[HedgeYourBets]

I haven't written up a list of recent 'dos and donts/thailand' for quite a while now. So, after having racked me brians over the weekend I came up with this. You'll certainly not be reading any list of 'dos and donts' like this at your local embassy!



DOS:

>Do get used to Thais arriving for their appointments half an hour late, most of the country’s watches are ‘defunct’.

>Do tuck your feet in, the person sat opposite does not need to view what you have just been treading in.

>Do understand that Thais have a tender fondness for uniforms, they just love getting dressed up.

>Do realize that Thais just adore receiving awards, they are even given for just being born.

>Do have patience, the Thais don’t exactly enjoy having to listen to your waffling complaints all day long.

>Do take off your shoes when entering a house, unlike in the west; the Thais don’t need to see the remains of dog waste all over their floors.

>Do, as a Farang girl, wear a bra, the Thai women are a little sensitive about having to see such things ‘wobble’ about.

>Do, as a paying customer, understand that sales-girls prefer doing their make-up to serving you, beauty is of the upmost importance here, unlike 'you'.

>Do, as a foreign man looking for a Thai girlfriend, take your time and find a ‘decent’ one, Thais think us Farang guys have an awful sense of taste.

>Do, as a Farang baby, get used to having your cheek pinched 1,000 times a day and being told “Such a cutey little baby”, most of the girls would like to have one – just like you!

>Do understand that Thais have an infatuation for plastic bags, the sales-girls will even give you one for putting your chewing gum in.

>Do get used to Thais ‘jumping the queue’, they can wait 3 years for the first kiss from their boyfriends, but having to wait just 30 seconds in a queue at 7-11 is just unbearable.

>Do get used to using straws, after you have seen the state of most of bottle tops you will understand why.

>Do give up your seat to a schoolkid on the bus, as for the old man, just let him stand.

>And finally, do learn a few words of Thai, how would you feel if a Chinese guy did nothing but waffle on to you in ‘his’ own lingo in your home country.

Dont’s:

>Don’t go smooching your loved one in the middle of the street, Thais prefer performing such personal 'activity' in the privacy of ones room.

>Don’t use a fork to stick plain rice in your mouth, would your mother enjoy having to witness a foreigner use a knife to eat a potato in her country?

>Don’t even bother complaining about the daily noise pollution, if you like a bit of peace and quiet you may as well stay at home.

>Don’t go patting you friend on the head, Thais are a little sensitive about such things.

>Don't even begin thinking of discussing literary classics with the locals, the whole country is only besotted by cartoon books.

>Don’t, as a Farang employer, bother screaming at your office girls for eating 'khanom' and chatting on MSN all day, anyway what can you expect on their miserly salaries?

>Don’t, as a Farang guy on wanting to marry a Thai misunderstand Thai tradition, do instead understand that a dowry or at least just showing one is part of the culture, no need to feel that you are always being ‘ripped-off’.

>Don’t, as a Farang girl, wear hotpants to the temple, you don’t need the monks breaking out in a sweat

>Don’t, as a Farang wanting to live here, even bother complaining to the officials in charge about the endless paperwork, they just love collecting forms and looking at them a thousand times.

>Don’t bother telling any of your ‘mother-in-law’ to the locals, Thais prefer comedy to the likes of a ladyboy falling off a chair.

>Don’t get paranoid at being cheated all the time, not all the Thais are out to ‘scam’ the Farang tourist of his dollars.

>And finally, don't feel insulted at having to hear the likes of "Hey you" and "Where you go man" from the nation's tuk-tuk and taxi drivers, do understand they've never learnt English at school.


Again ( for the seventh time) all is just a bit of fun and not to be taken too seriously. Can you think of anymore?

Originally posted there over on the sister site
www.thai-blogs.com

[Tazqoaap]

Quote[/b] ]>Do give up your seat to a schoolkid on the bus, as for the old man, just let him stand.

what if the old man is very old?

i've got one. a lot of my friends are keep doing it every time they see a foreigner. I actually find it embarrassing and shame when they do it. But what can i do, they are an idiot!

> Don't get mad at the teenagers when they say something stupid to you (even it's a F word). They are just an idiot fooling around.

[HedgeYourBets]

Pretty spot on there Gor. Ive heard it a lot on my days in Thailand especially to the likes of 'f*** you', even heard it from my students (not to my face!)

But i havent liked it when i heard it shouted at me from some guy (even older ones) who are complete strangers. When i asked Thais where they learn such phrases they always reply 'Hollywood movies'.
It is pretty rude to say such a thing but often the Thais just dont know how strong it is.

They ought to realise what they are saying and once when in the market here on hearing some dirty old guy say 'f*** you' to me when i walked past I said the Thai equivalent to him, only for his face to suddenly boil. But what could he say or do??

In Bangkok you'll always see folks give up their chair for youngish schoolkids but you'll never see that in the UK (unless they are very young!). In the UK you should always give up your seat for an old person, that doesnt always happen here. Very much the opposite to Thailand!
Ive heard lots of Farang comment on this cultural difference.

[Tazqoaap]

Quote[/b] ]It is pretty rude to say such a thing but often the Thais just dont know how strong it is.

I agree with that. most thai people don't know anything about it, they just copy it from the movie.

[pkxlugbsbv]

Hey Steve that was great cheers...I envy you going behind scenes of 2046, i like a couple of Wong Kar-wai's films, favourite has to be in the mood for love!

[AutocadOemM]

I need some help please. I teach science in wales, uk. a 13 year old Thai girl has just started in our school. She doesn,t speak any english. We have got some-one coming in next week to talk to us about her, meanwhile she looks lost!! I have introduced myself and I smile at her when I see her but I feel helpless. Any suggestions to ease her transition?

[HedgeYourBets]

Hi Miss Williams 'from Wettest Wales':

I'm a teacher too, but in a hotter country to say the least, so i'll offer some guidance in regards to Thai kids.

Thai kids get much more homesick than most western kids who are usually darned glad to 'get away' from home.
Next, youve probably realized by now that most Thai kids lack English language skills, but more important is the fact that most Thais are have very little self-confidence when it comes to speaking the language.

If you want to ease her transition dont 'force' her to speak English, let her come naturally. She'll much prefer that.

Thais are a gentler people than us in the west and most won't appreciate it too much if you 'force yourself' on to her. Don't try to hard.

In thai-blogs.com, you'll be able to find lots more dos & donts/Thailand/Thai people etc.. to help you get a better insight, all written up by this guy, oh whats his name.....stevesuphan.

Hoping that was of just 'a little' help.

Steve

[nanyaHgoc]

Quote[/b] ]>Do give up your seat to a schoolkid on the bus, as for the old man, just let him stand.

I'm confused about this. Shouldn't we give up our seat to the old man? After all, seniority counts in Thai society, doesn't it?

[Zvmwissq]

Quote[/b] (miss williams @ June 08 2005,17:04)]I teach science in wales, uk. a 13 year old Thai girl has just started in our school. She doesn,t speak any english.

Can you PM us your school address - we will send you some stuff for her.

[AutocadOemM]

my school address is Connahs Quay High School. Connahs Quay. Deeside. North Wales

Quote[/b] ]RE: post #9 (by sawatdee on June 08 2005,18:33 ) in this thread

[Zvmwissq]

We will send her something tomorrow.