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.
Ok, I missed the 'joke'. I guess some other comments I saw already had me primed.
Ah. I'm off the hook!
Once again, you're not reading.
OK your link has advertising for "find married women" and "find wealthy men"
a quality site it is
10 lbs is great! I love a bit of meat on them. But really, it's usually 40-50lbs.....
Truer words were never spoken. Never.
What's interesting is when the Old Romeo wants his older children (the ones from the wife of his youth) to look after the "do-overs" from the youthful bride of his foolishness...you'd be surprised. And Old Romeos are seldom provident.
Then don't do it, or at least try to be cheerful about it.
The cuckoo is attacking a family unit in his own way--and is utterly morally culpable. The word--"homewrecker"--And if he gets his member shot off by the angry husband, don't bother putting me on the jury.
"Isn't Thailand known for their child prostitutes?"
Some reports estimate that around 100,000 women a year are brought into the US as sex slaves.
While there are plenty of examples of bad stuff in Asia there are also many examples of solid families.
The secret to a happy marriage (and it's inverse is the cause of many unhappy marriages). Rather than demanding that your spouse make you happy, give your spouse what your spouse desires, and see if just maybe that results in you getting what you want without having to demand so hard
*sigh* Back on the hook.
Loser, you have NO idea what I'm talking about.
I was NOT talking to you.
I was talking about women working hard. We don't grin like monkeys all the time.
Please, go back to your cave, or put your wife online (I bet you don't allow her out of her cave....)
popping corn...
"I'm sorry" ?!?!?!?
I don't believe I have ever heard a man say those words.
It's hard for anyone to say, but a real woman will say it without words in a meaningful way. To men that means sex or a home-cooked meal. A real man will...oh, I guess this is where those diamonds come in. Tee hee.
ROFLMAO!
;)
I'm outta here. I was hoping for some cheerful talk on Christmas, but, oh, well....
You made me smile tonight.
Thanks!
Merry Christmas!!
Yeah. Every single time I did anything thoughtful, buy flowers, take her out to a nice unexpected diner, anything, she would accuse me of cheating on her or doing something else I shouldn't have.
I never did.
When I stopped going out of my way to get beaten up, she complained that I never brought her flowers, etc....
Think Rosie 'Donnell,,,,,,,,harder!
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