American Fever

The influence of American culture in Thailand is especially strong among a certain generation that grew up around American GI's who were here during the Vietnam War era. Many of these Thai baby boomers like to wear Levi's jeans, listen to songs by the Eagles, drink Coke, and smoke Marlboro cigarettes. Today, my cabby was even wearing a shirt with an American flag patch emblazoned on it. He told me that he once had the opportunity to go and work in the US, but he decided to stay in Thailand. He was afraid he would get homesick, and anyway, he told me that his brother moved to California and can send him anything he wants from the States.