Is There an Expat Hierarchy - and Does it Even Matter? [S5.E5]
The Bangkok Podcast13 Apr 2021

Is There an Expat Hierarchy - and Does it Even Matter? [S5.E5]

We think almost every long-term expat has been asked how long they've been here before, only to see the challenge, throw down their card, and ask the inevitable: "How about you?" It's an unspoken contest. But does it even matter?

Greg and Ed tackle this issue of status, noting that although they've been in Thailand TWENTY YEARS, that number is dwarfed by such legendary expats as Joe Cummings (soon to be a guest on the podcast), who arrived in Thailand in 1977. Ed jokes that part of the appeal of the podcast is that the guys love to talk about all their mistakes and misunderstandings, but certainly they have learned a lot in twenty years.

Greg throws out the distressing thought that simply being here twenty years may not lead to any more wisdom than being here ten, as Ed notes he probably is at his peak knowledge of Thailand now only because of his role as co-host of the podcast, which forces him to raise his game. The boys end up trading stories about various old timers they have met, with Joe C. leading the pack for Greg and a Catholic priest doing so for Ed.

In the end, it's clear that the number of years you have in Thailand doesn't really mean diddly squat unless you spend that time pushing yourself into learning more about the country and engaging with its endlessly fascinating culture and people.

Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

Avsnitt(562)

Don't forget the meetup!

Don't forget the meetup!

Saturday, Dec 6, 2025 at The Warehouse on Charoen Krung Road. Chec our FB page for more details.

3 Dec 202536s

Making Bangkok Accessible for All: Khun Saba Keeps Fighting (Classic ReCast) [S8.E23]

Making Bangkok Accessible for All: Khun Saba Keeps Fighting (Classic ReCast) [S8.E23]

On this episode - a classic ReCast from season 3! - Greg interviews Khun Saba, a disabled rights activist in Bangkok. It's a topic near and dear to the Bangkok Podcast, because we want everyone to enj...

2 Dec 202543min

Former FBI Agent John Schachnovsky Talks Crime & Punishment in Thailand Part 2 [S8.E22]

Former FBI Agent John Schachnovsky Talks Crime & Punishment in Thailand Part 2 [S8.E22]

First off - if you're in town, join our meetup: Saturday, December 6 at The Warehouse on Charoen Krung Road. Check our Facebook page first before you come just to make sure there have been no last min...

25 Nov 202547min

Former FBI Agent John Schachnovsky Talks Crime & Punishment in Thailand [S8.E21]

Former FBI Agent John Schachnovsky Talks Crime & Punishment in Thailand [S8.E21]

In part 1 of a two-part episode, Greg and Ed interview John Schachnovsky about his upcoming book "Beyond the Badge," which recounts his experience as the head of the FBI in Thailand. John starts out e...

18 Nov 202542min

Road Blocks: The Big Issues That Thailand Needs to Solve [S8.E20]

Road Blocks: The Big Issues That Thailand Needs to Solve [S8.E20]

Greg and Ed discuss an article on Ajarn.com by Dr. Jesse Sessions called "What Does the Future Hold" which discusses some of the bigger problems currently facing Thailand and how they might impact the...

11 Nov 202536min

Heritage & Culture: How Siri Sala Private Thai Villa Preserves the Past for the Future [S8.E19]

Heritage & Culture: How Siri Sala Private Thai Villa Preserves the Past for the Future [S8.E19]

There's a lot of great buildings and great history that has been bulldozed over in Bangkok, so it's nice when we see someone going the extra mile to actually preserve both an historic physical space a...

4 Nov 202547min

Great Thailand Advice We Ignored…But Shouldn't Have [S8.E18] (ReCast)

Great Thailand Advice We Ignored…But Shouldn't Have [S8.E18] (ReCast)

As Thailand starts got back to bid-ness after COVID, there were a whole lot of n00bs coming in to tour, work and live. Most who have been here for a while already remember what an overwhelming experie...

28 Okt 202534min

Summing Up: Giving Bangkok's Ubiquitous Malls Some Slogans [S8.E17]

Summing Up: Giving Bangkok's Ubiquitous Malls Some Slogans [S8.E17]

This week Greg and Ed have a bit of fun revisiting an old blog post from Greg about what would be the best slogans for various malls around Bangkok. As most listeners know, Bangkok may very well be t...

21 Okt 202542min

Populärt inom Samhälle & Kultur

podme-dokumentar
aftonbladet-krim
gynning-berg
p3-dokumentar
en-mork-historia
svenska-fall
mardromsgasten
creepypodden-med-jack-werner
skaringer-nessvold
blenda-2
killradet
rss-nemo-moter-en-van
hor-har
flashback-forever
kod-katastrof
rattsfallen
vad-blir-det-for-mord
rss-mer-an-bara-morsa
rysarpodden
larm-vi-minns