The new orientalists

The New Orientalists

They leave because they want and not because they have to. E then, they meet in Chiang Mai, in the heart of the Golden Triangle.
Thailand is the scene of a new immigration. Retirees, volunteers from NGOs, but also couples with children. Newsweek baptized them “Global Kids”, children of parents who move to Asia because they feel the need to prepare them for the future to come with the ability to integrate and become part of the frenetic Asian economies. And with the freedom to choose and to feel at home in every corner of the world.

The New Orientalists

Partono perchè vogliono e non perchè devono. E poi, si ritrovano nel Triangolo d’Oro.
La Thailandia, infatti, è il teatro di una nuova immigrazione. Pensionati, volontari di Ong, ma anche e soprattutto coppie con bambini. Newsweek li ha battezzati “Global Kids”, figli di genitori che si trasferiscono in Asia perchè sentono il bisogno di preparare i loro piccoli al futuro che verrà. Un domani le cui coordinate oscillano fra la capacità di integrazione e il frenetico divenire delle economie asiatiche. Ma anche fra la libertà di scegliere e il sentirsi a casa in ogni angolo del mondo.

The entrance of a gated community.
The entrance of a gated community.
Anastacia is russian and her husband is from Zimbawe. They met in China, while she was working as a translator.
Anastacia is russian and her husband is from Zimbawe. They met in China, while she was working as a translator.
Anastacia's house
Anastacia's house
Anastacia in the son's room.
Anastacia in the son's room.
"Thailand is a fantastic holiday destination. However, there is a high level of poverty here and I intended to set up an organization to support locals and Burmese refugees . That's how I started KiddyColors."
View from residential area of Chiang Mai
View from residential area of Chiang Mai
In 2015 she went to Thailand working in a Steven Seagal movie and come back in 2011. Finally she met love and she decided to quit work, especially that type of career that never gave her time for herself.
In 2015 she went to Thailand working in a Steven Seagal movie and come back in 2011. Finally she met love and she decided to quit work, especially that type of career that never gave her time for herself.
Hanna and his first baby
Hanna and his first baby
Learning Thai
Learning Thai
Hanna's house
Hanna's house
Expas meeting
Expas meeting
American retired
American retired
Book market for Expas
Book market for Expas
Old European car in residential area
Old European car in residential area
Menno K, 40, was the first person to import soil of tomatoes in Thailand .
Menno K, 40, was the first person to import soil of tomatoes in Thailand ."We believe in helping farmers in the region to grow responsibly and sustainably, importing technology from Europe".
Take me home Tomatoes : 80.000 square meters of hydroponics tomato farms and sell to primary supermarket chains in Thailand and in South East Asia
Take me home Tomatoes : 80.000 square meters of hydroponics tomato farms and sell to primary supermarket chains in Thailand and in South East Asia
Menno's tomatoes
Menno's tomatoes
Menno at work
Menno at work
Hydroponics plantation
Hydroponics plantation
Chiang Mai residential area
Chiang Mai residential area
What do you do with a couple of twins? You pack your suitcase and go. «I remember I said: “I don’t want to see this street in winter again”, comments Stefania M, 42, freelance journalist and mother of three year old Emma and Thea.
What do you do with a couple of twins? You pack your suitcase and go. «I remember I said: “I don’t want to see this street in winter again”, comments Stefania M, 42, freelance journalist and mother of three year old Emma and Thea.
The family has now settled down in a big open air house with a swimming pool.
The family has now settled down in a big open air house with a swimming pool.
A cat with a 10% of leopard. Stefania's house.
A cat with a 10% of leopard. Stefania's house.
The babysitter and housekeer, and Emma and Tea.
The babysitter and housekeer, and Emma and Tea.
«It took us a minute to decide and less than one year to close our house in Milan, ship our belongings in a container and change our lives completely», adds Fred T, 56, executive producer. The room of Emma and Tea
«It took us a minute to decide and less than one year to close our house in Milan, ship our belongings in a container and change our lives completely», adds Fred T, 56, executive producer. The room of Emma and Tea
Residential area.
Residential area.
“I can not live without London. But when I visited recently, I observed the life of my friends who have children, pushing strollers in the middle of traffic, living in small apartments and salaries barely cover this lifestyle. And then I look at my daughters here in this huge lawn and I think that we could not give their children more beautiful life, EB, former consultant, housewife, 39 years, English, two daughters.
“I can not live without London. But when I visited recently, I observed the life of my friends who have children, pushing strollers in the middle of traffic, living in small apartments and salaries barely cover this lifestyle. And then I look at my daughters here in this huge lawn and I think that we could not give their children more beautiful life, EB, former consultant, housewife, 39 years, English, two daughters.
The house of EB.
The house of EB.
EB kids playing
EB kids playing
Stefania and her expas friends eat together.
Stefania and her expas friends eat together.
Residential area.
Residential area.
“Retired from work but not from life” is the sentence written in her Couchsurfer profile. She told me she likes to have guests from all over the world in her house.
“Retired from work but not from life” is the sentence written in her Couchsurfer profile. She told me she likes to have guests from all over the world in her house.
Lucy came to Chiang Mai seven years ago, renting a beautiful house near a famous temple called Wat Umong.
Lucy came to Chiang Mai seven years ago, renting a beautiful house near a famous temple called Wat Umong.
Lucy at the sewing machine
Lucy at the sewing machine
Lucy's house
Lucy's house
Lucy's house
Lucy's house
Residential area
Residential area
Chiang Mai Montessori was born out of a dream: bringing the Montessori teaching to the local community. «When I was little, my parents used to grow rice and I remember we slept in these little huts in the rice paddy», recalls Aer T, 35 teacher and founder of the school.
Chiang Mai Montessori was born out of a dream: bringing the Montessori teaching to the local community. «When I was little, my parents used to grow rice and I remember we slept in these little huts in the rice paddy», recalls Aer T, 35 teacher and founder of the school.
«Chiang Mai is a place where your dreams can come true», adds Daniel W, 39, school master and now happy and busy father of two boys.
«Chiang Mai is a place where your dreams can come true», adds Daniel W, 39, school master and now happy and busy father of two boys.
The entrance of the Montessori school
The entrance of the Montessori school
Residential area sales.
Residential area sales.
Jim D.
Jim D. "After leaving Afghanistan, I wanted to live some place peaceful. I choose Chiang Mai, Thailand, because of the weather, the low cost of living, and the people. "
"My passion in life is traveling and my Thai girlfriend.”
“I spent 3 years in the US Marine Corps, about 25 years as a Structural Ironworker, and 17 years as a Correctional Officer and Criminal Investigator. I retired from CDC in December 2005, and within three weeks, I was on my way to Kabul, Afghanistan.
“I spent 3 years in the US Marine Corps, about 25 years as a Structural Ironworker, and 17 years as a Correctional Officer and Criminal Investigator. I retired from CDC in December 2005, and within three weeks, I was on my way to Kabul, Afghanistan.
After the death of his wife he decided to retire from work. He has always been a scholar of Buddhism and finally found time for his passion. If you ever go to Chiang Mai and visit Chiang Man Wat, you will find Dan patiently explaining to Americans what Buddhism is.
After the death of his wife he decided to retire from work. He has always been a scholar of Buddhism and finally found time for his passion. If you ever go to Chiang Mai and visit Chiang Man Wat, you will find Dan patiently explaining to Americans what Buddhism is.

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