Take The Thai Out Of Thailand.......

[Lannatyne]

Take the Thai out of Thailand, ........ and they become ' normal'.

In the past 24 hours, I've written a couple of posts on the Phuket forum about experiences, as a farang, dealing with Thais over simple purchases. But writing these, it did remind me how my wife now views life in UK, and two instances during a visit by my mother-in-law to England a few years ago.

It's a constant battle here to keep check on swindlers and sharp practices and downright shit service. 3 examples:

1)

Last Wednesday, my wife tried to buy a simple cuddly toy in Central, Phuket. It took 30 minutes, and 3 assistants to finally come up with a price and barcode for her. Her comment, "Thailand. I don't believe I was born here".

2)

M-I-L : taking her to a pick-your-own strawberry farm, she was beaming from ear to ear with the experience. Politely she asked if she could eat one now, without being locked up by the police for stealing. My wife replied in whatever Thai words are for, "No problem, fill your boots, Mum". Rarely will you have seen an elderly lady with such a smile.

3)

M-I-L : on seeing sheep in a field for the first time, she asked what they were. "Sheep", we said! (A great moment of hilarity - amazing to know that someone has never seen a sheep before. Seems such a basic thing).

A few days later, she noticed the sheep still in the field, and asked where did they go at night time. My wife told her that they stayed in the field. M-I-L said, "Oh, that could never happen in Thailand, as they'd all be stolen by morning".

Great and memorable comments. But all this goes to show is that Thais DO NOT like their own culture of theft and cheating and inefficiency, and when they join a society with trust and integrity and fairness and generosity, they really do appreciate it, even thought they may not fully understand it.

[mahtin]

Tlorr?

[Soutpeel]

The Chang must be out....or is it the Mekong.......

[Kwasaki]