Frequently Asked Questions (Manners, Customs, Etiquette Edition)

The Thais are very polite people. Since I’ve been here I have become accustomed to the various ways of being polite and respectful. Here are some of them.

****You do not wear your shoes inside houses, temples and some private buildings. For instance, I was on a tour inside a house-turned-museum and the whole tour was done barefoot. There is almost always a stand for shoe outside the door and I haven’t had my shoes mysteriously disappear yet! I have yet to see carpeted floors anywhere and think that the feeling of bare feet on marble or stone floors is phenomenal. Many Thais also wear “house slippers” around the house so they don’t track the dirt from your feet onto the floor.

Shoes racks are built outside most houses, here is the one at our house! Yes, I caved and got Crocs, but they are pink and ballerina slippers, so they are still very "Alexis-esque"

Our family's house slippers. Mine are on the far left, right next to Gabriella's animal face slippers.

***Women add ‘ka’ to the end of their sentences and men add ‘khop.’ Apparently that one little syllable can turn anything you say into something polite. If you ever hear Thai people speak it is the one word that you hear over and over again. I think I’m starting to overuse it!

***Children are taught to greet others with a wai at a young age. It is also how you greet an elder or a person in a higher position than you (not a physically higher position…) A wai is when you put your palms together, as if in prayer, fingers straight up, put your hands to your chest/chin and bow. This motion is usually accompanied by “Sawatdee ka/khop” (Hello) or “Korb koon ka/khop” (Thank you.)

***In temples shoulders and knees must be covered. Women may wear knee-length skirts but with pants they must be full length trousers, no capris. Some temples let you cover your shoulders with a scarf, while others—like the Temple at the Grand Palace—enforce a strict dress code

We have a picture of the dress code at the Grand Palace

The worst picture of me ever. But, on here for a reason. I didn't have sleeves on that dress so I had to "borrow" a shirt from the Grand Palace (ick!)

***Thailand has both a monarchy and a Prime Minister. The monarchy is purely symbolic with very few legal duties but very highly respected. Except for seeing his picture every once in awhile in the Bangkok Post I never catch a glimpse of the PM. On the other hand, there are pictures of the King EVERYWHERE. He has done amazing things for Thailand and has created hundreds and hundreds of programs for the people here. He is currently the world’s longest reining monarch. If anyone says bad things about the monarchy they will go to jail under the Lèse Magesté laws. Currently there are several stories in the news here about people serving long prison terms for speaking against the monarchy.

This is Khao San Road and is lined with the flag of Thailand (red, white, blue) as well as the flag of the Monarchy (yellow)

***Along with not wearing your shoes indoors, it is not polite to point your feet at people, especially not the Buddha. At one temple I went into there was a specific sign telling all visitors (foreigners!) to remember not to point their feet at the Emerald Buddha.

***Despite the near 100 degree Fahrenheit heat here it is not appropriate to dress like you’re on the beaches of California. I would like to walk outside my house wearing shorts and a tank top, but looking at the many people around me in T-Shirts and capris I know its inappropriate. However, this changes drastically in downtown Bangkok, especially the heavy shopping areas. There you will find many young Thai girls and boys wearing less than those in my neighborhood.

***It is very important for Thai people to “keep their cool” in Thai you say jai yen (cool heart) and its one of the first Thais phrases I learned. This goes hand in hand with the laissez-faire mai pen rai attitude around the country. It is very important to try not to lose your cool (it’s happened to me only once.)

These are just some of the etiquette/customs I have come across while in Thailand. It is altogether a completely different type of lifestyle here. Whether the customs are Buddhist, Thai or more local they are nothing like we have in the U S of A. It is a relaxing and respectful culture and I love exploring the different aspects it presents me every day.