Is the Water Buffalo Really Sick?

You have scrimped and saved all year long. You haveYou can try to fool yourself and say that this one is
put in overtime hours so that you will have extradifferent. You can convince yourself that she is sincere
money for your holiday. Don't flush it all down the toiletand that this really is an emergency and you will ride
falling for some sad sob story from an 18 year oldyour white horse and come to her rescue. She will
farm girl.laugh all the way to the bank.
I have never understood how uneducated or littleKeep in mind that not only will she be playing you; she
educated lasses from Northeastern Thailand can pullwill have other sponsors that she is taking for all she
the wool over seemingly intelligent men from America,can get too. Some of the girls will juggle 5 or 6
Europe, Australia and the rest of the 1st worldrelationships, receive monthly stipends, and coordinate
countries.visits that don't overlap. And do all this without a
The girls may also claim that their mother is sick, theirblackberry.
brother is in jail, their grandfather died, or their sisterThey are very convincing and know what buttons on
needs money for school. Lies, lies, lies. Don't fall for thethe farang (foreigner) to push. They share information
scam. They can be so convincing and sound so sweetat the bars, massage parlors, and beauty shops. They
and innocent that we feel we have to help them. Afterknow how to copy and paste sad sob stories to email
all, we have discretionary money and they are so, soto you. They have someone to translate for them and
poor. They play on your heartstrings and know that ithelp them write those money soliciting emails.
works. It may not work on every one of their contactsDon't surrender to these little girls. They may seem
but they will find someone stupid who will send themsweet and innocent but they can be ruthless and
money.conniving. It is kind of like the car salesman. He has the
Most likely they won't pull this until after you have leftadvantage since he sells cars every day and you only
and gone home to your country. They will call you orbuy a car once every five years. The girls have the
send you an email and initially test the waters. If theyadvantage over wide-eyed, drunk, "handsome me" in
find you lonely and missing your girl in Thailand, they willThailand.
strike and try to get all they can. Usually they start outAs cynical as this sounds, there are some good ladies
small and increase the amounts as they go on. This isin Thailand - you just have to hunt for them and look in
similar to what legitimate charities do.places besides bars and massage parlors.
They will profess their love, promise to meet you andBe safe and smart. Use your big head to think and
take care of you when you return, as long as you helpdon't fall for the sick buffalo story.
them out with their problem.