[cokLoolioli]

Please don't take offense to the following.

She does likely have support regarding her parents locally. You may very well be a release for her, you know... someone who does not bring up the issue. To bring up such painful things through the mail, may not be a good idea considering her age.

The question about whether or not it is normal for girls to be that self discrediting, yes completely normal, especially through depression, and no it is not a self esteem issue. You could send her $30 USD and that would be plenty to buy a portable CD player, batteries and headphones. It would even leave extra for a nice lunch while shopping for one. Make her promise that she will buy one with the money though.

Insulting would be discussing relationships. Especially at such an age. In the USA it's ok for adults to tease and joke with any girl older than 13 about boyfriends and such. In Thailand even after high school women are very very discreet. It simply is not discussed, not even with other girls and especially not an older foreigner.

You seem to be very kind-hearted, welcome to the forum!