■ThaiSocietyandCulture
◆ TheWai
◇Thecommonformofgreetingisthewai, whichadherestostrictrulesofprotocol.
◇Thestandardformisraisingbothhands, palmsjoinedwiththefingerspointingupwardsasifinprayer, lightlytouchingthebodysomewherebetweenthechestandtheforehead.
◇.
◇Youcanmakethewaimaywhilesitting, walking, orstanding.
◇Thepersonwhoisjuniorinageorstatuswillmakethewaifirst.
◇Theseniorpersonmakesthewaiinreturn, usuallywiththeirhandsheldtosomewherearoundtheirchest.
◇Ifajuniorpersonisstandingandwantstowaiaseniorpersonwhoissitting, thejuniorpersonwillbendorlowertheirheadwhileofferingthewai.
◇Ifthereisagreatsocialdistancebetweentwopeople, thewaiwillnotmadeinreturn.
◆ BuddhisminThailand
◇MostThaisbelieveinBuddhism.
◇Buddhistsbelievethatlifedoesnotbeginwithbirthandendwithdeath, butratherthateverypersonhasseverallivesonthebasisofthelessonsoflifenotyetlearnedandactscommitted (karma) inpreviouslives.
◇Buddhistsbelievethatselfishnessandgreedleadtosufferingandthatcompassionandlovebringhappinessandwelfare.
◇Thetruepathtopeaceistogetridofalldesire, aconditionwhichBuddhistsexplainas “nirvana”, anindescribablestateunhamperedbydesire, suffering, orfurtherrebirth, whereapersonsimplyis, andiscompletelyatonewithhis/hersurroundings.
◇Over90% ofthepopulationinThailandbelieveinBuddhism.
◆ HierarchicalSociety
◇Thaishavehighregardforhierarchicalrelationships.
◇Socialrelationshipsaredescribedasonepersonbeingsuperiortotheother.
◇Parentsaresuperiortotheirchildren, teacherstotheirstudents, andbossestotheirsubordinates.
