1/31/11 Thailand Cultural Debriefing - that we received at Bangkok YWAM Thai people love it when you speak Thai Don't drink the water straight from the tap...use bottled or boiled water, but you can brush your teeth with tap water and get some in your mouth in the shower.The ice is fine at a restaurant, or if you are given a glass at a home you can accept it. Don't be weird about the water.
In the nation of Thailand, the king is the most respected person. You don't want to talk about him at all. If someone comes up to you and talks about him you're response is "he's a great man" - no matter the question, the response is "he's a great man" Don't sit on the squatt potty. There are grooves and you can put your feet on or around the grooves, either is fine There are a couple techniques if you have bad knees, you lean back on your hands or you push against the wall to hold yourself In hotels or McDonald's or something like that, you can flush your toilet paper because they have likely have invested in an expensive septic system However, in someone's home, even with Western toilets you should not flush the toilet paper Pattaya Ministries There are over 2 million tuorists each year, over 20 million prostitutes, and over 2000 people live in the slums In Pattaya there are 14 slums, the ministry works regularly in seven of them Children are often neglected and abused and come from broken homes The ministry focuses on Kid's Clubs to bring the love of Christ Feeding ministry as well, lice shampoo, medical ministries (check BP, give vitamins) Many cannot afford to go to the doctor Also identify at-risk children and provide follow-up Usually when children in the slums reach age 12 they start dropping out of school and either start working, through street vending or prostitution, or start using drugs (primarily sniffing glue) Goal for the ministry: have Kid's Clubs in all 14 slums, start Bible studies, bring Christ into the slums. Usher in life-change through an encounter with Christ
James 2:5 "God did choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith"
If you would like to come back and work with YWAM Thailand, there are
several ministries that could use your help!
There are 77 different ministries that YWAM is partnered with: campus
ministries, drug rehab, slum ministry, homeless youth, Home of the Open
Heart: AIDS infected ministry, Tamar ministry for women who sell themselves
(I don't use the word "prostitute" because it is what they do not who they
are), Hill tribe ministry, performing arts, school of worship, national
office, Mayanmar wayside border, and more.... women reaching out to orphans
many who lost one or both parents in the tsunami of 2004, many of the men
and women who work in the sex trade industry come from Northern Thailand,
another minsitry working with GLBT population, Bangkok: King's Kids,
ministry reaching out to men who sell themselves, another ministry reaching
out to men who buy sex
Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand focuses on reaching out to children who
have been abused (which is the ministry we will be engaged in this month)
Hello greeting - put your hands together, put your pointer fingers under
your nose and bow your head a little bit. Men say "sawasdee khrap" ("r" is
silent and sounds more like cop) and women do the same motion and say
"sawatsdee kha"
It is not who you are talking to, it is who you are, that is why women say
"kha" and men say "khrap"
"Kha" also affirms a question
In general, don't do this greeting unless someone does it to you first
Instances when you don't wai (formally greeting) back
1. You will not do it back if you get greeted this way by someone
in the service industry - when they are providing you a service so you
don't need to be as formal, you can say the same response but without the
bow
2. Beggars (most beggars give the money they receive to a pimp and
don't end up using the money for themselves; so give them something they
can use: food or drink, but don't tie the gift to the salvation message):
oftentimes beggars will lift their hands to their nose or forehead as a
sign of respect, but it is not recommended to do it back since we are in
different classes - but you can show respect by smiling
3. Children - do not "sawasdee kha" back to the child. It would be
the equivalent to having a small child call you Ms. So and So and you
return it back
Instances when you do need to wai (the formal greeting)
1. To a pastor
2. Government official (e.g. teacher, priniciple, nurse, doctor,
village-head). Police officers - similar as in the states, you greet them
formally if you are introduced but you wouldn't do that to every officer
you happen to come across
3. Elderly people - only when you're introduced (old is double
your age or older - if you can't tell then air on the side of respect)
The head is consider the holiest part of the body - don't touch (even among
other Americans, err on the side of privacy). Also don't point at someone's
face
If you feel called to someone, same-sex no problem/opposite-sex keep a
distance. If you feel called to put your hand on their head make sure to
ask them first
Do not pass things over someone's head, make sure to walk around them and
then pass it
The foot is considered the dirtiest part of the body. Do not point your
foot (especially the bottom) at someone, it is considered very disrespectful
When you sit on the floor, make sure your feet are under your legs or
behind you. Oftentimes, when Thai people sit on the floor together they
will sit in a semi-circle
Monks - be very careful how you interact with a monk. If you want to talk
to a monk, you totally can but if you're a female you must have a man with
you. If a female wants to hand something to the monk it has to be handed
through a man - no direct contact between man and woman. Keep separation in
conversations and photos
No restrictions for men and interactions with monks
Man on man physical touch is normal. Interdigitation hand-holding is
normal. It is normal for men to touch other mens all over pretty much
Usually doesn't imply homosexual feelings but rather a sign of
friendship
Hand-holding between a man and a woman is acceptabel but no other PDA is
appropriate in Thai culture
If men happen to give physical touch to a woman, it is not appropriate, and
you need to get a man and have him defend your honor (though this has never
come up in 8 years of ministry through YWAM)
There are some "women" here who are incredibly beautiful and turn out to be
a man; pretty common here. With that being said, be willing to reach out
and be friends
Very common questions: "Why are you pasty like a donut?" "Why are you so
fat?" "Why do you eat like a pig?" Americans have been ushered out of
stores right away when they see them telling them they don't carry "big boy
clothes." Remember: they are not mean, they just don't understand our
culture and our views on manners
The most common comment we will likely get is that we're fat
It is very easy to use sarcasm or meanness in our response, but
refrain! Remember: grace and laugher will overcome any hurt we have
There are two kinds of people who come to Thailand - look similar to Dog
the Bounty Hunter: short shorts, nasty beater, long hair, fanny pack, Tiva
sandals with black socks. That kind of person is perceived to come for sex,
alcohol, drugs. Often they take the one-way bus to Pattaya and stay
The way you dress communicates worth. Try to dress as nice as
possible recognizing that you are always being watched. We are held to a
different standard because we are the guests in this country. How we dress
can communicate whether we are worthy of talking to or whether our opinions
are worthy of considering
