Additional Cultural Information (good to know)

There are many customs that make us Westerners feel "funny" by doing them. One of the most difficult customs to get use to is the bowing when greeting a Thai person. Handshakes are not an acceptable means of greeting a person. The wai, which is the traditional form of greeting in Thailand, is given by the person with lower social status. The wai is a sign of respect, and learning how to properly do it is important. You raise both hands with palms together and fingers pointing upwards as if you are praying, then you bow your head until it touches your thumbs. If a local Thai person offers the wai, it is respectful to return it. If you are ever invited to a local's house, it may be a good idea to bring a gift. It is certainly not expected, but it is very much appreciated. When arriving, pay attention to what the host is wearing. If he or she is not wearing shoes inside, then you should also take your shoes off before entering. If there for a meal, leaving a little bit of food on your plate shows that you are full, though leaving rice on the place is seen as wasteful. It also considered rude to take the last portion from a serving bowl, and it's important to wait to be asked before serving yourself seconds. There are countless small things that we do without thinking on an everyday basis that could greatly offend a Thai person. For instance, the head is seen as sacred, so you should never touch the head of a Thai person (you shouldn't even touch the head of an inanimate object-like a statue or painting). On the flip side, the foot is seen as low, so you should never touch the foot or point your foot in the direction of someone or something, particularly a picture of the royal family or any Buddha statue. It's also important never to put your feet up on a table or anything similar. When it comes to the king and royal family, not only is it impolite to criticize or disparage, it's a crime. You should probably just avoid speaking about the king, the royal family, or the monarchy all together.