I should have learned Thai language spoken and written

Don't worry, I was somehow expecting someone will say that to me. I know I have wasted so many years in that country by not learning their language. I usually am a fast learner when it comes to learning new language but I failed on this one.

Well, somehow I won't be lost because I know how to ask for directions.

Would be nice to have an escort. Thank you.

I was a Batman in Vietnam, what they do is to be the officers man servant and bodyguard.
So put me on the list, I do things very well, I relate with all peoples. I know when to talk and when to shut up.
I know when to show money and I know when to hide it.
When you get to my age, you should know some things, And I have no worries with age.

I see. Tewa, pooht Thai nitnoi kha. (But I speak Thai a littl bit.) At least I know how to ask for discounts and tell the cab drivers where I want to go and which way in case they are not familiar with the place.

But I still missed so much because I couldn't understand everything. One day, I was in the bus and everyone got off. I was still sitting and the bus halted. The driver and the conductor looked at me puzzled and they asked what I was doing in the bus.

Nice for you to talk to me again, my offer is open I did not say that to you,

Just to be nice in saying some thing.

Soon I will travel again, and go and see places I want to I may have said if not I do now I will return to Vietnam.
so, Im in the area up there, not far to go to get to Thailand.

Don't forget to take lots of photos.

Well, I don't understand why I was kinda indifferent to learning their language. First, it's tonal. One word could mean different things depending on the tone, high, low, middle, rising, falling etc.. And they have 44 alphabets. Example the letter a is written in many different ways according to its sound. The letter K is another letter with various representations.
Well, it's too late now and I really regret it.
I taught English to some kids from China, Taiwan, South Korea and Thailand.

Well, my homies who had been there for several years were not that good either. I really regret it. I just realized now how much I had missed because of my indifference to their language. More than that, their language is tonal. One word has multiple meanings depending on the tone. They have 44 characters and one letter could be represented differently according to sound or tone.

sounds very difficult, I know I would not be able to learn it.

That's why I had difficulty learning to love it.

I know. I usually am fast learner of new language provided I am intrinsically motivated. It's just that I didn't see it was really necessary to learn the local language because I saw other Filipinos who had been there for years and couldn't speak the language well.

By the way, don't get me wrong. I can speak a little but only for survival. I can't carry a good conversation. At least I know how to ask for discount, tell the cab driver when I want to go and stuff like that.

Well, I'm learning Italian now as I'm marrying an Italian soon.

Congratulations and best wishes to both of you. You should be learning Italian language fully so you can relate more to your future husband.

Thank you. I know this is one of the pros and cons of mix marriage--language and culture differences. But it's the love that will enable each partner to reach out to each other.

It will be a big plus on your part if you know the language and read it as well. They cannot deceive you or try to cheat you if you can understand their language.

I also ask the same question to myself. I know it's really a shame on me. Well, at least I could ask for discounts and tell the cab drivers where exactly I wanted to go.

I really think you have missed a golden opertunity to expand your horizen
blessed be

Yes I just realized in the end how much I have missed. Here in the UK I was just told I could have worked as an interpreter. What a wasted opportunity.

It's a very complicated language and besides I didn't think it was necessary to learn the language indepth because many foreigners there don't really use the language that much as long as we knew the numbers and basic conversation.

Oh. I am so different . Before I packed my bags, I would learn how to say Hello, Goodbye Please and Can you say that a little slower and Can you say that in English in their language.

D'oh I forgot . I would learn Thank you too.

Well, of course those are the basics they are very important to know. I could say them and much more. But six years should have been more than enough to learn the language fluently. I was stuck in the basics.

No. In six years I wasn't fluent in English and it is my first language.You knew the basics and that is great. the way I read your post I thought you didn't learn Any Thai. I think the Asian languages are hard to learn. So stop giving yourself a hard time.

Well, you could read and write in English and of course you know more than the basic of your first language. With me I couldn't even watch Thai news or read the signs where the buses are bound and stuff like that.

Another thing that makes me regret is that I was just told that I could work as a translator here in the UK.

Well, it's over now. I have learne my lesson. So now on with my Italian cassette.

Good Luck with your Italian

It's really shame on me for having that attitude. You are one smart person knowing how to maximize the opportunity. Miss Thailand so much. I'd like to go back there one of these days. I hope I will still remember my few Thais.

Sorry about this very late reply. I was like away from mylot for about 8 months. Anyway, yea, now that I'm not there in Thailand I realize how much I have missed and hopefully the same mistake won't happen again.

By the way, at least I know how to say "Lot dai mai kha?!"