The teenage step daughters arrived home for school holidays yesterday and they greeted me with a smiling hello before heading to the fridge, which is now the norm. Got to thinking that they used to greet me with a hug but I figure that is passé now they are young ladies and I am male, a Farang male at that?

So thinking back, I was a bit put out, when I first met the family, that I was hardly acknowledged. I thought at the time “fricking rude lot”! In retrospect as I was probably viewed as just a lecherous old ATM machine or there was some inbred fear or resentment of this unknown alien in their midst.

I did notice however that there was no demonstrated family greeting, it was just as though they had always been together and one or other had just come back from shopping or something, even though in some cases they had not seen each other for some months. I knew of the no public display of affection culture... but still?

Wife told me sometime later that some of the older villagers had warned her that I would probably try to bonk her children as that’s what all Farangs did!

So...got to thinking about Euro behaviour, English reserve etc....

Older Brits may remember that you did not greet or depart from dad with a hug or kiss once you got long pants..lol. Also you certainly did not hug and kiss and squeeze the bum of your team mate when he scored at soccer, although I have heard it was required behaviour in the “better” British Public schools by Act of Parliament, “don’t ya know”.

Europeans, Asians of course, were different; they were after all just “foreigners”. “Poor Things”!

That’s all changed now for sure although back in the early seventies when first in North America, all the hugging and “I love yous” etc by Canadian and American families and friends was a bit over the top, I thought.

Now it seems all this, in some cases perhaps somewhat shallow bon ami, is a universally accepted/required thing in the Western culture...hence my somewhat naive confusion in Thailand.

Thoughts, experiences, ribald comment anyone..?

They generally don't hug the livestock..

having said that, kids..no figuring. Do they see you as a father figure or just a plentiful intruder.

I find it a total mixed bag. When first arriving home when visiting TL, get the mixed wai/hug combo from family. After that everyone in family typically comes and goes with no fanfare. Have more demonstrative greetings with friends and formal greetings with strangers or when conducting some type of business.

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