Thailand is different
My first trip to Asia dates back to 1992. I visited Indonesia and Malaysia.
I went with the common believe that Asian people never say what they think, their feelings are hurt at the slightest misbehaviour from my side, they would not at all understand my western culture putting me at high risk of getting hurt due to misunderstandings.
I expected poverty without end and a substantial amount of crime, too. It looked like an interesting trip, but likely it would be tough and not too much fun.
On the surface, Indonesia seemed a lot different from Germany. Think of the general chaos, the poverty, the food, the toilets,... It was all a bit frightening. My friends nicely explained this all to me, and made me understand why this is so and how to get along with it.
The Indonesian people then surprised me in a way that the culture shock never really came: On the public transport and in restaurants, they played western music, a good selection of it, even. When I asked about traditional music, they said they didn't like it. Blue jeans and shorts were worn everywhere, the traditional Sarong was considered inconvenient and old-fashioned. People tried to speak English, they were convinced it would give them a better future.
So far no culture shock. People weren't shy. There were girls who would ask my religion, then pull me by the hand, saying they want to marry me. I said: "Aren't you supposed to be shy or at least polite ?" - "Not my family / tribe"
Though people were simple, they seemed to know my foreign culture well, like the village boy who knowingly asked me to help him kill a chicken and after I didn't want, embarked on a longer discussion on why that should be difficult for me and we were laughing and laughing.
After all the stuff I had read, I was afraid to lose my possessions and people knew it. They grabbed my things and declared they'd want to steal them, giving them back with a big smile.
It seemed that everyone was mocking the general believe about Asia and actually I was laughing so much on that first trip.
I came to Indonesia and Malaysia again and again. I felt at home.
Then there came my first visit to Thailand. At first glance, a place that I know: KFC, McDonalds, Caltex, Shell, Tesco, Carrefour, 7eleven, Toyota, Isuzu, Sony, Nestle, 3M...
The long-pending culture shock comes at second glance: People who don't say what they think, whose feelings are hurt at the slightest misbehaviour from my side, who stare at me endlessly and laugh behind my back. They have brought all the western industry in, but try to keep the western culture out. It's confusing my feelings.
Thailand turns out to be a convenient place to live, any time I can have a pizza home-delivered. The people stay out of my way but do their best in making me feel like a foreigner. This is the real Asia.
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