Thai social etiquette
Fed up of being pushed around on the skytrain while others stare at the TV adverts, contentedly exploring their nostrils? Or maybe you just don’t know what to do with those fidgety hands of yours? Fear not, the Thai Ministry of Culture is here to help with this handy booklet on Thai social etiquette:
We should stand in a straight position. However, when speaking to an elder or a respected person, we should bend forward a little to show respect.
The above is not acceptable, especially if done in the presence of people older than you or your superiors at work, or in society. Standing with legs apart, with hands in pockets, with arms folded across the chest, with hands on hips, with hands together at the back, in a leaning position, blocking someone from something he needs to see, blocking a passageway and towering over an older person who is sitting.
Refrain from holding hands in public as it may have undesirable implication.
A seminar or meeting is not a lecture class where you attend only to be informed. There must be an exchange of ideas, knowledge and experiences, questions and answers to clarify the issues concerned, in order to make the whole session worthwhile. Keep your shyness to yourself and try to contribute and demonstrate your ability as much as possible.
Also, don’t forget:
* You should not speak about something dirty or draw up a vision that is not pretty, such as talk about worms in a garbage, someone being sick and throwing up, the condition of someone down with diarrhea or constipation. You should also train yourself and your children not to have to visit the rest room directly before or after eating.
* Do not wrestle with a tough piece of food trying to cut it into two smaller pieces till it shoots across the room or the table.
* For a night banquet, candles on the table can look romantic and festive.
* Do not spoil the atmosphere by chiding your inferiors in front of your guests.
* Walk in a natural, relaxed manner, taking steps that are neither too long nor too short.
* He does not show that he is well acquainted with someone by calling that person by his father’s name. This is greatly impolite and yet some people do it.
* He does not ask personal questions such as: How is your ex-wife/husband now? How much do you weigh? How old are you? How much is your salary?
* Do not scratch here and scratch there.
* Always introduce a man to a woman, a younger person to an older person, a lesser-in-rank to a superior-in-rank, etc. The lesser one will do the wai first and the superior one will give him a wai in return.
Credits: Thai Ministry of Culture: Mrs. Pensri Kiengsiri, Mrs. Sudchit Bhinyoying and Assoc. Prof. Malithat Promathatavedi, Editor: Prof. Khunying Maenmas Chavalit, Cartoonist: Ohm Rachawej
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Thanx haha
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May 4th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
So now we know * Do not scratch here and scratch there.*
Thanx haha