SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

[HYENA 4]

I helped my friends wife get her Licence hear in CA last year. for me it was easy to help/ teach her but when her husband tryed all they did was fight. CA has the writen test in Thai but the translation is off so it may still take a few times to pass they also have it on tape were they read the ? to you so if someone dont read english they can still take the test. Also they told her she could drive on her Thai licence for 1 yr or till she could get a CA licence they have Geico insurance and that was not a problem. I am thinking ahead as I am doing the K1 thing now and my Fiencee is in Thailand she is going to driving school over there it is only 3300Bhat for 20 hrs a lot cheaper than hear and when she comes next year if she need I will just send her to a refresher course or maybe my friend will pay me back and teach her. anyway I hope that helps someone and good luck to all!!!

My wife got her driver's license in Bangkok then got the international one. When she got here, I drove for the first couple days then let her try. She had a difficult time keeping the car on the road. Turns out driving tests over there only means that you paid for it. You slip some money even if you fail. I have a long haul in front of me teaching her to drive...even though she's got an international DL.

Just letting you know!

[TL to AZ 0]

I told my fiancee to start driving on the other side of the road while she is still in TL....this should get her used to it over here!

[Ban Hammer 13,110]

Pg 13 is not where I expected to find this thread.

see what happens in your absence?

[TL to AZ 0]

It seams the previous fleury of activity has faded...No doubt people are in full nail-biting repose with their newly arrived ones...

I was trying to see who might be in the "next crop" of Visa awardees....

[*Robert* 2]

Pg 13 is not where I expected to find this thread.

see what happens in your absence?

I told my fiancee to start driving on the other side of the road while she is still in TL....this should get her used to it over here!

I like your way of thinking!!!

[*Robert* 2]

One thing I'd like to point out is that for those of you planning on getting your spouse naturalized, they will need to be able to read and speak English, as well as pass the naturalization quiz, which consists of 10 questions out of a possible 100 choices, and must get 6 of those correct.

They not only need to be able to read and write to pass the written drivers exam, but they have to be able to understand the evaluator during the driving exam, which consists of many driving maneuvers. I think many of us have forgotten how difficult an actual driving exam can be, in addition to passing the written test.

Bottom line: there are no shortcuts.

[RoyaleT 0]

Hi Everyone, I ve my K1 Visa interview scheduledon 17th Sep, 09. Can anyone guide me on the questions i ll be asked. Shall be v thankful.

[Kang Lang 7]

One thing I'd like to point out is that for those of you planning on getting your spouse naturalized, they will need to be able to read and speak English, as well as pass the naturalization quiz, which consists of 10 questions out of a possible 100 choices, and must get 6 of those correct.

They not only need to be able to read and write to pass the written drivers exam, but they have to be able to understand the evaluator during the driving exam, which consists of many driving maneuvers. I think many of us have forgotten how difficult an actual driving exam can be, in addition to passing the written test.

Bottom line: there are no shortcuts.

you said a mouthful sir! my husband speaks english pretty well and reads at a basic level (hence the 5 days a week 3 hours a day of intensive ESL classes) but the plan is to send him to a citizenship class which is offered at most junior colleges for non-credit (read free) in major cities. just a tip for anyone whose s.o. might need some help prepping for that.

good luck all.

[ThaitoUSA 15]

My wife is going for her driver's license exam this weekend. She's been studying for over a week now and she's been driving us around as well. She's already taken the required drug and alcohol education course and passed the test with flying colors; I'm grateful that she's an English teacher.

We've mailed off the AOS paperwork and her biometrics appointment is on Oct. 1st, so we're hoping for work authorization sometime in the next six weeks. She's agreeable to working anywhere she can find work in the short term and hopefully a position at a local college or university later.

We've been to three different Asian markets and she's been able to find nearly everything from home. I've never eated better!

All's well and wish the best to everyone else.

[rsn 135]

My wife is going for her driver's license exam this weekend. She's been studying for over a week now and she's been driving us around as well. She's already taken the required drug and alcohol education course and passed the test with flying colors; I'm grateful that she's an English teacher.

We've mailed off the AOS paperwork and her biometrics appointment is on Oct. 1st, so we're hoping for work authorization sometime in the next six weeks. She's agreeable to working anywhere she can find work in the short term and hopefully a position at a local college or university later.

We've been to three different Asian markets and she's been able to find nearly everything from home. I've never eated better!

All's well and wish the best to everyone else.

Good luck to Nern on her DL exam! Congrats on filing for AOS, the process has been pretty smooth (so far) for us - we received our biometrics appt date a week or so ago, and got a notice today that our case has been transferred to CSC, which I believe is a sign that we might get the GC w/out an interview. Hopefully your AOS ordeal goes as smoothly as ours appears to be going.

I hear you on the food front. It's nice to have home-cooked Thai food on a regular basis.

Glad to hear all is well with you and Nern, Pete. Thanks for the update.

Edited September 11, 2009 by rsn

[HYENA 4]

One thing I'd like to point out is that for those of you planning on getting your spouse naturalized, they will need to be able to read and speak English, as well as pass the naturalization quiz, which consists of 10 questions out of a possible 100 choices, and must get 6 of those correct.

They not only need to be able to read and write to pass the written drivers exam, but they have to be able to understand the evaluator during the driving exam, which consists of many driving maneuvers. I think many of us have forgotten how difficult an actual driving exam can be, in addition to passing the written test.

Bottom line: there are no shortcuts.

No kidding! I have a friend who sent his fiancee home after 3 months cause she had no intention or willingness to learn English. I'm in a holding pattern. I told her if she wants a car, job, citizenship or anything...learn English! In CA they offer the driving test in Thai, though. Nowhere else I know they do this.

I think the culture may be they can talk their way out of stuff or pay someone off until they realize (and some learned early) nothing but hard work actually gets it done. If I had access to materials, I'm sure I could learn more Thai in 3 years...Only 2 months and I could speak enough to get around. I just don't know how to help her...I'm too close to teach so it backfires.

[AaronLV 12]

No kidding! I have a friend who sent his fiancee home after 3 months cause she had no intention or willingness to learn English. I'm in a holding pattern. I told her if she wants a car, job, citizenship or anything...learn English! In CA they offer the driving test in Thai, though. Nowhere else I know they do this.

I think the culture may be they can talk their way out of stuff or pay someone off until they realize (and some learned early) nothing but hard work actually gets it done. If I had access to materials, I'm sure I could learn more Thai in 3 years...Only 2 months and I could speak enough to get around. I just don't know how to help her...I'm too close to teach so it backfires.

No offense but your friend sounds like a douche bag. You are also starting to sound like one. You hopefully got married because you love her, not because she can get a job and earn money.

Your wife/fiancee has been here less then 2 months, take a chill pill and let her do what she wants. In time she will realize she needs to learn english to do stuff. Let her adapt to this unbelievable culture change for herself, and when she feels it is time to start to learn she will, forcing the issue is only going to piss her off and make her resent you and ultimately leave you. This is a HUGE change and there are certain things that have to balance in her brain before she can sit down and learm you need to get some patience and let her move forward at her own pace. She is surrounded by it everyday, she will learn it just takes time.

[AaronLV 12]

I think the culture may be they can talk their way out of stuff or pay someone off until they realize (and some learned early) nothing but hard work actually gets it done. If I had access to materials, I'm sure I could learn more Thai in 3 years...Only 2 months and I could speak enough to get around. I just don't know how to help her...I'm too close to teach so it backfires.

Another thing is your NEGATIVITY towards the Thai Culture. She probably picks up on the bad stuff you say and how you look down on almost every aspect of how their culture is. Drop the negativity and stop all the bad mouthing about how their country works, and how the people are. I can tell you if all I heard is how messed up americans were from my Fiancee I would be disappointed all the time and think I was ####### for her.

The FACTs are the Thai culture is vastly different then ours, and a lot of times WE can't understand how people can do what they do. The bottom line is you bite your tounge you respect your Wifes way of life and how they were brought up and you tolerate and learn from it. With a bunch of the psots you have made about how messed up the Thais are, I am shocked you didn't get strung up while you were there.

Respect their culture and don't try and fit them into OUR accepted NORMS. What is acceptable in Thailand may or may not be acceptable, to us it might be wrong to them, it is acceptable, RESPECT that.

[*Robert* 2]

Well said, Aaron, on both counts. Its nice to know I'm not the only one who feels that way, though I'm pretty sure I'm not.

[BishopMnA 0]

Ya...I'm on Aaron's side. Give her time and Love...and quit thinking you know so much about Thai culture just because you've been there...

Have patience Hyena...lots of it...and then more.