Thais rarely display strong negative emotions, with bouts of anger, tantrums, and public crying somewhat unusual. This doesn’t mean they aren’t displayed in private, or that the emotions aren’t there, simply that a person does not want to lose face by showing their feelings in public. Thais are often seen as being super laidback because … Continue reading Thainess Part 9: “No Problem”
Thai culture
Thainess Part 6: Family & Nicknames
Family Matters A Thai family eating in one of the many houses built on stilts on the banks of the Menam Chao Phya River in Bangkok, circa 1955. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images) Family almost always comes first in Thailand, with a much greater emphasis placed on the extended family than it typically is in … Continue reading Thainess Part 6: Family & Nicknames
Sunday Summary #2
Welcome to Sunday Summary. This is a meme in which I attempt to summarize the week that came before. It replaces previous series such as Sunday Salon, Daily Phuket and Phuket Weekly. This past week (22-28 August 2022) was busy and wet. Aside from one four-hour Sunday morning webinar, a Thai cultural celebration on Friday … Continue reading Sunday Summary #2
Sunday Summary #1
Welcome to Sunday Summary. This is a meme in which I attempt to summarize the week that came before. It replaces previous series such as Sunday Salon, Daily Phuket and Phuket Weekly. Following a long period of relative inactivity, I find myself wanting to write more and more. While I maintained a private journal during … Continue reading Sunday Summary #1
Thainess: An Introduction
I recently began teaching Kindergarten at a large school in Phuket Town, southern Thailand. The school gave me a bare-bones curriculum which simply includes a title for me to determine a topic from. For example, last week the title was "Andaman Pearl". Through some inquiries, I discovered that the topic was to be "Places in … Continue reading Thainess: An Introduction
Mark Joseph Jochim 