Remembering Amazing Thailand

All over Thailand talat is very popular. It literally means market. Sometimes, these markets are static. They open only in the afternoon around 3 pm until about 6-7 pm. Sometimes there is also a day market which opens only once a week on a particular day.  During this time, merchants from neighboring towns or villages come to sell their products. Here in the UK it’s more like the carboot sale.

Jane, Karoline, and me sometimes went to this market outside the campus in the town center. Since we didn’t have fridge in our apartment, we only bought foods that were either consumable within a day or two. We actually didn’t need to store food anyway because we ate at the school cafeteria. But sometimes during the night or in the morning we were too lazy to walk to the cafeteria.

Anyway, in talats we had to force ourselves to learn Thai basics like numbers and asking for discount. They are the most important things foreigners should know before venturing in the talats or Thai markets where no one could practically speak English.

One day, Karoline, Jane, and I just got back from Muaklek and we were going to take the sky train. We were in such a hurry or too excited to get home and I didn’t care who was I coming to bump into. We were going up the steps to the sky train and the footbridge was rather a little crowded. I noticed a man in orange robe was on his way down the steps. I knew were going to bump into each other so one must give way–and that was not me. I tried to ignore him and minded my steps instead as I continued on my way up.  And somewhere at the corner of my eyes I saw him stopped to give way so I could go up the steps. Well, I reasoned to myself, I am the one with the heavy load so those who are in my way should step aside.

But I got reprimanded by my good friend, Karoline. She told me that whenever we meet a monk we have to stop because they are the most highly respected people in the society. Oops! Sorry about that. My selfish motives overtook me and I didn’t listen to my good side when I thought of giving way. Sometimes, I act on the wrong impulse and it’s really causing me remorse.

Well, I never forgot that one and from then on everytime I see or meet a monk I always avoid their path.

Every week two teachers were assigned at the entrance of the school to greet the coming pupils and the parents or guardians who sent them off and sometimes help little tots get off the car. Basically, we just greet them good morning and although it seemed unnecessary since our school was in the heart of the campus but it is a Thai tradition that is strictly practiced in all schools whether it is a private or public school, international or Thai school.

What I didn’t like about it was that I had to start doing it at 6 am because some pupils arrived early or their parents sent them early because they had to go to work too. And I didn’t like it when we greet them good morning and they turned a deaf ear to us as if we were just a monument that they saw every day and they didn’t even notice we were there.

There were a couple of toddlers we had to pull away from the car every single day because they clang tightly to their mother and didn’t want to let go. Poor kids, they didn’t want to be separated from their parents at such a young age but they just had to stay at school because no one could look after them at home and their parents were busy at work.

I wish that when I get to be a mother I wouldn’t have to send my kids to school while they are very young. I want to be their first teacher.

Sawadee is the Thai greeting and usually they make a wai when greeting each other. I find this very sweet to the ears as Thais do say it very, very politely and I could almost touch the respect inherent to it. Sawadee kha is used by women and sawadee krap for men. When I got exposed to the public and heard them speaking I was overwhelmed by the politeness they show in their language. They add kha or krap practically at the end of each sentence.

Consider the following conversation.

(Me at the bank)

Me: Sawadee kha! (Hello or good day!)

Male teller: Sawadee Krap!

Me: Wanee manager yoo mai kha? (Is the manager here today?)

Male teller: Krap. Ro sakroo krap. (Yes, one moment please?)

Me: Khop khun kha! (Thank you)

Male teller: Mai pen rai krap! (Don’t mention it.)

I should have written about this in the beginning but there were so much things in my head and I don’t know which one to write about first. Anyway, I did write about the Thai alphabet, didn’t I? Well, my focus today is the language and the culture that’s inherent to it. Thai people are very respectful and it is obviously reflected and overly emphasized in their language. They speak in a mild low-tone manner and they always add a respectful expression after each sentence they finish. As a tourist, visitor, migrant or expat in the kingdom one is expected to equal their politeness either in smiling or by simply remaining calm specially when situation gets bad or unfavorable. You must learn to be patient. I mean patient. Patient in everything especially when dealing with the local people. You must always practice to be calm and pacified. This is Thailand. Welcome!