Disillusioned Western Men Seek to "Thai" the Knot (Western Women Are Wrecks)

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

More than most people realize.

When you read this, I suggest you think of Israel as the nations of Great Britain and the United States, and think of Judah as the nation of Israel. I know this can be confusing, but try.

The King James Version (Authorized)

Hosea 5 Read This Chapter

WES -> Notes on 5:7
NTB -> Backsliders
TSK -> Entry for 5:7

Hosea 5:1-15: 1 Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor. 2 And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all. 3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled. 4 They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD. 5 And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them. 6 They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them. 7 They have dealt treacherously against the LORD: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.
8 Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin. 9 Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be. 10 The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water. 11 Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment. 12 Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness. ^F21 13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: ^F22 yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound. 14 For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him. 15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

FOOTNOTES:
F21: rottenness: or, a worm
F22: king Jareb: or, the king of Jareb: or, the king that should plead

The King James Version (Authorized)

My point is that going after strange women was foretold and having strange children was foretold. He's just doing what was foretold. Read on ... for the reasons why.

This is an end time book, the book of "Hosea" and more can be learned through the Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible. This need to be read at the link because there is more at verses 1 thru 6 that I didn't include. But here is some of it starting at verse 7.

They have dealt treacherously against the Lord

deal treacherously against the Lord

Note, Wilful sinners are treacherous dealers.

They have begotten strange children

children of fornication

Jn. 8:41

IV. Very sad things are made to be their doom. In general (v. 1), "Judgment is towards you. God is coming forth to contend with you, and to testify his displeasure against you for your sins.’’ It is time to hearken when judgment is towards us. In particular, 1. They shall fall in their iniquity. This follows upon their pride testifying to their face (v. 5) Therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity.

Note, Pride will have a fall; it is the certain presage and forerunner of it.

Note, Those that are not humbled for their sins are likely to perish for ever in their sins.

Judah also shall fall with them

They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the Lord

they shall not find him

sought the Lord

seek him only

found of them

with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord

upright with him

entire for him

then

seek him with our whole heart

Eze. 14:3

sought the Lord

early

the decree has gone forth

turn away the wrath of God

2 Ki. 23:25, 26

with their flocks and their herds

thousands of rams

while he may be found

dealt treacherously against the Lord

now shall a month devour them with their portions

portions

month

devour

Three shepherds

I cut off in one month

Zec. 11:8

I hope this answers your question.

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