Thais and Lao making comments....anyone else experience this or have an explanation?

Question

I am of mixed ancestry; so it's hard for people to pinpoint where I am from. Just over a quarter of me is Lao, and when I was little; Lao was one of the languages spoken in the house, so I can communicate in Lao.

However when I was visiting Laos and Thailand, I spoke for the most part English; especially for first encounters or at restaurants, or businesses. I found that on several occasionals, servers, workers, others would make comments about me; some positive some negative. At first I thought it was amusing, then I thought it was quite rude. Has anyone else experience this or would have an explanation? Not to say that Thais and Lao are rude people, I think they're wonderful people, and am looking forward to going back, possibly even working there.

Answer 1

i think your worrying too much about little things. I don't let people know I can understand thai and then shock them when i say something to them in thai. if you speak lao and thai then use it. they appreciate it.

Answer 2

People are people. You just happen to understand enough Lao/Thai to catch on more quickly to the meaning. Farangs generally know when they're being spoken about, but sometimes they only recognize one or two words. Still, how many Farangs can go even a day in Thailand without uttering something to another Farang about Thais, Thai culture, or Thailand that would not be considered highly insulting if a Thai correctly grasped the meaning? And here's a news bulletin for the thick foreigners, what makes you so sure you're not being understood more than you think you are when you speak in English about the folks around you? Try to take it with a grain of salt and give them credit for speaking their minds. Maybe back home not too many people say out loud, "Wow, she's fat." "Gosh, he's ugly." How many people think it, though? This way at least you know where you stand with people, and you quickly learn to judge who is a polite, well-mannered person, and who is a boor (and it really does not have all the much to do with socio-economic status, in fact). Some people are nice; some aren't. Which reminds me of a saying I heard and liked: "People who are nice but are rude to the waitstaff are not nice people."

Answer 3

I am very happy in the company of Thais and Thai Loas. My wife speaks 4 languages well and uses them as appropriate when we travel in SEA. Her brown skin and nose brdge mark her as a Thai Lao though. For the most part she is treated quite well and as my spoken Thai is shameful I like the family dog understand much more of Thai and Lao than I can pronounce correctly.



Occassionally there will be a rude person like a cop we ran into at the new airport recently but other than that there isn't an issue. The village is in the northwest but they all migrated there from Isan like 20 years ago. The cultural mix with the Thais and Sukhothais has blended their traditions and manners nicely and they accept me and my eccentric farang ways.



I never have many problems in Thailand and I love the people. I'm not a teenager either. I find much of my life expereince elsewhere applies in Thailand. the biggest thing is witholding judgement untill all the facts are in. I've been with friends on their 1st trips and they have wildly misjudged the situation and become paranoid or defensive when nothing was amiss. Seeing this in action has been a big help to me. This doesn't mean that there is nothing that ever goes wrong. It just means that you have to consider taking a little more time with understanding things in thailand unless you are a nativ ethat has lived there your whole life.



good Luck to you!

Answer 4

OK so I am a farang, but spent many years in and around Thailand, and probably have as good an understanding of the language and culture as any farang - and I for one thing, have to say how hospitable thais are, I travelled/worked all over Isarn, everyone was friendly and helpful, no matter how poor, always happy to offer food or water - BUT, beneath the surface, there is a HUGE social system evident in Thai society, all the way through.

In the village/ban nok, one family will get face by donating more to the temple than their neighbours -

Anyone who comes into a little money, must buy/wear gold, so others can see -

Apart from Thai, I also speak Khamen and some Lao, so here again, I noted an overall social level.

Those who are educated, or speak correct Thai [ mai sarp ] tend to look down on those who speak more commonly [ mai loo ] whilst Thais in general tend to look down upon those from Isarn or Laos, and those from Laos/Isarn look down on Kampoucheans ....

This is just an unbaised, westerners opinion, but sadly in my opinion, althought generally Thais and Laoations are friendly people, jealousy is a trait they seem to carry - and I suspect this is what you faced, being perhaps more affluent or better educated than many people you met in Laos.

Answer 5

Sure, it is quite common that comments (in Thai) are made about "visitors" by Thai people. They simply assume that the visitor doesn't understand what is being said.

You will encounter the same if you visit Russia or Greece or etc. where the local language is rarely spoking by visitors or tourists. People will only speak out loudly behind your back if they think you don't understand them.



What I find appealing is that in Thailand and Laos, it is quite OK to be frightfully honest about things that are obvious. So, a person will admit to being fat or frankly tell you he/she thinks you have a big nose or hairy arms.

Answer 6

i could guess greater effective than 40% of the inhabitants of Thailand can circulate to Laos and communicate with a Laotian. Thai and Lao are very comparable and particularly some the human beings in Issan are of Lao respectable. in actuality at one time they use to be the comparable united states of america. style of like Mexico and usa. Now written Lao is a distinctive remember. My spouse and that i went to Laos and she or he ought to communicate devoid of subject yet I asked her what a demonstration reported and she or he have been given somewhat huffy. She speaks English and reads English and speaks and reads Thai and speaks Lao and the tiniest little bit of French and a few words of Spanish and *** (i replaced into born in Japan and lived in Southern California so I extra to her vocabulary) yet she's basically a dumb farmer a minimum of via the PAD standards.

Answer 7

Well you can tell me all about it. Been there, done that and I've faced the same things as you have described in your post.



I'm a Thai born outside Thailand and have faced the same discrimination from my own people just because of certain differences and they do not (will never) look up to you the same way like they do to their own people (unless you are a fat, slimy farang with a fat load of cash, you'd probably get more attention, but not too genuine ones).



Then again, that is not the reason for me to give up or tell myself that I should stop going back to Thailand. I took it as a challenge. After all, its my rights to claim what is mine, my heritage and culture. I took it hard, from my teachers and people I grew up with... and today, I can speak Thai like any other Thai and it is never a hindrance to me anymore.



I wish you would be motivated and find space for inspiration and perhaps improve on certain aspects of how you see things in the Thai society. It can be both an enriching experience or a cruel place for people to live in... after all, its just another case of 'Unseen Thailand'...

Answer 8

Hmmm natural thing for people with rigid culture scene will think that ur upbringing wasn't pertaining to the base culture, so some people who r mighty orthodox with a closed mindset will get rude and those who r open minded and have a quite understanding nature will definately accept u problem with fun and ease, infact they may even volunteer in helping u. So I'd say don't bother with rude folks plain iggy and just get on with learning ur language if ur thinking bout moving to the place in question.



Since ur of mixed ancestary it's not a difficult thing as how it is for a total foreigner who has no link to the language watsoever. For eg. when u start learning french isn't it hard for a total novice ? So don't worry give urself some time when u relocate and maybe within a month or two u wud get adapted to ur base culture like the fish takes to the water.



It's common knowlegde that wat ur mother tongue is, is never forgotten and is learned easily and whenever u want to so cheer up.



I have been thru something similar lol and me and my brother got to our language like we were born into it naturally, infact we surprised our native folks with the talent we had :D quick learners i say lol

Answer 9

It's not Thailand or Laos. It's all over the world.



Waiters, waitresses alike, probably talk about 90% of their customers behind the customers' back; whether good or bad.



But I know that in Thailand, most probably just wonder, why is this ASIAN guy speaking English? It happens to me all the time.

Answer 10

It is just idle chat, I am sure they meant you no insult. Just bear with it. Maybe once in a while, you should speak Lao or Thai to them and embarrass them.