A Thai Girls Reverse Culture Shock
February 24, 2008
Today while out teaching Golf how to drive she made a comment about how she can’t wait to see what it will be like when I have to deal with the culture shock of moving to Thailand. Certainly as a Thai girl in America she has done a great job adjusting to the differences in culture, food and weather and she wants to see how I will adjust when the shoe is on the other foot.
Of course that made her think too about the things SHE will need to adjust back to when we move to Thailand. It will be reverse culture shock for her and I can relate, because I know several weeks away from the U.S. will have me questioning what should be normal daily events.
So, what is it about Thailand that a Thai girl doesn’t look forward to going back to?
- No returns on merchandise at many places.
- Not allowed to try clothes on at many of the marketplace sellers.
- Getting “Bangkok stomach” from some of the food stalls
- Bangkok traffic
- “Thai time” - This refers to the fact that Thai’s are notoriously late for everything. Just like they are working on a different clock than you and I. If a Thai tells you something will be 15 minutes be prepared to wait for up to an hour. And don’t ever expect someone to meet you at the time specified, it just won’t happen.
- Customer service that tries to help, but seems always to be unable to for one reason or another.
- Making far less money than here in the U.S.
- Corrupt politicians and police
- Bangkok traffic - if you’ve been to Bangkok you know that it was worth repeating
Huh, look at that. Seems it is pretty much the same things a lot of westerners complain about when they move to or visit Thailand. Of course Golf may not be completely representative of the average Thai, after all she did marry a farang and move away from Thailand. I think it’s fair to say that her opinion matches with many of the younger educated Thai’s though.
What is it about Thailand that makes you crazy, angry or just downright frustrated?
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Thanks Jason! I’m glad you like what you’ve seen so far and thanks for subscribing. If there’s anything in particular you’d like to know about Thailand - the culture, travel food, whatever - just drop my a line and let me know. I’m always happy to blog about whatever my readers want to know.
I found your site through Thailand Chani. It’s great. I’ve experienced culture shock and reverse culture shock in terms of living in the former Soviet Union, and by being a host mom to kids from five different cultures and an advisor to kids from many more. Culture shock is a pleasure in some ways, I think, because it makes us so aware of our own failings and “buttons.”
Hi Jen,
Welcome to Thailand Musings! Really glad that you like the site and I hope you keep coming back for more. Thailand Chani has a great site too, just found it myself recently and I really like her posts and writing style.
I found it ironic that you mentioned culture shock from living in the former Soviet Union because that’s exactly where I experienced my worst reverse culture shock. I was only there for a couple months so I can imagine what it would be like living there long term.
You’re right that culture shock is a pleasure in many ways and not least of which is that it teaches us to look at things in a new light and hopefully makes us more compassionate and understanding of others.
I’ll be looking forward to seeing you here more
A Thai lady friend of mine went to the State for while.
She was now able to see what the Thais are really like.
A bunch of dishonest, immoral, selfish pricks.