| eople of Thailand are an interesting group. They | | | | which there is from time to time, they are given |
| hugely influenced by Chinese culture, being located | | | | a knowing glare. The loud will know immediately |
| just to the south of China, so I am sure that | | | | they are being impolite but more often than not |
| some of the things I am going to describe are | | | | the loud person will not be Thai. This politeness |
| part of the greater “eastern” | | | | even extends to their children of all ages. While |
| culture as well as the Thai culture. However, Thais | | | | there is a general grumbling about the teenage |
| have developed a unique blended culture of their | | | | Thai, I believe this a universal teenage thing and |
| own. You might wonder how this might affect | | | | the teenager soon grow out of the rebellious |
| your stay here in Thailand. If you are not in | | | | non-politeness. Thai children are very well behaved |
| Thailand more than a few days or a week you | | | | and I wish I could determine what methods the |
| may not even notice, especially if you confine | | | | Thais employ to impart the politeness on to their |
| your visit to the well known tourist areas where | | | | children because I am sure the rest of the world |
| Thai Culture is a bit diluted by the visiting | | | | would like to know. |
| foreigners. However, I have been living among the | | | | Their undeniable love and respect for their King |
| Thai people and I find their culture quite endearing. | | | | and country seems ubiquitous, and probably is. |
| Thai culture holds being polite above all else. | | | | They show it every day at 8 am and again at 6 |
| Politeness is built into their very language. Not only | | | | pm by standing reverently as their national |
| do they have words that they use to be polite | | | | anthem is played throughout public areas in |
| but they have a word, untranslatable into the | | | | Thailand. I remember being in a mall, walking |
| English language, only used to be polite, and it is | | | | where I could see a good portion of the mall, |
| used frequently as they speak. This politeness | | | | when I realized I was the only one who WAS |
| transcends every part of their lives. You will | | | | walking. The Anthem was playing, and every in |
| notice that a car horn is only used to | | | | the mall has stopped where they were walking |
| “politely” tell other drivers they are | | | | and standing at attention. Prior to every movie |
| there and not to run into them. When at the bank | | | | played in a theater a short tribute to their King is |
| or Movie Theater or grocery store the Thai | | | | played, everyone stands as a sign of respect. It is |
| people seem to automatically fall into an organized | | | | quite refreshing to be in a country where |
| line, they call queues, categorized by your need. In | | | | everyone has such a huge respect for their |
| the park most everyone runs in the same | | | | country leader. |
| direction around the park (which is oddly counter | | | | Older Thais, and I understand older people in the |
| clockwise). They do this because there are | | | | east, are fortunate in that they are taken care of |
| arrows pointing the proper direction of travel. | | | | by their children when they too old to take care |
| Thailand is the “Land of Smiles”, I | | | | of themselves. This gives the elder generation a |
| believe because they are taught that smiling is an | | | | sense of security sorely lacking in the east and |
| important part of being polite. | | | | allows them to be more positive about their |
| Also, Thai people are quiet, politely not disturbing | | | | waning years. |
| people around them and if there is a loud person, | | | | |