O.K long chat with the wife about this, Where do we fit in, right with Thai people they expect very old fashoned level of respect, i will use the name Duan to try and put this point across.
If someone called Duan, is older than you you would call her Pii Duan, this means older person and to show them respect, like a very polite partical.
If someone called Duan, is about the same age, you would just call her Duan, same level of respect to each other.
If someone called Duan, is younger than you, you would call her Noong Daun, because you expect a high level of respect from someone younger than you.
It is very difficult for farangs to understand all the social levels, and dont forget, are cultures have developed separately over many thousands of years and most of us dont really know how to grasp this very complex structure.
I think spending time up in our Isaan village is very different than spending time in a tourist area like HH, up in our village everyone is nice and friendly and i feel very welcome, like VS Richard and DM the willingness to help or to give you some fruit, or to dive into the reservoir, to un snag my fishing line is lovely.
I dont really want to look to deeply into where we fit in , i regard myself as a guest, and respect is not the right of any person that does not want to show it first, many farangs will blow up at Thais and treat them in a very rude manner, Thais feel that farangs can come over here with there money and do wot they like and not really have any regard for there culture.Thai people are very calm and tolorent of us to a point, it normaly takes a lot for a Thai to loose there temper, but god, when they do its fireworks ! when a farang looses his temper with a Thai it is normaly over quickly but the Thai thinks it's like smacking a dog on the head and petting it 2 minuites later.
My wife just wants to throw this in, after i lost my rag with MIB in the airport, if you get stopped by the MIB sawadee him with your hands, call him Pii Dtam ruat, he will regard this that you think he is important and that you want to show respect to him, and might help you get off, or get a smaller fine for your very naughty driving manoeuvre, also use Pii in offical buildings you might get delt with quicker if they think you are trying your hardest to be polite and show respect.
Sandman told me about a book called, good medicine for thailand fever it's a road map for Thai western relationships and is writen half in english and half in thai myself and the wife are both reading it, it does help you understand the culture difference and well worth the perchase.
) then you can earn their respect and visa versa.
