Why did you move to Thailand? That is the $1,000,000 question. I get asked more times than I can remember. There are a bunch of reasons I will talk about here. Everyone has their own opinions about why they leave their own country and why they prefer another. I can only speak from my experience.
The Food
I have worked around food and food service my entire life, since I had my first job at 16 years old. Ever since I began traveling outside ‘merikkkah my palate and taste buds continued to get educated and expanded. The cheeses, wine and charcuterie in Europe are their specialities. The savory pastries, ceviche, stews, beans and potatoes from South America. But, South East Asia? I’ve never seen such a selection of raw products anywhere in my life. There is such a quantity of dishes made from these raw products as well.
The Thailand government has minimal involvement in terms of rules and regulations for people who want to start a food business or sell grandma’s sweets. Think of it as a lemonade stand on every street corner. There is so much regulation in ‘merikkkah which keeps many people from selling food to the public.
However, with not much regulation here in Thailand, the expression of “let the buyer beware” is highly active. There are no regulations for refrigeration times/temperatures, three bay sinks, health inspections. I think it’s much safer to frequent busy establishments because I can be more assured of the turnover and freshness of the food. If raw items can be peeled and items can be served hot, it also adds to the safety.
There is so much fear in the world. Because it’s part of the human condition. The same people who sell the panic, sell the cure. I think that is the nature of the insurance industry and politics in general. It’s also really easy to succumb to the fear around food-borne illness when much is unfamiliar and very different. (I digress 😉
Family Values
My father landed in a nursing home after a surgical complication and never left. I contemplated quitting my job and moving into his home to take care of him. He wanted to die in his home. I wanted to make that happen for him. I was torn. He told me not to quit my job and he would be ok. I wasn’t sure what the right thing to do was. I still don’t know if I made the right decision.
Elderly parents are hardly ever alone in Asia. There are children who willingly take on the responsibility to care for their aging parents. Many people look at me being alone without children and a partner as a liability in my life. Who will care for you when you get sick? Many landlords are the first ones to realize some foreigners’ death before any friends or family.
Many of my favorite experiences during my travels were being invited to participate in family events. The Sunday gathering around the BBQ. The grandmother’s and mothers joyful cooking for the family. Working on the farms producing healthy fruits and vegetables. Generously trading and giving from the abundance of nature.
Just writing these few paragraphs brings up emotion and tears. The joy of being able to experience these kinds of values. With hopes I will be able to cultivate them for myself as my Uncle Jonny did. The joy is accompanied by the sadness and grief from the loss of my father and the dissolution of my own family.
Real Freedom
“The land of the free and the home of the brave” is a line from the United States national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” It represents the values of freedom and courage that are often associated with the United States. The phrase highlights the idea that the U.S. is a place where people are free to pursue their dreams and where individuals exhibit bravery and courage in various aspects of life.
But is that really true? The concept of the “american dream”? Or just another piece of propaganda so people get completely bought into capitalism?
Thailand makes it easy for me to make the choice to live here. From immigration visas, buying a motor vehicle, to an abundance of inexpensive housing and food. There aren’t patrol cars policing the streets looking for, or creating, problems for people.
I have used the words, a “self-policing lawlessness” to describe what it is like. It’s quite lovely for me. This past year brought a double homicide 200 meters from my home in Maine. The biggest mass shooting in 2023 just a few miles from my home. That way of living is the American dream and freedom?
I can choose to have a bowl of noodles for $1 or go to a Michelin starred restaurant. I can choose to rent a studio apartment with no air conditioning for $60 a month or I can rent a pool villa for $3000 a month. A good life is attainable for persons of all economic status.
Buddha Dharma
Before I get started on this one, I want to point out there is corruption in all religions. The fact that Thailand adopted buddhism as their national religion, does not mean there isn’t a dark side to this faith and religion. However, there are many great teachings from Buddha that I can embrace. Just as there are from Jesus, Moses, Mohammed, As long as I can separate myself from some of the dogmatic interpretations. What is true and what isn’t true?
Some of the foundations of Buddhism being the four noble truths, the eightfold path, karma, and anatman. With primary actions as part of the buddhist faith being Buddha, dharma and sangha. How this gets interpreted by the monks, the temples and the government is another story completely that I am not going to touch here.
It’s the acknowledgement that life is suffering and how we go about our liberation from suffering. I like to combine these teachings with modern psychological philosophy.
…as I make my way into another 10-day silent vipassana course.
What Are You Going To Do?
That’s the next million dollar question. What are you going to do when you get there? The answer is pretty simple at the moment. The practice is another story.
All of my life I have had dreams, goals and a drive to attain them. Much of which I have. From working with celebrity chefs during the start of the farm to table movement in California. To being of service through teaching at the college.
I have sold the majority of my personal belongings, retired from my 25 year career as a teacher, left the country I called home all my life, my father just passed away… it’s the biggest free fall I’ve ever experienced.
I have a choice. To look at this through the lens of fear. Or to see this as a gift. The choice is pretty obvious. Even if the fear reveals its ugly head in my face every now and then.
The gift is to allow life to unfold in front of me. Without clinging or grasping to some idea of how I think my life needs to be or look like. Of course I have some ideas of what I want. And I will have some direction of where to apply my forward moving energy.
This time, the first time, the point is to see where life is going to take me. Without so much striving and determination for a particular outcome as I did in the past.
Patience is a virtue. Fullness of presence. Life is a practice.
Easier said than done.