In response to James letter (Food for thought, Postbox 25th November) As far as I’m aware the EU would not ‘look after’ a citizen of another country, even a citizen of the EU. What is it you do with your 30/40 or 50k baht a month?  Well I never got to that stage so I can’t comment. Do you think China is any different?  Well one would hope so. The infrastructure should be and I’m avoiding Shenzhen as it sits on a river delta, though I can’t count for typhoons of course.

Do you think you can come here with 1,000 baht straight off the plane, never have a problem and just live the good life? I sympathize, but if you intend to live from pay day to pay day, (and just concentrate on having a good time in between) then surely the financial position you’re in is yours and not anyone else’s?

Well there is more to this than meets the eye. In my case I was on the dole in London and had I not taken a decision to move, I would have been dead there too. I knew I had a greater chance of work in Asia. My bank of 30 years would not loan me for interim costs e.g. deposit - so I funded myself out of my savings. But then I got hit by a series of events; having to buy on onward ticket for the visa run and forking out two months deposit for a condo - some or all of which I might not get back. As you say we have no rights here. Some of it is my fault but I got put off going to China initially by reading too many ‘negative’ forum posts.

Don’t you ever think you’re going to get sick, get older or just for any other reason be unemployed in Asia? In other words, have you ever thought beyond your next pay check and what might happen if it doesn’t materialize? Yes James but in my case it is a case of starting from scratch (in China) and hoping that it all works out. Food for thought indeed.

Kelvin