[Aswdwdfg]

Surely I'm not the only one who has made mistakes....

I mentioned this one in the other thread:

I arrived in the country and went to my sister's house. Her friends were all there and I wai-ed them per appropriateness. One of her friends was in the bathroom. I missed the friend and was excited to see her...and so for some reason, I decided to jump up and wai her as she came out .... as she came out... of the shower, dripping with water clutching quite a small towel. Ooops! Luckily she laughed and replied, "Those darned farangs sure love to wai!" .....and another one was in school my first day. Carrying my shoes in my hand, while walking to my next class. I saw a teacher and wai-ed -- with the shoes in my hand!

[Olympicdreams]

One of my most embarassing moments in Thailand was when a guy stopped to give me a lift on his motorbike and my sun hat immediately blew off. He did a U turn for me to pick it up and - not having anywhere to put it - I shoved it under my belt. The guy went pale in the face momentarily before adopting a mai bpen rai expression.

I dont get this one. What is wrong about that???

[Olympicdreams]

Thanks! It get it now.

[Aswdwdfg]

I mentioned in This Thread a funny story about a time I wai-ed very inappropriately. I thought this might be a fun topic for discussion. We've all made mistakes...trying to learn a new culture.

I arrived in the country and went to my sister's house. Her friends were all there and I wai-ed them per appropriateness. One of her friends was in the bathroom. I missed the friend and was excited to see her...and so for some reason, I decided to jump up and wai her as she came out .... as she came out... of the shower, dripping with water clutching quite a small towel. Ooops! Luckily she laughed and replied, "Those darned farangs sure love to wai!"

I also have my first ever wai captured on film. Oh that was ugly!

What are some funny stories you can share about you and the Wai?

[PebydataFeents]

I dont get this one. What is wrong about that???

Thai culutre has quite a bit of stuff about "high" and "low" objects and keeping them in their place.

Hats are "high" objects, which shouldn't be placed next to your butt.

In Pailin's example shoes are "low" objects.

When you put your washing out in Thailand your undies and socks, which are "low", must be placed low down on the clothes line.

[PebydataFeents]

Surely I'm not the only one who has made mistakes....

I mentioned this one in the other thread:



.....and another one was in school my first day. Carrying my shoes in my hand, while walking to my next class. I saw a teacher and wai-ed -- with the shoes in my hand!

Last year in Japan I was attempting to step out of my shoes and into the hotel's slippers and managed to step into another guest's shoes instead.

Japanese people are less likely to laugh off those sorts of moments than Thai people are.

One of my most embarassing moments in Thailand was when a guy stopped to give me a lift on his motorbike and my sun hat immediately blew off. He did a U turn for me to pick it up and - not having anywhere to put it - I shoved it under my belt. The guy went pale in the face momentarily before adopting a mai bpen rai expression.