Culture Conflicts
From the outside, Thailand looks rather similar to the US with some tempels and Asian faces thrown in. To the tourist, Thailand is presented as advertised. Independent travellers often complain that the "real" (ancient) Thailand which they expected to see has disappeared.
From a Thai standpoint, the (aggressive) western culture is evil and a danger for the superior (peaceful) Thai culture. The English language as a part of the western culture is accused of being cold and emotionless, people discourage each other learning and using it.
Western people are considered rude. They treat Thais and their customs with disrespect applying their own rules as they please. Their industrial operations are designed to extract profit and carry it off to a foreign country, exploiting Thai labour and driving the people into dependence on foreign products.
Tourists are welcome basically for the money they spend, while there are voices that say Thailand could do pretty well without this money.
From a western standpoint, a Thai mind's patience, simplicity, tolerance and walk-around-the-problem attitude is wrong. Time is money. Customers ask "when ?" and don't think never-mind. Problems need to be solved and neither hidden nor tolerated.
The Thai language seems to lack precision and promote a fuzzy mind. Technical discussions amongst Thais are often endless and without conclusion, until a foreigner joins and puts things straight.
Bottom line: The Thai culture is far from the western "common sense" and is definitely bad for business.
Today, western companies and western concepts have penetrated the Thai market deeply. Westernization is spreading from Bangkok to the provinces, and people throughout Thailand seem to be in different states of transition from Thais to Americans with a Japanese touch. The sick feeling about the loss of Thai identity is compensated for by a higher standard of living, so there are few complaints.
For me as a foreign resident, this development is convenient and disturbing at the same time. In Bangkok, I can enjoy both Western, Thai and Japanese products plus I get a cheap and distorted version of America. I meet Thais whose attitude is completely western as well as Thais who never came across a westerner outside the TV screen.
If I drive my Japanese car 3 hours west of Bangkok, then paddle my kayak half a day, I reach a place that is 20 years behind in time and I get a glimpse of ancient Thailand with real nice people who speak zero English.
Many places I wander in this country, Thais expect me to be what I am not - hell, what's on their TV ? Often, I expect them to be what they are no longer or not yet.
My personal Thai friends (all have higher education and speak English), I like them. Getting along with the rest is not always friction-free, but with a little bit of never-mind from my side and a weapon for upcountry trips, conflicts can be smoothed out and bad things don't happen.
My stay in this foreign environment hasn't passed without imprints. The way I think has changed.
Here a list of my favourite culture clashes (a bit lengthy, though).
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