Thai Traditions
THAI LANGUAGE
Thai is a tonal language that has 5 tones: low, falling, high, rising and flat. Before you learn any Thai words, you should know how to use "Ka" (for female) and "Krub" (for male). These words are added to the end of sentences to make them sound polite.
THAI FOOD
Thai food is eaten with a fork and spoon. The spoon is used to put the food into your mouth. Ideally, eating Thai food is a communal affair involving two or more people, principally because the greater the number of diners, the greater the number of dishes ordered.
The ideal Thai meal is a harmonious blend of spicy, salty, sweet and sour. A typical meal might include a clear soup, a steamed dish, a fried dish, a hot salad and a variety of sauces into which food is dipped. This would be followed by sweet desserts or fresh fruits.
Popular Dishes
Gaeng mus-sa-man - Rich spicy curry with beef or chicken.
Gaeng kari gai - Mild yellow curry with chicken.
Gaeng khiaw waan - Spicy green curry with coconut milk and shrimp, chicken, or beef.
Tom yam kung - Spicy soup with lime juice, lemon grass, mushroom and shrimp. Tom khaa gai - Soup with galangal root, chicken and coconut milk.
Gaeng jeud - Chili free soup with vegetables and minced pork.
Khao phat - Fried rice with shrimp, beef, pork or chicken.
Khao man gai- Sliced boiled chicken over marinated rice.
Khao niaw mamuang - Ripe mango with sticky rice in coconut cream.
Kuay-tiaw nam - Soup with rice noodles, meat and vegetables.
Kluay khaek - Fried banana.
Raad naa - Rice noodles, meat and vegetables in a thick gravy.
Phad siyu - Fried rice noodles with meat and vegetables
Sang kha-yaa maphraow - Coconut custard.
Phad thai - Stir-fried rice noodle dish commonly served as a street food and at most restaurants in Thailand.
Khao na phet - Roast duck over rice.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU ARRIVE IN THAILAND
Below is a check list to help you have a smooth start to your student life in Thailand:
Contact your family to let them know you have arrived safely.
Settle into your accommodation and make sure you thoroughly understand the housing contract you have signed.
Drop by the International Relations Office at the faculty/college/institute you have enrolled in to get updated on your application status, course registration, class commencement, deadline for adding or dropping courses, + student ID, on-campus Wi-Fi password, insurance, and the contact number and email address of the International Relations Officers.
Attend your orientation sessions (and excursion if available) to familiarize yourself with the new people and environment.
Get a student buddy - some faculties/colleges have a buddy system to help new international students learn more about Thailand and Thai people from our local students.
Learn more about Thai culture.
DO
Do respect all Images of Buddha and the Royal Family. Buddha images are sacred and sacrilegious acts are punishable by imprisonment even if committed by foreign visitors.
Do respect the national anthem and the royal anthems. For example, if you're walking down a street at 8am or 6pm, and the national anthem is played, Thai people around you will stop their activities and stand still in respect to the anthem, and so should you if you want to blend in. In another case, if you're at the cinema, before the movie starts, you'll be instructed to rise to respect the royal anthem, which is usually accompanied by a slideshow of pictures of King Rama X and his late father, Rama IX
Do learn how to Wai. It's a beautiful way to greet people, to say thank you or goodbye.
Do eat with a spoon. Use the fork to load food onto the spoon.
Do try and learn a few basic phrases in Thai, like 'hello' and 'thank you'.
Do smile a lot.
Do enjoy yourself. Thais like life to be fun.
Do ensure that you have a visa if you need one.
Do make sure you have adequate travel insurance.
Do respect others personal space.
Do watch both ways before crossing the road.
DON'T
Don't show disrespect towards the Thai Royal Family.
Don't cross your legs when you are in the presence of a monk.
Don’t step on Thai money. It is actually illegal to step on any of the Thai currency. This is because the King's face is printed and engraved on the Thai notes and coins.
Don't be overly affectionate in public. This has changed in recent years and younger Thai couples can be seen holding hands, but snogging your boyfriend or girlfriend in the middle of the shopping mall won't win you too many friends.
Don't sunbathe nude. This is offensive to most Thai people although nobody is likely to say anything to you if you do so.
Don't touch a Thai person's head or rufe their hair. Apologize if you accidentally touch somebody's head. There are exceptions to this standard of behavior; for example, it doesn't apply to lovers in the privacy of their room.
Don't place your feet on the table while sitting, don't point to anything with your feet and don't touch anybody with your feet.
Don't raise your voice or lose your temper; try to be chill.
Don't be offended by questions about age, marital status or what you do for a living. These are subjects that will often come up in small-talk Of course, you don't have to answer (especially the question about age), you can just smile and just say it's a secret or 'mai bok' ('not telling').
THAI EDUCATION SYSTEM
