I want to write a post but I’m worried about offending Thai people. Just to make it clear I’m not saying my way is the right way, I just have to learn how to do things another way, which are right as well, and different ! Things like when to be punctual and when is it OK to be late! Also I don’t always find it easy to keep my opinion to myself. When I do give my opinion, I often find its not welcome. Is it because of how I say something? or maybe the timing is wrong? Or how about saying you will be joining a party and then you don’t even bother to cancel and just don’t show up? To me that’s plain rude! I’m sure Thais think its rude to.. so that would make that person rude, which ever culture he/shes in, right? Or clothes! When is it ok to wear spaghetti straps and when is it considered ’slutty’. Sometimes I just don’t care, but when I’m with friends, I want to be liked and the only way that happens is by adjusting. To adjust you have to understand the dynamics and the culture…. and so i keep thinking 
« Summer
Cultural difference
Jun 17th, 2009 by Lillian
It’s all because there is no accountability in Thai society.
Late to an appointment? Don’t turn up to an party? Attend a function scantily clad? Mai pen rai.
That’s right, the mai pen rai attitude is the root cause. I think you know this already, but I totally understand the need to vent (mainly because I do too).
Don’t get me started on Pünklichkeit. I cannot abide people who are habitually late. To me it shows disrespect for those who are waiting. And I consider it a ‘must’ to inform the other person/s if you are going to be late…. not to mention not turning up! So many logistics are involved in organising events — how much food to prepare, how many chairs, car parking space etc — this is specially so when it is not a huge party.
My girlfriend says I am a “kaka pontini” about this. Perhaps…?
kaka pontini? what does that mean? You know, i’m not super pünktlich myself, but each culture, sometimes even group has its own law of pünktlichkeit.. and its just good to know. So now, believe me, its becoming a habit to be at least 10 min late for choir ! ….the latest Ive been is one hour.. hows that for adjusting ? I was on time once .. waited 2 hours… never ever ever again am I going to do that !
Interesting subject. I am still struggling sometimes with the differences between my Swedish cultural background and the British culture I have been living with for the last 22 years! Time keeping and dress code for instance. When you are invited in Sweden to somebody for a meal you turn up on time, in Britain it is much more “flexible”. In Sweden you dress casually at work but dress up to go partying. The opposite applies to the UK. The list is long. But I am coping.
What conclusions have you come to regarding spaghetti straps, tank tops, etc. in Thailand? I’m about to embark on another visit and that is my biggest stress, especially because I love summer dresses. All of my trip photos show that I cover up my tank tops/strappy things with a wrap. I’m sick of always being the armless woman! Is it offensive to wear these things to the malls, on the streets, to dinners? What about fancy strapless/spaghetti dresses to nice restaurants?