Thailand Non-Fiction
(photos courtesy of
Whitecap publishing)
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Culture Shock! Thailand
A Guide to Customs and Etiquette
Robert & Nanthapa Cooper, 1998
$18.95
There's something to be said for a carefree attitude when travelling,
focussing on being a traveler and not a tourist.
Some people like to sample the sites, sounds and tastes of a
foreign country on the fly, using just a guidebook and their
wits to make their way.
On the other end of the traveler spectrum are the well-prepared,
almost obsessive planners who like to know everything about
a country before they go.
For the second group or anyone considering living in Thailand,
Robert and Nanthapa Cooper's Culture Shock! Thailand is for
them.
Now in its fourth edition, this guide to customs and etiquette
in Thailand was written to diminish the temporary madness of
culture shock most visitors face when travelling in this country.
The authors say, "If you have never suffered from culture shock,
Thailand is a great place to start."
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The book is filled with informative and captivating tidbits
of information on how to daily life in Thailand. From the body
language of the Thais, to religious ceremonies, to toilet customs,
this book is filled with information to make sure you avoid
the dreaded traveler faux pas.
The authors get right down to the nitty gritty on all social
customs, including how to best deal with Thai women "who work
in one form or another in prostitution."
An Asia enthusiast, I read this book with curiosity. I was particularly
impressed by the scope of research done for this book and somewhat
amused by some of the passages.
For instance, one section entitled "Knickers" deals with the
very important task of having clean underwear in Thailand and
the social taboos of underwear washing.
"Taboos against touching across the sex line often extend to
undergarments, even when off the body in question. So if your
clothes are washed by a man, do not expect him to wash women's
undergarments. While being a "washerboy" involves no more loss
of face than being a male cook, washing a woman's knickers would
hurt his self-esteem. A female maid may also object to washing
a man's underpants, but the ruling seems to be more flexible
here."
This book is filled with great research, but is not designed
for a traveler on the move. It will provide a good read leaving
for Thailand, but the unorganized nature of the book and lack
of topical chapters makes it hard to find information quickly.
But if you want to avoid Thai culture shock, this is the book
for you.
Buy the Book! Culture Shock!
Thailand
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