07-25-2024, 02:49 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-31-2024, 07:26 PM by aiden15632.)
We must also consider this:
A) Thais, Filipinos, Vietnamese and Cambodians (I do not know about other Asians) are much more reserved than Westerners. They do not like to express their feelings or thoughts. It takes a long time to get really personal conversations with them.
B ) Asians in general are polite, kind and friendly on the surface but they do not really trust foreigners. They only trust members of their own family.
C) Many Westerners are direct in expressing their thoughts. Especially if something is not right for them. In addition, they speak loudly. All this is contrary to Thai culture. When you speak without diplomacy to a Thai, it will irritate him, he will continue to smile, but he will close inside like an oyster.
So yes, we may feel that it is difficult to have "deep and meaninful" conversations with Thais. At least, more difficult than with farangs!
But with an effort to adapt to the Asian mentality, and with a little patience, we can certainly improve our verbal exchanges with them.
And then, we must also have realistic expectations. The majority of us did not come to Thailand to discuss quantum mechanics or Plato's philosophy with bar girls who, for the most part, have never been to university!
A) Thais, Filipinos, Vietnamese and Cambodians (I do not know about other Asians) are much more reserved than Westerners. They do not like to express their feelings or thoughts. It takes a long time to get really personal conversations with them.
B ) Asians in general are polite, kind and friendly on the surface but they do not really trust foreigners. They only trust members of their own family.
C) Many Westerners are direct in expressing their thoughts. Especially if something is not right for them. In addition, they speak loudly. All this is contrary to Thai culture. When you speak without diplomacy to a Thai, it will irritate him, he will continue to smile, but he will close inside like an oyster.
So yes, we may feel that it is difficult to have "deep and meaninful" conversations with Thais. At least, more difficult than with farangs!
But with an effort to adapt to the Asian mentality, and with a little patience, we can certainly improve our verbal exchanges with them.
And then, we must also have realistic expectations. The majority of us did not come to Thailand to discuss quantum mechanics or Plato's philosophy with bar girls who, for the most part, have never been to university!