Birth abroad

[jo-macral]

Sorry to piss on your parade, but I am speaking from EXPERIENCE here, not deluded wishful thinking, or FUD your loving wife tries to fill your head with regarding family. You need to actually spend time here, with the locals and family for more than a holiday, and wake up before you spout crap. All the research in the world does not substitute hands-on experience.

You are right about becoming a monk, in that it is a choice when you turn 20, but not compulsorily, that is my bad.

As for the military 'draw', you are correct in this is how it is done, but you still have to be present for it. I am sure there are many ways to get out of it, but it's not easy and in fact my boss is having a hell of a time with his child over the exact same thing. (his step-son is over seas learning), and they had the audacity (and legal right I suppose) to make his wife stand in his sons place if he did not turn up.

I know the culture, drama, and 'behind the scenes' crap that goes on that would make your skin crawl.

Just so you know. I know Thai, I have met every one of my wife's family, and know many others, both Thai and Farang alike who live, work, and have the SAME issues. I do applaud you in your success, and the ability to be masked from a bulk of the crap, but I guess that only comes when you actually have to live here and deal with it yourself day in and day out. Living abroad and letting your wife stay here and do it alone will not teach you a damn thing, except what your wife tells you.

You need to wake up, and get your head out of the ground.

Good luck with your child, and hope everything goes well for you and your family. I am not here to fight, only to help those who need it. We are all waiting for PR, and all have our reasons for needing it.

Peace.

 

[jo-macral]

- the hospitals are excellent and cheap, we paid 2000 dollars for a C-section delivery and 5 days of care; both the surgeon and the pediatrician were first rate

This, I am very happy you had. I had a family friend who went to a government hospital in Chonburi city, and it cost about the same at about 3700 Baht however they only delivered the baby (no C-Section), and gave her over night rest. The next day they discharged her against her wishes, and she ended up needing to go to a different hospital for the rest of her treatment. This occurred when we were looking for hospitals to handle my wife's pregnancy, and have heard similar reports after some quick research, so we chose a private hospital to handle everything for us. It was not cheap, but it had top notch service. The hospitals in Thailand are very good, though I have been to some government hospitals that are under staffed, and had nurses that were not properly trained, but the doctors are all first rate.