Only in Thailand...

I love this country.

My classes were cancelled 6 different days in the last 2 weeks.  Surprise!  Actually, it's not all that shocking anymore.  I haven't taught a full week since before Christmas!  Now there are only 3 weeks of school left!  START THE "SCHOOL'S OUT" COUNTDOWN! 

I've been thinking lately about all the things that I have learned about Thailand.  Other than the fact that they need more native English-speaking teachers, here are some things I imagine most westerners don't know:

1. The word "Toilet" has various definitions.  (Also, like many other places on this planet, you can't flush toilet paper.)

2. Ladyboys are everywhere.  Including in my classes.  A 14-year-old told me the other day that he "is female", and when another student argued "You are boy!" he responded with "I am 2-in-1!" It seems more socially acceptable to change your gender than to just be gay. 

The difference between "TOMATO" & "AMERICAN KETCHUP" is a mystery.

3. McDonalds and KFC deliver.  (But you can't order Thai food for delivery out here.)

4. Thai people love ketchup, but they call it "tomato sauce", and they eat it on pizza.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej

5. Hairy moles are good luck.  We've seen some BIG moles with patches of long, wiry hairs coming out of them. I don't have any good photos... sorry!


6. At the movie theater (which to everyone else in the world is called the cinema) a tribute to the King is played before every movie.  The theater goes silent and everyone stands while images and videos of the King, mostly in his younger days, play as a slideshow set to music.  It's awesome.

7. Green tea is a popular flavor.  You can get a green tea frappuccino at Starbucks, green tea ice cream at the grocery store, green tea with Kit-Kats or with red beans in a Dairy Queen blizzard, etc.  It's everywhere.  (And it doesn't taste like green tea.)

8. Red beans are served for dessert.

9. Public parks (at least in Hat Yai) have exercise machines.

walking up behind the park/outdoor-gym

Someone left this for a dog :)

10. It's impossible to go hungry here. The Thai society is very community-oriented, in fact, a common greeting in the Thai language is "Hi, have you eaten?"  They're always wanting to know if they should feed you!  You never have to worry about not having enough money for food or starving if your house burns down... someone will feed you. Even the stray dogs are fed.

11. Pale = beautiful.  People strive for the whitest skin possible.  You will not find bronzer in this country, but you will easily find whitening skin-care products.  Actually, it's hard to find lotions or face cleansers without bleaching ingredients.  There are various reasons why Thai people want lighter skin.  The one I hear most often is that they don't want to be confused with the field workers or street cart vendors who spend their days under the sun and have darker skin because of it.  These people are also the poorer citizens of Thailand.  We see people wearing long clothes to cover their skin, carrying umbrellas or holding up a newspaper or whatever they have in their hands to keep the sun off of their skin. Most motor-bike taxi drivers even wear gloves!

It's a fascinating part of the world; there's plenty more to learn!