Does this piece describe you? Culture shock.

[christianpfc]

Interesting article.

For me, there was a stage that I call self-doubt but have now overcome:

Is my Thai pronunciation that bad? No, the Thai person I'm speaking to is just perplexed that a foreigner is speaking to her/him and can't grasp the complexity of my question (e.g. "When does this bus leave to Mae Sot?" - first a blank stare, then "Yes!").

Did we agree to meet at 11 am or did we not? Solved by written communication (Line): yes we did, but the boy is late or no show.

[latintopxxx]

fountainhall...think we are talking about 2 different things. As an auditor (quality...not financial as some people automatically assume) Im often called in to mediate...western company requests a sample....chinese supply one meeting spec...contract is signed...1st 1/2 dozen deliveries meet spec...and when the customer drops its guard product that most definitely does not meet spec is shipped. Can be difficult to monitor without specialized lab technology when its a finished or semi-finished food product.
in the west this is called cheating.
What u r referring to is a faciliator or middle man who takes a cut...not dishonest at all...

[1moRussian]

Thanx Arsenal for the link, here is the second article on the subject:
http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/09/0...ners-and-thais

But again, as Cdnmatt pointed, the core ideas are well known worldwide, although particular Thailand implementations are interesting. As a kind of future reading: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hofs...ensions_theory

[Pharang]

After reading those culture comparisons by that Kasetsart Univ lecturer, I googled him expecting to find some tenured senior citizen. I was surprised to find a young Thai man with a recent German University degree. This makes me wonder if the author is recording the realty of Thailand today or cultural mantras that prevailed in the country's feudal past which have long since been eroded or even discarded.

If you take time to spend a few days observing contemporary Thai TV shows and soaps, you'll likely see the kind of social interaction that more closely matches the western, not Thai, patterns and values featured in these articles. This makes you wonder to what degree the Thai culture described in these comparisons is better history than an accurate reflection of the state of mind of contemporary Thai people.

I don't mean to suggest that there are not elements of this society whose mission is to preserve and protect the collective and passive elements of Thai history that have so enabled authoritarian rule. I just wonder how much of that society exists any more in a culture that gets its news and values from TV and the internet.

[Yraen]

I just wonder how much of that society exists any more in a culture that gets its news and values from TV and the internet.

I would accept this statement with a little modification. " ... news and values from Thai TV and news papers and the desired censorship implied by a national 'single gateway' under government control".

[werner]

Interesting discussion.

I have lived and worked in about 8 countries. The worst culture shock I have experienced is often when I return "home" to Switzerland--and realize how much I have changed.

Moreover, I sometimes get annoyed when I meet Swiss nationals whose native language is [Swiss]German. There can be an awkward moment--should I speak in German or French? [French is my native language.] And, because I have spent much time in Berlin--should I try modify my German to sound more "Swiss"...

Sometimes "culture shock" involves your own country and your own country men/women.....

Just some random thoughts.....

[a447]

Interesting discussion.

I have lived and worked in about 8 countries. The worst culture shock I have experienced is often when I return "home" to Switzerland--and realize how much I have changed.

Moreover, I sometimes get annoyed when I meet Swiss nationals whose native language is [Swiss]German. There can be an awkward moment--should I speak in German or French? [French is my native language.] And, because I have spent much time in Berlin--should I try modify my German to sound more "Swiss"...

Sometimes "culture shock" involves your own country and your own country men/women.....

Just some random thoughts.....

I can relate to your experience 100%.

On returning to Australia after a life in Japan I experienced reverse culture shock and within a week was ready to pack up and go back to Tokyo.

Although I never forgot how to speak English I had a lot of trouble understanding Australian English and I thought everyone spoke so quickly that I couldn't understand everything. The accent still amuses me.

I found Australians to be way too forward, way too blunt, way too eager to express their opinions, whereas I had spent a life trying not to tread on people's toes, choosing my language carefully whenever I spoke.

I'm over it now but still find certain things that irk me from time to time. Like the "she'll be right" attitude or when people say "That'll do; that's close enough."

No it isn't! It has to be perfect! Lol

The mai pen rai attitude is alive and well in Australia.

[bobsaigon2]

I agree completely with Werner. Imagine the shock of a long time expat American who returns to the US and discovers that his country has been Trumped !

[sglad]

I agree completely with Werner. Imagine the shock of a long time expat American who returns to the US and discovers that his country has been Trumped !

But surely American culture before or after Trump is not homogeneous and Trump's ideas and values are supported by and representative of a large number of Americans who voted for him? Even I know they're not all Anderson Coopers and there are plenty of Bill O'Reillys and Glen Becks over there.

[werner]

And the Trumping of the U.S. causes enormous culture shock and anger even for non-Americans like myself.