The Secret to Expat Happiness: Managing Your Expectations [S6.E65]

Greg and Ed discuss how to manage your expectations in Thailand
as a strategy for surviving and thriving in the Land of Smiles,
or indeed, as an expat anywhere outside of your comfort zone. Ed
explains that in giving advice to a recent arrival, he emphasized
being smart about what to expect. Instead of trying to change
Thailand to something familiar or to get it to fit some
previously determined standard, it's better to simply appreciate
what Thai people are good at and accept what they are not good
at. 


The guys then talk about the dangerous trap of merely LOWERING
your expectations and just assuming everything is worse in
Thailand. They then run through numerous examples of things
better here than where they are from back home: food in general,
public transportation, electronic banking, etc. 'Managing your
expectations' undoubtedly works in both directions. 


Ed then brings up the realization that sometimes Thais simply
have a different interpretation of something we all value, such
as 'customer service.' Back home, it implies competence and
efficiency, but to Thais it means attention and a sincere desire
to help. Sure you may prefer the back home version, but the smart
thing is to appreciate what the Thai concept brings to the
table. 


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