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.
"He may not always say, the things you'd have him say, then all at once he'll say....something wonderful...He has a thousand dreams that won't come true, you know that he believes in them and that's enough for you....you'll always go alone, defend him when he's wrong, and tell him when he's done, he is wonderful....a man who needs your love can be...wonderful!"
The first Queen of the King of Thailaid, from the musical 'The King and I' based on the novel, 'Anna and the King of Siam (Thailand)'.
LOL!
You are wrong. He is correct about selfish Brit and American women. I am with a Brazillian women that has the warmest heart and twice as many degrees as I have. Nice dark brown hair and dark eyes and an average women's body shape. A basic, nice woman to be with. Her family is in both countries. And they own businesses.
No reconsideration necessary. Whatever his intent was, I'm thankful that I don't have what it takes to make it as a stripper.
You're reading WAAAAY more into what I said than is actually there, Bronzewood. But have a Merry Christmas.
I see, that is why I asked the question, as I'm sure you know the belief in the divinity of the king was long unquestioned in that country, and of course in his son, who came to the throne on the king's death.
In Japan, it was not entirely impossible before his not-too-distant death to find Japanese in that country AND America who believed in the divinity of Emperor Hirohito.
Now Sam,
That's not shrill, that's assertive. ;-)
How's fishing been?
You are generalizing. Mr. Sullivan's situation and your situation sound like they have nearly nothing in common except for the fact that your partners are not American.
Could it be the individual in question is suffering from de-elightenment? ;)
Either his portrait or Buddha's is always the highest image on any Thai wall.
Did I miss something?
Oh, and one PS -- that wasn't me who called him a loser, less than a man, not rich, and pathetic. That was another poster. I called him that later.
I believe by that point I had just said he was behaving like a pig. :-)
Yeah, I guess if you were Thai that would be the way out. ;-)
Unfortunately, the architypical Babuska can bench press a tank turret. That comes from lots of genetic selection for talents like being able to pull a plow.
Whereas all too many FemiNazi's can cut sod with a harsh line or two.
They are, and always shall be, at least the equal of men in terms of subtle power.
All except those feminist Yank and Brit chicks. :-)
I've hardly had a chance to go fishing in a while. I have a thought of going over to Sprigger Bank sometime soon and kill a few Spanish macks....How's everything out on the Loop? I certainly was pleased with this years hurricane season, btw!
No hard feelings. :)
Thanks for the Kerryesque tagline.
They learn not to like men.
Speaking of shrill, I think they had battleaxes around before feminism, but feminists have surely made an art form out of it.
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