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Thailand is a wonderful place to visit, and not too surprisingly, a wonderful place to live as well! Thailand features a high standard of living at prices most Westerners find extremely reasonable, and the warm weather, friendly people, and delicious cuisine make it a popular place for people to call their new home. A recent study showed that there are around 80,000 expats over the age of 50, the year retirement visas can be issued, living in the Kingdom! That may sound like a lot, but if you decide to settle down in the provinces you might go weeks without ever encountering another “farang“, the Thai word for foreigner!
There are loads of great places to live around the country, for example, there is always a lovely and reasonably priced house for sale in Pattaya, but just about anywhere you go you can find a pleasant abode and start to experience the joys of Thai living.
Like any country with a rich cultural heritage, there are a few things newcomers should be aware of that will make their new life more comfortable, and their new Thai neighbours more comfortable having them around. Here are two issues we feel are important to helping the new Thai resident adapt to their new life and feel at home:
Smile –
The Thais are renowned for being helpful, courteous, and hospitable people, who will usually greet you with a smile. Thais really do prefer to smile, and do so most of the time, but you should realise it’s a bit more complex than you might think! A smile can be used to express more than happiness. Rather than visually expressing negative emotions like frustration, anxiety, and even anger, the Thais prefer to hide those feelings behind a gentle smile. Thais often smile to be polite, or to apologise, or to hide their embarrassment at not being able to help or communicate with you due to the language barrier. It can be difficult to discern a person’s true mood, but luckily there is always a course of action you can take in any situation- simply smile back!
Head and Feet –
Never touch another person on the head unless you are either an intimate lover or the parent or guardian of a small child. The head is considered to be holy and clean. Conversely, the feet are considered to be lowly and dirty, so never, ever touch, or even point at anyone, or anything, with your feet, or place your feet on an item of furniture other than a footrest. It’s also important to take off your shoes when entering homes and temples unless you have a health problem that precludes that in which case the Thais will be very understanding and accommodating following your sincere apology. Always be humble and patient. If you are interested in retiring to Thailand check their immigration website for more information. We hope these tips help you to get the most out of your new life in Thailand!
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