I agree with Dusit Thammaraks when he says foreign residents are “educationally and culturally ill-equipped to grasp the intricacies of Thailand and the Thai people”. Most of the expats I know here – even the ones who speak Thai fluently – fail too get it when corrupt officials are transferred to an inactive post rather than being sacked or tried; when the prime minister suggests other countries will be in awe of Thailand because of a few submarines; and when the Irrigation Department organises ritual dances to appease the rain gods to ease the drought.