Lancelot
Full time employment: Posting here.
F@#$ you, you f^&*%^$ a@@ hole!!!!!!
Jun, my Thai neighbor, was going apoplectic because I had dared to walk down the stairs in her presence. Maybe I was supposed to lower my head and bow? Well, TIT, This is Thailand.
Last August I had moved out of my room at Happy Land Condominium and departed for the Philippines. I had lived there for about three years and always gotten along well with management and other tenants, so HLC kindly stored my stuff, free of charge.
Jun, a 28 year old Chinese Thai, was always at the pool, sun bathing, prancing around and making sure everyone noticed her. Supposedly she was from a wealthy family because she never worked, but who knows. Jun was a long term tenant and the condo’s resident princess; it seems that every building has at least one.
Anyway, my girlfriend and I knew her casually, we exchanged the occasional DVD and never had a problem, but then I wasn’t her neighbor. Klaus, a buddy of mine who was her neighbor said she was always stopping by his room to talk or more accurately, have him listen to her. Jun was self absorbed and needed an audience. Klaus seemed a bit wary of Jun and told me that his girlfriend despised her.
Well, in late October 2006 I returned from the Philippines and moved into HLC apartment 625. As luck -or bad luck- would have it Jun lived in apartment 525, directly below me. A couple of days after moving in, I was at the pool talking with some buddies when Jun marched up with hands on hips and started complaining that I was making too much noise. I was taken aback by her aggressive, confrontational behavior but I did not lash back, just said OK and let it go. Ten minutes later, Jun was back at the pool passing out floor mats, asking sweetly if I, Khun Lance wanted one. I politely declined and left.
About three days later Jun sends my girlfriend a text message, saying that we were making too much noise last night. My girlfriend calls her back and tries to explain that we were asleep by 11 pm and really try to be quiet. She also tells Jun that perhaps she, Jun, hears the guy in apartment 725, above us. The guy is VERY noisy and sounds travel easily through concrete walls. Jun is having none of that and continues to insist that we are disturbing her.
A few days later Jun ups the tension by yelling obscenities out her window, in both Thai and English. Apparently she wants to insult my girlfriend as well.
In January I had had enough and I complained to the condo manager. Then my girlfriend and I together complained. Thai was spoken, so the manager understood completely. Basically, the manager said we were good tenants, but there was nothing she could do. She advised us to go to the police and file defamation charges. My girlfriend consulted one of former class mates, an attorney, who confirmed that under Thai law, the first person to lodge a substantiated defamation charge will usually prevail. I consider it, but then I ask myself why would I want to put myself through the hassels of a legal battle in a foreign country? Life is too short.
Shortly thereafter a thai girl jumped from the 17th floor of HLC and killed herself. Unfortunately my girlfriend and I were home and heard the sickening and very loud thump of the jumper’s body. The body was visible from our balcony and while my girlfriend was on the balcony, Jun on her balcony, discretely tells her that next time she hopes that she, my girlfriend, is lying dead on the pavement.
Five minutes later I give the apartment manager written notice that I am moving.
I write this long missive to share one of the downsides of living in a foreign country, namely problems with a local. Management at HLC was not going to intervene in a Thai-foreigner dispute, no matter how egregious the Thais behavior. Jun was not going to back off because she is Thai and this is Thailand. I voted with my checkbook and moved out.
Thank god I only rented and was free to leave at anytime. Personally I prefer to rent because it gives me maximum flexibility with respect to travel and changing locations. For those that want to buy foreign property, do keep in mind that problems with the locals can also have an impact on your real estate purchases.
Jun, my Thai neighbor, was going apoplectic because I had dared to walk down the stairs in her presence. Maybe I was supposed to lower my head and bow? Well, TIT, This is Thailand.
Last August I had moved out of my room at Happy Land Condominium and departed for the Philippines. I had lived there for about three years and always gotten along well with management and other tenants, so HLC kindly stored my stuff, free of charge.
Jun, a 28 year old Chinese Thai, was always at the pool, sun bathing, prancing around and making sure everyone noticed her. Supposedly she was from a wealthy family because she never worked, but who knows. Jun was a long term tenant and the condo’s resident princess; it seems that every building has at least one.
Anyway, my girlfriend and I knew her casually, we exchanged the occasional DVD and never had a problem, but then I wasn’t her neighbor. Klaus, a buddy of mine who was her neighbor said she was always stopping by his room to talk or more accurately, have him listen to her. Jun was self absorbed and needed an audience. Klaus seemed a bit wary of Jun and told me that his girlfriend despised her.
Well, in late October 2006 I returned from the Philippines and moved into HLC apartment 625. As luck -or bad luck- would have it Jun lived in apartment 525, directly below me. A couple of days after moving in, I was at the pool talking with some buddies when Jun marched up with hands on hips and started complaining that I was making too much noise. I was taken aback by her aggressive, confrontational behavior but I did not lash back, just said OK and let it go. Ten minutes later, Jun was back at the pool passing out floor mats, asking sweetly if I, Khun Lance wanted one. I politely declined and left.
About three days later Jun sends my girlfriend a text message, saying that we were making too much noise last night. My girlfriend calls her back and tries to explain that we were asleep by 11 pm and really try to be quiet. She also tells Jun that perhaps she, Jun, hears the guy in apartment 725, above us. The guy is VERY noisy and sounds travel easily through concrete walls. Jun is having none of that and continues to insist that we are disturbing her.
A few days later Jun ups the tension by yelling obscenities out her window, in both Thai and English. Apparently she wants to insult my girlfriend as well.
In January I had had enough and I complained to the condo manager. Then my girlfriend and I together complained. Thai was spoken, so the manager understood completely. Basically, the manager said we were good tenants, but there was nothing she could do. She advised us to go to the police and file defamation charges. My girlfriend consulted one of former class mates, an attorney, who confirmed that under Thai law, the first person to lodge a substantiated defamation charge will usually prevail. I consider it, but then I ask myself why would I want to put myself through the hassels of a legal battle in a foreign country? Life is too short.
Shortly thereafter a thai girl jumped from the 17th floor of HLC and killed herself. Unfortunately my girlfriend and I were home and heard the sickening and very loud thump of the jumper’s body. The body was visible from our balcony and while my girlfriend was on the balcony, Jun on her balcony, discretely tells her that next time she hopes that she, my girlfriend, is lying dead on the pavement.
Five minutes later I give the apartment manager written notice that I am moving.
I write this long missive to share one of the downsides of living in a foreign country, namely problems with a local. Management at HLC was not going to intervene in a Thai-foreigner dispute, no matter how egregious the Thais behavior. Jun was not going to back off because she is Thai and this is Thailand. I voted with my checkbook and moved out.
Thank god I only rented and was free to leave at anytime. Personally I prefer to rent because it gives me maximum flexibility with respect to travel and changing locations. For those that want to buy foreign property, do keep in mind that problems with the locals can also have an impact on your real estate purchases.
