Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand August / September 2015 - Art & Education Issue | Page 28
Education
you can speak a bit of Thai can you
really understand the perks.
First, life becomes so much easier.
The mundane, daily life things that a
language barrier can make stressful
or frustrating take half the time.
It's no longer a struggle to call the
internet provider, explain something
to the maid, get a motorbike fixed,
do a money transfer at the bank, get
clothes altered, or book a taxi, etc.
Second, whilst I believe the way
one negotiates with a Thai is just as
important as being able to negotiate
in their language, it can have its
advantages. I have had many
instances where I have been given a
discount or lower ‘Thai price’ without
even asking. Believe me, this is a
great feeling.
A final and important perk is
that you get to know the Thai
culture and way of life in a different
way. Many Thais who cannot
speak any English are from poor,
underprivileged backgrounds. I
have chatted with them all — lady
boys, massage workers, bar girls,
house keeping staff, and maids.
When you speak Thai with them,
they open up and feel more on
the same level. Their stories are
often sad but have made me more
humble and truly grateful for the
hand I was dealt in life.
Even if you’ll only be in Thailand
for short time, it’s worth your while
to learn the language. What’s the
worst thing that could happen?
Learning Thai only means that your
experience living in Thailand will
be richer and more pleasant and
memorable. I encourage you to give
it a go. You’ve got nothing to lose
but plenty to gain.
Thai
Moments
The below Thai Moments are
just a few examples of the many
encounters I’ve experienced in
Thailand. Many are funny or
sweet stories and some of them
are sad, but all of them have
deepened my understanding
of Thai culture and have
enriched my expat life.
THE BIRTHDAY GIRL
I chatted once with a bar girl
whose English level was very
poor. It was her birthday, and
there was a small celebration
for her. She cried when I gave
her a little gift. She explained in
Thai that her family had been
so poor that they had never
celebrated her birthday; she
had never received a birthday
present before. It was her 23rd
birthday.
THE PROMOTION
I was at the till paying in
7-Eleven and, as I did so,
one staff member told her
colleague that she didn’t
know how to explain the latest
promotion to me in English
and was too embarrassed to
try. I understood everything.
As I left I cheekily told them
in Thai that I knew about
the promotion already. They
were mortified that I had
understood and then we all
had a good giggle about it.
NOSY IN 7-ELEVEN
Speaking of 7-Eleven, also at
the cash register, I overheard
one Thai female staff tell her
colleague that she liked my
nose. (Thais just love Western
noses almost as much as
white skin.) As I paid, I told
them in Thai, thanks and that
I liked their beautiful Thai
hair. Again, shock turned into
embarrassment, which was
followed by laughter.
28 WANDERLUST
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