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NolaK
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19 Aug 2014, 9:32 pm

Hi All,

I have been reading the forums for a month or two now. It?s been very cathartic to finally read a site that makes me feel normal. It has been less than a year since connecting my Aspie Dots. I was also a bit slow to seek out much more than clinical info at first.

Anyway, I am an American expat living in Thailand. At the moment I am retired, just dabbling in art and animal rescue. There is a lot more to the story, but I am starting slow so as to not simultaneously overwhelm and underwhelm others from the start. It's a talent.

I am curious about how many other Aspie Expats are out there and would love to hear about their thoughts and experiences. Now that I am understanding what is ?wrong with me? (Kidding, I would not change for anything), I am asking myself a lot of questions about why I wound up living someplace where spoken exchanges are almost impossible (due to my failed attempts at learning a tonal language), where being straightforward is culturally frowned upon and where logic is in an agonizingly short supply. Mostly, it?s all in good fun. Mostly.

Anyway, I suspect others like me have some interesting stories to tell.


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cathylynn
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19 Aug 2014, 9:59 pm

sorry. i'm not an expat. i hope you'll accept my welcome anyway. thank you for your animal rescue work.



auntblabby
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20 Aug 2014, 4:20 am

hiya Nola, can you tell us more about the good retired life in Thailand?



kraftiekortie
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20 Aug 2014, 10:09 am

Have all the coups affected you very much?



AnonymousAnonymous
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20 Aug 2014, 2:36 pm

Welcome to Wrong Planet!


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NolaK
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21 Aug 2014, 9:49 pm

Hi Again,

Thank you for the welcome everyone ? expat or not.

As for the questions about Thailand, I have been here through 2 coup d'états now. This time I am far from the city in a small coastal community. There really was no sign of a change here ? no soldiers or other military activity. Not speaking the language may aid me in blissful obliviousness.

Thailand can be an interesting retirement option and is certainly worth looking into as a more affordable alternative - for those of us from the States anyway. As with any escape to another country there are some (many) cultural attitudes to overcome. There is also a blissfulness that comes from a certain level of social isolation for those of us wired to enjoy privacy and alone time.

One note: The one place where coups and retirement collide is for those under 50 years old. The continually changing of visa regulations and selective enforcement for those regulations for those not at the legal retirement age of 50 here creates one impossible hurdle after another. I own a home, cars, dogs and have family here, yet personally as a youthful 48 year old I am suddenly finding myself living life 90 days at a time with the prospect of an immediate need to move always looming.

The Thai Visa website forum is a good starting point to lean about visa issues, just be aware that there is an overload of negativity there and take it all with a grain of salt. I am also happy to answer some basic questions.

All the best,

Nola


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Currently practicing random acts of art and graphic design
Art: http://www.nolakelsey.com
Graphic Designs: http://www.zo-ink.com
Books on Amazon: http://www.zoologyink.com


kraftiekortie
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22 Aug 2014, 4:22 pm

You must be near Phuket.

Ever thought about going up to Chiang Mai? The nights are really pleasant there in the winter (it can go down below 10 Celsius). I guess the only trouble is that there are no beaches--except rivers.



NolaK
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23 Aug 2014, 3:36 am

I am on the east coast about 2 hours south of Hua Hin. I have not seen Phuket yet, but you were exactly right about Chiang Mai, beautiful - only missing the ocean. I lived t in Chiang Mai for 4 years until moving south in March. There is a lot to miss.



kraftiekortie
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27 Aug 2014, 7:20 am

Ever been as far north as Chiang Rai?

Also:

Are you able to obtain most western-style consumer goods there?



willowblossom
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12 Feb 2015, 7:55 pm

Hi Nola,

I was just doing a search for other Expat Aspie's and came across your post. I'm just diagnosed and have been an expat for 3 years. I'm an Aussie living in NZ, although we were in Qatar before that, which was quite hard work!

Have you found any other Expat Aspie's yet?

:)
Sarah



ominous
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12 Feb 2015, 8:06 pm

Hi. I'm back on WP after a long break. I'm also an American expat, living in Australia for the past 13 years.



auntblabby
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12 Feb 2015, 8:24 pm

ominous wrote:
Hi. I'm back on WP after a long break. I'm also an American expat, living in Australia for the past 13 years.

I am guessing since they let you live there, that you must have a college degree or some important skillset. I know that Canada won't let in americans [JUST americans] unless they have a squeaky-clean record [not so much as a traffic ticket] as well as some combination of a 4 or more year college degree, key skillset, blood relations in country and half a mil net worth.



ominous
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12 Feb 2015, 8:35 pm

auntblabby wrote:
ominous wrote:
Hi. I'm back on WP after a long break. I'm also an American expat, living in Australia for the past 13 years.

I am guessing since they let you live there, that you must have a college degree or some important skillset. I know that Canada won't let in americans [JUST americans] unless they have a squeaky-clean record [not so much as a traffic ticket] as well as some combination of a 4 or more year college degree, key skillset, blood relations in country and half a mil net worth.


I have a squeaky clean record and came here on a spousal visa, though I am single now. It is a very hard place to migrate to, though, no matter how you get here. I am a dual national now, but the whole process of migration to Australia was very hard for me, especially because I admitted to having some previous psych issues. I had to pay an exorbitant amount to be 'cleared' for that and was diagnosed autistic post-citizenship. It took four years for me to be fully migrated here. Not sure if they'd want me here now, but they are stuck with me. 8O



ominous
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12 Feb 2015, 8:38 pm

I wish I'd migrated to Canada instead. :lol:



auntblabby
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12 Feb 2015, 8:39 pm

ominous wrote:
I have a squeaky clean record and came here on a spousal visa, though I am single now. It is a very hard place to migrate to, though, no matter how you get here. I am a dual national now, but the whole process of migration to Australia was very hard for me, especially because I admitted to having some previous psych issues. I had to pay an exorbitant amount to be 'cleared' for that and was diagnosed autistic post-citizenship. It took four years for me to be fully migrated here. Not sure if they'd want me here now, but they are stuck with me. 8O

be glad you are safely there to stay, America is headed to hell in a honeybucket AFAIC. and if you had a spouse once you can have one again if you wish it, you already proved you're capable of clearing that hurdle.



auntblabby
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12 Feb 2015, 8:41 pm

ominous wrote:
I wish I'd migrated to Canada instead. :lol:

wha? you don't like 'roos? ;)