There were times when things used to be so predictable. There were times when you could correctly guess what you saw. There were times when you could be so sure.
It is not always the case any more.
Nowadays, when you buy food from a food court in a mall, if you don't pay attention, you would think that the shop assistants are Thai. They look just like Thai people, maybe except for a fairer skin. Wait until they speak.
If you're guessing Burmese, you're right!
You walk into a luxurious hotel/serviced residence and contact a receptionist. You think he's cute and just your type. You're generally drawn to the sexiness of Thai-Chinese boys and this cutie couldn't be anything else. Let me tell you there is a strong possibility that he speaks Cantonese as his first language because he's from Hong Kong.
Then, there is a good-looking Thai girl you approach on the street for direction. You're impressed w/ her impeccable English, and wonder if she's been educated abroad or has a really good job. She immediately corrects you that she's just a secretary, but yes, she's educated abroad because Manila is where she's from.
Also, when you see a white man in a white dress shirt, never be too quick to assume that he works here in a top management position. If it was ten years ago, you could.
And, there is no need to mention the construction workers. Cambodia fares pretty dominantly in this field.
Last month, we were surprised to receive so many resumes from non-Thai candidates - Indian, Vietnamese, Singaporean, Filipino, Hong Konger, and Laotian. We had an opening for a guest relation officer who would be my subordinate. It was interesting to see many foreigners are willing to work 6 days a week for 12,000 Baht per month. In US dollars? It's about 360.
Just the other day, I freaked out! A messenger came to our building to deliver a rented DVD. His skin is so fair. He has slanting eyes. He bowed w/ such humility. And his Thai accent! Oh my goodness, I asked if he was Thai. No, he's not. He's from Tokyo! A messenger!
There's something going on in this 'same- same' city. Talk about infiltration?
Joe
Showing posts with label culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label culture. Show all posts
2008/09/01
2008/08/28
How Foreigners Are Contributing to the Way Thais Interact
If you have been to Thailand, you might already have seen the way Thais greet, thank, aplogize and say good bye. Joining the palms in the middle of your chest and nodding or slightly bowing. It seems as simple as that, doesn't it?
Yes, it does but it's not.
What westerners might deem insignificant or even ridiculous but is one of the wheels that keep Thai society functional is hierachy and seniority. And, this applies to just about everybody - someone in your family, people at work, folks in your circle, and of course complete strangers. Really.
When you meet someone who you're certain is older than you, you greet them by joining your palms at chest level and slightly bowing. The person you greet will return your graciousness by joining their palms also at chest level but only w/ nodding. As a younger person, you have to greet them first.
When you meet someone who is apparently younger, you automatically expect them to be gracious young people, and you're obligated to be a respectable older person. If the kid fails to do what he's required to do, you have all the right in the world to go around saying he has no manner or his parents did a terrible job. Nobody will contest. But then, as the older one, if you fail to acknowledge and return the graciousness that the younger person initiated, you yourself will also be viewed badly, or worse.
Still, that's just the basic.
The dynamic changes and age doesn't quite matter when superiority in terms of social standing, profession, or work position comes into play.
For us, it is so okay (and actually a very decent thing) to feel inferior to others because what others have is apparently better or they are of a higher rank than us.
Here, doctors and teachers get graciousness from people all the time, regardless of either person's age. A mother will fully bow to a doctor of her son's age if her son's life has just been saved by that doctor. A man will willingly bow to his daughter's teacher who is 15 years his junior just because that is what you do to a teacher.
But by wanting to be polite or fit into Thai society, tourists and expats are slowly and unknowingly adding something to this dynamic. We will discuss this in Part II of this post.
Joe
Yes, it does but it's not.
What westerners might deem insignificant or even ridiculous but is one of the wheels that keep Thai society functional is hierachy and seniority. And, this applies to just about everybody - someone in your family, people at work, folks in your circle, and of course complete strangers. Really.
When you meet someone who you're certain is older than you, you greet them by joining your palms at chest level and slightly bowing. The person you greet will return your graciousness by joining their palms also at chest level but only w/ nodding. As a younger person, you have to greet them first.
When you meet someone who is apparently younger, you automatically expect them to be gracious young people, and you're obligated to be a respectable older person. If the kid fails to do what he's required to do, you have all the right in the world to go around saying he has no manner or his parents did a terrible job. Nobody will contest. But then, as the older one, if you fail to acknowledge and return the graciousness that the younger person initiated, you yourself will also be viewed badly, or worse.
Still, that's just the basic.
The dynamic changes and age doesn't quite matter when superiority in terms of social standing, profession, or work position comes into play.
For us, it is so okay (and actually a very decent thing) to feel inferior to others because what others have is apparently better or they are of a higher rank than us.
Here, doctors and teachers get graciousness from people all the time, regardless of either person's age. A mother will fully bow to a doctor of her son's age if her son's life has just been saved by that doctor. A man will willingly bow to his daughter's teacher who is 15 years his junior just because that is what you do to a teacher.
But by wanting to be polite or fit into Thai society, tourists and expats are slowly and unknowingly adding something to this dynamic. We will discuss this in Part II of this post.
Joe
2008/08/23
Thai Mentality – Strolling Nation
Dinner w/ Jeffrey and David delighted me in many ways. Free food and smooth wine! And, what else?
While Jeffrey is about to finish decorating his condo in Bangkok, David has been living here for 2 years. The two Americans, from Irvine, Califfonia, and Houston, Texas respectively, are in love w/ the city and plan to make it their permanent home.
They raved about their new home in many ways, but there's one thing so far that drives them nuts. The pace of Bangkok!
People are often in their way and neither of them are able to bring themselves to say "it's ok." Imagine Jeffrey racing against time furniture shopping for his place or David rushing to meet his bf knowing he is already half an hour late.
Two of the issues they mentioned are people not forming a single line when using an escalator or blocking the already crowded sidewalks by standing and talking on their cellphone, always, it seems, in the most inopportune spot!
Explanation: (but don't take it as the whole reason why Thailand is, and likely will remain, a strolling nation. I believe what I'm going to say is only part of the picture, but a very noteworthy one.)
Once upon the time, Thailand was an agricultural nation. The majority of people worked their rice paddies with a water buffalo.
Right now,Thailand has changed a lot but the mindset of the people remains from before.
We don't walk fast, not because we're not in a hurry or because we don't want to finish things and get over w/ them. But somewhere in our consciousness we are told to take it slowly, and in the eye of many westerners, it becomes strolling instead of walking. But we do walk, I contest.
However there is one matter we are programed to consider, and it's called 'manners." If you walk as fast as some westerners might want you to, people will ask you this question w/ their piercing eyes.
"Have you lost your buffalo? Why are you walking like that?"
Although the vast majority of Thai people, especially in Bangkok, have never owned a water buffalo, none of us would ever want to exhibit behavior that would cause others to wonder if we have, indeed, lost our buffalo.
P.S. Scroll down a bit to read "Thai Mentality - Introduction"
While Jeffrey is about to finish decorating his condo in Bangkok, David has been living here for 2 years. The two Americans, from Irvine, Califfonia, and Houston, Texas respectively, are in love w/ the city and plan to make it their permanent home.
They raved about their new home in many ways, but there's one thing so far that drives them nuts. The pace of Bangkok!
People are often in their way and neither of them are able to bring themselves to say "it's ok." Imagine Jeffrey racing against time furniture shopping for his place or David rushing to meet his bf knowing he is already half an hour late.
Two of the issues they mentioned are people not forming a single line when using an escalator or blocking the already crowded sidewalks by standing and talking on their cellphone, always, it seems, in the most inopportune spot!
Explanation: (but don't take it as the whole reason why Thailand is, and likely will remain, a strolling nation. I believe what I'm going to say is only part of the picture, but a very noteworthy one.)
Once upon the time, Thailand was an agricultural nation. The majority of people worked their rice paddies with a water buffalo.
Right now,Thailand has changed a lot but the mindset of the people remains from before.
We don't walk fast, not because we're not in a hurry or because we don't want to finish things and get over w/ them. But somewhere in our consciousness we are told to take it slowly, and in the eye of many westerners, it becomes strolling instead of walking. But we do walk, I contest.
However there is one matter we are programed to consider, and it's called 'manners." If you walk as fast as some westerners might want you to, people will ask you this question w/ their piercing eyes.
"Have you lost your buffalo? Why are you walking like that?"
Although the vast majority of Thai people, especially in Bangkok, have never owned a water buffalo, none of us would ever want to exhibit behavior that would cause others to wonder if we have, indeed, lost our buffalo.
P.S. Scroll down a bit to read "Thai Mentality - Introduction"
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