Thailand Culture

FULBRIGHTERS INTRODUCTION TO THAILAND ? ADVICE AND COMMENTARY Text Scott McNabb, College of Education, The University of Iowa ? Commentary Porntip Kanjananiyot, Executive Director,? siamese connectionland-U. S. Educational founding (Fulbright) The following essay has been written to provide orientation thoughts for American scholars who be embarking on a Fulbright assignment in siamese connectionland. I hope that it im social occasion provide insights that leave behind abet Fulbrighters to understand, appreciate, and eng while fully with their academic colleagues and an separate(prenominal) Thais they will encounter.It is non meant only as a survival divulge-up the ghost our hopes ar furthermost peachyer than that. It is written to help individuals maximize the cross- pagan gift that they confirm been bemusento weather and work among the Thai throng for a significant period of time. This essay is based on my 19 trips to Thailand which span the period 1968 to 2011, from Peace Corps teaching at Thammasat University with ii Fulbrights and multiple early(a) teaching, evaluation and research trips.I be possessed of taught multinational Education and qualitative research classes at The University of Iowa since 1979. In this essay, I will indulge in the kind of generalizations I never aloneow my students to advert. In my classes, I encourage my students to recall tentatively and c atomic number 18fully well-nigh cross-cultural issues, and crap few if any broad conclusions. Here, in the interests of encouraging preaching and giving usable advice, I will risk making general comments ab expose Thai culture. This essay, then, is written less as an academic authorship than as a kind of employrs manual. I meet asked my colleague and fighter Porntip Kanjananiyot to provide commentary from her perspective of being trench engaged in Thai-American educational exchange work for a bet of days. Porntip is currently the Executive Director of t he Fulbright program in Thailand. We hope that our password back and forth will provide additional insights. ?This article includes advice on language learn, behavior to help you engage in Thai culture, and roughly responses to issues that you may well encounter with your Thai colleagues and other Thais whom you work to spang. ? porta Advice and Questions?In general, the to a greater extent than expose t here(predicate) you can belearning the language, sifting all kinds of food, engaging with all kinds of population (monks, market large number, academics, and so on), learning to joke Thai-style (including making jokes intimately yourself), taking unwarranted paying attention without resisting them overly much, and so onthe more than you will learn slightly and appreciate various aspects of the Thai view of the world. The authentic Thailand is surprisingly keep mum physically to the tourist Thailandits honest under a twain or around a corner or d make an lane where tourists greennessly cod venture. . . r its on full display before most tourists typically wake up, manage watching the monks make their early morning rounds. Within a relatively sententious passing from Khaosan Road, the backpacker mecca in Bangkok, there atomic number 18 amulet markets near Thammasat University that be r atomic number 18ly visited by foreigners, where iodine can venture deeply into the phantasmal beliefs of the Thai people. Dont be afraid to wander (within reason) wheresoever your curiosity fool aways you. If you are actively searching for something, cultivating the treasure hunt mind, you may well find what you are searching for, or something equally interesting.Or your delayk may involve additional questions about the initial treasure you were seeking. For example, if you go to the amulet market in search of a small statue of the Hindu deity Hanuman, you will certainly find legion(predicate) other intriguing deities along the wayall of whom demonstrate incorporation of the Hindu ghostly figures, and Mahayana Buddhism, in Thai Buddhism. Why is Ganesh so popular in Thailand? Or Kwan Yin (Yao Mae Kuan Im)? With whom are the various deities popular? In many ways, Fulbrighters can arrive at from the outlook and skills that qualitative researchers develop that of the wearicipant observer. You are taking part in the culture that you are seek to understand. PORNTIP COMMENTS Go out to discover people and you will find that Thai people generally delightful foreigners. Smile with them and show your interest in what they are doing, they will be crimson friendlier diddleing Thai ?Learn certain basic Thai phrases. Now Your colleagues may well deliver excellent English, still erst you are out in the markets, you will need to speak some Thai.Plus, its fun. Develop a specific working lexicon in Thai. Figure out what phrases you will need on a routine basis and ask a Thai friend to drill you on the pronunciation and tone s until they are second nature. This vocabulary should include greetings, directions, modus operandis, and foods, among other things. ?Yes, defecate pronunciation and tones are important. But they can be overemphasized. Speak with conviction. If you speak tentatively, your phrases will tend to go up at the end, like the flexion we use in English, which will confuse your Thai listener.Speak with your limited vocabulary with an air of confidence and the receiver will have a far better chance of understanding you. They will look that you know more than you actually do, but thats O. K. You can learn to accept their wicked compliments gracefully. Also, your Thai need non be perfect to be understood. We have much to learn from the Thais as reviewers of our mispronunciations and tonal goof-ups, hip-hopience we could use in similar interactions at home. The Thais go way past half-way to try to figure out what you are trying to occur.The fact that you are trying to speak their langua ge is also a clear indication of your cross-cultural sincerity. Thais will often be impressed with your progress because they spend years studying English in school without a great have of success. Acting things out helps, too. This also works on the cultural aim of sanukyou are having fun (and the joke is sort of on you) trying to communicate a specific idea. And when you succeed, it is a cause for joint celebration Learn these phrases right now? Kaw bia song kuat (Please bring me two beers) Kaw cowpot moo jon nung (Please bring me a plate of fried rice with pork)? Kaw cowneo maamuang song jon (Please bring me two plates of mango with sticky rice) Some basic food to order guy rope young (friend chicken) cowpat moo (fried rice with pork) tom ka guy (coconut soup with chicken) pat thai guy (fried noodles with bean sprouts and chicken) kwitdeo sen yai nua sot (beef noodle soup) kow naa bed (duck with behave over rice) ky jiow (Thai-style omelet) kao moo dang (pork with red sauce ov er rice) dom young gung (spicy peewee soup). PORNTIP COMMENTS One way to learn the Thai language could be through food as Thai people love to cristal food. When detect that their foreign guests enjoy it, the Thais could tonicity even more comfortable to whistle with them and naturally, urge the foreigners to have more food ?Thais also enjoy ears importunate to foreigners speaking Thai. even simply a few dustup because they trust the Thai language is very knotty so they nourish really impressed. Dont smell out embarrassed if you make mis pursues and your Thai friends start laughing. They know the challenges you have to face with the tones.Their laughs simply mean your pronunciation is narak (cute). Thai people have patience to listen and try to understand Americans when speaking Thai. American Fulbrighters being in Thailand will be more aware how difficult it is for Thais when they are in the US as quite a number of Americans may not have similar patience. Engaging Thai s ?If you want to get below the surface with your Thai friends, engage them on their own hurt choose topics where they can teach you about aspects of Thai culture. Pursue whatsoever aspects of Thai culture, religion, history (spirit houses?The Sukhothai period? Some aspects of Buddhism like meditation? ). The request is that you will be in their cultural ballpark. They will appreciate your sincere interest, and this will give you an entree into the Thais enormous cultural generosity. They will help you meet interesting people, plan field trips, and so on. Just give them the chance. On one of my Fulbright assignments, I was teaching in Nakorn Prathom. I mentioned to a teacher that I would like to visit Praviharnthe controversial Cambodian wat primed(p) on the Thai-Cambodian borderon my last weekend with them.My Thai friend had never been there before, either. Despite the initial negative reactions from some of the other faculty (Its too farthe trip will take too long its too hot . . . ), she organized what was a unforgettable venture to the famous temple. It was a wonderful culminating event for my time with my Thai colleaguesmany of whom wound up going and enjoying the trip despite their initial protestations. PORNTIP COMMENTS ?Thai people are really hospitable so they could go out of their way to please you. command to see their reaction origin and wait to see their next dissemble.If they are quiet, it could mean they cant accommodate your request. Inconsistencies in Thai Culture ?When you are operating in someone elses culture, inconsistencies be to abound. This is partly due to the fact that in our own culture, we are too close to things to see what dont make sense, and our initial observations are relatively superficial in Thailand (you know the most during your origin two weeks here then it starts getting much more confused), and that, at least in my view, there ARE things that dont seem consistent here. But of course, that is true in all cultu res. gull Thai Massage ?Thai culture in general steers around confrontations in their view the key in human relations is harmony. The focus is on working things out without anger and retentiveness a cool embrace (Jai Yen) in all social situations. Thais are raised to make others feel wel vex, relaxed, and sanuk (happy). In the West, of course, our fundamental goal is to make OURSELVES satisfied. scarce put, we are more individually oriented, the Thais more communally oriented. So you might think that when it came to massage, the Thais would support massage that is soothing, relaxing, comforting. HaThai massage aggressively confronts the torsobuilders that are solid or bunched up with elbows and knuckles and kneesboring in on them until they give up their tightness and relax. Sometimes it hurts. O. K. , often it hurts. Where is all this Thai non-confrontation, avoidance of pain and making the other guy feel good? It goes out the window, as far as I can tell. This feels more l ike American no pain-no gain to me. Of course, it works. But along the way, the attacks on muscle bundles and the stretches are not all that sanuk (fun, in this context). Of course, the pain is meted out with typical Thai humor and grace. Jep Mai? (they ask with a chortle). Jep Maack (It hurts a lot) I respond, to more chortles. Yes, no pain no gain. ?The Case of Luang Paw Koon? In general, Thai Buddhist monks live a highly disciplined life. They must live by a total of 224 precepts, which provide strict behavioral rules. equal religious groups in all cultures, a few stray in equipment casualty of relationships with women and other sins and are tossed out of their temples. But for the most part scandals are rare and monks are respected for their discipline, dignity and wisdom.? Luang Paw Koon is one of the most popular monks in the country.You often see his picture in the northeast part of Thailand, and frequently in the taxis in Bangkok, many of whose drivers are from the northe ast. ?What the pictures show is a smiling monk deliberately flaunting Buddhist conventions, snorting on a cheroot or overtly handling money. He is pose in a squatting position like a north farmer, not cross-legged like a monk. He speaks in the common language of farmers, not in proper Thai.? Why is he so popular? Some Thais respect his rebellion, while still demonstrating the key Buddhist tenets of poverty, integrity, honesty and generosity.Funds given to him are known to go directly to the projects they are given for, most often schools and hospitals. No middlemen. No corruption. I think that is the message of the picture with Luang Paw Koon handling moneyYour donations are estimable with me. I will get your donations to their proper destinations. Consistency with the principals of a monks life? Yes and no. Unconventional? Absolutely. Effective in monetary value of charity work? This certainly seems to be the instance. And a great case for bending the social rules to serve a higher cause. Maybe we all love rebels.PORNTIP COMMENTS? Treat the inconsistencies as surprises and enjoy the learning experiences Short Takes ? take care Thai TV Watch the soap operas, the variety shows, the shows on the monarchy. Ask lots of questions. Before you criticize, think about The Bachelor and Fox give-and-take and Two and a Half Men and other stellar representations of our own culture. Thai soap operas present cultural melodramas where actors confront each other and act in ways one would never see in polite Thai society with its emphasis on decorum and harmony. Is it just entertainment?Cultural wish fulfillment? Ask your friends. ?In general, when things dont seem to make sense, ask. Find good friends who are absolutely culturally-insult proof, who know that your questions may be clumsy and politically incorrect but that your intentionsto understand things a bit betterare pure. These are the people to ask potentially sensitive questions about the Red Shirts and the Ye llow Shirts, and about the monarchy. PORNTIP COMMENTS ?Soap operas could better your Thai while helping you understand that many times, they dont reflect the real Thai culture.It could be misleading if viewers take it literally to think that Thai women always go after guys, love let out and yelling plus slapping others faces. The way they dress to work is far from being professional either.. as if they went to an evening party even. It may be good to understand that the Thais value riab roi and being very proper (far too formal at times). Perhaps Thai soap is something Thais quietly think the society could loosen up a bit. Be discreet when discussing or asking questions about Monarchy as there are lese majeste charges which could be complicated for you to understand fully.The conflicts that seem to separate yellow shirts and red shirts are not easy to understand either. The suggestion to find a culturally-insult proof friend sounds great to get to know more about the monarchy and p olitical conflicts. Small Bits of Advice? Take a zillion showers and guzzle water by the gallon. Keep your body temperature down and your internal system happy. When you feel culture shock flood tide on, retreat. Take some down time. Listen to your iPod. Watch a best-loved movie (it is undoubtedly pirated here). No one should try to tackle a foreign culture 24/7.You will burn out. Its hot here. And humid. Incredibly humid. And you are constantly on stage. I cant do one more impromptu speech, explaining who I am and why I am here. It can be exhausting. O. K. , it will be exhausting. any moment you spend working on your Thai is a move in the right direction culturally. Even the process of learning Thai with your Thai friends has all kinds of cultural learning possibilities.? Take notes of your observationsnot for Facebook or to Tweet about so much as for your own shew of cultural discovery.Youll be able to see how far you have come by the end of your Thai adventure.? Remember tha t part of your job as a Fulbrighter is to play the role of cultural ambassador, representing your country with integrity here and portraying Thailand with fairness and accuracy to your friends back home. ?Learn to bargain. Again, its not so much about the result, which is pretty much predetermined, as it is about your participation in the process, and HOW you participate (with a smile and acting out thingsOh, man, youre killing me here ). Be a good period of play Accept the Thais overwhelming generosity.They are happy to have you here. We are learn to be suspicious of others generosity, and its a tough assumption to get over.? Sometimes conversations are just exercises in enjoyable social banter, without a punch line. You talk about the weather, family, where you are going. . . just for the sake of the lovable conversation. In our culture, we are used to seeking the point. ? Develop a short introduction in Thai that explains who you are and why you are here in Thailand. Saying that you are an achjan (a teacher/professor) explains a lot.This will be very helpful, so that people know who you are, how long you will be here, and so on. It puts everyone at ease. ?Never divide up the bill at the restaurant. The most senior person will liang. Its the Thai cultural law. Hierarchies define the nature of power in relationships in Thailand royalty over commoners, men over women (women cannot be ordained as monks in Thailand), and age over youth. By the way, the best way to reciprocate in terms of food is to buy candy or fruit to share with your Thai colleagues on your trips together. This is perfectly acceptable, and appreciated.Never assume that your English is being understood by your students. Slow down. Ask them lots of questions. Be patient Thai students are used to lecture-style classrooms. Tell stories. Keep them with you (on topic). Try to relate your topics to Thailand, Thai applications of things, even if it is a stretch. Joke around a bit. Show that you can take a joketell one on yourself. Lighten up and the Thais will appreciate it and your communication will be far better. Over-serious classrooms are over-rated. Always share what you are eating. (That cant be over-emphasized. wherever you are living, establish your own detailed village people you see and fuss over every day, like the noodle folks, the flower lady, the 7-11 folks, and your favourite(a) night market vendors. The substance of the conversation is not the issue, its the attention. Simply remarking on the sweetness of the oranges (waan maach ) or commenting on the heat (always safe) is fine. With just a bit of friendly banter it becomes your neighborhood, a little like average walking into Cheers. I have found these simple, smiling conversations are a source of friendly energy I can enjoy every day.Banter begets banter which makes you feel more at home. Get in var. Many Thai temples are located on the top of hills. And just maintaining your energy levels in this h eat takes some oomph. You dont have to be a Buddhist to appreciate and learn from various aspects of this religion. Remember, the Buddha verbalize that you should only apply the aspects of Buddhism to your life until after you have tested with them and they seem to make sense to you personally. There is no pressure to believe in an overarching philosophy just a big, broad display of spiritual and practical ideas to experiment with and learn from.Sort of like the experience of living in Thailand itself. PORNTIP COMMENTS? Even though the more senior Thais will buy you meals almost every time, you may wish to offer to do it in return once in a while. It might not work but that generous offer will be appreciated. Buying some kanoms or some little gifts to give to the more senior and friends would be a nice question to show your thoughtfulness. Thai students love learning by listening so storytelling is the good way to attract their attention and its fun while keeping them focused an d remember what theyve heard.It could be difficult to have some deep discussions with quite a number of Thais but dont lose hope. Sometimes, its just because of the language. other(a) times it could be because Thai people arent used to expressing their ideas extensively unless they feel very close to the persons. Having discussions with Thais regularly will also help Thais think and interact faster too. Enjoy learning about Buddhism in a practical way.. by understanding the middle path, it helps you suppose upon ways to balance your life. Learning how to meditate would simply lead you to have some peaceful moments.