Because We Are Thais !

Question:

1. If someone asks for your assistant to do something, Could you say NO?
2. If someone invites you to join party or have dinner together, Could you say NO?
3. If you get trouble with someone, Could you blame or walk away from that person right away?
4. If someone asks to borrow something from you, Could you say NO immediately?

Answer: If you could not reject or say NO right away, BE my guests “You Are Thais”

Even me, I also could not reject or say NO on those questions. I do not understand why Thais do not say NO if they disagree or do not want to do that thing. It just because of “Kreng Jai” (Considerate), on English dictionary cannot describe meaning of this word exactly, only considerate which cannot clarify well.

Nevertheless, Thais really fixes on “Kreng Jai” word, it might because of we were educated from our generation. It seems good because it could present how nice of Thais. On the other hand, Thais need to suffer and pressure to do what they exactly do not want to do or want to reject something but they cannot.

To complete this issue, I would like to share my view on word “Kreng jai” I always get trouble with this word because I never say no to someone who asks for my assistant. At my work place, I was requested to do everything without limit even buy stuff for housekeeping. Sometime, I felt bored and tired from work and study but I need to do! It is because I did not reject to do it at first!

Even though I knew that “Kreng Jai”word make me trouble sometimes, but the truth, I still could not change my behavior and I am sure that a lot Thais also could not change as well!

Culture Shock and Ways to Deal with it!

Have you ever heard about “Culture Shock”, when you go aboard or strange environment for some businesses; travelling, working or studying? And how you deal with it properly?

With my personal experience, when I went to Shanghai for business trip with my boss. Along the way to the meeting, I saw Chinese people talked with each other so loud. At first sight; I thought that they argued. On the other hand, it was normal conversation.

Culture shock refers to a personal’s reaction to living in a new environment. Some of the things that we are used to in own culture, may be very different: language, customs and traditions, holidays, values, behaviors and foods. It is common and even expected to feel confused and bothered when we enter another culture.

Anyhow, I also find some tips on how to deal with culture shock:

· Listen to what others are saying and try to understand what is going on around.
· Never hesitate to ask questions if you do not understand what is being said or the situation you are in.
· Observe how people behave in different situations, but do not make judgments based on your own cultural values.
· Keep an open mind: you are living in a different world!
· Read newspapers and magazines, watch movies - they provide good examples of culture.
· Show a sense of humor. Laughing at your own mistakes will ease your anxiety.

Farang (Foreign) Youths and Thai Youths

Since I was young, I thought about the differences between Foreign Youths and Thai Youths. I always wondered “Why Foreign Youths who are only 18 years old are different from us? (Thai Youths)” Foreign Youths are self-sufficient, they live without family control.

I got many answers from others who claimed that they knew the answer. Foreign families do not love each other as much as Thai families that why parents dare to liberate their children. The answer did not satisfy me, I disagreed. Because if we looked back at Thai families, youths who are 18 years old still could not do anything beneficial for their family, and are often a burden upon their parents.

At that time, I thought that it is my time to learn more about the real world. I applied to a Work and Travel Program in America for 3 months, when I was 19 years old. Finally, I got the answer when I lived alone without my family. I worked so hard, cooked food, etc…. No one woke me up in the morning, no breakfast prepared. Everything I had to do by myself. It was a very memorable time there. Eventually, I got the answer “how Foreign and Thai Youths differ!”

We are educated differently by our family based on each culture. Foreign Youths are educated to be ready for all circumstances that may occur. Thai youths are educated to respect seniority, eveything depend on their family and so on. There is nothing wrong with each way, only cultural differences. Where foreign youths seek to solve problems themselves, guided by parents, Thai youths get elders to solve the problems for them based on the elders experience.

Cultural Differences

With my current job, I work as Customer Services Representative at services office rental, International Company. By position, whatever I do, it must relate to clients whose come from many countries around the world. Actually, I’m quite familiar with this kind of job because I worked at hotel before. Even I always thought that hospitality job is my way, but I still get trouble sometimes.

Lastly, Indian client just moved in to our office. I really do not want to say something badly about my client. However, it might be okay if I did not present her name, so nobody knew whom.


Allow me to introduce her a bit; she is very beautiful lady as nature gift for Indian people. In contract, it opposed with her character and behavior. By the way, I knew how to please her well. It seems go smoothly without problem because whatever she wants I could provide immediately. Nevertheless, she still find the way to make us pressure as value client. When she speaks on phone, it seems like she has problem with her ear. Our office received a lot complaints from other clients, but she still never change. I just wonder why she did everything without consideration to other. As we are Thai; sometimes I thought it was just Indian culture but after many complaints from multi national clients, everyone says in every culture and for the moment of cross cultural world, it doesn't matter if you are Indian or where are you from but for getting together well you should share and care of others "You win, I win then We win"