How do you do and taboo?

How do you do and taboo?

• Affection between the sexes should not be displayed in public.No holding hands er kissing!
• Avoid things,people and situations you don't like rather than moan about them or try to hcange them.
• Beckon waiters and servants with hand,palm downwards,fingers straight and waving rapidly.Don't clap,snap fingers or hiss.
• Boasting is disliked,don't compare your country and people favourably with Thailand and the Thais.
• Buddha images should be kept in a high place and treated with great respect.It's against the law to take or send them out of the country except under very specail circumstances.
• Ceremonies are normally open to everybody;at family ceremonies money is often given,inside as envelope,to the host or placed in the tray provided.Do not wear bright colours to a funeral.
• Criticism:Avoid it;if absolutely unavoidable,balance with praise and be very indirect.
• Discretion is admired as maturity;if you must do naughty things,do them in private.
• Dress your status.Woman do not wear shorts or revealing clothing.
• Eating habits are flexible.Most people eat with a spoon and use a fork to load it.Salt is replaced by the liquid *Nam Pla*(fish sauce).During ceremonies always eat after the monks.Inviting to eat is an everybody greeting,the normal reply is 'eaten already'.
• Feet must be kept to yourself.Not on the desk.Certainly not pointing at anybody.Do not step over anybody or anybody's food.
• Flatter whenever possible,Thais love it.(Men Jeg liker ikke å smiske!)
• Fun:The essential ingredient of anything worth doing;have it.
• Generosity is the sign of an important person;don't be mean.
• Gifts are to be opened in private.
• Hair and heads should not be touched.If you do so by accident,excuse yourself.
• Introductions are less frequent and more meaningful than in the west.Social inferior is addressed first.
• Invitations are often less specific than in the west.If attendance and punetuality are important,use a card.If you specifically invite sombody to your house,they expect to eat there.
• Laundry:If done by a man,don't be surprised if he refuses to wash a woman's underclothes.
• Legs should not be crossed whether sitting on floor or chair in the presence of monks.
• Lists of do and taboo such as this one are far from 100%.Think in terms of culture and situations rather than required and forbidden.
• Lower the body a little when passing in front of,or between people.
• Monks are the most important people in the country and must be treated with respect at all times.Touching of a monk or his robes by a woman is strictly taboo.
• Names:Use a person's first name,not the family name.Adults should be addressed as 'khun' unless a tittle is used.
• Parties:Dress appropriately;do not wear black unless at funeral.
• Pass objects with the right hand,touch left hand to right forearm if extra respect is required.Women never pass directly to monks.
• Paying is done after eating/drinking,not before;the inviter pays;if no clear invitation,the superior pays;'going Dutch'is very rare.
• Please:Say'Thank you'.
• Pointing with fingers is acceptable for objects and animals but not for people.
• Relax,take it easy,especailly at the begining of your stay.
• Rice is the lifeblodd of Thailand;don't throw it away in front of Thais.
• Royalty must be treated with the greatest respect;stand up when images of the King or Royal family appear on the cinema screen.
• Shoes come off at the door of the main temple building and at all homes.
• Sit in the place you are directed to.Superiors in front,inferiors at the back.
• Speak gently,do not raise the voice.
• Smile and people will like you.A smile can be used to excuse small inconveniences,to thank for samll services and to return the wai of children and servants.
• Tempers must be kept.
• Thank you,like'please',is expressed verbally much less frequently in Thai;a smile is often enough.
• Throwing any object is bad manners.
• Visiting homes without specific invitation is normal;gifts of fruit,cakes,flowers etc. are appreciated but not necessary.Shoes off unless requested to keep them on.Casual visitors should be invited to drink and,if mealtime,to eat.
• Wai monks,old people and your social superiors.Do not wai servants,labourers and children.The lower the head,the more respect is shown.The inferiors initiates the wai.Whatever the wai received,reply with a lesser one.
• Walk slightly behind monks and old people.

From *Culture Shock!Thailand*By Robert and Nanthapa Cooper!