Also feel free to add if you think you made the right choices along the way, and even if you should have done anything differently.

My child is Thai, but not Thai. Love him.

Home country....

What does this mean?

Now perhaps these two little ditty's might help,two renditions of the same song from two sadly passed on stars..

I have to say with two daughters it frequently crosses our mind about moving back to UK so they can grow up there instead of Thailand.

Key advantages of UK:

- UK for us would be cheaper for a good education. If in UK would send them to a normal local school - non-fee paying. In Thailand we pay international school fees. Not convinced they are value for money just that you want the best for your kids. We want them to grow up with choices
- Generally be taught morals and things like corruption isn't a normal acceptable way of life or at least shouldn't be
- Having girls they would be more equal in UK than they are in Thailand which is very male dominated and not exactly high on gender equality stakes
- In UK greater racial equality and treating other people for who they are rather than skin colour or which part of the country
- Less social divides between haves/ have nots. UK has a much larger middle class
- Less polluted and nicer where I came from in UK

On the morals and values I'm very happy to have grown up with the rules, morals and values I have. Sure I choose to skip a bit now and again. But I learnt fair rules and when to disapply them with a conscience to match. Thailand often feels like you're bringing your kids up in a society where right and wrong doesn't matter as long as you have cash or connections. While you try and teach values a lot of society just skips the laws

Advantages of Thailand are mainly the usual ones and likes for being here. As a family unit I sort of prefer here but am concerned. 

We's also like them to know some Thai culture and language.

Thailand is much better for tax on investments also. For the girls in isolation more and more we wonder if the UK would be better. Mrs Smile and I often talk of it.

Whatever you do, raise them yourself, and dont farm them out to the back of beyond where the sabia sabia mai pen rai atitude prevails.

I know of luk kreung kids in Thailand that were offered everything on a plate, and rejected it, the mother had more of a say in their upbringing, and tried to live her life through her kids.

Two kids went to a posh school in Pattaya, after finsihing one went to a UK uni and earned a degree and is now on the career path.
The other was brought up as a spoilt brat, now 25 two kids and looking for a new husband, never done a days work in her life, she is even more stuck up than her mother (whose background I wont go in to)

Another spoilt brat, finished school at M6, he mooches around all day, has no proper job, one had to be created for him, his father pays him 15 k baht per month to sit on his ass, and this spoilt brat tawat resents his peers are now in jobs,have cars and girlfriends and he has nothing.


If you are an absentee father, you may well have problems.

I for one am glad I had a farang education and upbringing, it gave me skills, qualifications, knowledge and experience that is transferrable and allows me to stay here, or move elsewhere.

As for posh spoilt brat schools in Thailand, you wouldnt believe the stories, some brat kid stabs herself in the stomach, nothing more than a cry for help, never mind, the schools reputation comes first.

My 8 year old has built up a good tolerance to chillis.