Thais living abroad constitute a mixture of students, Thai chefs, Thai wives and various other smaller groups. The biggest group of Thais are undoubtedly the Thais who chose to relocate to the West with their husbands (or in a few cases wives).

It seems a general rule that in most Western countries Thai women outnumber Thai men by at least 2 to 1. Thais are rarely concentrated in specific areas but are thinly spread across different Western countries which makes it difficult to talk of specific Thai expat communities.

Most medium-sized towns now have a Thai restaurant. This restaurant may be the focal point of Thai people living in the area as it will try to employ a number of the local Thais. In major cities the focal point will be the local Thai temple and various festivals throughout the year will serve as occasions when Thais gather and celebrate their culture.

Thais living in the West will take their distinct regional Thai identity with them. In all Western countries the people of Isarn will often constitute a large proportion of the Thai Diaspora. The economic disadvantage of the Isarn people mean that many women have chosen to leave their home countries and reside with Farang husbands in the West. So Isarn women will form a large part of the Thai community in most Western countries. It is equally fair to assume that Bangkok Thais will form a disproportionately larger part of Thai students living abroad.

The regional differences of Thais can often form an obstacle for social interaction as can age differences. It seems difficult for Thais to form genuine friendships across deep ethnic or age divides. Thais will still hold a hierarchical view of the world for many years after moving to the West it seems. If age and regional differences do not determine the relative status of interlocutors then wealth is definitely the deciding factor. As many women living in the West are from the same region and age group they will often try to climb ahead in the race to claim status by an ostentatious show of wealth. This is most visibly seen at Songkran festivals and other treasured celebrations where many women will wear gold and other accessories as an outward sign of status and wealth.

Thais relocating to the West can initially find it difficult to fit in with the local Thai Diaspora. Finding friends may not seem as easy as you would initially presume. There are many invisible barriers to overcome although everything seems very cordial when Thais finally do get together. Thais have an innate ability to make everything seem pleasant and friendly on the surface. It seems like Thais can engage any other Thai in a jovial chat seconds after having met. But Thais are always like this on the surface which doesn’t necessarily mean that they are in the process of forming a friendship. There seems to be many inherited psychological and social barriers Thais have to overcome before making new friends – many more than the average Farang encounters.  

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