Ricky In Isaan

Today was sports day at our local village school here in Thailand, and the kids got all dressed up for the parade. The whole thing honestly gave me a bit of a college football vibe, with the parade, the podium and everyone getting involved.

The kids have been up on the podium quite a few times today and they’re doing really well. Definitely a proud dad moment, and I reckon they’re doing the Aussie genes proud with a bit of sport!

I really like the setup we have at our little village school. It’s simple, everyone gets involved, and the kids seem to have a great time.

Why are people so mad about a bloke choosing to live out here in rural Thailand?

I’ve tried to keep my videos positive and share the things I genuinely enjoy about life here, but I still get plenty of negativity in the comments. Some people seem genuinely unhappy to see someone else enjoying their life and doing things a little differently.

There’s a saying that someone doing better than you will never be a hater, and maybe that explains some of it.

But at the end of the day, we’re just living our life, keeping things positive and trying something different. I’m happy with the life I’ve built here, and all I can hope is that you can find the same happiness in your own life too.

People often ask me how I afford to stay in Thailand with a young family.

The answer is pretty simple: we live within our means. We keep things simple, avoid unnecessary debt, and try to make sensible financial choices.

It’s certainly not a luxurious lifestyle, but that’s not what we’re chasing. We value having time together as a family and being present as parents. We’re happy with the life we’ve built here in rural Thailand.

It won’t work for everyone, but this is what works for us.

People often ask me how often we see snakes living in rural Thailand. Well, we spotted a decent one in our yard this morning.

It’s definitely something to be mindful of, but I wouldn’t say it’s something I constantly worry about. Coming from Australia, I’m used to the fact that dangerous snakes can turn up almost anywhere, including the suburbs.

We keep our yard trimmed and tidy so anything moving through is easier to spot. This morning’s snake was easy to see, which is exactly what you want. Hopefully, it helps reduce the risk of someone accidentally stepping on one.

Snakes are certainly part of life in rural Thailand. You see them around, but a tidy yard and a bit of awareness go a long way.

One of my biggest worries as a dad raising kids in rural Thailand is water.

You don’t need to live near the ocean for water to be a risk here. There are ponds, canals, rivers and other water sources everywhere around the countryside, and sadly, accidental drowning is a real concern for children in Thailand.

So we’ve found swimming lessons for the girls. We pay around $10 per lesson, which I know is an expense many local families simply can’t afford. But for us, teaching the kids to swim and feel confident around water is something I want to prioritise.

It won’t remove every risk, but it’s one less thing for me to worry about as a dad.

Someone suggested I’ll go mad living in rural Thailand within 12 months and need to get back to civilisation.

I’ve been here for five years now, and honestly, in many ways I think life in a Thai village is more civilised than people might expect. We’re fully connected, have everything we need, and live a good life.

The one thing I can understand some expats missing is face-to-face social interaction with other Westerners. If you enjoy sitting down for a chat and a yarn with other Aussies or expats, you might find that harder in a rural village. I rarely see another Westerner unless I head into the city.

But for our family, this lifestyle works. We’re happy, and none of us knows how long we’ve got, so I’d rather enjoy the life we have now than spend it worrying about where we think we should be.