Despite the political unrest in Thailand these past years, foreigners from all over the world are not deterred by the instability, and still they flock in droves to work or retire in the kingdom.
Many of these people have holidayed here first, at least once, and like so many tourists before them, fell in love with the county, its people, and not least its rich and diverse culture.
Based on the 'holiday experience', a growing number of tourists dream of one day taking the plunge and moving out here.
These are dreams that more and more people are following through on with each passing year.
However, even though the old Siam can be a wonderful place to start a new life, there are three very important considerations to take into account; things that so many fail to see through the eyes of a short-term visitor.

• There's a BIG difference between visiting Thailand as a tourist and living here as an expat.
  
• There's a BIGGER difference between working here than retiring here
• There's an even BIGGER difference between working here as an employee than running your own business.
  

Unless foreigners to the Kingdom have been here numerous times over a number of years as long-stay tourists, on business trips, or a bit of both, then they will soon realise that there is more to Thailand than just magnificent beaches, lush rainforests, and smiling faces at every street corner.
The Biggest Mistake of Thailand's Expatriates Without doubt, the biggest mistake many expat to Thailand make is their reluctance to accept that the way of doing things here is usually so, so, different to what they are used to.
They find even the simplest of things challenging and frustrating, like waiting for a plumber who doesn't turn up on time, if at all! It's not uncommon to see Thailand's expats in an irate state, throwing their dollies out of the pram whenever things don't go the way they are used to back in the motherland.
You can hear them shout: "If this was my country, it would never be allowed to happen, and this person would be out of a job by the end of the week, blah, blah, blah!", and other such rants over everyday situations and frustrations.
The thing these angry outbursts all have in common is that they continually compare the way things are done in their home country to the way things are done in Thailand.
This inability or unwillingness to adapt often results in Farangs (the Thai name for white westerners) packing their bags and running to the airport disgruntled, bewildered, and wondering where it all went wrong.
Do Your Homework Most of these upsets can easily be avoided if people took the time to do a little homework prior to making the decision to move.
There are a couple of good books that can really help to prepare wannabe expats settle into the Kingdom with much greater ease and far less stress.

• Culture Shock! Thailand (A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette)
• Working with the Thais

The best way to get the most out of books like these is to read them cover to cover a couple of times before arriving, and then again once you get here and settle in.
Learn the Language Believe it or not, but the vast majority of expatriates living in Thailand never bother to learn the language past one-liners such as "Hello", "Thank you.
", and "How much does it cost?" This reluctance to pick up the language only adds to daily frustrations by causing irritation, miscommunication, and misunderstanding.
Those few who do take time out to learn the language, even at a basic conversational level, will all tell you that it has enriched their living experience tremendously.
And contrary to popular belief among the expat communities of Thailand, learning to speak, read, and write in Thai, is nowhere near as daunting as most believe it to be.
Finding Your New Home Knowing where to live, in what type of housing, and understanding the pros and cons of different types of Thai accommodation is another area where a little homework beforehand would have made finding your new address a lot less painful.
Extensive research has shown that the anxiety caused by moving home makes it one of the most stressful events in a person's life.
Add to that moving to another country, and the process becomes even more nerve-wracking.
There are two simple procedures that can help ease the burden of relocating.

1. Use an online Bangkok accommodation finder (replace "Bangkok" to wherever you're moving to in the Kingdom) like Mr Roomfinder or EasyHomes Bangkok.
   Sites like these serve as great home-search tools as they allow you to compile a shortlist of potential residences and save them to a short list.
   
2. Join a local expat forum and ask members for more advice and thoughts on your shortlist of potential dwellings.
   

Getting advice from those who have already migrated and settled in to your new location can be invaluable.
Having said that, always use any advice as a guide to help you make a better informed decision, and don't take it literally because no too experiences and expectations are the same.
Just remember that one man's castle may be another man's shack.
Summary The foreigners who settle in and get the most out of living life in Thailand are the ones who:

• Do their homework before making the decision to move
• Research accommodation options prior to making the move
• Learn about, and prepare to adapt the cultural differences and ways of life
• Don't constantly and negatively compare Thailand and its people to their own country
• Learn the language, or at least some basic conversation

Thousands of foreigners are making the move to Thailand every year, but not everyone stays.
Follow the suggestions in this article, and it WILL help with the transition and serve to enhance your overall experience.