Well, it depends on how you look at it. There are definitely some horror stories out there, but compared to the number of successful and happy relationships between Thai women and foreign men, they are in the minority. However, the horror stories do get more attention because they are more sensational, like those involving financial scams or unexpected personality changes after marriage.
There was a case where a foreigner married a Thai bride. After the marriage, he discovered that she had a lot of debt that she hadn't disclosed before. The creditors started to harass him as well, since they were legally married. It was a nightmare for him as he had to deal with financial issues he never expected.
Often, mutual respect is key. The Western partners respect the Thai brides' traditions and values, and vice versa. In a lot of cases, the Thai brides are adaptable. They adapt well to the new environment in their partner's home country. For instance, they learn the language and get used to the different lifestyle. Also, love at first sight or a strong initial connection seems to be a factor in many of these stories.
There is a story of David and his Thai bride, Lek. David was on a holiday in Thailand. He met Lek at a local market. She was selling handicrafts. Their connection was instant. After a period of dating, they got married. Lek is very creative and has brought a lot of unique cultural elements into their home. She also learned English quickly to communicate better with David's family and friends. Their marriage is a great example of a successful Thai - Western union.
No, they are not that common. Just like in any relationship, there are always some bumps in the road, but it doesn't mean that there are a lot of 'horror stories'. Most Thai - foreign marriages work out fine.
No, they are not common. Just like in any culture, most marriages are based on love, respect, and mutual understanding. However, because of the international attention Filipino brides sometimes get, the few negative stories tend to be more publicized.
One bride horror story I've heard is about a bride who found out on her wedding day that the venue had double - booked. There were another couple also trying to get married there at the same time. It was chaos as they both had guests arriving and no one knew what to do. The bride was in tears and it took hours to sort out, finally having to share the venue in a very unorganized way.
One common theme is revenge. For example, in many stories, a wronged spirit comes back to take revenge on those who wronged them. Another theme is the idea of the supernatural world interfering with the human world.
Well, there could be stories where the language barrier plays a huge part. A Thai wife might misinterpret what her foreign husband says or vice versa. This can lead to some really bad situations like feelings of betrayal or anger. Also, there might be cases where the husband discovers that the Thai wife has some undisclosed debts or family obligations that suddenly become his burden.
A man had a Thai girlfriend who he thought was genuine. But later he discovered that she was using him as a ticket to immigrate to his country. She faked her love for him, and when he found out the truth, she threatened to create a scandal if he didn't help her with the immigration process. This left him feeling deceived and scared of the potential damage to his reputation.