I realized recently that all my posts are fairly serious. This isn’t a bad thing, but I’ve been reminded lately that humor and joy are important too. Life is hard enough with these things; to go without them would make us go crazy. So, in light of leaving the so-called “heavy” and “serious” things behind for a moment, I wanted to highlight various quirks about Thailand I have noticed in my first year of living here.
- Toilets. Upon your arrival in Thailand you’ll quickly realize that the system of self-cleaning is done via a hose attached to the wall next to the toilet. Toilet paper can be found, but it can also not be found in a lot of places, especially in more rural areas. [I learned this through some unfortunate circumstances last Christmas when even a hose wasn't available.] Although many westerners might be grossed out by this, it’s actually more hygienic and a much more efficient way of cleaning yourself after doing your business. I’ll just leave it at that.
- Climate. Thais often joke that Thailand only has three seasons: hot, hotter, and hottest. Being in a tropical climate, Thailand is much hotter and more humid than most places on this earth. This affects nearly every aspect of life; from the clothes you wear to the general speed things get done. If you ever come to this part of the world, prepare to sweat… a lot. You’ll probably want to wear looser, more comfortable clothing – though not too loose as Thailand is a more conservative culture – and brace yourself for a much slower pace of life, as relationships generally take precedence over time and strict schedules.
- Laundry. Speaking of clothing, you probably shouldn’t re-wear things too often, unless you’re one of those rare people that hardly ever sweats or doesn’t have any body odor. Still, clothing needs to be washed more often and needs to be re-worn between washes less often. If it’s rainy season, you get to take a gamble with the weather and hope the day you do laundry will be a dry one. If not, your clothing will take forever to dry. Also, did I mention this country doesn’t believe in dryers?
- Clothing. Continuing in the same vein, your clothing wears out much faster than you’re probably used to. Pit stains that never come out, clothes getting increasingly stretched out (see dryer comment in #3), and a memory slip that leaves your clothes unwashed for a little too long mean your clothes just don’t last as long.
- 7/11. This well-known convenience store is found everywhere. It’s kind of like how many major cities in America have a Starbucks on every corner… well, Bangkok has a 7/11 on nearly every corner. Heck, even if you’re out in the boondocks of Thailand, you’re bound to find one close by. The greatest perk? Air conditioning. It’s a place of refuge in the furnace Thailand can often be.
- Rules of the road. Traffic laws are in fact laws, but they’re much more suggestive than most westerners are probably used to. I’ve taken buses that have utilized the opposite side of the road to get around traffic, even with other vehicles coming our way. Don’t worry, though – as scary as traffic can be, Thai drivers are pros. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve witnessed vehicles squeeze through small spaces within centimeters of another vehicle – successfully, without any damage done.
- Motorcycles. Thai culture is definitely a motorcycle culture. They’re cheaper than cars and much easier to come by. Also, they enable you to get through traffic much quicker than any larger vehicle, which, when you live in Bangkok, is a wonderful thing. Sidewalks? Fair game. Where pedestrians can go, motorcycles can generally go too. Just be sure to watch out when you’re walking!
- Food. Holy cow. If you’ve ever been to Thailand or know anyone that has, you probably know that the food is amazing. What’s interesting about the Thai palette is that they like nearly every extreme flavor: sour, sweet, bitter, salty, spicy – you name it. Like sweetened, condensed milk? You’re in luck! They put it in almost everything. And I mean everything.
- Age. Unlike most western cultures, it is entirely appropriate to ask someone his or her age – and I mean anyone. The biggest reason is that Thai culture is a hierarchical one; by knowing someone’s age, you know how to properly address him or her in the most respectful way possible. For example, if someone’s between your and your parents’ ages, you preface their name with the word pii (literally “older”). There are other distinctions based on age, like “aunt,” “uncle,” “grandma,” and “grandpa,” all of which you’d use with everyone, both inside and outside your biological family.
- “The Land of Smiles.” More than anything, what’s most impressed me about Thailand is how hospitable and willing to help Thai people are. There have been numerous situations where total strangers have offered help, whether they gave my friends and me a ride somewhere – if you’re like me, this would be so sketchy in my home culture – or helped me when my Thai capabilities were lacking. Wherever you go, they are more than willing to help, not only because they want you to have a good impression of Thailand, but out of a sincere and genuine heart.
These are but just a few quirks I have noticed about Thailand in the short eleven months I’ve lived here. Of course, there are many more I’ve learned, challenged, been challenged by, and gotten to adapt to – but these are the ones that stood out to me most. I’ve only got one more year left of this internship and I already know it’s going to go by much too quickly; as it is, this first year has gone by insanely fast. Looking forward, I am excited for year two; I plan on soaking it all in, making the most of it, and bracing myself for all that God’s going to do. Let’s do this.