Meth: a Ticking Timebomb Gone Viral

Thai Immigration

Out of curiosity, I asked Nada when she last had a mammogram. After explaining what that was, I got the answer I expected, which led me to my next question. When was your last pap smear test, Nada?" Her blank look told me more than words ever could. In 2007, Nada gave birth to a healthy baby boy. She was tested (I assume looking for abnormal cells) before becoming pregnant. I wasn't horrified at how long it has been, but I will be pressing her to go to the hospital and get some tests done. Thais receive free medical, so there are no costs involved.

Nada cuts my finger and toenails for me. As she trims my nails, she squints her eyes, so I asked her when she last had an eye test. No prizes for guessing how long ago it was, so I took her to an optometrist, had her eyes tested and bought her a pair of reading glasses.

Walking into Thai immigration feels like walking into the headmaster's office when I was a naughty schoolboy. Today, I was there to do my 90-day report. Normally, it is a straightforward process, but because I moved into a new rental house two months ago, there have been some complications. My landlord recently lost his wife. They own two houses and both were in his wife's name. Foreigners cannot own land here in Thailand, and can only own the structure built on the land (condos are the exception for foreigners to own a freehold property). His wife had no Will, and this has created a legal nightmare for him (and I thought, possibly for me). I wasn't sure what was going to happen at immigration today, but when the officer stamped my passport, I felt a tonne of weight lift off my shoulders.

The hardest thing (for me) being an ex-pat in Thailand is never really knowing if my retirement visa will be renewed or not. I have to report my address every three months, and once a year apply for a new visa to see if I am welcome to remain in the country. People who have been here for long periods would tell me to relax...that it's a foregone conclusion so long as I follow protocols and behave myself. Perhaps once I have been here as long as they have, I will become more blase about things, but until then, going to immigration is the most stressful thing I need to do here in the land of smiles.