How to tell if you're still a farang

COMMENTARY

How to tell if you're still a farang

Published: 28 Nov 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

As a Thai who has spent some time abroad I consider myself able to evaluate whether a farang, (I use this term endearingly) has been properly assimilated into Thai society.

So I thought it might be useful to my many farang friends and readers to devise a simple test to help guide farang who may be wondering whether they have indeed successfully made the seamless transition into becoming a Thai.

Here is my simple test.

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Forum

Your comments

OldThaiHand
Post : 723
Send message

Discussion 48 : 04 Dec 2012 at 11.4448
Post this to my Facebook
Englishbob

Farang can often be heard as a derogatory term. You have to listen to how it is said and in what context.

By the way, a taxi driver referred to me as "Bugsida" the other day, while talking to his wife, of course not realizing I can understand Isaan. I get the joke about Guava..haha. But, in thsi case, his condescending tone about me to his wife, clearly showed the perjorative meaning that terms for westerners can sometimes have.
Like dislike 6 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
Kee-nee-oh
Post : 11
Send message

Discussion 47 : 04 Dec 2012 at 10.4647
Post this to my Facebook
Farang is a derogatory term if you are treated differently due to the colour of your skin. Thais also have a word for mixed race (thai-farang children, equally derogatory if they are bullied at school for example, like my son has been). Etymologically the word farang is derived from the Franks but that has no reflection on its use. It is not the use of the word that one objects to, it is the connotations that are associated with it i.e. hyper-inflated prices compared to what a thai pays.
Like dislike 6 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
englishbob
Post : 2,395
Send message

Discussion 46 : 03 Dec 2012 at 19.0746
Post this to my Facebook
Regarding the use of the word 'farang'.

It's not derogatory. I mix with Thais from all walks of life and they all use it. It's a term to distinguish 'white' foreigners from other foreigners. It's origins are shaky but most likely nothing to do with 'farangset'. The term 'farangi' was used in Indo-Persian long before French traders arrived in Thailand. 'Farangi' simply meant foreigner and was probably derived from the Franks; a Germanic tribe during the Middle Ages. Similar words can be found in Tamil (parangiar), Khmer (barang) and Malay (ferenggi).
Like dislike 9 people liked / 3 people disliked this comment
spareword
Post : 7
Send message

Discussion 45 : 03 Dec 2012 at 13.2445
Post this to my Facebook
Not sure if this reply is even necessary, but, I'm no expert and I should've included in my previous comment - 'in my opinion blah blah blah'. However, from what I've ascertained by researching the web and speaking to a few different Thai friends, the word 'farang' is indeed derogatory in its origin as a negative reference to the unwelcomed French. Its continued use is typically out of ignorance of its origins, or as an underhanded insult. I loosely compare its endearment to the use of the 'N' word in the United States. Just my two cents from the peanut gallery..
Like dislike 4 people liked / 3 people disliked this comment
cpkinnally
Post : 81
Send message

Discussion 44 : 03 Dec 2012 at 10.2144
Post this to my Facebook
You're still a farang if you are aware that other countries exist
Like dislike 18 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
frenchy
Post : 12
Send message

Discussion 43 : 02 Dec 2012 at 09.5943
Post this to my Facebook
I am the other way around to you. I am a Farang..farangset to say French,lived in Australia for
25 years, in Quebec, Canada for 7 years, in Thailand for 7 years. Married to a Thai lady, I came to know and help many Thais in Australia. It was obvious to me the majority of them where in Australia for one reason and one reason only...MONEY! They could not give a damn about this country
Did not learn english, ate only Thai food, watch only Thai movies,etc..and only communicated between themselve. I started learning Thai the minute I meet my future wife,(she speak good english)for greater communication purpose.
Like dislike 12 people liked / 2 people disliked this comment
kena
Post : 617
Send message

Discussion 42 : 02 Dec 2012 at 08.4142
Post this to my Facebook
You're a farang if you stop your vehicle to enable people to cross the street. You're a farang if you smile and wave a friendly 'thank you' to someone slowing to enable you to move a vehicle out of a tight spot, ....or if you stay in your lane, when driving a curve.
Like dislike 16 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
loong
Post : 531
Send message

Discussion 41 : 01 Dec 2012 at 07.3941
Post this to my Facebook
spareword, Discussion 38 : 30/11/2012
Oh, there's nothing "endearing" about the word farang. It's roots are derogatory and it's use is out of convenience. "Kohn tang chat" would be endearing.. if that were the authors intent.

Farang is not derogatory word at all, it is more appreciate related to fair skin(white), and the ability to pay more than the local, and its use is not out of convenience. On the other hand, "Khon tang chat" applied to all non-Thai citizen!
Like dislike 10 people liked / 3 people disliked this comment
loong
Post : 531
Send message

Discussion 40 : 01 Dec 2012 at 00.5840
Post this to my Facebook
My Northeastern friends think Mexican is farang, the Middle east people is farang, the Russian is farang!
Like dislike 9 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
bonzo
Post : 953
Send message

Discussion 39 : 30 Nov 2012 at 12.2139
Post this to my Facebook
You are still a faring if your baht is pegged at a 5-to-1 exchange rate against the Thai baht when making a purchase of goods or services.
Like dislike 13 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment

1 2 3 4 5 Next Last

How to tell if you're still a farang | Bangkok Post: opinion