Farang: Thai word for a caucasian “foreigner”. It also means guava fruit. This word can be used as an insult or slang to describe someone like me. For example, if one of my Thai co-teachers said this to me then it would be an insult. But while in Bangkok trying to get a taxi or other mode of transportation the word is slang and therefore not an insult. My advice is to go with the flow and enjoy being a farang in Thailand.
Wat: The word “Wat” in Thai means any place of worship other than a mosque or synagogue. Generally speaking, when you see “Wat” plus a name that means it is a Buddhist temple. There are approximately 400 temples in Bangkok and each one has its own unique architecture, place of worship, and function within the immediate community. Most temples do not have an entry fee except for tourist attractions like the Grand Palace (500Baht), Wat Pho (200Baht), and Wat Urun (50Baht).
Bum Gun: Thailand’s toilet system does not work the same as in the U.S. Most toilets have a small handheld water sprayer that replaces the need to use toilet paper. Once you finish spraying your bottom with the bum gun, if there is toilet paper available, then you would use the toilet paper to dry your bottom and throw it away in the trash. I have been caught on several occasions using a public toilet with no toilet paper and had to air dry. One time, I was at a temple and there was a concrete basin filled with water and a cup located next to the squat toilet that I had to use to clean my bottom.
Baht: The currency exchanges at approximately 1 US Dollar=30Baht. The currency works in 1000, 500, 100, 50, and 20 denominations. The coins are minted in 10, 5, 2 and 1. Any major bank in the U.S. (Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America) will exchange U.S. money for Baht with no service charge.
7-11: There are 7-11’s everywhere and they will cash large bills for minor purchases with no questions asked. You can also pay bills and top off your monthly cell phone data coverage. Update: I just learned that you can also pay for your in country plane tickets at 7-11. What happens is the airplane provider will book your seat and you take the QR code to 7-11 and pay for the flight.
Wai: Holding your hands together in a praying position to your face shows respect to those you are encountering. When you say “Hi” (Sa Wat Dee Krab-Men, Sa Wat Dee Ka-Women) to another person, you simultaneously Wai. Placing your hands in the following positions is necessary to integrate into the culture and/or local communities: Chin=those who are younger than you, Nose=bosses and persons that are older than you, Forehead=King and monks, you do not have to Wai children. I’ve found that I can’t go wrong (for the most part) if I Wai holding my hands in the general area of my nose and if you Wai children this will make them giggle.
Traffic: Being a pedestrian in Thailand is sketchy. There are basically very few rules of the road and the main thing to remember is the pedestrian has no rights. Cars, motor scooters, and every other moving object on the roadway will not think twice about running you over because they are under the impression that you will get out of their way!
Motor Scooter: Riding on a motor scooter is the preferred method of travel and everyone seems to participate in this type of transportation. Most people do not wear a helmet when driving or as a passenger and you will see young babies, toddlers, children and adults on motor scooters. I have observed they barely adhere to any rules of the road and it is common to see them ride on the shoulder or against the flow of traffic. Don’t be surprised by what you will witness on the roadway-it is their culture; embrace it.
Plastic: The one thing you quickly learn how to do is to eat and drink out of plastic bags-literally. There is no such thing as a Styrofoam, paper or biodegradable container here (that I’ve seen). The vendors place your hot or cold food into a plastic bag and it’s up to you to figure out how you are going to eat it. Sometimes they will place vegetables in one bag along with your seasonings and then another bag will go in with the hot food. This includes soups and some beverages if you are in a poorer area. Many westerners are trying to change this plastic use mentality by teaching Thai children and young adults about the benefits of recycling and also saying “No” when you’re at a convenience store and they want to place everything, big or small, into a plastic bag.
Nicknames: Going by your real name in Thailand is not common practice. Instead, children and adults provide nicknames that are used in place of their real names. It is common to hear names like Thor, Milk, Apple, Pear, Axe, and so on when students introduce themselves. Further, during class students refer to themselves by their assigned number or nickname. When I’m grading or asking for who is absent in class, the class leader will tell me, for example, that “Student 34 is absent” or “Nut is absent”.
King and Queen: It is literally against the law to speak bad about the King and Queen. They take this very seriously so don’t do it.
Grab: An online app that function exactly like Uber or Lyft. This particular app. is used throughout Thailand and gives you deals on rides the more you use it. Plus, there are no language translation issues because the route to your destination is automatically uploaded to the driver’s smartphone. Additionally, the price is fixed so no more bartering or worrying about if the taxi driver turned on the meter!
Line: Similar to WhatsApp except that everyone in Asia uses this app to communicate. Make sure to download this app as soon as you land in an ASEAN country. You won’t regret this decision. If you’re not familiar with WhatsApp or Line; they are free communication apps that work through your carrier or WiFi and allow you to use text messaging, phone calls, or video chat.
Asia Air/Bangkok Airways/Lion Air/Nok Air/Thai Airways/Thai Vietjet Air: Flying in Thailand is super cheap. Once you’re here, you can travel ROUNDTRIP pretty much anywhere in the country with a domestic or international airport for approximately $80.00 US to $130.00 US. Usually you can find cheaper deals if you plan ahead.
Body Parts: Do your best to adhere to the no touch rule meaning the top of one’s head is sacred because it is closest to heaven. Touching the top of someone’s head is a big no-no and the bottom of a person’s feet are considered dirty. This means don’t point with your feet or show the bottom of your feet. Good rule of thumb is keeping your feet on the ground. While we are talking about pointing, get away from pointing a finger towards people. That is also considered rude. And if you drop money on the ground, don’t step on it because the King is depicted on the money therefore if you step on the money with your dirty foot then you are disrespecting the King.