Posted on 12/23/2006 5:15:33 PM PST by Dallas59
BANGKOK (AFP) - "I could not find anybody in the States. There was nothing in America for me. That's why I'm here," says the clean-cut 52-year-old bachelor, who bears a passing resemblance to Hollywood actor Michael Douglas.
Sullivan, an emergency nurse from Florida, is one of a growing number of foreign men seeking young and beautiful Thai brides via the Internet.
Speaking at the Bangkok office of Sweet Singles, a Thai bride-by-Internet company, Sullivan says he has decided to "go beyond boundaries" in his search for a wife after a futile quest in the United States.
"American women in my age are, basically, a wreck. They are physically and emotionally beaten up from relationships and life. They are untrusting," says the well-built Sullivan, sporting a pink shirt and white pants.
"I think the feminist movement in America in the 60s really trashed American feminism. American women lack a certain femininity about them that women of other countries have," he laughs.
Sullivan contacted Sweet Singles six months ago and was introduced to Yoshita Tongsalee, an attractive 27-year-old teacher of traditional Thai dancing.
After corresponding with her via e-mails for three weeks, Sullivan decided to meet her and flew to Bangkok in early December.
"Just from e-mails, I knew she was the one. I just knew," says the American, his emerald earring dazzling.
"I find Thai women in general to be less self-centered and more family-centered than I find in western women," he says. The couple plans to marry next year.
John, a 43-year-old Briton who got married to a Thai woman four years ago via an Internet bride agency, also has grievances about western women.
"English women are very demanding and they expect you to be good-looking and have plenty of money and give them lots of attention. They drink a lot and they smoke a lot and they eat a lot," says John, who declined to give his last name.
"I am not very good at getting women anyway. I'm not the best-looking guy in the world. I'm quite short and it's very hard for me to find an English woman who is shorter than me," he says on the telephone from London.
Before marrying his Thai bride, John dated six British women, but his relationships with them were anything but happy.
"I'm just fed up with British women. They are not so loyal," he says.
When he met six Thai ladies in Bangkok via the Internet, including a 32-year-old business woman who later became his wife, John says he was struck by their kindness and family-centered values.
"I think Thai women are more loyal to their husbands. They are not just 'take, take take.' Also they have old-fashioned family values, which we used to have in this country," he says. John and his wife now have two young boys.
John and Marc declined to say how much they paid to get their Thai wives. Sweet Singles says it can charge a foreign man up to 1,700 dollars for a three-year membership to meet Thai ladies.
Some 10,000 foreign men have signed up with Sweet Singles over the last decade, and nearly half of them were previously divorced, says Bee, the company's customer service manager.
Some 80 percent of them get married to Thai women through the agency.
Americans account for 60 percent of the company's male clients, with the rest mostly from Australia, Britain, Germany and Scandinavian countries. Their average age ranges from 55 to 60.
Some 20,000 Thai women have also joined Sweet Singles, with their ages ranging from 20 to 40. The company charges a Thai woman 700 baht (20 dollars) for membership.
Bee, a petite 40-something, says Thai woman often have a favorable impression of foreigners.
"Many Thai girls were disappointed by Thai men who are famous for womanizing, drinking and gambling. Thai woman believe Caucasian men are more responsible and sincere and not playing around with other women," she says.
Thanitchaya Buaban, a striking 26-year-old beauty from Thailand's northern tourist spot of Chiang Mai, says she used to have a Thai boyfriend but he cheated on her many times.
"I was heart-broken. After I joined Sweet Singles, I started meeting foreigners and they were very kind and polite," she says at the firm's office.
Thanitchaya says she now has many American suitors who are trying to win her love with diamond rings and necklaces.
"I'm going to choose the best one," she says with a big smile.
For Sullivan's fiancee Yoshita, her experiences with Thai men were more traumatic.
"I was planning to marry my first Thai boyfriend, but he did not show up on our wedding day. He embarrassed me and my family," Yoshita says. "My second boyfriend cheated on me and impregnated another woman."
But Yoshita, who wears a golden heart necklace, says she is looking forward to living in Florida with the man of her dreams -- even if she still refers to him by his last name.
"I believe Mr Sullivan is a gift from God. He is really a good man and respects me. Every day I pray and thank Buddha for giving me Mr Sullivan," she says.
Sullivan nodded and held her hand.
"I have to step outside my own culture to find someone with whom I am compatible. I am not narrow-minded in that regard," he smiles.
You know those DeBeers diamond commercials?" he asks. "They've become more truth in advertising. First it was, 'A diamond is forever,' then 'It will take her breath away,' then 'Diamonds: Leave her speechless.' "
"Translation is," ... "that'll shut her up! For now!"
Ron White
...........
Mark
I like cotton panties.
And you misused the logical fallacy "Begging the Question" incorrectly? Eeeeesh....
"Each adultery has TWO participants. So, unless the promiscuity quotients are dramatically different, the numbers ought to be comparable."
A woman who worked for me briefly was going thru a divorce. She cheated on her hubby and he gave her the boot. Her therapist told her she had done a good thing exercising her sexual power.
So how did the reconstructive surgery turn out?
see # 121
Not neccessarily. An unmarried man having sex with a married woman is not committing adultery. The woman is, as she is breaking her vow. The man is not breaking a vow. The same if an unmarried woman has sex with a married man.
I'm sure. I checked...so I guess that means both of us are d*ckless.
Yeah, see, this kind of horse pucky is the problem.
1) How old are you?
2) Can you cook?
see # 121
This really is what rubs you, isnt it? So if a man finds himself past forty without a family, and decides he wants one, does he have to marry someone his age where many birth related health risks increase, or can he marry someone of child bearing age?
YOu two are really starting to symbolize the war between the sexes here. Logical fallacies, what does that have to do with what we're really talking about? Love and sex.
And as long as everything is getting tossed in. OK, guys, a woman is sweet, nice, bright, fun, let's you watch TV all you like, but....God forbid she be 10 pounds overweight, then you won't even ask her out to discover what a great gal she might be for you? Or, Freeper men may be more intelligent than most and this does not apply.
You are bringing up my biggest burr with the New Testament.
Jesus rags on Martha, cuz she is working on the dinner they ALL will eat. Mary is sitting around gazing adoringly.
The women you saw were ON A MISSION!! Get the holiday ready!!!
The men didn't have a care in the world.
You don't seem to understand how much WORK it takes to run a family....
Oddly enough he turned out to be a nice enough guy when I met him. He was home when I picked her up one day. (Their daughter answered the door and set the stage by yelling over her shoulder, "MOM! YOUR LOVER IS HERE!")
And you, in more ways than one. I'm guessing that might be the case for you, for the foreseeable future.
Hey! Get in line!
"I'm sorry, I was wrong." are the hardest words for any woman to say--particularly professionals.
What guy would want to live with that kind of berating just because he corrected you?
Try it: "I'm sorry, I was wrong."
Really, you are making my points for me.
Which is what pre-nuptuals are for. Assuming that the groom is interested in leaving his estate to his children, rather than whoever did the most to make his last years reasonably happy
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