classyfrontiers
Introduction
I was living in Shanghai from July 2004 to May 2009, working in the shipping and logistics industry. Than I decided I was in need of a break from the big city and I moved to Thailand. I have started a new business in the luxury travel industry, I arrange luxury custom made holidays to Thailand for the moment, but expanding soon. You can visit my website www.classyfrontiers.com if you are interested to travel to this wonderful country as a VIP.
I joined expat.com on 26 January 2010.
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classyfrontiersposted on the thread Newbie ..so many Questions!
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classyfrontiersposted on the thread advice
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classyfrontiersposted on the thread Hello everybody ...
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classyfrontiersposted on the thread Looking for friends in phuket
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classyfrontiersposted on the thread Looking for friends in phuket
Expat experience
After visiting Thailand several times for leisure, I decided it could have been a good destination also for living, as the relaxed atmosphere offers a stress-free life style. I wish to be here for several years, but life is unpredictable
Nature and relax, kind local people, wonderful weather, beautiful beaches... Is there anything else somebody might need?
Thailand looks like a paradise, but as insider now I can see also the other side of the coin. Corruption of institutions is very strong, from the police to local government. It`s not easy if you have a business here. It`s difficult to make good friends, the expat community is quite fragmented. Majority of expats are retiree, not for my age, but still there is a younger crowd coming to the island for living and for business. Lot of men are attracted by the possibility to get young girlfriends. I don`t mind that, but these people should pay respect to these girls, who are clearly in a state of necessity to improve their quality of life and they have to do everything to achieve it, most of times putting apart their dignity. Still, they are persons, not toys. Tourists should be more respectful too, even if they come for girls purpose. Many expats are also 'refugees' from their own country, where they left many troubles behind, sometimes with law, sometimes with their family; some of them can be really bad persons. That`s why I think it`s not easy to make good friends and really trust somebody, it takes time. Luckily there is also a small part of young persons who are normal and they are here to work honestly or to have a break for a few years from their stressful life. If anyone doesn`t agree on what I said above, they are just hypocrital and they should look deeper into their heart.
Being interested in Chinese culture and having studied Chinese language, China was a natural place to move and go deep into it. I left my job in Italy and I moved to Shanghai looking for a job, which at that time was not very difficult.
Chinese culture is far away from the modern city life, but Shanghai represent the first destination for business opportunities. China is now the economic centre of the world. I really enjoyed my first two years in Shanghai, where the stressfull lifestyle is mitigated by the nightlife entertainment and the possibility to discover the rest of China during weekends and public holiday. I recommend everybody to travel to Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangxi and Guizhou provinces.
Shanghai and many other big cities of China are really polluted by traffic and contruction sites. That's the main problem of new developing China. While the expat community is very big and friendly, foreigners here give too much importance to themselves and quickly forget their origin and good manners, especially towards local chinese. I don't like the arrogance of foreigners, they should respect more the country and the people that are offering a big business opportunity. Money don't entitle people to forget about good behaviour.
It`s my hometown and I love it.
In Rome and in Italy in general people are very warm and friendly. I love the many interests people have, the passion for art and culture and for philosophical discussions. In Rome I really like the outdoor life; with its many cafe` and wine bars, socializing is very easy. I guess tourists like it for that too.
Working situation has always been very difficult, salaries are too low in comparison with the cost of life. But I guess it`s a general problem in Europe now. I don`t like Italian politics, they are all hypocrital, left and right side. I mostly don`t like Berlusconi behaviour and activity. Media are manipulated by politics, journalism is a slave of political power and people only get what the 'big men' want. That`s not free information. People in Italy are turning into racists. It`s true we have many immigrants and many of them do not behave properly, and still media do their bad part, condamning them. It`s easier to appoint someone to be the cause of any problem instead of taking action to solve problems and help these people starting from education to dialogue betweeen different cultures. Politicians prefer to teach to Italians that immigrants are criminals, create fear and suspicion.