This is my crime:

1) Been going to the same pharmacy for the last 7 years.

2) The lady who works during the day has seen me in and out of this pharmacy for the last 7 years. I believe she knows me or does she?

3) When one enters this pharmacy a loud bell sounds. Today the same bell sounded

4) I ddi not see the lady. It sounded like she was in the back.

5) I patiently waited and did not yell or tap on the counter. I thought this was being respectful and patient.

6). After 10 minutes the lady walked and looked startled and said "why you here". I replied I needed a medication and that the the bell at the door sounded.

7) AS she scanned the medication and as I paid with the QR code she slowly looked around the pharmacy. To me it looked like she was checking to see if I had stolen anything. This pharmacy has at least 4 CCTV cameras in the pharmacy so my time was recorded.

8) I completed the payment transaction, got the medication and walked out. I did not display any emotion. I have learned this very important lesson during my time in LOS. Even if one is upset or disgusted keep it inside.

To me it was clearly obvious she did not hear the bell as I entered the pharmacy. Instead she could have just said "sorry and what would like"? But then TIT and I am the foreigner so I expect things like to occur.

That was very rude of you. When you walk into a business and see no one then you say Sawadee Krap! Loud enough so that they know you are there. If not then you are probably just another common criminal shoplifting in their view.

11 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

I patiently waited and did not yell or tap on the counter. I thought this was being respectful and patient.

That was your mistake.

But I am the same way, I'm not going to fuss about it like the locals do.

11 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

7) AS she scanned the medication and as I paid with the QR code she slowly looked around the pharmacy. To me it looked like she was checking to see if I had stolen anything. This pharmacy has at least 4 CCTV cameras in the pharmacy so my time was recorded

Maybe you simply misinterpeted her gaze around the store. Simply verifying nobody else there, so she could maybe go back to doing whatever, in the back of store.

Was strange that she asked ... 'why you here ?'

11 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Maybe you simply misinterpeted her gaze around the store. Simply verifying nobody else there, so she could maybe go back to doing whatever, in the back of store.

Was strange that she asked ... 'why you here ?'

I was asked that when I walked into a car showroom last year.

My reply, "I'd like a big Mac, fries and a chocolate shake"

..... always good for a laugh ....... (as long as you're not in McD)

It's a shame nobody ever taught them, "How can I help you"

29 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

2) The lady who works during the day has seen me in and out of this pharmacy for the last 7 years. I believe she knows me or does she?

My wife says all farangs look the same to her......including me?????

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I was asked that when I walked into a car showroom last year.

My reply, "I'd like a big Mac, fries and a chocolate shake"

..... always good for a laugh ....... (as long as you're not in McD)

It's a shame nobody ever taught them, "How can I help you"

Better explanation ... thanks

Maybe not so strange 'why are you here ?' and simply lost in translation 👍

Just now, MIke B Bad said:

My wife says all farangs look the same to her......including me?????

I'm at the stage where at 10m+, I can pick women and men and children apart (mostly).

My son outside school in a crowd ........ no chance.

My wife with her pals .......... nope.

i would have said hello so they could hear otherwise they could well think you've stolen something, you are a farang after all

AS she scanned the medication and as I paid with the QR code she slowly looked around the pharmacy. To me it looked like she was checking to see if I had stolen anything.

Uh huh. You seem paranoid.

Too many "energy drinks" and donuts maybe. ☕

12 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I'm at the stage where at 10m+, I can pick women and men and children apart (mostly).

My son outside school in a crowd ........ no chance.

My wife with her pals .......... nope.

I do understand that but I can pick my daughter out in a crowd as she looks more foreigner than Thai. As far as her classmates, some I can but the boys are very hard to differentiate from one another. The older they get the harder it is, especially at a distance.

A lot of the xenophobia has been taught through the generations by old school prejudiced adults. You can see this when the children you pass by point you out and say "farang", like you're an alien, even though we've been here for a centuries. Some I've seen, recently, have shied away , until someone said he's okay. Like someone said, saying sawadee khrup when you enter has them more at ease, and also gets their attention to help you.

1 hour ago, ArchieBunker said:

That was very rude of you. When you walk into a business and see no one then you say Sawadee Krap! Loud enough so that they know you are there. If not then you are probably just another common criminal shoplifting in their view.

The place has a loud bell when the door opens. In the past she has come upon hearing the bell. If I have to say something then why does the place have a bell that sounds when the door opens. In the past I said "sawadee khrup" to an employee at a hotel who was looking at a phone and this annoyed her. "Catch 22"?

36 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

AS she scanned the medication and as I paid with the QR code she slowly looked around the pharmacy. To me it looked like she was checking to see if I had stolen anything.

Uh huh. You seem paranoid.

Too many "energy drinks" and donuts maybe. ☕

Just my interpretation and I could be wrong. No donuts (had maybe too many as street cop in LA) and I have not had an energy drink in years. Last one was Monster coffee flavor back in Orange County.

The secret in Thailand is smile at everything regardless, it means sod all, very easy to con people with a smile. mine needs more practise so i'm off to the mirror and practise on my pets.

I have 4 golden rules when I have contact with Thai people:

1) Saving Face is important

2) No direct confrontations.

3) Only small talk. Thai people do not want to have serious conversations even if they have known me for years.

4) Smile. If you can't smile then maintain a neutral expression. This has been the most difficult thing to learn.

4 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

In the past I said "sawadee khrup" to an employee at a hotel who was looking at a phone and this annoyed her. "Catch 22"?

Strange. Someone gets annoyed once so now you never again. You seem awfully unfriendly.

1 minute ago, novacova said:

Strange. Someone gets annoyed once so now you never again. You seem awfully unfriendly.

Never said never. Just an experience I had. Did not understand her reaction but to me it seemed like she will deal with when she was ready and finished her business on the phone. I kinda of understand her reaction from that standpoint but I thought she at work after all but what do I know about the local work culture.

Just now, sqwakvfr said:

I have 4 golden rules when I have contact with Thai people:

1) Saving Face is important

2) No direct confrontations.

3) Only small talk. Thai people do not want to have serious conversations even if they have known me for years.

4) Smile. If you can't smile then maintain a neutral expression. This has been the most difficult thing to learn.

Why only Thai people and not everyone. If you’re genuinely a friendly person then just be yourself, if not then fake like others do, though just so you know, it doesn’t go unnoticed as it’s easy to spot a pretentious person.

Just now, sqwakvfr said:

Never said never. Just an experience I had. Did not understand her reaction but to me it seemed like she will deal with when she was ready and finished her business on the phone. I kinda of understand her reaction from that standpoint but I thought she at work after all but what do I know about the local work culture.

You’re overreacting and being overly self conscious about nothing. She was probably lurking you on the cctv anyway.

1 minute ago, novacova said:

You’re overreacting and being overly self conscious about nothing. She was probably lurking you on the cctv anyway.

For 10 minutes? How about "wait, I am busy now". That I would have understood.

4 minutes ago, novacova said:

Why only Thai people and not everyone. If you’re genuinely a friendly person then just be yourself, if not then fake like others do, though just so you know, it doesn’t go unnoticed as it’s easy to spot a pretentious person.

I am completely myself when I am back home. Here in LOS I'm cautious and being overtly friendly and smiling constantly is someone I am not.. To me people who are overtly friendly and smile a lot seem phony to me. Just my perspective.

Edited 30 minutes ago30 min by sqwakvfr

1 minute ago, sqwakvfr said:

I am completely myself when I am back home. Here in LOS I'm cautious and being overtly friendly and smiling constantly is someone I am not.. To me people who are overtly friendly and smile a lot seem phony to me. Just my perspective.

If it doesn't come naturally, and you have to force it, I guess smiling & being friendly would come off as fake.

I'm naturally that way, and I seem to receive what I project, go figure ... YMMV

1 minute ago, sqwakvfr said:

For 10 minutes? How about "wait, I am busy now". That I would have understood.

By this statement you seem impatient and perhaps she picked up on that.

1 minute ago, sqwakvfr said:

I am completely myself when I am back home. Here in LOS I'm cautious and being overtly friendly and smiling constantly is something I have done. To me people who are overtly friendly and smile a lot seem phony to me. Just my perspective.

It’s not necessary to be overly cautious and friendly. Just be yourself. Folks pick up on body language and can easily spot what is and isn’t real. A genuine grumpy hello is worth more than a fake over expressed fake smile. A simple krapphom will do, no smile required.

Edited 23 minutes ago23 min by novacova