So I met a girl.. And I am going to Thailand to meet her.

[Jeff S]

I'm kind of glad my courtship was back before email and before the Ma Bell breakup when international calls were $1 a minute. Letters were the only way to communicate and only cost 22 cents locally and about what local first class is now for international letters. Men didn't type back then either unless they were writers or reporters. My wife still has my, and I still have her handwritten letters.

[Celtic_Jorge]

I mailed her a love letter today.. I had actually thought about doing this for a long time.  Thanks for reminding me.
Next month I plan on buying my plane ticket...  She will take me even more seriously then I am sure..  Although, of course, she tells me that she knows I am serious about her, and I don't have to prove anything, and she knows I'm coming.. All the same, I am sure she will love to have that confirmation.

[piggy10]

My brother married a girl from Thailand. She came from a poor family too. I like my sister inlaw. She is very hard working and independent woman. She is very gentle in nature. She works from Sunday to Sunday and still have time to cook and care for my brother. Her religion is Buddhist and my brother is a christian and they are doing well at home. My brother is partly choleric temperament and has a temper at times and she never raise her voice or entertain useless argument that my brother usually starts. She is so industrious that she has 2 business that she operates. She owns a beauty salon and clothes shop.

The sweetest thing that I have seen with my own eyes is that my sister inlaw refuse to eat without my brother. There are times when my brother need to work overtime and would come home late at night and she would literally wait for him to go home so they can both eat dinner together. 

My sister inlaw graduate from accounting. She came from a poor family. She work hard to pay her own education and she went abroad to venture in business and that is how she now owns 2 business. If any men are interested in marrying a Thailand woman you must know that they follow the bridal price tradition. My brother had to pay dowry price before he could get married to her. Hey who cares about the dowry price. Thailand women makes good wife and mother

[piglett]

well well well it looks like there is now a second pig on the board. 
good to have you here


piglett

[piggy10]

Thank you piglett...   








_________

[thekfc]

So which little piggy went to market?
Sorry, wrong nursery rhyme, oops I mean song, oh wait I thinks it's forum, or is it thread? uggg, I think I need to read the other posts. 

Welcome aboard piggy10.

[Ray]

More on sending handwritten letters.

These days, anyone can get on a computer and compose an e-mail or do online chats, texting, etc. Some of these ladies get hundreds of emails and chat with dozens of different guys while trying to find the right match for her, much like we men do.

But how many of those guys are willing to invest the time, effort, and cost of an international postage stamp to compose and mail a heartfelt handwritten letter. If you really want to stand out from the rest, write her snail-mail letters and send those mushy romantic cards. And don’t forget the birthday and Valentines cards either.

By all means use modern technology to stay in touch regularly, but write her a letter (in proper English) as often as you can also.

When the postman delivers your cards and letters to her home, believe me that you will be miles ahead of all those other lazy, illiterate bozos that are chasing her in cyber space with cyber-speak nonsense.

What is more likely to be under her pillow tonight? Your handwritten letter, or some other dude’s e-mail or chat log? Think about it… 

Ray

[william3rd]

one little problem with handwritten letters in Thailand. The Thai language is a 44 letter alphabet based on tonals. Looks alot like candy canes on paper.  If your writing does not look exactly like the letters she learned in English class-if she went to a class- your wonderful expression of love becomes an annoyance as she has to spend additional time discerning your letters. Sending a sweet card is always a hit.

[Dave H]

Filipinas, being into "brand awareness and recognition" (whatever that means), seem to really love "Hallmark" cards.

[robert angel]

Most Filipinas really love cards and if you forget a birthday or Valentines day, you're as good as toast on a stick to her, for a while anyways. My wife remembers everybody in my extended family's birthdays and for two or three days before each b day, she's constantly reminding to me to call them to wish them a happy, happy....

They sure do love a reason to spread good cheer and eat!

[robert angel]

Re:

one little problem with handwritten letters in Thailand. The Thai language is a 44 letter alphabet based on tonals. Looks alot like candy canes on paper<,

Yes, William--Thai is one gnarly, confusing language for me to even begin to try to figure out. Armenian, Bengali, Burmese, and Cambodian all also very trippy--the most difficult for me to figure out what relationship they have to other regional languages, never mind English. Not that I can begin to figure them out. I have about zippo ability to acquire foreign languages.

[Celtic_Jorge]

Yes, it just kind of occurred to me that she may not be able to read what I wrote.

Anyway, I am sure she will at least get a warm fuzzy feeling just by getting something in the mail from me.... 

[Jeff S]

Right - Irrelevant if she understands everything you wrote. Much more important that you wrote it.

[AsphaltVoyager]

While we are somewhat near the subject, could someone who has a long history with the Filipino culture put up a Sticky to give us an idea of what days to send cards other than the obvious Christmas and birthday cards? What are the "card occasions" for RP? How about her parent's birthdays? Would sending cards for those be supreme brownie points?

[Ray]

While we are somewhat near the subject, could someone who has a long history with the Filipino culture put up a Sticky to give us an idea of what days to send cards other than the obvious Christmas and birthday cards? What are the "card occasions" for RP? How about her parent's birthdays? Would sending cards for those be supreme brownie points?

Just birthdays, Christmas, and Valentine’s day for the standard greeting cards. If you have met or talked to any of her family (parents, siblings), you can send a birthday/Christmas card if you wish for extra brownie points (LOL).

For a girl whom you are serious with, I would send those semi-mushy romantic cards, like “Missing You”, etc. on a random and frequent basis. Just surprise her! Hint: The postage for 1 oz first class will also cover 2-3 photographs.

Happy Birthday = Maligayang Kaarawan

Merry Christmas = Maligayang Pasko

Happy Valentines Day = Maligayang Araw ng mga Puso

Note: Today is Jose Rizal's 149th birthday (June 19, 1861). He is the national hero of the Philipines.

Ray

[AsphaltVoyager]

Does 'sinsod' mean anything like this notable movie dialog?

Mary Kate: Don't touch me! You have no right!
Sean: Whaddya mean, no right?
Mary Kate: I'll wear your ring, I'll cook, and I'll wash, and I'll keep the land. But that is all. Until I've got my dowry safe about me, I'm no married woman.

My ALL-TIME favorite movie, whether it starred John Wayne or not. I patterned my search for my prospective mate on Mary Kate Danaher (except the beautiful red mane.... a lil hard to find in Asian gals, ya know...). I know... lots of guys want the quiet type of wife... one that will give him nothing but yes dear's.... but I want one with fire in her spirit and a playfulness about her. If we happen to disagree, then I expect her to say so right quick-like. : )

[AsphaltVoyager]

Sorry, but I just have to ask...

Does she fart in her sleep?

These are nice things to know in advance.

 

Oh MAN! *LMAO* Not loud enough to be heard on this headset, if she does.

BTW... just under 4 weeks for that package to arrive. Left my hands on May 24th and arrived yesterday in Lapu-lapu. Not bad at all for regular mail. = )

[robert angel]

Valentines day seems like a much bigger deal in the Philippines with adults than it is here in the USA, but then again, some other holidays seem that way as well.

[whitey]

I know... lots of guys want the quiet type of wife... one that will give him nothing but yes dear's.... but I want one with fire in her spirit and a playfulness about her. If we happen to disagree, then I expect her to say so right quick-like. : )

I'm guessing you've never been married, my friend.

I used to feel the same.  I was actually turned on by "fiery" women, but that can get really old, REALLY fast once you're married. 

A word of caution ...

[robert angel]

Re:

>>If we happen to disagree, then I expect her to say so right quick-like<<

You might be better off if you learn to read what's behind the silences, as they're often more significant than instant retorts of disagreement.

My wife may disagree or be even be offended by what I do when we're out and about, but she'd never say so or indicate such until we're in private. At most, she might squeeze my hand, if we're holding hands, to signal something's not right by her. She's no meek and mild woman--she's got plenty of fire and is especially animated around some select female friends at social gatherings. On the phone at home--she's a riot talking to her friends and family. She becomes so lively and even loud, it drives me a bit bonkers sometimes. There's something about Asian women and telephones--it's almost like American women are one dimensional on the phone and asian women are 3 D.

Yet she'll talk quite strongly with me at home or otherwise in private if I've hurt her feelings or she feels I screwed up with my sons, explaining what I did and how she wishes I had handled it. If I'm mad and upset about something, say something stupid went down at work or something my sons may have done, she asks about it and sides with me.

My first wife was very, very silent and distant --she was an orphan as a child and never learned to fight and make up or to use effective communication to resolve conflict.

I made sure my second wife was someone who knew the dynamics of family struggles and the give and take necessary to overcome problems. Life in the USA has changed her somewhat, but the innermost, 'core values' are still there.
Yes--sometimes I get silence--and times when I have to pry things out of her when she is unhappy and can't or doesn't want to articulate it. Then I know I've got work to do.

There's the traditional 'tampo' sometimes, where she's suddenly silent and it's up to me as the guy to figure out why, but I usually find that kind of childish and thankfully, it's not that common and it's usually over things that aren't serious. I don't dwell upon tampo like I do if she's in bed at night, laying unusually silent next to me, head turned away, not in my arms. She might only be a foot away, but at times like those--it might as well be a million miles and I usually need to bridge the distance with speed and sensitivity, which are not always my strong suit...

I guess it's not uncommon in Asian women, but to her, making me happy seems to make her happy. Of course I'm happy when she's happy, but it's not the same. I guess I equate US being happy as total happiness and she's more focused on me being happy as a result of her existence. She seems to put my wants and needs before her own. She sort of looks at our roles in distinct terms and I look at our roles (role) more as a single unit, but working together...

"You're so good to me"

You're kinda small
And you're such a doll
I'm glad you're mine
You're so good to me
How come you are

You take my hand
And you understand
When i get in a bad mood
You're so good to me
And i love it, love it

You're my baby
Oh yeah
Don't mean maybe
Oh yeah

I know your eyes
Are not on the guys
When we're apart
You're so true to me
How come you are

And every night
You hold me so tight
When i kiss you goodbye
You're so good to me
And i love it, love it

You're my baby
Oh yeah
Don't mean maybe
Oh yeah

You're my baby
Oh yeah
Don't mean maybe
Oh yeah

You're my baby
Oh yeah
Don't mean maybe
Oh yeah

You're my baby

(The incomparable Brian Wilson, Beach Boys, 1965)

[AsphaltVoyager]

I'm guessing you've never been married, my friend.

You have SOOooooo guessed wrong. *LOL*

And if you think that having a woman who has a mind of her own and the ability to speak it with clarity gets old, I know for a fact that the other type gets old a heck of a lot quicker. Women like that are just plain boring. When I say I want one with fire in her spirit, I am not talking about one that constantly looks for nit-picky things to give you hell over each day, who can never be satisfied. But, a mousy woman has no ability to be playful and keep your lives fun.

[robert angel]

AV,

There's a lot to be said about 'boring'!

As Yogi said: "You can observe a lot by watching"

[Dave H]

On the phone at home--she's a riot talking to her friends and family. She becomes so lively and even loud, it drives me a bit bonkers sometimes. There's something about Asian women and telephones--it's almost like American women are one dimensional on the phone and asian women are 3 D.

Hey Rob,

That was one of the many things that I loved about my wife when we first met and to this day...not a telephone or cellphone person, like me! We can't stand them, but accept them as a necessary evil.

"You're so good to me"

(The incomparable Brian Wilson, Beach Boys, 1965)

As a Beach Boys (Brian Wilson) musicologist, you had better not get me started!   I will keep it brief...Despite the fact that Brian and cousin Mike Love mixed about as well as oil and water, they wrote some great songs together, that being one. "In My Room," "Good Vibrations," "California Girls" were just a few other incredible B.Wilson/M. Love songs! Brian wrote some great songs alone and with many different people, but Tony Asher is probably my favorite Brian Wilson musical collaborator..."God Only Knows,"  "Wouldn't It Be Nice," the original "Good Vibrations," etc. I especially like the Van Dyke Parks lyrics in songs like "Surf's Up!"  

Dave

So what am I listening to right now...the incomparable Max Romeo singing "I Chase The Devil."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ISVTxUigwk&feature=related

[robert angel]

Dave,

That Max Romeo clip and tune was very tasty indeed. It always cracks me up to think about how reggae music was an abysmal flop at first and the only thing that sustained it long enough for it to 'catch fire' was basically white college boys who took a fancy to it. Out west, there are a number of wealthy rich white boys who pretty much do nothing but live off their trust funds, snow board, smoke spiffs and shake their dreadlocks. They're called 'trustafarians'.

When my parents split up, we moved from the public housing projects in the Bronx, to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. It was a little different than the Bronx! This was before cruise ships came in and before reggae music was 'invented'. Calypso music ruled the airwaves there, with 'The Mighty Sparrow' being probably the biggest star, and the music was very catchy melody wise and the lyrics, such as "The people say she ugly--but her pockets full of money" and "Fire, fire in de wire, wire (phone) aye, aye, aye, oh, yo, yo'" had everyone falling out.

We moved from Caribbean to Detroit, after a brief stay in Washington DC (just another little change there) just in time for the race riots and the burning of entire neighborhoods in both cities. My Mom caught on to reggae early on and Bob Marley and Peter Tosh were early mainstays around our house.

Of course you couldn't turn on the radio w/o hearing Motown, 'British invasion' jams, and of course, other great music coming from USA sources coast to coast, from Muscle Schoals, (Alabama) to Staxx, (Tennessee) from Philadelphia soul to San Fransisco & LA and on and on. Even pre FM radio, on those now ridiculous looking and sounding transistor AM as well as on car radios, sounded awesome. Remember what a big deal it was when you got your first AM/FM, single speaker radio?

I didn't realize that Brian Wilson had collaborators on those songs you mentioned. I still can't help but believe that on those songs that he pretty much 'baked the cake' and they added some frosting--in that w/o Brian they probably wouldn't have happened, I don't think. Lennon and McCartney wrote quite a few songs separately but shared the credit. But hey--I really don't know. Wilson's a genius and some of his lost memories are coming back. Even with only one working ear, he sure could maximize a recording studio--I guess he worked on "Good vibrations" for quite a while. What they, the Beatles, Phil Spector and others did with what would today be seen as primitive technology is amazing to this day.

[Henry]

I'm guessing you've never been married, my friend.

I used to feel the same.  I was actually turned on by "fiery" women, but that can get really old, REALLY fast once you're married. 

A word of caution ...

Poor guy. He must like punishment. Pleasure from pain.