If someone told us three years ago that we would be unconventionally living as young expats in Chiang Mai, Thailand we would have laughed. Not because it wouldn’t have sounded amazing, but because we would have thought it to be absolutely impossible, unachievable, and unwise. But now that we are here, we wanted to share what life is like for us as young expats in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
The Benefits of Being Young Expats in Chiang Mai
Living life abroad affords us many opportunities and a degree of flexibility that living and working in the US never did. Although when we think back to our lives in America and appreciate the things we used to take for granted, living abroad has also given us freedom to live life the way we want.
Travel
Although Angela does work full-time as a teacher in Chiang Mai, we both find ourselves with more time and interest in traveling than we ever did back in the US. We are no longer limited to two weeks of vacation a year, and we agree that the traveling options in Southeast Asia are much more affordable than back in the US.
We have taken trips to Malaysia, Cambodia, and Laos and have traveled throughout several areas in Thailand without much hesitation. We make an effort to regularly look into new places for future visits when time allows. Traveling is definitely a new lifestyle we’ve embraced since becoming expats in Chiang Mai.
Eating
Food is up there with travel on the list of fulfilling aspects of living as expats in Chiang Mai. Famous for its northern Thai style of cooking we can always count on new and exciting dishes to try every time we venture out on our motorbike. Being that Chiang Mai has such a large international community, we also enjoy a variety of foods around the world. Although they aren’t always exactly what you’d get in the dishes’ countries of origin, we have been surprised by how many places we find that do our favorites justice.
We love the variety of fresh produce available at our local markets. On the days that we want to stay in and get some work done it is always nice to be able to walk down the street and pick up a couple of things for a quick dinner.
Meeting Other Expats
We’ve met people from many countries during our time as expats in Chiang Mai, and we’ve enjoyed sharing traveling stories, “life before travel” stories, and life goals. There has never been a time in our lives where we’ve met such a diverse group of people who share a similar passion. Our favorite thing about meeting other expats and world travelers is learning about the places they’ve been to that are off the beaten path, and their favorite travel tips.
Fulfilling Personal Goals
Blogging takes up much more time than we imagined it would, but we are spending time doing something we like. I spend most of the day working on the blog while Angela is teaching during the day, and then we collaborate on the blog’s progress and share ideas with each other during the most evenings.
We both find fulfillment in blogging, which is what often occupies our day. Blogging is challenging because it brings out many different skill sets for any given task and is enjoyable because it’s become a creative outlet. It’s also manifested itself as the reason to travel to places we never thought of visiting before.
Life is a lot different living as young expats in Chiang Mai as compared to office workers back in the US. While some may think of blogging as “work”, our blog has allowed us to establish new personal goals for ourselves and share our experiences with those who would also like to become expats in Chiang Mai. We’ve found that helping others find a path in life is a rewarding way to spend our time abroad.
The Negatives of Being Young Expats in Chiang Mai
Along with the drastic changes that come with moving to another country, we also faced personal challenges and some let downs. Living as expats in Chiang Mai is amazing, but at the same time it is an ongoing challenge to understand the language, culture, pace of life, and how we fit into it all.
Challenges and Adaptation
Every new expat or first time long-term traveler is bound to run into a challenges or things that they were not expecting. We have dealt with a range of trivial speed bumps as well as some tougher times. Being expats in Chiang Mai has been a true test of our relationship, patience, financial planning, and ability to cope with substantial change.
There have been many times when we have questioned this move, and being completely honest, there have been times where second guessing our decision has come up.
Why did we move here?
What are we going to be doing a year from now? 10 years from now?
These are questions that we think most people in our situation probably ask themselves when times get tough. When we start to feel disconnected, it’s easy to begin hearing some of the voices of the people who doubted our move in the first place.
We have to remind ourselves that there are reasons for these types of feelings. We chose a life that most people don’t understand and would never consider to be a viable path for themselves. We still don’t fully understand it ourselves, but we know that we are much happier, relaxed, and eager to face these challenges together.
Bureaucracy and Being Foreigners
We have had several new responsibilities placed on our shoulders now living as expats in Chiang Mai. For starters, we deal with the time-consuming, expensive, and somewhat confusing process of obtaining and maintaining a Thai visa to live in Thailand legally. Not only do we need to set aside the funds for the visa, obtaining the visa, and any extensions, it can be time consuming to travel to cities in countries that we may or may not want to visit simply because we need to go to a Thai Embassy.
Trips to the Chiang Mai Immigration Office have also become something that we dread. Arriving at 5:00 am, hours before the doors open, seems to be the only way to ensure that you will have your issue taken care of the same day. Arrive at 8:00 am and there is a good chance that you will sit in a massive queue only to be told that you will need to come back earlier the next day.
There is a communication barrier and we are aware that we are unfamiliar with nuances of the foreign laws. We would feel at a disadvantage if there were to be a situation that involved law enforcement. We’ve seen our friends extorted by the police at a traffic stop, and feel as though it is only a matter of time before we will might have a similar run-in.
We also grow tired of being targeted as unaware tourists and being quoted inflated prices by tuk-tuk drivers and street vendors. We’ve noticed this pick up during high season. With that said, we have become familiar faces in our favorite areas of the city and are always treated like Chiang Mai residents in these places.
Chiang Mai Is Not Perfect
Angela and I built Chiang Mai up to be perfect in our minds even before visiting. This is an issue that we feel is very common and happens to almost all first-time expats or travelers with a particular place.
We spent almost a year thinking about how amazing and exotic everything was going to be as expats in Chiang Mai, and in doing so, we let ourselves down in some respects. We found out that the weather isn’t as great as we once thought it was (rain showers or hot smoggy air for half of the year), and some things just aren’t as cheap as we assumed they would be. Together, we’ve come to the realization that no place is perfect and anywhere we go will present unique challenges and drawbacks that we may not have considered.
We’ve Been Told, “What You Are Doing Isn’t Normal.”
If we were already in our 60’s and wanted to become expats in Chiang Mai, Thailand, we think most of our friends and family would think it was awesome. But because we are in our late 20’s, becoming expats in Chiang Mai isn’t “normal.”
Even before we moved, Angela and I were subtly but regularly encouraged by our families to buy a house together and start raising a family. We understand that most people do this in their 20’s, but it’s not for us. We’ve both agreed that it is best to live life the way we want to and not how others want us to. We think this is a great motto to live by no matter who you are.
Some Expats Aren’t Who We Expected Them to Be
We realize that there are many different expats, and that they do not fall into the category of “well-to-do retirees with steady income.” In the expat community, some people thrive, some people are simply content with life, and others end up destroying themselves. We’ve briefly met a number of people who have come here to escape a problem they had at home only for it to be far worse once here in Thailand.
Are we Happy Living as Expats in Chiang Mai?
We guess the big question is, “Are we happy living as expats in Chaing Mai?” Living in Chiang Mai has created an environment in which we are able to see the bigger, clearer picture of our lives before expatriation.
Looking back now, we can see that life back home was too easy, which is what we think made us feel unfulfilled. Our former lives didn’t require much thought past the upcoming weekend or what we were going to have for dinner. Although traffic was a pain and sitting through a workday under fluorescent lights for nine hours tested our threshold for torture, beyond that we were coasting through time and missing out on an interesting world outside of our bubbles.
There will be days where we are content and happy, but there are days where we are lost about what we are doing halfway around the world. We appreciate the subtleties of daily life here more than we ever did back in the States, and we wouldn’t change our decision if we could. We know adjusting to our new lives will take time, and we are excited about our journey that lies ahead of us.
For those who may consider becoming expats in Chiang Mai, let our ups and downs serve as a reminder that life will be different. Whether your life will change for the better or for the worse has much to do with how you are able to deal with those differences. For us there are some things that we are still getting used to, but ultimately by trading in small comforts and conveniences we feel we’ve gained more personal freedom since becoming expats in Chiang Mai. If or when you move to a foreign country, what do you think will be most challenging for you?
I can’t tell you how much I admire your honesty, your life choice, and your courage. It really is courageous doing what you’re doing, especially at your age. I am sure there is always a bit of anxiety in the back of your mind, questioning yourselves….not to mention pressure by others towards your life. My wife and I are in our early 50’s…not rich but saved pretty well and now selling everything and moving to Chang Mai. In some ways, at our age this is easier for us than it is for you at your much younger age….although most of… Read more »
Congratulations Rob! We’ll be the first to say that what you’re doing is amazing and life changing :) Thanks for sharing your story and we can’t say how excited we are for you :)
I loved reading this article! I’ve only been in Chiang Mai for 8 months but I can already relate with SO many of the ups and downs. Nothing is perfect but I found Chiang Mai to be such an incredible place to focus and work on your personal & business goals. I wish you the best of luck with this blog – keep at it!
Thanks, Wes! Good to hear you can relate. We can image you were nodding your head while reading this :)
What you’re doing isn’t normal.
What allegedly justifies being an expat at the age of 60 rather than somewhere in your twenties? Just curious to what you’ve been hearing about that.
You’re right. Most people our age are following the traditional route of working full-time jobs, buying houses, and having children.
You can be an expat at any age, it’s just more common to be one when you’re 60+ after you’ve done your adult duties (ie, following the traditional route), and have more money and freedom.
Yeah, good point. Are those adult duties the things people told you needed to be done before you can become an expat?
Hm, just traditional. Like we said.
Chris and Angela, many thanks for your site. I will be moving my family to Chiang Mai in two years. My wife and daughter have already visited CM and the family will be vacationing there this summer. Unlike the “young” audience targeted by your site, my wife and I are 54 and 62 years “young” and my daughter and son are 14 and 12, respectively. As a graduate with a degree in early childhood development and family counseling, it does not appear my wife will have problems getting a job. However, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, a master’s… Read more »
Hi Kurt. Thank you for donating to our site! It’s great to hear you and your family will be vacationing here this summer and get a(nother) taste of your future home. We did that too (visited Chiang Mai on a reconnaissance mission our honeymoon and it was the best thing we could have done to prepare us for living here. And then before you know it, two years will fly by and you’ll be officially living in Chiang Mai. We’re excited for you! As far as teaching here, you’re right, it sounds like your wife will fit right into the… Read more »
Chris and Angela, Greetings from North Carolina, USA! To Moving to Settle in Chiang Mai I am in process to sell off my house and others and donate away belongings that I would unable to take with me to Chiang Mai. I have a life time pension approx. $1,200/month and I plan to live outside from Chiang Mai City. I hope to finding some local town village for rental. My concern are on following: 1. Cost of daily living for one person, per day/week/month 2. How to obtain affordable Health Care 3. How to receiving my pension in Thailand? 4.… Read more »
Hi Don! Thanks for reaching out to us. Here are some short answers to your questions: 1) We recommend that everyone should budget a minimum of 1000 USD per month to live in Chiang Mai. This covers the expenses of basic Western comforts (Western food and groceries, comfy furniture, Western kitchen, air conditioned house, etc), but you could go a little less (600 USD or 700 USD) if you have a truly Spartan lifestyle or prefer Thai living (Thai food, wooden furniture, outdoor kitchen, fan house, etc) 2) Affordable health care – we self-insure, but we recommend using brokerfish.com to… Read more »
Great post. I love Chiang Mai and was living there as an expat for many years until I recently got my citizenship. I’m half thai so that made things much easier. I’ve recently moved to Bangkok and have been doing Muay Thai at Khongsittha. This post is very informative, would love to see an updated version!
Oh wow, congrats on getting your citizenship! Thanks for suggesting an updated version… we’ll consider it :)
I see, now I know why my client really insisted us to stay in Chiang Mai, but personally I prefer on staying in Bangkok since I grew up in a mid-sized city. Thank you for the insight and looking forward to good quality contents for Bangkok. :)
Good to know! We are very interested to see what Bangkok has in store for us.
Chris and Angela, I am just curious, of all the places why Chiang Mai? Why not Bangkok which is a big city. I have a client from USA who is travelling the world this year and advised me to stay longer in Chiang Mai for the vacation and did not recommend BKK.
We’re not city people. Chiang Mai is very foreigner-friendly in that many local people speak English in the city center and we can find almost all of our Western comforts and foods here. With that said, we do plan on moving to Bangkok at least for a few months to experience the city more and open up more opportunities for content on our site since so many people live there.
Well….CM is the second largest city in Thailand. BKK is just too much for most of us, incl the Thai. Value for money is simply not there, its very hectic (10m+ city). For many CM will even prove to be too large, hectic and go to cities like Chiang Rai, Lampang, Lamphun etc in the North.
Great article! My husband and I just arrived in Chiang Mai this week and moved into an apartment for 3 months. Looking forward to exploring the area and our new base. Hope to run into both of you!
Cool, maybe we will bump into each other!
I might move to Thailand and could if I want to..I would very much like to talk. Add me on skype sean0482 is the username. Thanks
Absolutely! We’re an open book. We offering the opportunity for people like you to pick our brains during our Coaching Sessions. Choose the best time on the schedule that works for you, jot down a few topics you want to talk about, and we can help you with your decision to move to Thailand. Looking forward to Skyping with you!
Do you know how many expats live in Thailand??
We’re not sure! There are many different types – ages, nationalities, seasonal visitors, etc, that it’s hard to say.
Hi guys :) my girlfriend and I have booked up to come to Thailand for 3 months in March next year we don’t think we’re going to have as much money as we thought we would have.how much could u live off on a tight budget each month?and is it easy enough to get an extension on your visa after the 60 day one runs out?
Thanks in advance
Michael
Glad to hear you are spending a few months in Thailand! What’s a tight budget? Whew, this one’s a toughie because everyone lives differently and has wildly varying definitions of “needs” and “wants”. However, based on our experience as a couple, we’d not recommend less than 30,000 baht (less than $1000 USD) per month for the two of you. You could go as low as 25,000 baht per month, but your quality of life decreases exponentially as even very basic things start getting cut from your budget. We want you to be able to afford at least cheap entertainment and… Read more »
Hey I need ur help as I m moving to thai..I am 27 and I want to stay there for 3 months but with a limited budget.guide me in respect to accommodation and life as lonely.regards
If you need advice on how to move to Thailand, where to live, how to secure a job and hold a visa, we can definitely help you. We offer Thailand Coaching Sessions and it sounds like this would be perfect for you. We hope to talk to you soon!
After visiting last year, and having the luxury of working where I want to, I am moving to Chiang Mai in two weeks time! can’t wait! It feels the right thing to do and I know I won’t regret it!
Awesome! We wish you the best!
Hi Chris & Angela, yet another awesome post! My girlfriend, Cynthia, and I moved to Chiang Mai 2 weeks ago after completing our TEFL certs. Cynthia is teaching while I work on our blog and start up a freelancing business.
We’ve been following your blog since we decided to do this back in Nov last year. I am sure we will still experience many of the things you cover in this post.
We look forward to many more great posts from you guys.
All the best and enjoy your time in the States.
Great for you and your girlfriend’s move to Chiang Mai! Hah, yes, we’re sure you’ll share many of the same eye opening, fun, and sometimes frustrating experiences. Who knows, if you re-read any of our older posts you might just laugh and nod yes, yes, yes. Good luck on your business and thank you for commenting :)
Thanks Chris and Angela, your blog is a wealth of information full of honesty and sincerity. I’m a veteran myself Chris, and I cherish the unique lifestyle of different cultures and foods-for me that is the most exciting part living abroad.
I will be heading there to Chang mai around Oct of this year. Hope we will run into your guys there for a dinner or lunch outings. If you need some items from here let me know Chris. Us Vets do try to look out for for another…
Regards,
Jack
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences on this blog! I discovered it a few weeks ago and can’t remember if I commented so I just wanted to tell you thank you for all the info!
Thanks, Amanda! We appreciate that you took the time to let us know :)
Great post. I love to see you exploring and your impressions of Thailand. Can’t wait to see more, Southeast Asia is relentlessly interesting. Watch out for ladyboys and anything involving ping pong balls, haha!
Haha, thanks for the advice!
Hey guys, found a link to you through HoliDaze. I’m impressed by the amount of honest self-reflection that went in to this.. I think for most people it can take a long time to spot the negatives to their life choices! Stick it out, though, it sounds like you know and enjoy what you’re doing despite the hassles of visas and whatnot!
Glad you found us! Living abroad (or in any new environment, really) certainly provides an opportunity to learn about yourself. Luckily, we are thankful we have been able to adapt pretty well and have each other for support. We hope that sharing our feelings through our blog many fellow expats can share in those feelings and know they aren’t alone. It also helps better understanding ourselves when sharing something like this. Thanks for enjoying the post :)
I really enjoyed your honesty and openness to be flexible on your souls quest :) to find out who you are and explore who you want to be! Not many blogs offer the frankness you have offered so thank you. I am a 62 yr old single RN/case manager – very stressful now – was trying to make it to 65 but looks like corporate downsizing may affect me soon …so on about a 2k budget I have looked all over world –for same thing most expats look for – tropical weather, perhaps mountains, nature and oceans nearby, cost of… Read more »
I loved Chiang Mai when I visited nearly 30 years ago, and Eiko, my wife, considers herself half Thai. We live in Tokyo so it’s not a major effort for us to get there. We want to think about a 3-month stay, rather than long-term. How doable do you think that would be? Plus we’d bring our small dog… will this be a problem in your experience?
Ideally would be a nice place with help, not über rich but reasonable.
A three month stay in Thailand is a good length of time to visit a few places or even just to relax and have a change of scenery. The hardest part of our move was arranging for our cat to be imported from the USA into Thailand. Don’t wait until the last minute to take care of this and contact the qsap_bkk@dld.go.th (Department of Animal Livestock in Thailand) for instructions. There are pet friendly hotels and apartments/homes, but you may have to look a bit harder and pay higher prices. Traveling via plane or car with a pet is possible,… Read more »
Your blog is really useful. I am considering a teaching job at an international school there. My husband would quit a lucrative job here in Seattle(that he does not enjoy). He’s definitely eager to go. We also have a 7 year old. Family thinks we are crazy for considering this. I did live and teach 1st grade in Chiang Mai for 2 years back in 2000-2002, so I have some familiarity with the area. Now I am 39, husband is 49 and with a child, we are definitely also doing something “out of the norm.” We don’t want to keep… Read more »
You are very welcome! We are glad to hear our blog has become a good resource for you and your family :) We may be a bit biased, but we also say “Go for it!” and move back to Chiang Mai. We are sure a lot has changed since 2002, but the fact that you’ve been here before and know your way around is a huge advantage. Why not? We hear there are good international school here, and what an experience to give to your husband and daughter who have not been here yet. We wish you the best of… Read more »
Home…. is in a loving family. Pros of kids aboard are adventure, ease of making new friends ( they will get lots of practice), world savvy kids, fearless re changes in life such as divorce/ moving house/ career change and living in different cultures as opposed to reading about them. Cons are not so much attachment issues but the loss of lifelong friends/ longevity of friendships and confusion re their own culture. Adventurous and confident broad minded kids are going to be tha same as adults. I’m a well traveled dad who decided to stay and have regretted it ever… Read more »
Thanks for sharing your story and providing encouragement! We always do the same for people who genuinely desire to travel… we say to go for it! The seed’s been planted, and they just need a little push in the right direction to get it blossoming.
My husband and I are currently working on (and have been since August) the process of getting a job and moving to SE Asia. It’s felt a little slow to me with waiting for application periods to open and getting “nos” from several jobs already (those have seemed to want a lot of experience that I, at 22, don’t yet have!) My husband’s biggest concern once we get overseas is working with the visa processes–I know that can be a bugger. I’ve only visited Chiang Mai once, maybe 8 years ago, so my memories of it are pretty vague now.
If you end up working for a good company in Thailand, they will know the in’s and out’s of the visa process and provide you with all the paperwork you will need to get a business visa, one year visa extension, and work permit. Since you are married, in case one of you doesn’t get a job right away or chooses not to wok, make sure you bring an extra “real” copy of your marriage certificate (not a photocopy, request a second official document). It will be required if you want a one-year visa extension on a dependent visa (whoever… Read more »
Just saw this on twitter. I’ll be in Chiang Mai for at least a month (but possibly longer… one-way ticket and open-ended slow travel you know… ;) ) so would love to meet up if you’re willing! My first time in Thailand… I think it’d be fun to swap stories and also I’m creating an e-course right now on quitting your dayjob to travel/expat abroad and working online!!
We highly recommend slow travel. Let us know when you’re in Chiang Mai.
Just discovered your blog. An incredible amount of pertinent and well written information. I’m planning on moving to Chaing Mai or Costa Rica next summer to teach English. Chaing Mai has always been my first choice, but there are so many unknowns compared to Latin America. Your blog is really helping to make things more real, good and bad. I found your blog while researching the feasibility of bring my Corgi Buster to Thailand. We have years of experience traveling extensively throughout North America, but he has never been on an airplane. The chronical of your experiences with your cat… Read more »
There are so many things we have yet to write about Thailand, but it’s great to hear that you’ve found several posts to be useful. We love knowing that we’ve helped you to make the decision to move to Chiang Mai :) We’ll continue to fill in the gaps of “Thailand’s unknowns” for people who are curious such as yourself. Thanks for following!
Great post guys! I really admire your courage and enthusiasm. While there is no perfect place on this Earth, it seems that Chiang Mai offers more benefits than drawbacks. I’m interested in possibly living abroad once I’m financially independent, and Chiang Mai is at the top of the list. I’m currently living vicariously through you guys. The fact that you guys have freedom at such a young age is really inspiring. Keep up the great work!
Best wishes!
Thank you so much. We are very happy to be able to paint a picture of life in Thailand for you. Like you said, there are challenges everywhere, but Thailand is a pretty easy place to live. Life is conveneient, the food is wonderful, and the majority of people radiate happiness. We think you will love it. Good luck on your journey to financial freedom. You will be living abroad before you know it! Thanks for the link in your recommended reading post too :)
Recently found your blog. Great post. I had a long conversation about this post with a friend. I would love to visit Thailand but feel the cultural change would be too much for me. It is great you have each other there.
Yes, having someone to lean on definitely helps to get through some of the challenges. We have met plenty of single folks out here as well that are doing fine too. Saying that, we have also known a couple single women working as teachers who don’t quite feel like the can make friends easily or adjust to living in Thailand. Everyone is different though. We hope you are able to visit one day soon. Thank you so much for you comment and for reading our blog :) Take care!
Great article. We will be moving there Jan 26th, 2014. Your site has really helped my partner and I prepare for the move. Thanks and hope to meet you two :)
Always glad to help! We hope your transition is a smooth one. Definitely let us know if you have any last minute questions and we will do our best to help you guys out. Just over a month! Take care!
Gosh, I miss Thai food so badly! I got the feeling Chiang Mai isn’t quite as packed with expats as it was a couple of years ago, interesting to hear from people there right now (ie, you guys).
Thai food is the best :)
Not sure if the expat numbers or demographics changed or not to be honest.
Awesome post guys and thank you for sharing your experiences. I’ve shared this with my Twitter followers and Facebook friends.
I’ve just received my visa and can completely understand what you’ve been through regarding the bureaucracy and hassles of this important piece of the expat puzzle. My partner received his within 4 weeks – mine took 8.
If you’re still in Chiang Mai in January, I’d love to meet up with you guys.
Thanks for sharing our post Kevin. It is greatly appreciated! The bureaucracy is a pain, but we will gladly deal with it to live here in Thailand. Hope you two enjoy it as much as we do!
Great read! My girlfriend and I will be moving to Koh Phangan sometime in 2014 and it’s good to read about other couples experiences, even if it’s in northern Thailand. I think the biggest challenge for us will be budgeting, and being able to do everything we would like to do. I fight muay thai for a living and run a muay thai website that will be bringing in most of our income (which isn’t anything substantial), while she will be starting a blog about her experiences doing yoga/becoming a yoga teacher in Thailand. The good thing about this is… Read more »
It’s awesome you stumbled onto our blog and found it helpful in your endeavor to come to Thailand with your girlfriend. We think it makes it easier to adjust to a life in a new country if you have your partner there to share the ups and downs with you. Life is simpler, but you will definitely face new challenges together including managing your Thai budget, both the daily expenses and traveling expenses. Let us know if you have any questions on how to avoid spending too much! Don’t get sucked into going to a big convenience store catering to… Read more »
Hi guys, great account of how it is to live in Chang Mai, i’ve been there whilst travelling around and loved it. Just wondering how many expats there are in Chang Mai approx? and how many do you hang out with if any? Is it like a big community over there who stick together?
Wow, we haven’t a clue how many expats are in Chiang Mai! We know there are many permanent expats as well as people just passing through for a few weeks to a few months at a time. We hang out with a few expats on a regular basis because they live in Chiang Mai like us. The majority of people we end up meeting are world travel bloggers through Facebook or Twitter meetups, but between everyone’s travel schedule, sometimes it’s hard to meet up on a regular basis or for more than two or three times before they move to… Read more »
Always enjoy reading your thoughts. It’s nice that you do not glamorize your experience and point out the negs as well. Of course there is much positive to celebrate. I would advise anyone going abroad to learn as much of the language as possible. There are so many free tutorials available.
Just remember that the most recognizable gesture in any culture is the smile. Keep on truckin’ guys.
We agree – we both wish we’d learned more Thai before coming to Thailand. It’s come in very handy when we use the little we know. While it’s possible to get around in the Old City of Chiang Mai on English, a few kms out and you have to resort to a lot of hang gestures and miming! We have no reason to sugar coating our experiences. Sharing both the good and bad ultimately helps others make a more informed decision as to whether Thailand is a place they would like to visit or live. We know we would rather… Read more »
I’m currently an expat in Japan, teaching English, and the language barrier is definitely a challenge. I want to be able to communicate with my coworkers and with any other person I come into contact with, but my minimal Japanese and gestures are what I have to work with at the moment. On the plus side, I’m living out my dream right now and I couldn’t be happier. I love that everyday is pretty much an adventure. I’m learning so much about Japan and its culture, while learning about myself and growing as a person.
Thanks for the comment Mallory! We know your pain all too well. The language is definitely a challenge. We hope to learn a lot more after Angela is done working full time.
It must be amazing to meet so many expats in Chang Mai. A great majority of budget travel bloggers live in Thailand and you guys are so lucky to meet up with some of them. Gosh, I wish I could swap. There are no foreigners here in Dongguan!!!!!
Yes, it is nice for the most part. At the same time our experience does feel a little filtered. We find it so nice to be able to take a trip to smaller less touristy parts of the country when we can. We can switch anytime…let us know if you want to swap houses for a week sometime haha :)
I think the language barrier will be the biggest challenge for us. Here, we can read everything around us, everyone speaks English – it’s easy. If I travel to any unfamiliar city in North America, I can read the street signs, read the menu, and 99.9% of the people I meet will speak English so communication is easy. But when we get to Chiang Mai, not only will we have absolutely zero familiarity with the area, we’ll have pretty much zero knowledge of the language. I think that will be our number 1 challenge. But, I guess that’s the price… Read more »
Mobile apps are definitely handy. We used a couple before we left the US as well. You will pick up common phrases in no time, but definitely be sure to brush up on your gestures, etc haha. Things can get pretty interesting when you or the person you are trying to communicate with know very little of each other’s language. You will be just fine though. Enjoy the journey and embrace the adjustments!
I think that both of you have made a very wise decision and implemented it. We did the same September 25, 2011, gave up work, sold everything and moved to our house permanently we had since 2006. It is the best we have done and never regretted us a second. We are, however, some parent than the two of you but, however, had several years left to work if we wanted to. Now, vvi just enjoy life and that’s good enough. You can share my blog annikathailand.blogg.se if you want to follow us in our daily lives. Good luck in… Read more »
Thanks, Annika! We are very happy with our decision so far. We have embraced the changes and can’t wait to see what the future holds for us. Thanks for sharing your story.
Having been here almost a month to the day, I couldn’t agree more with your pro’s and con’s. There had been many nights, especially in the first two weeks when I questioned myself as to why I am really here. To this day, I’m still not sure. But on the positive side, like you, I have experienced so much more than I ever would have or could have while living at home and going through the motions. I may be 58, but I still question where I will be in 6 months, a year, or 10 years from now. Traveling… Read more »
It certainly takes some time getting used to moving to another country, but it’s good you are recognizing some of the pro’s and con’s even just a month into moving to Thailand. There is definitely a honeymoon period and then a difficult period that most people go through before it all levels out. It’s good to hear you are making your way through SE Asia… we also want to eventually go to Central America! Hope you have a blast!
Thank you for the post………it is VERY GOOD! We are at the cusp of our retirement and will keep your words in mind as we explore our new home in a few days! Then we will have a slightly better idea when the time comes for our move on August 9, 2014.
It’s too bad we just missed you. We had a great time in Hua Hin and we hope you do too on your visit. Check out Haad Sai Noi, a small beach south of the Chopsticks Hill (Khao Takiab). They serve food and drinks there, but it’s not as crowded as the main strip.
Great post! I just wrote something similar Titled the 5 Assumptions of living in Paradise. We are in Costa Rica and you for sure touched on some of items in my post! Thailand is top on our next destination bucket list!
We think these experiences can happen in any country for any first time (or even second time) expats. We’re gad to hear you want to travel to Thailand!
i dont think your abnormal for living in thailand in your twentys , i live there for one year when i was nineteen and loved it there, i have returned many times and will retire there
19 is young! Thailand certainly made a lasting impression on you. It’s probably been pretty interesting watching it change over the years from your first visit :)