you not experience or ,maybe,notice some of the things many of us ''whine'' about!

I get from your posts,an elitist attitude towards us that''whine'',live a different lifestyle than you within the community of Thais and possibly might not meet your ''intellectual standards'',especially those that might not accept Darwinisn as the answer regarding out personal spiritual beliefs!

The truth is that you do your credibility a doubtful service when you ''whine'' about how we process our frustrations or problems verbally,seemingly not accepting the fact that it is therapeutic for many emotionally because you don't do it for that reason.Thus your elitism,you think you are better than us!Labeling others that are different than you as ''malcontents''!

You compound your lack of credibility with your story about no stops or attempts at extortion by the police while on your trip!Not that it didn't happen the way you said it did,but that you are saying that if we were not breaking the law,we wouldn't be stopped.In saying this,you are in fact saying that we that have had different experiences than you,bring it upon ourselves ,while you don't because you never break the law!Plus there is in inference that the variables in the equation are the same except for the law breaking and ,of course,your ability to speak polite Thai in a nice respectful way!It is amazing that there are no 2-3 man ''money stops out there when you are driving!

I contend that your experience would not be the same ,if you were driving my car,with a Isaan Thai woman as your passenger,instead of a vehicle with Gov't appointed researchers!

There is no doubt that when that scenario played out for you,you would not report it to us,because then you would be a ''malcontent'' also,perceiving that the reporting of corruption would be a negative about Thailand instead of a positive ''heads up'' for others!

I am cynical from my experience,have lived here a long time permanently and will die here unless I am asked to leave before then.

I like being here very much !I enjoy my relationships with most Thais and many falangs,most being very superficial and polite!I am a great neighbor,I support my neighborhood businesses and Nong Khai is a neighborhood community for me.I have absolutely no problems living in this town and I do experience some inconveniences with other parts of living in Thailand,as I think most people do in any other country ,with you as THE exception!

Thanks for your post,it is great to have a perfection as an example! =D> =D> =D>

[BobHelm]

I also find some aspects of your post rather strange Michael.
I have also had the opportunity to work in a number of different countries, with a number of very different cultures & communities. Not in a scientific field, but in commercial ones.
The one thing that I have noticed is that generalizations are all too common, and all too mistaken.
To believe that 1 race or culture has all the 'edges' over another is indeed a poor way to see life.
To see that all native people that occupy a certain small bit of the globe all have exactly the same traits is also mistaken. The same customs, yes, the same 'heart' or good (or bad) intentions - no!!
To believe that all things Thai are above criticism and that there is not maybe a better way of doing it is also incorrect.
You only have to read the new thread on here about " Tragic death of Pregnant Mother" to see that there are failings here as well.
If none of your Thai friends bitch & complain to you about some of the inadequacies of the social, political or education system in Thailand then, frankly, I am amazed as all mine have at one time or another.
If the good things did not out weigh the bad then I would NOT be in Thailand - so that is obviously not the case. However I fully reserve the right to have a gripe about some of the things that I find disappointing in my new home. Do I expect Thai people to jump up & down & agree & then change & do things my way - no I do not. It would be good if they thought about it though & wondered if maybe there was not a better way of doing somethings. that is called progress, which all Nations need....

[tom1941]

you travelled all that way and did not go to asean shame on you , so I take it you did,nt see thailand ,thats the reason there is the split it is one country not two.please include everyone, can,t you see what these little words do just like
Scotland and England/ Ireland/ korea/
Veitnam/ etc Broaden your outlook Khun Tom