How Can Such Groups or Organizations Help?
Exposure to and dealing with a culture that is very different from yours can be an overwhelming experience. Even the most resilient of people might end up having a hard time, especially if the length of stay is a long time. With that said, here are some of the benefits of social support groups for expatriates like your spouse:
Experience the ‘Sense of Belonging’
Most immigrants who move to other countries often desire one thing – the feeling that they belong. Leaving behind her family, friends, and home, your wife would eventually feel very lonely. There’s no doubt that you will be there for her and she for you, but she may need to talk to or see friendly faces every once in a while. Now if she joins an expatriate group or community, she can enjoy the support and companionship of new acquaintances and friends (whether Thais or nationalities) who can empathize with what she’s going through.
Be Able to Use Her Native Language
One of the hardest challenges that expatriates experience in a foreign land is the language barrier. Indeed, it can be something that’s very difficult to overcome without help, especially for an adult immigrant as with the case of your spouse. With a bit of time and effort, she will eventually learn and grow accustomed to the Swedish language, but having others to talk to who share her language can prove to be a real comfort for her.
Although most expat groups aren’t necessarily exclusive in terms of nationality, joining one will at least give her the chance to meet other Thais while interacting with other foreign nationals who are in situations similar to hers.
How/where can you find such groups?
Here’s a list of some of the organizations that your Thai wife can join in:
Thai Culture Association – Salathai ( Thailändska Kulurföreningen Salathai)
Box 26259, 10041 Stockholm
Phone: +46 (0) 70 714 7733, +46 (0) 8 605 3933
Email: info@thaiculture.se
Website: www.thaiculture.se
Swedish – Thai Study Association (Svensk – Thailändska Studie Förreningen Thai – Svenska )
Box 3004, 195 03 Märsta
Phone: +46 (0) 70 450 6802
Kila – Thai Association (Kila – Thai Förening)
Celsingsvägen 9, 1tr, 192 79 Sollentuna
Phone: +46 (0) 8 754 2538, +46 (0)76 817 6791
Swedish – Thai Association (Swedish – Thai Förening)
Wiboms Väg 21, 171 60 Solna
Phone: +46 (0) 73 917 1985
Wat Santinivas Förening
Almvägen 11, 136 71 Haninge
Phone: +46 (0) 8 776 3309, +46 (0) 8 776 3359
Thai Learning Center Association, Stockholm
Kämpevägen 34, 175 68 Järfälla
Phone: +46 (0) 73 534 1773
Email: b1ramscan@yahoo.com
Wat Buddharama Förening
Torsbyvägen 42, 139 51 Värmdö
Phone: +46 (0) 8 570 24916, +46 (0) 70 607 5113
Thai Association in Uppsala (Thailändska Föreningen i Uppsala)
Timmermansgatan 12B, 753 33 Uppsala
Phone: +46 (0) 18 241 403, +46 (0) 73 077 8108
Website: www.tfu-uppsala.se
Thailändska Föreningen i Nyköping & Oxelersund
Mosstorpsvägen 6, 611 92 Nyköping
Phone: +46 (0) 155 224214, +46 (0) 73 575 9182
Thai Association in Värmland (Thailändska Föreningen i Värmland)
Hantverkaregatan 4 66440 SLOTTSBRON
Phone: +46 (0) 533 12400
Email: thailandskavanforeningen@bredband.net
Website: hem.bredband.net/thailandskavanforeningen
Buddra Saddha Dhamma Society
Fabriksgatan 38, 3 Vån, 412 51 Göteborg
Phone: +46 (0) 70 661 5586, +46 (0) 30 392599
Website: www.buddhasd.se
Thai Association in Borlänge (Thailändska Föreningen i Borlänge)
Pilotvägen 4, 784 63 Borlänge
Phone: +46 (0) 70 253 2194, +46 (0) 243-233819
King Chulalongkorn Memorial Association in Sweden (Chulalongkorns Minne i Sverige)
Stagneliusgatan 7, 754 27 Uppsala
Phone: +46 (0) 18 235446
Tantars Culture Association (Tantars Kulturföreningen)
Hule 174, 857 51 Sundsvall
Buddhist Förening i Malmö
Emeralsgatan 51, 214 37 Malmö
Buddhist Förening i Dalarna
C/O Kontorskatellet. Box 875, 781 71 Borlänge
Thai Association in Sormland (Thailändska Föreningen i Sormland)
Herresta Säteri,64791 MARIEFRED
Phone: +46 (0) 73 688 8864
Email: matlagningskurs@chanhom.se
Website: www.thaisormland.se
Thai – Asian Association (Thai – Asian Föreningen)
Snixåsvägen 11, 460 64 Frändefors
Phone: +46 (0) 70 891 0172, +46 (0) 521 40180
Website: www.thai-asian.info.se
Thai Thaiförening i Köping
Scheelegatan 44, 731 33 köping
Phone: +46 (0) 70 368 0429
Email: matlagningskurs@chanhom.se
Website: www.thaiforeningen.se
Thailändska föreningen i Malmö
Östra stallmöstaregatan 8a, 21749 Malmö
Phone: 0765 84 87 40
Email: info@thaiassociation.se
Website: www.thailandskaforeningen.com
Thaiförening i Linköping
c/o Kanya Mcleod Stromvägen 50, 582 74 Linköping
Phone: +46 (0) 76 219 5918
Email: kanya.mcleod@tflkpg.com
Website: www.tflkpg.com
Thai Thaiförening i Eskilstuna
Södra Stationsvägen 15, 63519 Hällberga Eskilstuna
Phone: +46 (0) 73 075 4373 Email : bra_liv@live.se
Website: ww.thaiforeningeskilstuna.com
How/where can you find Buddhist temples / places of worship for her?
Here is a list of some of the notable Buddhist temples in Sweden:
Wat Pha Gothenburg
Fabriksgatan 38, 3 Van, 412 51 Goteborg, Sweden
Phone: +46 (0) 31 409599, 076-2416251
Email: vimalo2000@hotmail.com, vimalo_1@hotmail.com, watphagothenburg@hotmail.com
Wat Sanghabaramee
Trollenäs 107, 241 92 Eslöv, Sweden.
Phone: +46(0) 413 545292
Email: yui_inlund@yahoo.se
Website: www.watsanghabaramee.se
Buddharam Temple
Holmselevägen 68, 910 50 Fredrika, Sweden
Phone: +46 (0) 8 570 24 916; Fax: +46 (0)8 570 24 213
Email: watsweden@hotmail.com
Website: www.watlappland.com
Wat Siammin Mangkalaram
Rydsvägen 50B, 584 31 Linköping, Östergötland, Sweden
Phone: +46(0) 73 255 3533
Email: watsiammin@gmail.com
Website: www.watsiammin.com
Buddharama Temple
Torsbyvägen 42, 139 51 Värmdö
Phone: +46(0) 8 570 24 916, 570 24 213
Email: swedentemple@hotmail.com, watsweden@hotmail.com
Website: www.buddharam.se
Wat Buddha Gothenburg
Östra Arödsgatan 17B, 422 43 Hisings Backa, Sweden
Phone: +46 (0) 31585799
Email: watbuddhagothenburg@hotmail.com
Website: www.dhammakaya.or.th
Wat Santinivas
Almvägen 11, 136 71 Haninge, Sweden
Phone: +46(0) 8 776 3309
Email: watsanto@hotmail.com
Website: www.watsantinivas.org
Wat Buddha Udayana
Industrivägen 8, 438 92 Härryda, Sweden
Phone: +46(0) 301 302 04, 076-235 6634, 070-440 4952
Email: kusalo99@yahoo.com, watbuddhaudayana@yahoo.com
Website: www.watbuddha.dinstudio.se
Wat Dalarnavanaram
Ulvshyttan 63, 781 96 Borlänge, Sweden
Phone: +46(0) 243 195 80
Email: watthaidalarna@hotmail.com
Website: www.watdalarna.com
After what must have been a long wait, you and your Thai partner are finally betrothed. And since everything concerning the legalities of your marriage has been properly accomplished, you’re now itching to go home to Sweden with your lovely wife. And yet, the getting married part is not the end-all and be-all of your relationship, especially when you and your Thai spouse set foot on your home country.
In fact, another challenge awaits you when you take her home, and that is helping her adjust to living a life with you in Sweden. Mind you, it’s not going to be easy. After all, she may have to deal with language barriers, cultural and religious differences, and maybe even the occasional discrimination.
However, there’s a way to make the transition easier. Aside from the support you are already giving her as a partner, you can let your Thai wife join in social communities and worship her own religion to help her deal with the change.
Now we Thais are the type of people who are ready to face any challenge, and there’s no doubt that your partner would be the same. However, even if she is a strong woman, she will need the company of friendly faces or fellow Thais and Buddhists (assuming she is one) to help her adjust and adapt. It is thus fortunate that in Sweden, there are social communities that your wife can join as well as temples she can worship in.
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