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| Published in Washington, D.C. July 4, 1986 |
In Thailand, international matchmaking isn't booming
By Richard S. Ehrlich
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
BANGKOK, Thailand
"Our main function is to help you find your life partner who you have in mind. You only have to tell us the personality and qualifications of her who you desire, then our job is to bring her forward for a first-sight introduction."
Sucheela Ritthakorn, a matchmaker, then asks Americans and other foreigners several questions to help find a Thai Miss Right. "Do you require a Thai lady? The age of the lady you need? How old are you? Are you single or divorced? What is your career and nationality?"
Welcome to the "Mass Relation Association."
Lonesome foreigners who want to meet Thai women flock the streets of Bangkok, especially its naughty Patpong red-light district which is lined with risque, high-tech bars bearing names such as "Pink Panther," "Limelight," "King's Castle" and "Superstar."
But many foreign men want something more than a one-night stand with a lady of the night. They're searching for love, and a special Thai woman whom they can marry and bring back home.
"One of our customers, an American, he is 52 years old," Miss Sucheela confides. "And the Thai lady is 37 years old. Last week he came from America to visit the Thai lady. He write to her first."
The U.S. Embassy says about 500 to 600 Thai women marry American men each year, according to the number of visas applied for in Bangkok.
"We don't have any indication that these marriages are done simply to get to the United States," U.S. Embassy Spokesman Larry Thomas said. "The procedure for getting visas is stringent. This doesn't mean it's not happening. But applying for those sorts of visas, called fiancee visas, is complicated."
At the Mass Relation Association, would-be husbands pay a yearly membership fee of 800 baht (30 U.S. dollars).
"Our application form is to...[show] your education, job, income, social activities and other financial information," Miss Sucheela says. "Also about your family, travel, your own characteristics and of the life partner you need in your mind, and your future plans.
"I will see your data and the data of the Thai lady so that you and her will..." she says, shyly laughing.
And why are Thai ladies so prized by Americans, compared to their sisters in the United States?
"I think the American thinks the Thai lady is nice and really a lovely lady," she says.
The Mass Relation Association opened its doors to international Romeos eight months ago.
How many Thai ladies can an American choose from? "Many, many hundreds," she says.
Thai women want to marry foreigners for several reasons. "A Thai lady maybe studied in America, England or Australia, so she wants to marry an American or other foreigner," Miss Sucheela says.
Lonesome but bold Americans seeking Thai females for "correspondence and friendship" also often run advertisements in Bangkok's newspapers.
Some advertisements are clean-cut and low-key, such as Jerry Girardina who wrote from the wilds of Pecos, Texas: "American, medical (anesthetist) 35, single, wishes to correspond with lady. Send photo, age and interests."
More ambitious was the large, black-bordered ad headlined in bold capital letters: "American Marathon Kayak Champion."
International marriages are not really a fad in Thailand, where most women prefer to marry fellow Thais.
Even matchmaker Miss Sucheela says she wants to marry a Thai "because I want to stay here. I love my nation."
And, what about a dashing Yankee who might fall madly in love with her and agree to settle in this tropical Southeast Asian country?
Miss Sucheela giggles and decides, "If he can speak Thai maybe..."