Teenager in love

Discussion of Thai-Western relationships and the book, "Thailand Fever."
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emdek
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:09 pm

Teenager in love

Post by emdek » Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:23 pm

Our 18yr old son is in Thailand working in a restaurant for his gap year before going to University in England. Well we hope he will still be returning for Uni as he has fallen in love with a Thai girl working at the same restaurant. They are both very happy and we would have no objection to the relationship except that he is so young and it is his first love in what must be a very romantic but somewhat artificial (for him)environment...

He is due to be in Thailand for three more months before returning to study - this time might make them both feel committed. We do not want to spoil their joy but how should we proceed? We don't want him to slide into a situation that he cannot control (the girl's parents have told him to callthem mama and papa!) being so young and inexperienced and we do not want the young lady (she is 23) to be let down or misled.

Any advice gratefully received.
emdek

Geoff
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Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2006 5:15 pm
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Post by Geoff » Tue Apr 10, 2007 1:33 pm

18 year olds find 'true, lasting love' all the time; regardless if they find themselves in Bangkok or Manchester. As you know, most times it doesn't really work out how they initially envision.

As I am sure you already know, no matter how much you want to protect him from potentially painful emotional situations, you won't be able to. For that matter, it's probably best for him if you don't, experience is what makes people stronger.

Tell him of your concerns and leave it at that. He has reached a point where he has to decide how to proceed, not you.

emdek
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:09 pm

Teenager in love

Post by emdek » Wed Apr 11, 2007 5:00 pm

You're right but we wonder how the relationship might be perceived in Thai culture. Here moving in with a girl while on holiday maynot mean too much in cultural terms (leaving aside emotions) but we are wondering if it will be interpreted differently in Thailand like as a declaration of intent to marry for example and in Thai culture will it be considered a slight on the girl or her family if he ends the relationship... :?:
emdek

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