Chatty Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Well, i'm working on culture project. It's about Do's and Don't to treat foreigners Now I just know about 1."Yes / OK syndrome" 2. Laugh without reason. 3. Saying sorry. 4. Talk to the others person in difference language (thai) 5. Criticize about their skin color, race, weight. What's else that Thai people should concern? any advice? Is it true that French people don't like if we ask "Sabai dee mai" when they are in hospital? If any Arabic ppl are around, do we have anything special... to concern (i mean) cuz once some guy almost throw a dvd playing at me... he got super angry I didn't know what i did wrong. How about Japanese? How about Chinese? British? European? African? India? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drlovelife8 Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 For Arabs, using the left hand to shake as a greeting could cause offense as it is used to clean out the arsehole traditionally. Greet them with "salam au laikum" They love it. Respond with "wa au laikum salam" If you are with Saudi guys... as a woman you have already lost. Don't even mention the prophet..... treat him the same way farang are told to consider his royal highness. English people often use 'bad language' When they say '*******' it usually means 'very' not **** continuously. Basically my English mates swear their bollocks off but it is VERY SELDOM in offense.... This definitely gets mixed up. English people also moan, but it doesn't mean they want immediate change.. They just moan! Don't tell European people they look fat and then expect a hearty 'Why thank you'. Try re-wording the classic "I don't like black skin. Mai suay" . In some cultures such direct use of singling out a persons identity is a bit too direct. Eating alone doesn't mean one is unhappy or lonely. Not smiling or looking like one is in deep though isn't a bad sign really. PLEASE tell them when it is the correct time to wai and not to. Farang can have a habit of returning the wai to just about anybody, it is considered quite polite to copy gestures but there is a time and a place for a good wai. Talking about the weather is a safe topic with English people, but it might start them moaning... careful now. If compliments come, accept them. UK peopel often compliment, not trying to be sweet, it's nice. Understand that some European cultures prefer to air negative feelings in public. They don't have a face to lose really. Pay CAREFUL attention to cultural and geographic personal space territories. Find out what they are, obey them. Try getting an old Japanese guy and a dude from Sudan to have a conversation. it looks like the Japanese guys is chasing and the Sudanese is backing off. Be aware of Body Language. Only 7% of communication is done through vocabulary. 38% is your tone of voice 55% is your body language. Most cultures share some body language but they also have exclusives too. E.G. In the UK we sometime use the foot as an extra limb, holding doors, moving something into place or even using it to point. It means nothing offensive (usually) I find Americans use geographical location in the same way UK people talk about the weather. They find some kind of common link through it as a way of feeling comfortable. Perhaps an American on the site could confirm this. And it is a nice gesture to NOT assume the farang is going to pay. for most things. But if he/she offers, let them, but be aware, next time you should at least offer to pay. Also should you find yourself having a conversation in Thai with your friends and the word farang is used. Explain the conversation. It unnerves people to think they might be getting discussed and not be able to challenge it or understand it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chatty Posted January 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 i'm taking note khaa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drlovelife8 Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Welcome. It is my area of expertise. PM me for more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin_2 Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 What he said. And picking your nose or anything on your body in public is gross. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetieBabie Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 picking your nose or anything on your body in public is gross. but funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drlovelife8 Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 picking your nose or anything on your body in public is gross. but funny. And pretty common where I live (Khlong Toey). Ball scratching too I would also add that most people are NOT offensive most of the time. I know pointing in Saudi used to get me raised eyebrows, but they were smart enough to realize I was just unaware. If people screw up people should realize that they didn't have a sudden wave of culturally offensive actions.... They just f**ked up. Also............. 1 thing, be VERY AWARE of which way your palm is facing when you do a V sign to English (maybe Scotti people too) people, particularly in pictures. I notice (accidentally I swear) girls sitting open legged a bit in public too. This could do with explaining to my mates who can't stop being shocked by it. An explanation of the open minded attitude to university skirts would go a long way too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English_Bob Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Say 'Excuse me." Don't say, "You!" Up country, don't point and scream, "Falang maa, falang maa!!" If someone doesn't like something in Thailand, it just means they dislike that one thing... it doesn't mean they don't like the whole country. Listen to what they say and decide if it's valid or not... don't defend stupid stuff, just cos it's Thai. Don't ask bald guys why they have no hair... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelraven Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Well, I have question in opposite direction...what thai ppl dont like? I never be in TH, but I read next: dont show your emotion in public, and dont hug with thai ppl...thai ppl very respect their parents, so dont make joke or say anything bad about parents...thai ppl are sensitive about HEAD - dont try to kiss them in a head, scratch their hair or anything without permission... I found it on net, so if anything looks funny or incorrect, sorry... I can say that "meditteranean" type of European..like Greeks, Italian..and we, Serbs... arevery emotion ppl, so we like to smile, to hug and to talk to almost unknown person like we know each other long time...we are little loud, and laugh a lot...we like to be in big company, and like to have fun...its opposite then "cold" ppl like German, Scandinavian...they dont show their emotion at a glance... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stramash Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 masturbating in public... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoBeIt Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Say 'Excuse me."Don't say, "You!" Up country, don't point and scream, "Falang maa, falang maa!!" If someone doesn't like something in Thailand, it just means they dislike that one thing... it doesn't mean they don't like the whole country. Listen to what they say and decide if it's valid or not... don't defend stupid stuff, just cos it's Thai. Don't ask bald guys why they have no hair... Why you have no hair? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beej Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 masturbating in public... I'm sure you'd not be irked at Salma Hayek flicking her bean on a park bench next to you.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoBeIt Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 masturbating in public... Wrong threat.. Guilty pleasure is here http://www.thailandfriends.com/index.php?name=DB_phpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=16495&sid=f91fc3893bc7d080a24c6131b0493f53&&sid=f91fc3893bc7d080a24c6131b0493f53 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drlovelife8 Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Say 'Excuse me."Don't say, "You!" Up country, don't point and scream, "Falang maa, falang maa!!" If someone doesn't like something in Thailand, it just means they dislike that one thing... it doesn't mean they don't like the whole country. Listen to what they say and decide if it's valid or not... don't defend stupid stuff, just cos it's Thai. Don't ask bald guys why they have no hair... Ineed well put. If someone doesnt like khow pak kai it doesn't mean one should respond....... "Well if you don't like it **** off out of my country" Everything is in context. As for baldness, I thought it was like the facial hair thing you mentioned before..... Just concentrate really hard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drlovelife8 Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Well, I have question in opposite direction...what thai ppl dont like? I never be in TH, but I read next: dont show your emotion in public, and dont hug with thai ppl...thai ppl very respect their parents, so dont make joke or say anything bad about parents...thai ppl are sensitive about HEAD - dont try to kiss them in a head, scratch their hair or anything without permission... I found it on net, so if anything looks funny or incorrect, sorry... I can say that "meditteranean" type of European..like Greeks, Italian..and we, Serbs... arevery emotion ppl, so we like to smile, to hug and to talk to almost unknown person like we know each other long time...we are little loud, and laugh a lot...we like to be in big company, and like to have fun...its opposite then "cold" ppl like German, Scandinavian...they dont show their emotion at a glance... Interesting points. I have observed a marked increase in public displays of courtship, not jiust by hookers gluing themselves to the next pay cheque either. I guess the culture of BKK is evolving and with that is coming a new set or norms. I think this deserves a tread all of its own Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonSoKewl Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 I am new to TF and just browsing and came across this. I personally am not bothered by the word "farang",usually, but many foreigners are. Some foreigners consider it to be impolite, of derogetory, just be careful when using it. I agree with the assuming the foreigner will pay, most consider this rude. We can be a generous a people, but "american share" is usually the norm among friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theresa00 Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 About the French's part, i'm french, i don't think it's impolite to ask to somebody in hospital "how r u?" but of course have to see first his or her body's condition, of course if it's really serious dont need to ask....it's only my view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoBeIt Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 What I've learned in Sweden - When you go to a restaurant and then you finish eating, people here dont bring the left over food home, it doesnt matter how much (even it's the whole meal left) People just dont do.. unlike in Thailand. (What a west!!.. i mean .. a waste!) - To interupt someone while they are speaking is rude, we have to wait till our turns - If you ring someone, it is important to introduce yourself.. Unlike Thailand that we ask for that person direct.. Ex; Ring ring.... A: Hello! Can I speak to NidNoi please? (This is rude, what you should say is..) A: Hello! This is SoBeIt.. Im NidNoi's friend.. Is she home? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stramash Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 masturbating in public... I'm sure you'd not be irked at Salma Hayek flicking her bean on a park bench next to you.. point taken. was more thinking of those tramps with mental health issues who sit on the street, bottle of white lightning in one hand, grizzled, dirt encrusted cock in the other. Salma's clitoris is a much nice mental image. :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stramash Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 In the West it is polite to hold the door open for a woman, unless that woman is a butch dyke in dungarees and doc martens, in which case holding the door open for her will result in the cry of 'rapist' and a hell of a kicking. :roll: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorgeous Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Chinese manners Speaking loud and louder Eating loud and louder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chatty Posted January 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 What I've learned in Sweden- When you go to a restaurant and then you finish eating, people here dont bring the left over food home, it doesnt matter how much (even it's the whole meal left) People just dont do.. unlike in Thailand. (What a west!!.. i mean .. a waste!) >> It might be weird, but I do it na...not every time but I ask waiter / waitress pack the left over food for me. - If you ring someone, it is important to introduce yourself..Unlike Thailand that we ask for that person direct.. Ex; Ring ring.... A: Hello! Can I speak to NidNoi please? (This is rude, what you should say is..) A: Hello! This is SoBeIt.. Im NidNoi's friend.. Is she home? >>Yeah that very important. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.Win Posted January 15, 2010 Report Share Posted January 15, 2010 I could name so many, but I won't because we Dutch aren't that perfect either. One thing I would like to mention is... and that goes for every EFFING one, not just for treating foreigners. Play the traffic game by the EFFING rules man! How many people die each year because of traffic accidents? I actually looked it up a year ago and it was so shocking I had to forget about asap. That to me is the most important (maybe even cultural in this country) thing to change. Talk to "we Dutch" and learn, if we're too busy ask the Swedish, they're pretty good at preventing fatalities in traffic. For F sake man, if I'm not mistaken Thailand isn't even mentioned in the top 100 of least traffic fatalities. ....psst... effective law enforcement would be a good start :idea: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandorea Posted January 15, 2010 Report Share Posted January 15, 2010 What I've learned in Sweden- When you go to a restaurant and then you finish eating, people here dont bring the left over food home, it doesnt matter how much (even it's the whole meal left) People just dont do.. unlike in Thailand. (What a west!!.. i mean .. a waste!) - To interupt someone while they are speaking is rude, we have to wait till our turns - If you ring someone, it is important to introduce yourself.. Unlike Thailand that we ask for that person direct.. Ex; Ring ring.... A: Hello! Can I speak to NidNoi please? (This is rude, what you should say is..) A: Hello! This is SoBeIt.. Im NidNoi's friend.. Is she home? pretty much the same as in DK. but the telephone thing doesn't bother me. When you meet new people (the Dane) at a party all you have to do is shake their hand and say.. you : Hello, I'm Dave. the person you just met : Hello, I'm Tom. and then you can hit a bar get some drink. No how do you do? nice to meet you. It's waste of time. ps. R.Win where have you been? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJTX Posted January 15, 2010 Report Share Posted January 15, 2010 picking your nose or anything on your body in public is gross. but funny. Yeah, but the guy who picks his nose and then looks at his finger just to check - that is definitely gross. And, let's not go to - "so what does he do with his finger next :roll: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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