Growing up in rural Isaan means growing up super poor.
We did not have any running water, appliances, air conditioning.
Nothing.
We cooked outside with fire like cavemen. Many still do.
I never had even 1 doll growing up, but when I met my husband, he surprised me with many!
The average per capita in 2023 in many rural villages, is still less than US $2,000 a YEAR!
It is hard to image, Thailand the Land of Smiles, with so many people that are dirt poor.
It only takes one drive through rural Isaan to understand there are no jobs or modern conveniences for many.
Growing up in Isaan, there is never a thought that you will escape poverty.
We were too poor to even dream that far ahead. My husband was the first white foreigner my village had ever seen and even today, he is the only one.
Even today in 2023, Thai women still dream and hope they will be rescued from a lifetime of poverty from a kind hearted expat.
But it is a pretty far fetched dream.
Foreigners just do not venture or holiday out in the poorest areas of Isaan.
Speaking no English, no computer skills, etc., women have zero realistic chance to meet a foreigner, although I think my husband still gives them hope?
I survived growing up dirt poor and it was only by a sheer miracle I met my husband and he rescued me.
It is hard to ever forget growing up that poor, but I realize everyday and so does my family, the difference that one dream coming true meant for all my family.
We always pitch in whenever someone needs help. My husband always feels bad for the poverty levels here and tries to make a difference.
I am lucky to be one of the few that does not have to grow up in sheer poverty now.
I am still letting my husband know 15 years how lucky I am he is genuine, generous guy.
Honestly, without him, I would have lived an extremely poor life with no hope of escape.
This is the reality of 2023 rural Thailand for many families.
