What cultural faux pas should I try to avoid making in Thailand?
We asked people in Thailand if they could share any humorous cultural blunders they commited. For new expats, keep in mind that these incidents are an inevitable part of expat life. Learning to laugh about them is the key!...
"There are a number of cultural taboos that should be observed in Thailand. Luckily the people from Orientations told me about many of them but I still made errors. Perhaps the most common for me was the use of the "Wai" which is the prayer like gesture the Thai use to greet each other. I found that I was initiating this gesture with Thai people and as there are fairly complex rules about who should do this first and even how high the hands should be held depending on the relative seniority I cause much embarrassment to my Thai friends. Once again, Orientations was able to put me on the right track with this," remarked another expat in Bangkok, Thailand.
"When in Thailand it is important to show respect and cultural sensitivity. Avoiding physical contact with others, discussing politics and religion, and not pointing at people when speaking to them should be avoided. It is also important to dress appropriately, to not raise your voice or lose your temper, and to remove your shoes before entering someone's home. Additionally, abstain from touching anyone on the head, as this is considered to be very rude, and avoid pointing with your feet. Lastly, it is important to properly discard garbage and thank street vendors," said a member in Thailand.
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What cultural faux pas should I try to avoid making in Thailand?
If you live in Thailand, newcomers to Thailand would love to hear your answer to this question.
About the Author
Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in International Business and German.
Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.