WAI... well, do you?

[SweetieBabie]

I knew this thread must be useful

[LasseDK]

After a very short time in Thailand I learned that I must wai and I was told who and why to wai...and now after 16 years here, it comes as second nature...so much so that I sometimes forget when overseas and start to wai when meeting other farang...I usually catch it in time before I do...usually, but not always...

My kids are Thai of course, and I noticed that they had got out of the habit while they were in school in Australia for the last couple of years - so now that they are home in BKK again, I had to remind them that they are Thai and that they have to remember to do this.

The biggest mistake made by many farang is that they don't know who to wai and when they should not, or when they have to wait till the other person does it first, and not to wai to shop assistants and things like that (unless they are personal friends of course).

The "when and how" including the "depth" of the wai is a constant source of confusion to most visitors to the country...but there are some basic and fairly straightforward common sense rules, and if you can master them, then you are well on the way to getting it right most of the time...

Thats how i would like to be one day. Also i like that you emphasize it to your children to keep it alive, it would be a sad thing to loose.

Personally, i find it very beautiful and so nice a gesture - but it also makes me abit akward when im presented with it, im not exactly sure what im supposed to do so exiting the plane from Thai Airways is always in some stupid stance.

Knew there were different ways of doing it, and it had different meaning but my experience is still limited to Thai Airways and the t-shirt salesman so i hope they can bear with my lack of skills.

Its also abit strange as a westerner to be greeted by something that looks so respectfull, im not used to that so i do feel abit embarresed by it too.

When i was in a little town last time, i were greeted by the maid by a respectful Wai and i didnt think, was stupid and instead of returning the Wai i grabbed her hand and shaked it - i didnt think.

The couple who owned the house did say out loud "no no no" - think they found it abit embarrising too what i did.

Hope i wont make that mistake again.

[GoodKarma]

absolutely...yes you should

just because someone has a preconceived impression of you form being from the west as being rude loud, impolite impatient,pushy doesn't mean you have to fit the mold. Some folks have the belief that if you are polite or kind give out good vibes etc. you are either gay or weak or not macho. Do not get me wrong I am not saying that if you are gay you are weak I am sure their are a lot of macho gay folks in the world. I personally do not believe the gay macho mismo weak thing myself. but it is the perception of many westerners. Don't get me wrong just as in anywhere in the world some people will not like you no matter how well behaved or polite you are that is just human nature. too bad for them. being polite doesn't mean you are a walkover doorstep matt it just means you are human. but speaking for myself I always keep my image and persona up to speed and on par. My word and image both mean a lot and are very important to me .

You will get respect if you give it. This means that whatever country you are in or visit you should do a background check of what is acceptable and not if you do not follow etiquette you of course will probably be forgiven because you are a foreigner and did not know any better. But things such as

~touching young fellow on the head or rubbing his head

~take your hat off in a theater during the honoring of his majesty the king

~remove your hat in temple or wat

~remove your shoes when entering a Thai house unless the owner tells you its no problem and it is ok not to

~never raise your feet facing another person

~when you use tooth pick cover your mouth

~give up a seat on the train for and elderly person or someone that has kids

~say swasdee krap upon entering and leaving an establishment

of course their is more but I am not here to write an article

this reminds me of a book that ironically was wrote in 1958 is it still true?

http://www.wwnorton.com/catalog/fall98/uglyamerican.htm

8)

[maidai]

i come from a very large and conservative family, tradition is always upheld and praticed.

Im so proud that we have such old customs, and hope such things will always be apart of Thai culture.

[GM]

Living in San Francisco I sometimes hit the Thai clubs here and notice that most of the Thais I observe still wai each other here. The age range is (21 to 30ish). I thought it was very cool that even though they all live here they still keep it traditional. A couple of the Thai guys I hang with that are all born and raised here in the US do not wai unless they know the person is actually from Thailand or its an elder person. Just an observation... no real point...

[English_Bob]

I wai my staff, when they wai me.

I wai policemen when I'm meeting them for business. I don't wai for traffic stops.

I wai local mafia and business people to make life easier in future.

[zeusbheld]

I wai my staff, when they wai me.

I wai policemen when I'm meeting them for business. I don't wai for traffic stops.

I wai local mafia and business people to make life easier in future.

i could see a lot of accidents happening if ppl wai'd traffic cops...

[Geee]

Why wai??

Thanks SB to start a relevant topic as usual !

[Oo.Cloud.oO]

i wai my thai friends who wai me and i also wai my american friends when they arrive just to get a rise outta em

[thaibel]

Wai, like many other gestures e.g. no loud or bang when talking or shutting doors, reflects your overall etiquette that is perceived to link to your family background and stand in the society.

Thais are rooted from the hierarchical order of society; our wai thus has different height levels. To wai beautifully, it takes time to practice (and many details that i do not even remember!).

Not sure if a proper wai is at all significant in today modern lifestyle. But since i was put in the Queen school, hope that I can be little helpful here.

We wai when we want to (1) pray, (2) greet, (3) thank you, (4) apologize, and (5) denote a receiving / wai back.

Wai Monk = Thumbs between eyebrows. Index fingers touch forehead.

Wai Parent = Thumbs touch nose (parents are your breath of life). Index fingers between eyebrows.

Wai Teacher / Master = Thumbs touch lip (teacher words of mouth make you a better person). Index fingers touch nose.

Wai Senior Person than You = Thumbs touch chin. Index fingers touch lip.

Wai Same Age / Younger Person than You / or Wai Back = Thumbs touch between breast. Index fingers touch chin.

Note, bend your head down slightly a bit to cater the reaching of your index fingers.

It's a nice post and a good explanation about the Wai. I did notice by observation that the higher, older or certain position the person has the deeper you have to bow your head and the higher you put your hands.

I do only Wai when I get one first. I'm not too sure about when and how.