The Red Velvet Lawyer

An Asian Thing?   A Chinese Thing?   Because I am planning retirement in Thailand in the summer of 2020, I am now a member of several Facebook groups formed by English-speaking expats living in Thailand.  One member posted this inquiry: Several people I know, including myself, have been “cut” in line when it’s clear (from our perspective) that we are next in line to be served— Whether this be at 7-Eleven, the coffee shop, or the French fry truck at the pool. Like, we will be waiting patiently when suddenly someone will just cut, order, and get served before us. It’s baffling, because in America, that’s a huge, rude no-no. So we wonder, Are we cue-ing incorrectly? Like should we be more assertive with the server so they (and everyone else) know we are next? Could it be a micro-aggression toward foreigners? Could it be a general lack of awareness of some people...? Has anybody else had this experience? Do you know why?! 😂 The comments to the post qui

Rugged Individualism versus People Concerned About their Role in the Collective Well-being of Family I plan to retire to Thailand in the summer of 2020.  My weekly treatments with a talented Thai massage therapist, Mena, have suddenly involved language lessons and cultural translations over our two hour sessions together. Today, we skipped the language lessons.  Instead, I raised a question arising from my look at the postings on various Thai-related Facebook groups.  Male-dominated groups regularly discuss relationships with Thai women, both spouses and girlfriends.  I'll spare you the seedier details. One recent post, by a thoughtful 72-year old Western man, asked whether "farang" men had a hard time getting their Thai spouses or girlfriends to open up emotionally.  He had studied and written books about relationships, and so came at the topic with a scholar's curiosity. I asked Mena what she thought in response to the question.  I have kno