The Waiting Game

[jayenram]

I'm sure that the majority of TV members have noticed how Thais have 'waiting' refined into an art form.

We recently went to the licence office to renew the car road tax. It was very busy and the FG explained that we'd have to sit and wait. "How long?", I asked. "Oh, I'm not sure, maybe two hours", she said. Now we all know that 'two hours' in Thailand could mean anything from one hour to two days but she was prepared to sit and wait. I asked, "Why don't we pick the tax disc up tomorrow?". "No, we can't do that", she said, "We'll end up at the back of the queue".

Anyway, I got my way. We sat and waited in the pub and picked up the tax disc, no problem, the next day.

[lampard10]

I'm sure that the majority of TV members have noticed how Thais have 'waiting' refined into an art form.

We recently went to the licence office to renew the car road tax. It was very busy and the FG explained that we'd have to sit and wait. "How long?", I asked. "Oh, I'm not sure, maybe two hours", she said. Now we all know that 'two hours' in Thailand could mean anything from one hour to two days but she was prepared to sit and wait. I asked, "Why don't we pick the tax disc up tomorrow?". "No, we can't do that", she said, "We'll end up at the back of the queue".

Anyway, I got my way. We sat and waited in the pub and picked up the tax disc, no problem, the next day.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not just in offices:We went to the A/P the other day and the plane had been delayed two hours. My wife just said 'Oh well Mai pen rai' and sat down to wait. Please,please can anybody out there tell me why oh why can a Thai person wait two,three,four maybe five hours for a plane/bus/train that is late without batting an eyelid but when on a motorbike they can't wait two seconds for a juggernaut to get out of the way when carrying up to three babies on the said bike,without trying to go before,behind or even under it. I witnessed a funny sight recently; a car was being towed out of a ditch. A motorcyclist seeing her chance shot betwwen tower and towee,although there was only a gap of about two feet and was immediately knocked off her bike by the rope. The Police arrived and the tow rope was deemed as dangerous and ordered to be removed,so the car had to be pushed out of the ditch.TiT.

Edited May 5, 2005 by lampard10

[gburns57au]

I'm sure that the majority of TV members have noticed how Thais have 'waiting' refined into an art form.

We recently went to the licence office to renew the car road tax. It was very busy and the FG explained that we'd have to sit and wait. "How long?", I asked. "Oh, I'm not sure, maybe two hours", she said. Now we all know that 'two hours' in Thailand could mean anything from one hour to two days but she was prepared to sit and wait. I asked, "Why don't we pick the tax disc up tomorrow?". "No, we can't do that", she said, "We'll end up at the back of the queue".

Anyway, I got my way. We sat and waited in the pub and picked up the tax disc, no problem, the next day.

More of an Asian thing than a Thai thing....IMHO I think they just have an immeasurable amount of patience for things they cant change. we see waiting as a waste of time...they see it as a means to an end.

It used to amaze me that we would rush to pack bags and get transport to the Bus stop only to wait for an hour for the bus.....then at the bus station it was hurry hurry hurry to wait an hour for the next bus. Reeow reeow, deeow deeow

[Jai Dee]

I witnessed a funny sight recently; a car was being towed out of a ditch. A motorcyclist seeing her chance shot betwwen tower and towee,although there was only a gap of about two feet and was immediately  knocked off her bike by the rope. The Police arrived and the tow rope was deemed as dangerous and ordered to be removed,so the car had to be pushed out of the ditch.TiT.

Classic!!!

[Lancelot]

I'm sure that the majority of TV members have noticed how Thais have 'waiting' refined into an art form.

We recently went to the licence office to renew the car road tax. It was very busy and the FG explained that we'd have to sit and wait. "How long?", I asked. "Oh, I'm not sure, maybe two hours", she said. Now we all know that 'two hours' in Thailand could mean anything from one hour to two days but she was prepared to sit and wait. I asked, "Why don't we pick the tax disc up tomorrow?". "No, we can't do that", she said, "We'll end up at the back of the queue".

Anyway, I got my way. We sat and waited in the pub and picked up the tax disc, no problem, the next day.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

More of an Asian thing than a Thai thing....IMHO I think they just have an immeasurable amount of patience for things they cant change. we see waiting as a waste of time...they see it as a means to an end.

It used to amaze me that we would rush to pack bags and get transport to the Bus stop only to wait for an hour for the bus.....then at the bus station it was hurry hurry hurry to wait an hour for the next bus. Reeow reeow, deeow deeow

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Interesting thoughts about waiting.

I just think of it as one of the several non-cash "taxes" of living in Thailand. "Taxes" like BKK traffic, double pricing, people pushing in while one is try to exit, etc.) They just do things differently here.

But, all in all, still a pretty good place to live...

[lampard10]

More of an Asian thing than a Thai thing....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I tend to agree here as well. I will always remember the time in Tel-Aviv (where fighting to get first on a bus is an art form) a man fought tooth and nail to be first on the bus,and I mean fought. Pulling people out of the way,pushing,shouting. He acheived his aim,but to my amazment when he was seated,he actually gave it up to a pregnant woman who could only stand. So what was the point in the first place?

[FreedomDude]

I don't mind waiting as long as I am physically comfortable and have something interesting to do, like a good book to read. What amazes me about Thais is their patience in waiting with absolutely nothing to read or do other than stare at the walls!

Edited May 6, 2005 by FreedomDude

[david1]

I'm sure that the majority of TV members have noticed how Thais have 'waiting' refined into an art form.

We recently went to the licence office to renew the car road tax. It was very busy and the FG explained that we'd have to sit and wait. "How long?", I asked. "Oh, I'm not sure, maybe two hours", she said. Now we all know that 'two hours' in Thailand could mean anything from one hour to two days but she was prepared to sit and wait. I asked, "Why don't we pick the tax disc up tomorrow?". "No, we can't do that", she said, "We'll end up at the back of the queue".

Anyway, I got my way. We sat and waited in the pub and picked up the tax disc, no problem, the next day.

I agree, it is dificult at times to deal with, but as they say ' when in Rome, do as the Romans do!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

More of an Asian thing than a Thai thing....IMHO I think they just have an immeasurable amount of patience for things they cant change. we see waiting as a waste of time...they see it as a means to an end.

It used to amaze me that we would rush to pack bags and get transport to the Bus stop only to wait for an hour for the bus.....then at the bus station it was hurry hurry hurry to wait an hour for the next bus. Reeow reeow, deeow deeow

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Interesting thoughts about waiting.

I just think of it as one of the several non-cash "taxes" of living in Thailand. "Taxes" like BKK traffic, double pricing, people pushing in while one is try to exit, etc.) They just do things differently here.

But, all in all, still a pretty good place to live...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[lampard10]

I'm sure that the majority of TV members have noticed how Thais have 'waiting' refined into an art form.

We recently went to the licence off   

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

NAW.............YOU MEAN OFF LICENCE.

[nev]

I don't mind waiting as long as I am physically comfortable and have something interesting to do, like a good book to read. What amazes me about Thais is their patience in waiting with absolutely nothing to read or do other than stare at the walls!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

they get a lot of practice at staring at walls,or ceilings to be exact just part of there job

[jayenram]

I don't mind waiting as long as I am physically comfortable and have something interesting to do

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree. I can sit and wait in the pub for hours!

[buadhai]

I think that waiting is looked at as an opportunity not to have to do anything. No need to feel any guilt about undone chores. It's a perfect opportunity to while away endless, effort free hours.

In fact, I'm getting to enjoy waiting myself.

[bina]

then explain why, then, here in israel, when i prefer to wait (lamp. i dont push and shove , i'm still american polite), and will sit patiently waiting (at hospital, bus, store whatever) any of the thai people i am accompanying get impatient and keep asking me, 'when do we go in, when will they bring the thing'? etc... 'mulai mulai....??? when told 'just a minute' they go ballistic (get up and walk out saying they dont need the doctor, medicine, batteries or whatever as if it is the biggest insult in their lives to have to wait) ... maybe they've been in israel too long

[kat]

... tell me why oh why can a Thai person wait two,three,four maybe five hours for a plane/bus/train that is late without batting an eyelid but when on a motorbike they can't wait two seconds for a juggernaut to get out of the way when carrying up to three babies on the said bike,without trying to go before,behind or even under it. ...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Actually, Bina, I think both you and Lampard more accurately reflect my experience on patience in Thailand.

I cannot understand why, when walking in the street, people in front of you seem incredibly slow while people in back of me are stepping all over my shoes to cut in front on a completely jammed sidewalk.

I also noticed the same thing with primary school students as young as Pratom 2. They cannot wait even for a moment if I am busy checking another student's book. In restaurants, the waitress cannot wait for 20 seconds for you to look over the menus. Waiting seems to be some kind of slur on their time or person. But yet, I have been asked to wait for the most ridiculous of reasons.

This is not meant as a gripe, but I am really baffled by this kind of behavior.

[joinme2leave]

my thai biz partner almost seems to be proud of her longest ever waiting experience: 5 1/2 hours bus ride within Bkk city limits (her office/near KaoSarn to Laksee/northwest Bkk, some 20 km distance).

When I asked her why she didn't "jump" out of the bus, get a motobike taxi and escape this ridiculous waste of time ... her answer was: well, I fall asleep and did not realize about the time passing by.....

unbelievable. unbelievable. unbelievable thai!!!!

[lampard10]

my thai biz partner almost seems to be proud of her longest ever waiting experience: 5 1/2 hours bus ride within Bkk city limits (her office/near KaoSarn to Laksee/northwest Bkk, some 20 km distance).

When I asked her why she didn't "jump" out of the bus, get a motobike taxi and escape this ridiculous waste of time ... her answer was: well, I fall asleep and did not realize about the time passing by.....

unbelievable. unbelievable. unbelievable thai!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Believable,believable,believable Thai

I've seen them asleep on the back of a motor bike before.

[devildog683]

i remember one morning me and my wife woke up early to catch the bus from soi 22 to prasat. We got to the bus stop and she said "now we just have to wait". Time on deck was 0800. After 30minutes i asked her, "when is the bus supposed to come" she said "sometimes 0930, sometimes 1030, we dont know". So we were waiting for an hour and a half. What ticked me off is you can see the bus stop from her house!!!

[joinme2leave]

yepp. sleeping is their favorite sport....

btw, pic taken in Shanghai. The chinese do sleep as well...