Another Local Angle

The Thai Team would like to give the following New Year's tips to all fellow hashers:-

YOU & I
"KU" means "I" used by person of lower status. "MEUNG" means "YOU" used by person of lower status. Foreigners shall not use these two words as they are really not polite at all.  Use them with a normal Thai people and you may lose a friend forever.

ELDER & YOUNGER
The words "PHI" (elder),"NONG" (younger),"LUNG" (uncle),"PA" (aunt),"YAI" (grandmother) are also used in everyday life with unknown persons.  Thai people evaluate the age of the person and then use the correct word e.g.in a restaurant a waitress will be called "NONG" or "PHI".  A taxi driver in middle age will be called "LUNG". A woman selling food in middle age will be called "PA".  Older people more than sixty years old will be called "YAI" or "PU".

DRESSES
Dresses are very important in the Thai society.  A lot of foreigners don't understand why Thai people wear pants instead of shorts, shirts with tie, shirts with long sleeves and so on, with a so hot weather.  That is because appearance is important in Thai society. It shows the status of the person. On the contrary, Thai people are always puzzled by foreign tourists who wear so few, so short of clothes.

SMILE
If a Thai woman smiles at you in the street, it is not at all an invitation. Smile is a way of greeting or she might be puzzled at your look (Blond hairs, bald head etc.)

THAI WOMEN AND FOREIGN HUSBANDS
When talking to women "Why have you chosen a foreign husband?" They will answer that foreign men are more romantic, bigger, take care of their wife and tasks in the family are equally shared.  The opinion of the wife is listened. Thai women complain that Thai men prefer to have fun. Often they pretend having late meetings and then go to restaurants where there are singers. Thai men have the bad reputation to be unfaithful and have sex with someone else.  Powerful and rich Thai men sometimes have a "MIA NOI", a second unofficial wife.  Of course, not all Thai men are like this.  But the facts are often said by some Thai women to explain why they didn't want to marry a Thai man.


Happy New MIA!