Dear Hillary,
Given the uncertainty about the origins, and the ambiguity about when or if its usage is derogatory, I wonder that you can’t find a suitable English word that would suffice instead of Farang. Are you really unaware that visitors from other countries are often called foreigners? I don’t think that a little more of the ‘Queens English’ would do any harm at all.
Regards,
Johnny Foreigner
Dear Johnny Foreigner,
What word would you like me to use? Ex-pat? Pale-faced round eyed foreigner? Overseas visitor? The word “Farang” is understood here in Thailand, so there is no ambiguity. I do not believe it is a word of derision. Many Thais are wary of westerners, and ‘Farang’ just refers to the fact that the person is a white round eye. There is a difference between ‘farang’ and ‘foreigner’, and you should know that.
