Photo by Maria Lysenko – Unsplash
I guess that any time you come to a new country, you will inadvertently do things that might offend. Thankfully, Brian is either warning me ahead of time, or catching me after I make a mistake here in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
I never realized how much I point. I do it when I see something I think is unusual or wonderful and want to make sure whoever is with me doesn’t miss it. NOOOOOOOO! IT IS RUDE TO POINT AT ANYTHING OR ANYONE.
Thai people assume that if you point at them or at what they are doing, you think they are doing something wrong. The initial impression of your point stays with them, even if you try to explain that you were impressed or think what they are doing is wonderful. So, don’t do it! (I’m learning to stuff my hands in my pockets when we’re walking so I don’t inadvertently offend.
I have also tried to capture images to share with you here on the blog. NOOOOOO! IT IS RUDE TO TAKE PICTURES unless the place is a tourist attraction. So, now, if I can, I write down the name of the coffee shop, shop, beautifully decorated place and then Google it when I get home. If it’s listed and I can leave a review, I do that. If it has a website, I know that pictures are not offensive and can share them with you.
Compliment someone’s home or shop when you visit. NOOOOOOOOO! This is rude. Again this was a real surprise to me. This is related to the rudeness of pointing. It is assumed that you will like what you are seeing or that you won’t visit again. If you smile and effusively tell them how wonderful you think it is, you are expressing SURPRISE that they have good taste in decorating. It demeans their ability to be a good business person or homeowner, they think, in your eyes. (Just appreciate, write a review later, recommend the shop to someone else – or, if you KNOW the people whose home you are visiting well, you can quietly tell them how nice you think it is. )
When you are removing your shoes and exchanging them for slippers, putting your shoes or the slippers down loudly or both at the same time. NOOOO! THIS IS RUDE! You do it carefully, one shoe at a time, putting yours on the rack provided or neatly beside the door. Plopping down your shoes or the slippers provided shows a lack of respect for the custom. (I now slow down and do this carefully, one shoe at a time to enter and then to leave.)
I am learning daily how to be more respectful. I have always FELT respectful, but didn’t realize there were so many fine points to showing it. I want to do everything that I can to show the Thai people how happy I am to be in their beautiful country and that I want to honor their traditions.
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