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 sure could have fooled us. You sounded very proud of your pre-marital porking of married women. What, is your wife looking over your shoulder now?
Who have husbands who are not paying good attn to what's going on...or are polite enough to pretend not to notice?
Ever get to Cheap Charlies on Suk 11 just off of the Nana station?
Great outdoor minibar for expats, my fave.
Sawadee cup...
Not "can you cook?" -- "WILL you cook?"
I bet not....
How are they doing in controlling AIDS? A few years back the incidence of new cases in Thailand was astonishing.
I understand it quite well, of course later on it turned from sarcasm to a witful repartee meant to arise anger, but then again I am just drinking spiked eggnog right now and enjoying a good laugh on a funny thread.
"chauvinist piggery that occassionally infects Free Republic."
Is that the "I'd hit it" comments or the "Wife stays at home to homeschool the kids while the husband brings home the bacon" comments?
You left out fishwife and fussbudget....
Well said!
What, that their cheating on him?
What an odd comment....
Amish and Mennonite sometimes wear pink, yellow or green shirts. Though, black pants are obligatory. As for earrings, there are a few fellows around here who'd cause your dentist to become wealthy should you question their manliness due to ear apparel. :-)>>>
Not to mention they do mail order brides the best, oops I mean sometimes the y have arranged marriages to girls they dont meet until there wedding.(sometimes to girls half there age even)
I'm trying to! Granted, it's a bad example, but an example none-the-less...
Who are not the Freepers? I think you said empowerment made men into sperm donors but I am not sure.
AFAIK, AIDS is not a real problem and is spread mostly through drug use. I don't hang out in that scene so I can't comment too much on it.
Do you see what you've started? :-)
Uh...you really ought to read the whole thread.
It would cost me 200 Baht just to get there by taxi from where I am at. :( I don't really know any expats in Thailand. I can count my western friends here on one hand.
Not the kind of analytical skills I would expect from a professional barrister.
I am 53 years old and am happily married to the same American woman for 33 years. I have a 21 year old son who is a productive working citizen, who loves us and visits often. I am a very successful illustrator, graphic designer, and web site designer (no, that doesn't make me gay) and I love what I do.
I have been faithful to my wife and vice versa. I have a house on a few acres outside of Nashville. I do not wear white pants, ever, or pink shirts; mostly I wear blue jeans. Nor am I adorned with any gemstones or jewelry of any kind, other than my wedding band.
I also write songs with some of the local talent from time to time when the muse drops by. My wife is a working professional whose wisdom I greatly value and could not survive well without. She seems to like me quite a bit, but she peeked at this thread to see what I was laughing about and thinks you sound a bit like a "ballbuster."
Forgive me, but I missed the memo about ER nurses being gay. Also, lots of guys wear earrings these days. Not sure that means much anymore.
And as for the subsequent posts who believe Mr. Sullivan to be gay, logically then, all the subsequent posts identifying you to be embittered must also be true. Right?
I rest my case.
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