Culture Shock !!!

Cultural shocks frequently happen due to weak knowledge of Thai culture.

Cultural shocks frequently happen due to weak knowledge of Thai monarchy.

-In Thailand, the Royal family is highly worshipped, especially the King Rama 9.  Nobody dare to criticize them. There is even a law for crime de Lèse-Majesté.  A few years ago a foreigner did have big problems when a misunderstanding happened with a restaurant owner.  Disagreeing on the bill, the foreigner did walk on a bank note on purpose.  But on every Thai bank note, there is the King's face! The restaurant owner gave him a painful correction for this serious offence.

-Buddhist enlightenment is reached by using meditation through the mind, so the head.  The head is the most valued part of the body.  Of course the King's head is the most valued.  The feet symbolize the attachment to the ground, so the human beings' suffering.  The feet are the lowest part of the body.

-When having a shower, Thai people shall not use the same towel for the whole body.  The correct way is to use one for the upper part (the head) and another for the lower parts.

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Cultural shocks frequently happen due to weak knowledge of Thai behavior.

-Thai people are rarely seen in swimming suit.  They swim with their pants and tee-shirt. Skin shall not be dark.  A sunbathed skin is not appreciated by Thai people because it is the symbol of the peasant.  If one has a skin dark, it means that he is working outside.  Symbol of beauty is the whiteness.  So in Thailand foreigners are looking for sun to get a sunbathed skin - symbol of nice holidays - but Thai people try to escape it!

-Thai people are also puzzled to see topless foreigner women on the beach.  A normal Thai woman will never do this.  Two places with a serious contrast are Pattaya and Bang Saen in Chonburi area.  Pattaya is the famous international beach resort dedicated for foreigners.  Bang Saen is a beach resort only frequented by Thai people.

-Seeing a Thai woman with an umbrella when the sun is shinning ? In all Asian countries umbrella is also used to protect against sun.

-Seeing Thai people wear jacket while driving motorbike even in the hot sun because jacket is used to protect against the sun.

-The way Thai people close the car doors is different from the foreigner way.  In Thailand doors are closed in order to avoid somebody opening it from the outside.  In westerner countries doors are not closed in order to allow a fast opening in case of an emergency.

-When a gift is offered to Thai people, they always thank but might not open the gift immediately.  It is not an offense.  In Thai society, intense joy expression are not shown to others.  So the gift is opened when the person is alone.  Anyway if the person doesn't like the gift, nobody see her disappointment ! But now with the use of foreign customs in Thai society, the gift is often opened immediately.  One thing not to do is to make a joke about the gift offered by a Thai people. The person might not appreciated the joke especially if she has searched for the gift during a long time.  It is like losing the face in front of the others.

Cultural shocks frequently happen due to weak knowledge of Thai language.

-Some Thai people greet foreigners by saying "Hey you !".  From a foreigner point of view, this is not a polite way to greet people. What will Thai people think if foreigner greet them with the word "MEUNG" ( มึง ), i.e. "YOU" used by person of lower social status.  Anyway when they say "Hey you !", Thai people always use a nice smile.

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Cultural shocks frequently happen due to weak knowledge of Thai body language.

-Thai people do not like big effusion, body contact. They don't like to be stared eye into eye.  It is the opposite of western methods.

-Big and loud laughs are not common.  Thai women often put their hand in front of the mouth before laughing.

-Holding hands is fine, but hugging or kissing in public is not acceptable.  Love is barely shown outside home.

-As feet are considered as the lowest valued part of the body, pointing somebody with a foot is a big mistake.  The westerner attitude to put the feet on the desk, cross over a meal while people are eating is also mistakes.  As the head is considered as the highest valued part of the body, heads should not be touched except for children.

-Thai smile has several meanings from a greeting, a thank, answer to a greeting, a way to excuse one-self, a way to not answer and so on... If a lovely Thai girl smiles at you, it doesn't means that she is fond of you.  She might be puzzled by your clothes, your blond hair and simply by the way you walk. And don't forget that Thailand is the Land of smiles.

-Some foreigners living in Thailand complain that Thai people often smile at inappropriate times.  To the foreigner, what appears as a smile (no matter that it is not a happy smile) is seen as the Thai people taking the situation too lightly.  Thai society puts much emphasis on relationships.  Thai people want to create a friendly atmosphere.

-Speaking loudly is not also a typical Thai attitude.  Foreigners speaking loudly to get something or because they are angry won't succeed at all. It will only worsen the situation.

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DO'S

Sign say "Not Allow Women!" either farang or Thai people can not go inside City Pillar Building so all women will make merit outside same as this old lady!

As you see, women are prohibited to go up the holy pond.

• Do avoid things, people and situations you don't like rather than moan about them or try to change them.
• Do keep Buddha images in a high place and treat them with great respect.  It is against the law to take or send them out of the country except under very special circumstances.
• Do beckon waiters and servants with the hand, palm downwards, fingers straight and waving rapidly. Don't clap, snap fingers or hiss.
• Do make payment only after eating and drinking, not before.  The inviter pays; if no clear invitation was made, the superior pays.`Going Dutch' is rare.
• Do practice discretion as it is admired as maturity.
• Do dress your status and dress appropriately at parties. Women do not wear shorts or revealing clothing.
• Do eat after the monks during ceremonies.
• Do eat with a spoon and use a fork to load it.
• Do reply with `eaten already' when greeted with the casual invitation to eat.
• Do keep your feet to yourself and not on your desk.
• Do flatter whenever possible. Thais love it.
• Do be generous. It is a sign of an important person.
• Do open gifts in private.
• Do address social inferiors first when making introductions.
• Do use a person's first name, not the family name. Adults should be addressed as Khun unless a title is used.
• Do use an invitation card if attendance and punctuality are important , as invitations are less specific in Thailand.
• Do have a meal prepared should you specifically invite someone to your house. They expect to eat there.
• Do lower the body a little when passing in front of, or between people.
• Do treat monks with utmost respect at all times. Touching of a monk or his robes by a woman is strictly taboo.
• Do pass objects with the right hand and touch the left hand to the right forearm if extra respect is required. Women never pass directly to monks.
• Do treat royalty with the greatest respect. Do stand up when images of the King or Royal Family appear on the cinema screen.
• Do remove your shoes at the door of the main temple building and at all homes.
• Do sit in the place you are directed to. Superiors in front, inferiors at the back.
• Do speak gently and do not raise your voice.
• Do smile and people will like you. A smile can be used to excuse small inconveniences, to thank for small services and to return the wai of children and servants.
• Do keep your temper.
• Do wai monks, old people and your social superiors.
• Do walk slightly behind monks and old people.
• When entering a Thai home, or temple, it is customary to remove your shoes. This is not simply a religious custom but has practical implications.  Also, do not point your feet at anyone or use them to indicate something.
• Export of Buddha images (except small, personal ones), antiques or works of art is forbidden without permission.

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DON'TS

• Don't point your feet at anybody.  Don't step over anybody or anybody's food.
• Don't point your fingers at anybody, though it is acceptable for objects and animals.
• Don't touch hair and heads.  If you do so by accident, excuse yourself.
• Don't cross your legs whether sitting on floor or chair in the presence of monks.
• Don't wear black unless at a funeral.
• Don't throw rice away in front of Thais. Rice is the lifeblood of Thailand .
• Don't throw objects. Throwing any object is bad manners.
• Don't wai servants, labourers and children. The lower the head, the more respect is shown. The inferior initiates the wai. Whatever the wai received, reply with a lesser one.
• Don't be surprised if your laundry is done by a man and he.
• It is advisable not to drink tap water and bottled water is cheaply and readily available.
• If traveling in a taxi or tuk tuk it is usual to settle the fare before you begin your journey.
• Do not accept offers of free trips or drinks form strangers.
• Do not get yourself involved with drugs. Penalties for drug offences are very severe in Thailand.
• Do not support any manner of wild animal abuse.  Never purchase any products or souvenirs made from wild animals including reptiles like snakes, monitor lizards, and also turtle shell and ivory.  Avoid patronizing local restaurants that serve wild animal delicacies.  It is against the law to slaughter wildlife for food in Thailand.

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Tipping

Tipping is not a usual practice in Thailand although it is becoming more common.  Most hotels and restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill.  Taxi drivers do not require a tip, but the gesture is appreciated.

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Bargaining

Fixed prices are the norm in department stores, but at most other places bargaining is to be expected. Generally, you can obtain a final figure of between 10-40% lower than the original asking price. Much depends on your skills and the shopkeeper's mood. But remember, Thais appreciate good manners and a sense of humor.  With patience and a broad smile, you will not only get a better price, you will also enjoy shopping as an art.

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Entering Thai temples

Have you ever felt awkward entering a mosque, church, temple or synagogue? Here are some helpful hints for you to know the proper etiquette of entering Thai temples.

The Buddhist religion is remarkably tolerant, but there are certain simple rules that must be observed. You are welcome to enter any Buddhist temple (certain areas are out of bounds to ladies - these are usually marked with signs such as 'lady no enter', while this may offend feminist sensibilities, they are - metaphorically speaking- unavoidable).

Always remove your shoes (this applies to most houses in Thailand as well). Never point with your foot or sit with your legs stretched towards a Buddha statue (or at any person for that matter). Never climb onto a Buddha statue to have your photo taken on one. A monk may not touch a lady or receive anything directly from her hand - the temptation may prove too great. Dress discretely - in some places ladies must wear skirts and shorts are generally frowned on - some temples provide suitable covering.

Spanning the door to every temple is a raised thresh hold. Thai people never step on it, but walk over it instead to ward against bad luck.

It is illegal to take a Buddha statue out of the country without getting permission from the Fine Arts Department, this can be a time consuming business. If you wish to take an inexpensive and new Buddhist souvenir, quietly do so - at the worst it might be confiscated.  If you have a Buddha statue in your home treat it with respect and make certain it is placed on a shelf above head height.

When doing worship to Buddha image, you have to remove your shoes to show your believe and respect.

Should wear tidy clotheswhen visit the temples.

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Everyday expressions;

The following concepts are part of Thai everyday life:  

Thai people are educated in the family and in school to keep frustration inside. Instead of showing their anger toward a problem or situation, Thai people show "CHAI YEN", i.e. calm or patience.

"CHAI YEN" concept can be seen when Thai people are standing and waiting for the bus during the hot summer without complaining.  To show one's feeling to the others is not valued in Thai society.  Respect of the other is highly valued. Especially in up-country villages where everybody knows each other, conflicts are always solved with the help of elderly people or monks.  In big cities like Bangkok it is quite different because nobody knows nobody so behaviours are changing.

The sentence "CHAI YEN YEN" ( & #3651;จเย็นเย็น ) is often said when people start to lose control. It means to calm down.

So Thai people keep all their problems inside. Then with no previous warning, like a pressure cooker that explodes, people can act very violently.  Thailand is well known for crimes related to love.  Many women did cut their husband's sex with a knife because he was infidel. Thailand is supposed to have the best surgeons for these special treatments. Women did know their husband's infidelity but one day they could not support it anymore and acted violently without any previous warning.  It is a typical Thai behaviour. An another example happens in 2001 when a German motorcyclist who made an obscene gesture to a van driver was shot dead by the angry motorist.

There is no exterior sign that they are angry.  They keep it inside. But they can show it with subtle ways.  By refusing or avoiding a direct confrontation with the person, they speak with an animal or with a child making him remarks that are in fact dedicated to the other person.  They speak loud enough in order that the concerned person can listen and understand.

"KRENG CHAI" "is the way that Thai people try to avoid hurting other people's feelings.

The elders shall not be criticized at all.  For example professors are highly admired because they represent the knowledge. No students dare to ask a question that could embarrass the teacher.  In Thai schools the pupils learn lessons by root repetition. So there are not educated in a way of changing things, of innovating.  There are still conservationists in Thailand and some Thai artists were obliged to withdraw their paintings due to conservationists