CRINGE: Tales of Trying to Fit in to Thai Culture & Failing Badly [S8.E3]

Greg and Ed discuss a few of the many 'cringe' moments they have
experienced over the years in failing to fit into Thai culture
or  'do the right thing' according to Thai society.  Ed
begins with the 'classics,' mistakes that probably most expats
make, such as wai-ing a person younger than you are, accidentally
pointing the bottom of your feet towards a statue of the Buddha,
and improperly touching a Thai person's head.  Greg follows
with a more specific (and hilarious) story of buying a large
cereal bowl only to have his Thai girlfriend reveal it to be a
bowl intended to hold toilet water. Yuk! 


Ed then mentions a case of Thai language stubbornness where he
insisted he like to eat 'fireflies' ('hing-hoy' in Thai) because
of its similarity to the Thai word for clams ('hoy' but a
different tone). Rule #1: Never argue with a Thai person about
Thai language! Next, Greg recounts an embarrassing moment from a
play he participated in during his brief career as a school
teacher, where he kissed a fellow teacher (a Thai woman) on the
cheek.  Rule #2: Don't surprise a Thai woman who is not your
wife or girlfriend with a kiss in public! 


Ed's last story is more of a confession: for many years, he had a
very difficult time telling his students apart and remembering
their names, leading to some epic faux-pas. Greg concludes with a
story about a confusing interaction with a homeless guy who Greg
blew off even though he was trying to direct Greg to stand up
because the Royal Motorcade was passing. Ouch! 



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