Avoiding the Newbie Drama: Are Long-Term Expats Just Lucky? [S8.E16]

We've all seen the incredible amount of drama that can go down if
you don't run a tight ship in Thailand - everything from visa
worries and bank problems to relationship blow-ups and trouble
with the law. But it seems that a huge proportion of this drama
is reserved for people relatively new to Thailand. Greg and Ed
discuss why, as long-term expats, they seem to miss a lot of this
drama. Is it something they did? Or did they just age out of the
baggage train?


As both have been in the country for effectively a quarter of a
century, the guys have solved a lot of problems and overcome a
lot of obstacles to the point that they are each happy with their
somewhat stable, undramatic lives. Many expats in the first few
years of their life in Thailand experience CRAZY amounts of drama
and adaptation, most which are way in the rearview mirror for
Greg and Ed. 


First, Ed brings up obvious contrasts: early stayers almost
always have to deal with visa, work permit, and address-reporting
issues. Beginners have to sort that stuff out in the first place,
which really isn't that easy, but then have to worry about
complying for the months and years to come. Border runs at first
may actually seem like a version of a holiday, but they QUICKLY
become a stressful annoyance due their cost, complications, and
inherent uncertainty. 


Second, Greg mentions more current problems, such as the Thai
government's crackdown on money laundering, which seems to have
cast an absurdly wide net and effectively shut down the bank
accounts of many short term expats, but has left most (but not
all) long-termers alone. He reiterates his old advice: if you are
here more than a few months, you should step-by-step become more
legitimate ON PAPER, such as by getting the proper visa, work
permit, bank account, driver's license, credit card - anything
you can. Every little bit helps to build your credibility as a
serious person that the government is less likely to trifle with.


The boys conclude with a vow not to dunk on those suffering
short-timers and to remember when they themselves were wee-little
expats too. :) 


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