Do you wai?

[Nautilus05]

Do you wai to people while in Thailand? Maybe I'm wrong, but I never wai to anyone. I'll politely smile, nod, say thank you, but will never wai.

It's just for example, I've seen fathers lecturing their 4yo sons on how to wai properly before, so I'm just going under the assumption I have no clue how to wai properly, and if I try it I'll probably just make an ass out of myself, plus probably be disrespectful towards Thais in general, and especially whoever I'm wai'ing too. So instead I just smile, nod, say "kawp khun kap", and carry about my merry way.

What about you? Do you wai?

[theblether]

No, never. It's not my culture.

Leave it to the Thais.

[GuestHouse]

Yes but not the security guard or the house maid.

[h90]

When my staff comes in the morning everyone wais, when they leave the same.

Unless I have the coffee in the hand I wai back like everyone other does.

I have one Thai customer who always greets me with "Heil Hitler" instead of Wai

[Familyonthemove]

Yes - but mainly in formal situations.

Business meetings - I wai if person I'm meeting looks older than me (unlikely!) and always return a wai offered to me in business situations

Meeting family of Thai friends - I will wai Mothers and Fathers and return the wai's of younger relatives.

Wai police if I think it will help to reduce the 'fine'

But do not wai people who give the 'auto-wai' as a company requirement .... waitresses, shop assistants - but Thai people do not return these wai's either.

[Tywais]

The semi-annual Wai topic. Never gets old.

[David48]

Do I give way?

Well sometimes ... usually when driving.

Sometimes ... but not always ...

.

[FiftyTwo]

No, never. It's not my culture.

Leave it to the Thais.

What he says!

I don't nod or smile randomly at strangers either, makes you look slightly retarded.

Edited October 22, 2013 by FiftyTwo

[David48]

No, never. It's not my culture.

Leave it to the Thais.

What about at the Temple?

How did you indicate respect?

.

[David48]

I don't nod or smile randomly at strangers either, makes you look slightly retarded.

I smile at the pretty girls ... that's acceptable, isn't it?

[FiftyTwo]

I don't nod or smile randomly at strangers either, makes you look slightly retarded.

I smile at the pretty girls ... that's acceptable, isn't it?

That's not random, a selection process takes place in our minds first.

Edited October 22, 2013 by FiftyTwo

[uptheos]

Yes but not the security guard or the house maid.

You only wai unimportant people?

[Neeranam]

Would you expect a Thai person to shake hands in your country? What would you think of those who said, "I refuse to shake hands, it's not my culture"? I'd probably say, "piss off back to your own country then".

Of course I wai. It does take a while before one can do it properly and know when to and when not to wai.

Edited October 22, 2013 by Neeranam

[theblether]

No, never. It's not my culture.

Leave it to the Thais.

What about at the Temple?

How did you indicate respect?

.

I was told I don't need to wai anyone but it would be decent to do so for the head monk. So I did. Exceptional circumstances.

I might not be up for wai'ing random strangers and passing dogs, but I will pay respect to a Head Monk that is teaching me and housing me. Wai'ing young monks and the like? No chance.

It was made clear that I am not Buddhist, I can show respect to people without making some weird half assed hand gestures.

[anon8]

No. It's a Thai thing, foreigner doing it look silly, and trying too hard

[JoeThePoster]

The semi-annual Wai topic. Never gets old.

Stand by for the "do you tip" topic.

[CharlieH]

No, never. It's not my culture.

Leave it to the Thais.

You didnt Wai when you met the head Monk ? To say thank you for enter and stay at the temple, or when you left ?

[theblether]

Would you expect a Thai person to shake hands in your country? What would you think of those who said, "I refuse to shake hands, it's not my culture"? I'd probably say, "piss off back to your own country then".

Of course I wai. It does take a while before one can do it properly and know when to and when not to wai.

Your second line says it all sir. Unless some Thai is going to guide you through the do's and don'ts, it's better to not get involved for fear of making a faux pas or causing embarrassment to the Thais witnessing it, never mind yourself.

On a side note, I don't see a lot of wai'ing going on in daily life. Maybe it's a dying art.

[theblether]

No, never. It's not my culture.

Leave it to the Thais.

You didnt Wai when you met the head Monk ? To say thank you for enter and stay at the temple, or when you left ?

Answered already

[h90]

No, never. It's not my culture.

Leave it to the Thais.

You didnt Wai when you met the head Monk ? To say thank you for enter and stay at the temple, or when you left ?

I wouldn't enter a Buddhist temple to stay at the temple only if I am Buddhist and therefor regard the head monk and wai him.

But as non Buddhist I wouldn't enter the temple and would Wai or not Wai him the same as any other people.

[richard_smith237]

I nearly always return a Wai. I expect to be treated respectfully, but also expect to treat others equally respectfully...

I don't run around waiing all and sundry... for me the rule is simple - Returning a wai is a no brainer... someone else has instigated it and set the custom.

IMO not returning a wai shows a little ignorance and perhaps arrogance that this is not our culture and we don't need to kow-tow.

So, if I'm a repeat customer at a certain restaurant and the waitress or waiter wai's me I'll return it, when the maid leaves my apartment and wai's me, I'll return the wai and say thank-you... but I don't return a wai when getting off a TG flight !.. (hands are usually full).

The dilemma I sometimes find myself in is when to wai first.... Generally I wai older family members, parents of my friends etc first.

Those of a similar age I tend not to wai first but will obviously return a wai.

Usually I'll combine a wai with a handshake (obviously not at exactly the same time !) - This I believe shows my culture as well as accepting another. The Thai's I meet tend to adopt to the 'double greeting' quite readily.

Edited October 22, 2013 by richard_smith237

[cpofc]

No, never. It's not my culture.

Leave it to the Thais.

I am surprised Blether. For one who has even opted to go into the Wat for a few days in an effort to get a better grip on things Thai. Perhaps you could have discussed this with the Abbot and heard what his take on it would be for a foreigner to Wai. Just a thought.

it is certainly not a natural form of greeting for a Westerner. It is also a little complex too. There is 'protocol'. Because of this, often Westerners feel 'clumsy' or embarrassed when carying out a Wai. It is not something we are taught from the cradle. Yet we have no hesitation and don't even stop to think when thrusting out our right hands to shake. Same deal.

Waiing is another part of 'Brand Thailand'. along with the Monarchy and The Buddha, it's a trait people like, one that attracts and appeals to us foreigners for various reasons.

I wai, not all the time, but I do. There are times when it is highly appropriate. When I hadn't seem my father in law for a few years, and we visited him recently. If I haven't seen a very good Thai friend for a long time. Or someone (a Thai) does me a very special favour, in appreciation. or I walk into the pub and all my Thai friends Wai on my entrance - This 'Collective Waiing' is always well received. it is polite and respectful.

I used to worry about whether you were holding something in your hand which you could not put down, but then after watching and observing the Thais I found that it doesn't matter too much. If it is in a pub it is ok with to wai with a smoke or drink in your hand. its flexible,

All the young blokes and their GFs who hang out around the front of my place, Wai to me daily. They range from about 14 - early 20s. I don't Wai back, I am an elder. I opted to give them a casual military style salute. Seems to work ok.

Only by years of observation does one even begin to get a real handle on it. There are times where I still feel a little 'clumsy'. where I have to stop and think about who, why and when but most of the time nowadays it is a 'natural act'. Like shaking hands.

[Neeranam]

No, never. It's not my culture.

Leave it to the Thais.

You didnt Wai when you met the head Monk ? To say thank you for enter and stay at the temple, or when you left ?

I wouldn't enter a Buddhist temple to stay at the temple only if I am Buddhist and therefor regard the head monk and wai him.

But as non Buddhist I wouldn't enter the temple and would Wai or not Wai him the same as any other people.

Waing is a useful tool for practicing humility.

[Neeranam]

I waied someone once with a shoe in my hand - very embarrassing but funny at the same time.

[Neeranam]

The most important thing when waiing is to do it with mindfulness. A quick wai is even ruder than not waiing when it is appropriate to do so..

[Crossy]

Yes, I do.

To Thai family when they arrive at our home, to the MiL who loves it and then gives me a big hug (she's 87), and to the chair of meetings with Thai corporations, government ministers, royalty (once, princess Sirindhorn with about 500 others).

And my wife, when I'm in her bad books

[h90]

The most important thing when waiing is to do it with mindfulness. A quick wai is even ruder than not waiing when it is appropriate to do so..

Waiing 15 people in the morning and evening must be quick, and if the wai wouldn't be quick, the person would be already away....

[David48]

I can show respect to people without making some weird half assed hand gestures.

Mate, you know me and I'm not having a go but ...

What's the go with a Western 'Handshake'? Some anecdotal evidence is that it goes way back as a signal between 2 warriors or combatants that there is no aggression or hidden weapons.

An old custom, of little relevance today ... but we still do it.

A Thai person, who wants to show proper cross cultural respect and certainly in business would adopt this Western Custom ... so why not, at the appropriate time reciprocate the Thai custom?

I certainly show respect to my girlfriends parents ... and it's expected from me.

.

[Nautilus05]

It is also a little complex too. There is 'protocol'.

Exactly, and this is why I don't wai. I know there's different positions you should put your hands in, different depths you should bow your head, and so on, and all depending on who you're wai'ing. I have no clue where my fingers should be in relation to my nose, or how far my head should be down, so it's simple... I just don't wai.

Edited October 22, 2013 by Nautilus05

[h90]

To my surprise:

My staff when leaving, Wai the picture of the king, the small Buddhist shrine, me, my wife....everything complete normal....BUT 2 of them also wai the production machine.

They told me the production machine makes the money from which their salary is paid from which they live so they wai it