Small Family

Small Family

Thursday, May 31, 2018

What the US Can Learn from Thailand

We have loved the chance to experience Thai culture over these past two years. While it is often frustrating trying to navigate a culture so distinct from our own, there are many parts of Thai culture that are inspiring. Following are some qualities that I think we would do well to incorporate into US culture, too.


Mai bpen rai

One of the most common phrases in Thai is “mai bpen rai”, which literally means “it’s nothing.” Thai speakers often use it as “don’t worry about it”. We, of course, use this phrase in English, too, but not quite as freely as it is used in Thai. If you’re late to an event, stuck in traffic forever, forgot to do something, “mai bpen rai”. There’s not nearly as much energy spent worrying about things that are out of our control or are really minor inconveniences. It’s quite refreshing!

Food waste

Something I really appreciate about Thailand is how little food is wasted. Bones, fat, skin, all parts of animals are used instead of thrown out. Perhaps this is due to the overall smaller number of animals that are available for consumption, or related to the country’s history of poverty, but I think it’s a lesson we could learn. Why throw out a significant part of the animal if it could be used for something good? There also seems to be less food wasted at restaurants. Portions are much smaller here than in the US, so nearly everything is eaten at the restaurant instead of thrown out afterwards. Food also tends to be freshly made, so there aren’t as many things that sit under a warmer all day, just to be thrown away at closing time. Imagine how much food we could save by only making what we needed!

Respect for authority

Thai culture is strongly based on hierarchy and respect for authority. In a lot of ways, that has been hard to adjust to since, as Americans, we are used to an egalitarian workplace and society. However, I think there are some benefits to an atmosphere in which elders are automatically respected. Leaders and government officials are given respect despite making choices that not everyone agrees with. Parents are shown much more respect than in the US simply by virtue of being parents. A lot of time and energy is saved by not arguing about what’s best, but simply trusting the leader to make the right choice.

Unity

More than 100 years ago Thailand was several different kingdoms which eventually united as one country in the early 1900s. The histories of these kingdoms are still very much visible in present-day Thailand, with pieces of language, culture, and food at the forefront. This is not even to mention the many hill tribe communities which also have distinct cultures and languages. Despite this inherent diversity, Thai people are very much unified, especially when it comes to their king. After the death of King Bhumibol in October 2016, that unity became very apparent to us. Everyone wore black for several months, and some up to one year, after the king’s death to mark their sadness at his passing. It is hard to imagine an American wearing black for more than a few days, even if ordered to, at the passing of a governmental figure. However, most Thai people did this out of love for the king and for their country, not because of a rule put in place by the government. Perhaps this is tied to respect for authority and elders, but in my experience, Thai people are also much more likely to make the choice for the good of the group rather than their own agenda. This stands in stark contrast to the individualism that we cherish in US society. Both have their strong points, but many times it is nice to be part of a unified atmosphere.

Grace for language learners

Our family has been learning Thai for almost two years now, and we’ve come a long way. However, there’s still a lot we don’t know about the Thai language. Thankfully, most Thai people with whom we interact are extremely gracious with us. In fact, I would say they are actually impressed when we use Thai, even though our Thai is far from impressive. Thai is a tonal language, and even when I know the vocabulary is correct, I am certain my tones are usually not. Despite me sounding like a toddler, Thai speakers always work with me and encourage me. Can you imagine what a difference it would make for immigrants, visitors, refugees, etc., if native English speakers always encouraged them in their language learning, instead of giving them a confused face and shouting in response? It would be a welcome change, indeed.

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