Central Scrutinizer Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 Actually I was just talking to my wife about this recently. She says there is nothing wrong with wai-ing waitstaff and such. It is a sign of respect and polite. She also says Thais do not look askance at people who wai the waitstaff and others some consider their 'inferiors'. It is 'up to you'. She also said that the people you wai will be happy that you did. As she said, it is a sign of showing respect, of friendliness and jai dee. I know that many experienced farang look down on this as being naive and not done, but my wife says that it is not wrong or foolish to do this. She said that some people don't, but that sometimes this is because they are arrogant or feel superior to the ones wai-ing and don't feel they have to wai 'mere' waitstaff, but it is polite to return a wai given you. Children are an exception, but even there she says this isn't necessarily true. My wife wais anyone who wais her, and she's been Thai her whole life. She states it is an 'up to you' thing. Some do and some don't. In my mind I think it can also be a class thing in some cases. Higher class Thais feeling they don't have to return the wai of some lowly staff. But, ask your Thai wives and girlfriends and Thai friends and let's see what they all say. My wife says that returning a wai makes the Thai person wai-ing you happy in their heart. Me? Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. I am more likely to wai staff and BG's if I am someplace where I am known from my frequent patronage and friendly with the staff. Next question should be, if you do return a wai, how high should your hands be? And why? Cent p.s. And my wife did say that Thais do not see this, a newbie farang returning a staff's wai, as being anything negative or foolish, but they might be surprised that the wai was returned, but they will be happy it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardinalblue Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 I flat out don't agree with rule number one... For one who lives here and starts to get involved in relationships (family, personal, buisness, etc). There are specific times one should wai or return a wai. You just need to know when and who..... The problem with the above advice is that it portrays all farangs in an ignorant and permanent tourist role never giving them the chance to escape and function in a limited capacity. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Central Scrutinizer Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 Yes, he is technically correct, but I disagree with the not returning the wai given (ALL wais). And I also disagree that newbies 'think it's cool' to wai. The guy comes across as arrogant in some of the post. Most newbies are clueless, but they aren't wai-ing in most cases to 'be cool'. They are wai-ing to be 'polite'. And really, Thais know that most farang don't know how to wai, or why they are wai-ing. Thais learn all the subtleties and nuances of this from the time they can crawl. They don't expect most farang to know the differences and subtleties, but appreciate when you try at least to be polite. I mean really guys, how many of you wai to 'be cool'? Gimme a break. Cent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckwoww Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 What it comes down to is there probably aren't any hard and fast rules about farang waing. Probably most Thais just find it amusing and maybe a genuine attempt to respond to a polite gesture. Personally I've only ever waied one bar girl in my life and that was a woman who I respected for personal reasons. She understood why I did it...anybody watching would probably have thought I was a clueless farang. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shygye Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 The same ones wearing yellow [color:yellow]shirts[/color]! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Central Scrutinizer Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 I don't own one. Never was one to follow the crowds. Cent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 Hi, "The problem with the above advice is that it portrays all farangs in an ignorant and permanent tourist role never giving them the chance to escape and function in a limited capacity." Fully agree. While the guy has some good advice and explanations the tone of the article is seriously nasty. If I go upcountry I wai my wife's older family members, just as all the younger ones wai me. Sanuk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangkoktraveler Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 I look at wai and namaste as being just about the same. Better to be at peace with somebody then not. Namaste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nervous_Dog Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 As Farangs we'll never get it right, and as farangs they'll forgive us, IF we was thais and did it wrong would be bad, but we ain't so it means diddly squat getting excited about being too serious about this. DOG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 M wife insists i wai older ladies..kicks me in the ankle to remind me.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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