Watching my wife over the years living in the UK, it dawned on me, just how easily she has adapted to living here.
She first came here for university at 18 and has now spent approximately half her life living here.
She appears happy and settled and has a small group (approximately 20) local Thai friends.
She speaks excellent English, which many of her friends don’t and has quite a few English friends as well. So she has her own social life, as well as a social life as a married couple.
Although she doesn’t work, she’s always busy, running around with our son, meeting friends both Thai and English, cooking with her friends, going to London to see shows or visit museums with friends and of course, doing local and far flung temples to pray.
We spoke about how she feels being away from Thailand for so long and does she miss it, but she doesn’t seem to.
Maybe because her family visit us so often and also she is able to jump on a plane and visit them, so not living there is not a real problem.
We have seen several couples (Thai/English) split up over the years, with the wife leaving to go home, but to be honest, it was obvious to us, their relationship was strained because the wife couldn’t or wouldn’t make a real effort to live in the UK. Yet on the other hand, many of our friends (Thai/British couples) seem extremely happy and stable here.
So what makes a successful relationship when a Thai woman is living thousands of miles from home with her partner?
I could list my thoughts, but I’d rather hear yours first. 👌