I should have learned Thai language spoken and written

you have stayed there for seven years, why didn't you learn their language? it is much easier for you to stay there when you know their language....it easier to communicate.

Why did you refuse to learn Thai?I don't understand. I can see being here in the States refusing to learn a language but you were in Thailand and you could have learned from a native. That is so lucky.

May I ask why you would not want to learn the language? You are really isolating yourself from having such a wonderful time knowing everything that is going on around you if you know what people are saying.

It is okay Jemina, just let go what had passed, for what had gone will never return again. Anyway this did teach us a lesson that we have to learn whatever thing that is important to us if it’s really useful in our daily life. Anyway to know the local language of the country would give us lots of convenience to have communication with the inhabitants there As what I know if we have learnt certain difficult language if we seldom using it for quite a long time would fade gradually. Thailand is my neighbor country but I had visited it several times only. The people there know how to speak certain dialects of my country so I still could communicate with them. Have a nice day and happy posting

Wow, you think you might have picked up on some of the language? We have just started sponsorship of a child in Thailand at the Agape Home for babies with HIV/AIDS, and am going to learn along with my children how to (hopefully) speak and write in Thai so we can communicate with our buddy as much as we can. The Agape home is in Chiang Mai, did you know about it, hear about it or visit anywhere near there at all? I'm not sure how hard it is because we havent even sat down to have a look yet, so could be a lot more difficult then I thought lol...we'll see how we go. Hopefully you'll have a better time next time :)

In seven years of stay you should have learned the language well. If I am in your shoes I am now good of that language. Regrets you have. But its not too late you still can learn the language if not Thai other language. Start now.

I think it is important to learn the language of any country you visit. I think it is arrogent in the extreme to expect others to speak our language particularly in their own country blessed be

I understand your feelings. Thai is such a beautiful language and it is difficult to learn without having to live in a Thai speaking community, which you have done for 7 years. It is indeed a wasted opportunity and I hope this opportunity will again knock on your door. I went to a Thai language school in Bangkok and lived with Thai people and that's where I began to really appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of the language. After all, it really depends on the level of interest one has for a certain language not to mention the knack for languages people have. But I'm sure you've learned to say sawatdi ka and khop khun mak. If ever an opportunity presents itself again, grab it. Thanks.

Awww that's too bad. I'm sorry you refused to learn the language. It must have been difficult with the people who didn't speak your language (English I guess?). Why did you live in Thailand? And why wouldn't you try to learn the language (I know it is hard to learn a language)? It seems pointless to live somewhere and not know how to speak to the people. That's really too bad my friend. Pablo

Today I have been thinking some languages are easy to learn. However other languages are far more challenging. I imagine that Thai is a very difficult language to learn. I am not surprised you didn't learn it even though you lived there for seven years. You mastered the very basics to help you which is a bit like me with German. If I lived in Thailand I probably wouldn't be able to learn much Thai. If you had lived in Italy the language would have so much easier to learn.

that could be the problem of almost all people that going outside their own country. at first it is difficult to cope up up this problem but later on as you will learn their language and even make friend with them. i love to learn different language that is why i am planning to go abroad after i finished my second course to experience this problem of language barrier.

wow, 7 years and you didnt want to learn the language. why? ive been to thailand recently, i was with my younger brother and my older sister. we spent about a week there and it was fun. i didnt know how to speak all of the language though but a few weeks before our trip i made researches on how to speak the language and etc. of course i didnt get to memorize everything but i learned a few words that helped. and me & my sister take maps and brochures from the airport that has little translations of the thai languages. you know words like thank you, excuse me, how much and etc. we also made sure to talk to many locals as much as possible. yes, there is a bit of a language barrier, some of the people we ask for directions to dont know how to speak english at all and some of them know how to speak english so it was ok. it was actually fun. i liked going to thailand. im hoping i can go back and hopefully spend more than a week there. there is so much more to see that i havent seen yet. may i ask what you were doing there?

well I think don't worry too much for the past which is we can not correct it so in my view ur should look forward and do ur best ,this is normal thing can happen to anyone but when ur have a chance again ur gonna take it right