Jump to content

Thaiing up my life

  • entries
    7
  • comments
    15
  • views
    2,725

The Land Of Smiles


sawasdee

1,084 views

Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles. And yes, everyone smiles - a lot. As you walk along the street, strangers smile at you  - it's a lovely day - why not smile?

But the Thai smile has many different meanings; I've lived here for over 15 years and still have things to learn.

It can be:

1.I really like you, and we are going to be friends.

2.Not sure about you, but it's rude to be unfriendly.

3. I don't understand any thing you are saying, but I will smile and nod to be polite.

4. You are a very strange foreigner, and I don't know quite how I should react - so smile is the default position.

5. God, you're an idiot, and I can make some money here!

I've met all of those - and I am sure there are more. I speak some Thai (not enough - the tones defeat me!) and on the whole, it's numbers 1 - 4 I have met most. But when I first came here, I met a lot of number 5!

And unfortunately number 5 is the one most likely to be encountered by tourists - especially in Bangkok. Royal Palace 'closed to visitors' because of Buddhist holiday - but I can take you to this marvellous place having a jewellery sale/handbag sale/watch sale....

No 5 aren't the real Thailand. 1 - 4 are. It breaks my heart that so many visitors who only visit Bangkok only meet No 5.

Most Thais are the most hospitable, friendly people you will ever meet. They will go enormously out of their way to help a stranger. But, like any country, there are those who wish to take advantage of the naive.

I hate that so many blogs etc on Thailand list only the scams - of which there are many, especially in Bangkok, and at the airport there -and don't acknowledge/know the many, many people who will go out of their way to help a stranger. I have seen drunken foreigners driven back to their accommodation - free -sick visitors taken to the hospital, and those that live here all have stories of Thais just being there when needed.

I was very sick a while ago, and my (once a week) maid came daily to check on me. My regular taxi driver rang daily to see if I needed anything. I live alone, and my (twice a week) gardener always checks I am up and about....

So - yes, there are the scam artists, and they make the travel blogs etc - but the Thais I know have been much more concerned about me than I would have found in the UK.

For me, the smiles have been real.

  • Upvote 4

3 Comments


Recommended Comments

Karma

Posted

I've never been to Thailamd - I'll get there one day I hope. :) 

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
sawasdee

Posted

@Karma - if you are ever able to plan to come here - pm me!  I know and love this country , and can give you places off the tourist trail that I think you would love - and then maybe end up on a beach here for a cocktail or two together!

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Posts

    • Red Hair, Black Dress

      Posted (edited)

      I think she unenthusiastically said yes to the first man Scotty Brown (not/never father of the year) convinced/ coerced to take her and the 6 step kids.

      Hope she is happy, but intuition tells me no, and that she believes the unhappiness is normal married life.

      Really really really hope she wasn't "convicted" to have more children.

      Edited by Red Hair, Black Dress
    • JermajestyDuggar

      Posted

      20 hours ago, zimona said:

      Childless semi-old catlady here. I don't hate kids. I hate parents who don't bother to teach their kids (age apropriate, of course) about boundaries. I'm quite happy to let kids be kids. But if they start to actively pester me and intrude on me (like trying to drink from MY lemonade in a Café, or wiping their chocolate covered fingers on my backpack during train rides...) then I will speak up and tell them to stop, and I'm fully aware that to the innocent bystander I might come across as 'hating' kids, especially since I might be a bit worked up at that point. I'm not blaming the kids, they don't know better. I'm blaming those parents who shy away from putting a brake on their kids' (sometimes) too exuberant behaviour. 

      What’s funny is I often say this about dogs! 🤣🤣🤣 Every time I find myself hating a dog, I realize I just hate how horrible the owner is. It’s always someone who lets their dog get away with the most horrific behavior at the expense of other people. 

      • Upvote 4
      • I Agree 1
    • 4boysmum

      Posted

      I have a bunch of kids and as much as I love them they also drive me nuts.  They can be loud and messy.  The younger ones are still figuring out where their personal space ends and other people's (mostly mine!) begins.  But I can't ever imagine them doing something like drinking someone else's lemonade.  And if they ever took leave of their senses long enough to try, I would deal with it ASAP and also buy you another lemonade.

      My kids are my responsibility and if they act up in public it's my job to correct them or take them somewhere else so they aren't disturbing others.  

      But I have also occasionally come across people who do seem to resent children being present in public at all.  Don't think they should be brought to restaurants, etc.  I couldn't say what percentage of the childfree population feels that way, but people like that do exist.  And I think it's a shame because (a) how do you teach kids to behave in places like restaurants if you don't take them to practice, and (b) if I've put in the work to teach my kids how to behave in various places and they are not being disruptive, they really do have just as much right to be there as any other segment of the population.

      • Upvote 1
      • I Agree 2
    • CarrotCake

      Posted

      It makes me wonder: would these modesty-fundies be okay with swimwear on girls-only trips?

      In this case it is filmed and published so the same standards as public places would apply but what if it was a private moment between friends and family?

      For instance, Muslim women do not dress with the same modesty standards in the private of their household.

      • Upvote 1
    • EmiSue

      Posted

      3 hours ago, CarrotCake said:

      There is also a toy rabbit with a pink ribbon in the picture.

      Either they use it to honor Isla or it’s an announcement for a girl. 

      My guess is to honor Isla, since she'd be a few months old now if she made it, but could be both.

      • Upvote 1


×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.