Why Wai

[PattayaOneTeam]

Why Wai

New to Thailand, I am wondering about the "wai." I think it's a lovely gesture, and I receive it just about everywhere I go: massage centres, shops, restaurants, even many times the bargirls wai me! I now wai in return and the Thai girl I've hooked up with says that Thais are pleased when foreigners use it back to them. But some expats told me that it looks ridiculous for us to do it, and the Thais laugh at us. So, is it OK, and if not, is there some other way to acknowledge another person's wai?

Paul Kinnell

Expats often blather on about knowing Thais who say that foreigners shouldn't ever wai, and those that do are sniggered at, but we have never, ever encountered such a Thai. These expats are the same ones who claim that if a farang even says hello in Thai he has gone native! If a Thai goes to the west and shakes hands with people, has he also “gone native”? It's your choice--if you feel comfortable in returning a wai, go ahead mate; you needn't return it to children, but they won't stone you if you do. If you choose not to wai, you can just nod your head, smile, or preferably both, and that will be fine.

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-- Pattaya One 2011-02-05