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.
Woah.....nice plaid smocky thing.....:o
Yeah! Why can't he just settle for a big fat-assed 50 year old screeching american harpy with a dog-chewed-on-it haircut!?
He must be a pervert to look for a hot young woman who's never heard of Oprah!
Many spoiled, narcissistic American women are leftist feminists don't want children. Why bother with these losers as "wives"?
You've met my ex?
Ironically, once I surrendered "power" in our relationship, he did more for me than ever before. Since I was going out of my way to please him, he went out of his way to please me.
The biggest part of this whole evolution in our relationship, though, came from my realization that I was not just telling him I trusted him, I was showing him I trusted him. And, thankfully, since I had married a wonderful man, I COULD trust him.
Far too many folks overlook the warning signs of danger before marrying - which is why they end up in trainwrecks in the marriage several years down the road.
You are absolutely right, though. It is 100:100. Best line of the day, IMO.
You state the truth. I fell in love with the Filipino women I meet when over seas. Since I came back to the US, all the scheming women I've meet since, have appalled and sickened me. The women I meet in the Philippines loved life were honest and were good in bed, and most importantly were not ready to trade up with the next guy they met no long how long you've been together, as most of the US women are.
I can say this, as I'm many years from 50, but maybe it's attitudes like that which contribute to American women in their 50s not being too male-friendly?
Perhaps they're thinking, "Good, you fat-gutted, aging-parents-basement-living, beer-swilling jerk, go boink a Thai your daughter's age and leave me alone."
Ya never know...
Yes, I do read much, which is why I did not spot your post until pinged. These are all your assumptions. None of that is stated in the article. This is why a good number of men have called you on your comments. You sound like the controlling domineering type with a healthy dose of sour grapes. No man will want that any more than a totally submissive doormat. Good luck in the Freeper dating service.
Guilty as charged...
You are absolutely right, though. It is 100:100. Best line of the day, IMO.
Thanks!
WAHAHAHA!
'K, honey, you do the investing, car, yard and house repair; earn 75% of the family income and maybe I'll cook once in a while for you--but I'm gonna bitch the whole time.
And I want a diamond. A big diamond because I deserve it....
Yeah, like Miss USA and Miss Nevada--and they'll do your friends!
LOL, whatever, more for me!
Yeah, that's why Bangkok is such a tourist draw.
And my experience is that these types of women you're referring to are generally miserable most of the time.
Last night I was out with some friends, and one of these types was there with a couple of her girlfriends, but not her (2nd) husband. I casually asked her how he was doing and where he was. Her exact response to the question was "f**k him".
LOL!!
Wow...I'll ask the question someone else on this post asked me: bitter much?
Who the hell are these women that you men on this thread are talking about? You seem to have made some horrible, horrible relationship decisions. I've met some screaming harpies myself, and generally they're the women who landed a man who was dazzled by Cindy Crawfordesque looks and porn-star bedroom skills and never bothered to look for morals or brains. So guys, if you were thinking with the wrong part of your anatomy, I can't say I'm feeling too sorry for you for the screaming harpy you were saddled with...
New York is absolutely filled with these horror show women. Why bother?
Really, the vast majority of american women are loathesome: homely, loud-mouthed, ill-mannered screeching harpies.
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