This is an extract from my book ....

The Thai women I’ve been so lucky to meet here have been so friendly and welcoming, so we decided that we’d gather at Pui’s bar for drinks and giggles this afternoon. There were plenty of both and we chatted about all manner of topics, but for this group of gals it was mostly about the lack of romantic love in their lives. For some reason or another they’ve all been unlucky in love. They’re all now raising their children alone, with no help at all from the fathers. It seems in Thailand it’s very difficult to have any form of maintenance or child support paid, so they just get on with it and do the best they can.

The strength, devotion and love shown by each of them when it comes to their kids is wonderful. They’re always showing me photos on their phones and clearly put the welfare of their kids first. Just like parents the world over, their greatest hope is to provide a life for them with opportunities that they themselves may not have been so lucky to have. Generally speaking, Thai people have a deep love and respect for their family, particularly kids and the elderly. There’s never a thought about having elderly parents go into a care home. Such places don’t really exist in Thailand. Culturally it’s just a given that elderly parents will be taken care of by their children, and their children feel motivated and privileged to do so. 

Instilling these strong values starts young. Thai children are raised to respect and appreciate first and foremost that their parents brought them into the world and cared for them as they grew into adults. P’Sak is totally devoted to his parents. He has shown me a beautiful photo of them that he keeps in his room and he goes to the temple weekly to make merit and pray for them. He sends a portion of his wage home for them and feels a deep sense of duty when it comes to their care and wellbeing. As he works away from home, his sisters do the day-to-day caring. When he talks about his parents, I can see the longing in his eyes, wishing he lived closer.

My Thai girlfriends openly shared their life stories with me. Their dreams for their future. The more they talked and the more I listened, the more clearly I realised how similar we are the world over, looking for someone to love and to be loved by in return. When they focused upon their potential to meet a new man, mainly to help solve all their money problems, I wasn’t able to fully agree with their wishes. I was, however, happy to encourage them to continue doing the amazing job of raising their children on their own until they find someone truly deserving of them and their kids.