Life in Thailand

I've noticed some things are quite different from how they are in America and yet other things are the same like we have back home.

For example, I'm living in a housing complex not too different from a subdivision in the States. Except here you have people sweeping your driveway, mowing your lawn and you also have security guards keeping out potential robbers and solicitors-all for a very cheap price. Compared to a full service subdivision that would cost most Americans hundreds of thousands of dollars to live in, it's all attainable in Thailand for only half that price.

Here in the northern part of Thailand, in Chiang Rai, there are two Universities (Chiang Rai Rajabhat University and Mae Fah Luang University) and several English, Japanese and Chinese Language Institutions.

With two Universities in the area of Chiang Rai there's bound to be a lot of entertainment around. There are many DVD and VCD movie stores and plenty of bars and restaurants to hang out in. Some places have Karaoke for an extra charge but nearly all of it is in Thai.

If you like to dance like I do then there are three discotheques in the area, some are in hotels. Many hotels have a DJ with Karaoke and actual lady singers dressed to the nine's to sing for you while you enjoy a restaurant dinner or drink in the lounge.

And of course for shopping there are numerous markets and night bazaars along the street where you can find handmade goods of clothing, textiles and home décor. There are many ethnic stalls where local artwork made by hill tribes can be found. Anything you're looking for, whether it's clothes, jewelry, home décor or gifts to send back home, can be bought on the same street or in a night bazaar in Chiang Rai.

The night bazaar is held near the bus station where the busses go to Chiang Mai, which is three hours south of Chiang Rai or even Bangkok which is ten hours south or more depending on traffic. You can get a ticket for a VIP bus and experience the first class service with reclining seats, a movie screen and a friendly hostess to give you everything you need-all for about three hundred baht (about ten dollars).

Another popular shopping area downtown is the BIG C center that is the local mall with many restaurants and stores inside with movie theater included. If you're watching a movie try to ask when an English or subtitled film will be on, otherwise you'll be watching a Thai film that you may not understand. There are plenty of films to choose from like horror, comedy or romance.

I saw a really good horror movie called Ghost Mother and even though it was all in Thai I understood most of it and it was definitely worth watching. So take a chance, you never know what you may find.

With all the modern conveniences similar to America I sometimes I forget I'm in Thailand until I go to a noodle shop and I can't understand what they're saying or what I've just ordered.

Language has always been a big barrier between the cultures and yet with a smile and some patience it's pretty easy to make yourself understood.

Thais here don't like confrontation or loud arguments (at least not with other people around watching). It is much easier for them to nod and say yes, even if they have no idea what you just said to them. This is particularly challenging when you're trying to get some information and it isn't clear what's going on.

Try to learn the language to get some clarity in communication or cultural immersion. This might be easier said than done as the Thai language has many tones and different pronunciations. Reading and writing in Thai is near impossible if you don't know the language and all I can manage to write is what I want to order for breakfast. Learning a few key phrases can help you along and though you may not be eloquent in your speech you can at least say, "I want food" and be understood.

Another noticeable difference here is the religion. All around the area are many Buddhist temples and shrines. Sometimes you may see monks dressed in their traditional robes walking down the street. It is not allowed for a woman to touch or look a monk in the eye or to sit by them. Luckily I know this and I haven't had any problem as the monks usually give women a wide berth and vice versa out of respect.

I'm not Buddhist but I've been in the temples, the very famous ones being Wat Arun or Temple of the Dawn, Wat Pho, with the reclining Buddha, and Wat Phra Kaeo near the Grand Palace that houses the Emerald Buddha which is actually made of jade but no less impressive. Every season the Emerald Buddha's gold clothes are changed accordingly.

It is very peaceful inside the temples and I have paid my respects by giving a wai (hands pressed together in front of the face) and bowing three times while sitting on the floor. Women must cover their shoulders and wear long skirts or pants so that when they bow they are still decent. My friend had an apron put around her to wear because her dress was too short and in some places they have scarves for the women to wear around their shoulders but this is mainly for foreigners (fah-lung) because they are not aware of or don't care about the tradition.

Even though there are many Buddhist temples there are a few churches and even a mosque. Some of the Thais here are Muslim but they still manage to get along with the main Buddhist people here. All in all everyone is really tolerant about religion.

There are some elements of Thai everyday life that holds some factor of superstition or folklore. In front of every house and business is a little house where food and water is given and it is decorated with flowers and incense. The actual meaning of the house or the reason it is there is not clear but it is believed to be a home for displaced spirits so that they can reside there instead of bothering you in the home you have built on their land. Death is another superstitious matter and any death may be a bad omen and should be cleansed or blessed by a monk if it happened in a house. Astrology is a main part of life and many people read their horoscope like they read to the news to see what is happening in their lives. Just in case you're lucky there are many lotto shops and people walking along cars at the stoplight to sell you tickets.

There are some things I don't like here in Thailand and around the Northern area.

Trash is a problem here because of the thousands of plastic bags that are thrown in the dumps along the countryside and later burned which pollutes the air and puts harmful toxins into the environment. There has been a call for canvas bags but in the modern downtown area and shopping malls like BIG C, they all have plastic bags which will end up in the dump. Sewage is a problem too because there is no treatment facility for waste and it eventually ends up in the Maekok river and the Mekong river. Sometimes you can smell it along the canals as you walk down the street.

There are a lot of water canals here which brings mosquitoes and adds to the Malaria threat. Signs are posted along the highway warning people about Mosquitoes bringing Malaria and the Avian flu that can spread through the chickens that run around in the streets.

Dogs and cats also run around in the streets and fend for themselves with no vaccinations or spaying and neutering done for them. This could pose a potential health risk because of their waste that is not always cleaned up off the streets and because of their temperaments if they are vicious and attack people. Also the traffic is really bad here and they pose a problem if they are in the street and people have to dodge them. If a dog happens to be tied up in a yard and is barking all night or is suffering neglect and abuse by its owner, there's not much you can do about it. Thai people keep to themselves and don't interfere in other people's business. An American or concerned individual like myself would call animal control or the police but here in Thailand even if you did call the police they wouldn't do much but tell the owner to keep the dog quiet and that won't solve the animal abuse problem but may make it worse.

Traffic is another problem. Cars and many motorcycles don't follow any particular rule when driving and sometimes go the wrong way on the same street. Thais follow the European way of driving but without the safety measures. U-turns along the road are the only means of changing directions and you must watch out for the wayward motorcyclist who don't always wear a helmet. There are many accidents here involving motorcycles and many of them end in death.

Thailand like every country has its problems. They are fighting drugs along the border and they have border patrols along the Burma (Myanmar) and Laos country line. They also have a lot of immigrants coming in from Burma (Myanmar) where the conditions are terrible. Buddhist monks have been protesting the country's treatment of its people there.

The Royalty here is much loved and respected. When the anthem plays in movie theaters or in train stations you must stand up and pay your respects. The King is celebrating his 80^th birthday and everyone wears yellow for the day that he was born which is Monday. Each day has its own color. Sunday is red, Monday is cream or yellow, Tuesday is pink, Wednesday is green, Thursday is orange or brown, Friday is blue and Saturday is black or purple. The Queen's color is blue because she was born on a Friday.

Thai months and days of the week are based on Buddhist, Chinese and Astrological calendars. The months are based on the Hindu reading of the Zodiac (January is Capricorn, December is Sagittarius etc.) and the days of the week are based on the assigned planets for that day. Sunday is the Sun, Monday is the Moon etc.

The main difference here in Thailand is the lifestyle which is totally laid back. Sa-bai Sa-bai is how you say easy-easy and that is definitely how things are done here. No hurry, everyone gets along and everything is fine. If you're used to time restrictions, competition and stress out easily then you may have to change your own lifestyle to fit in here because that is really not the Thai way.

It makes teaching a class hard though, as I saw for myself while sitting in an instructor's lesson, everyone shows up late and they all 'share' the work. I don't want to call it cheating but everyone helps everyone and there is no competition in school because everyone is equal.

I think I'm fitting in here in Thailand rather well and it's only a matter of time before I figure out the language and the customs. Whatever I do I'm sure they'll forgive me because I'm a 'fah-lung' from America.

When I figure out the language I'll finally know what I'm ordering for breakfast at least.