This happened in Primary School, but I’ve never forgotten about it. My classmate was sitting at his desk in preparation for the next lesson to begin. I walked up to him looking for a between class chat.
It was a harmless, friendly touch. His head was also conveniently located since he was sitting down. But the way he violently pushed my hand away and shouted at me have been etched in my memory. I did not understand. Why such violent reaction? How can a gentle pat on the head evoke such a reaction? For years after, I still did not understand. I did not understand that it was because he was a Thai.
Looking back, I should have been grateful that he did not retaliate and throw me a punch. I was fat (still is), but he was taller and better built. I would have lost a fight to him.
Till now, Thais still hold high regard for their head and still considers feet the dirtiest part of the body. This was demonstrated rather recently, when Thai protesters threw shoes at their ex-PM, Somchai Wongsawat, in a display of their insult towards him.
What can I comment about this? All I can say is that a simple wrong action could lead to intercultural conflict. What have I learn then? I have learnt never to touch a Thai’s head. Not even when I’m a tourist in Thailand and there are many cute Thai kids’ heads to pat. I have to refrain from performing a simple action that is seen as affectionate in my culture.
I’ve understood.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Evaluating Intercultural Behaviour
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5 comments:
Hi Glenn!
That was a very interesting scenario you presented. I never knew that touching a Thai's head could mean insult to him. Now I know better!
This incident effectively showed how the ignorance towards other cultures could very well be disastrous. This simple action which means nothing to our culture could mean a whole lot more to somebody else's.
I guess things turned out this way also because you and your classmate were still quite young back then, and he did not understand your ignorance towards his culture but instead took it as an act of insult.
Besides the lack of understanding for each other's culture, I believe that the lack of respect and communication was also a cause for such violent reaction. In the first place, we really do not go around just patting someone else's head like that unless if we know him very well! haha! But I believe that you do not know him as well since you did not know his culture very well.
At the end of the day, something good came out of it because you managed to understand the Thai culture more. I'm also very enlightended by your posts. You made it a very interesting read!
Cheers,
Shu Ting
Hi Glenn,
Interesting read! I never knew it was taboo to touch the head of a Thai.
One thing I do know, is that when in Thailand, do be careful when wearing yellow coloured clothes. The colour yellow symbolises their King, whom the Thai people hold with utmost respect. Hence any naughty symbols on your yellow clothes could be easily misinterpretated as a show of disrepect for their King, which will definitely get you into trouble.
Regards,
Nicholas
Hi Glenn!
Good narrative=) This is definitely something new to me. I never knew that the Thais hold such high regard for their heads.
It's understandable that your Thai classmate was offended since his culture holds great respect for their heads. Furthermore, he might have been too young to realise that you were unaware of that aspect of his culture or he might have assumed that this particular aspect of his culture was also similar to other cultures.
Neither of you were in the wrong in this incident as it was due to the misconceptions that both of you had regarding each other's culture. But I don't think people touch heads as a form of greeting in Singapore too..haha..i'm sure desmond would agree with me on that.
Cheers
Cassandra
Hi Glenn!
I was intrigued to comment after i read your blog,despite there being 3 opinions offered already; no other compelling sentiments except the fact that I find it bemusing that anyone would consider striking somebody's head a friendly form of gesture. Do not unto others what others not do unto yourself? Just my personal belief that I found pertinent to point out in your blog. As you had mentioned, all you did was just a light pat, not a strike, hence the disparity between my personal belief and that belonging to the Thais.
It must have been traumatising for a child, ignorant of the sensitivity when one infringes on customs and beliefs. I'm sure you did not mean any impoliteness when you reached out to get his attention, but i found that my arm found itself more comfortable touching a position on the shoulder as I would have to raise it to touch a person on the head. Our world revolved around having fun after school then and being mindful of others' customs before interacting with them might not have been the first thing on our mind.
Nonetheless, you would never have knew it was taboo to touch a Thai's head, much as we wouldn't spare a thought to call someone by tapping on their shoulder.
Just a thought: if touching the head is taboo, how do they get their hair cut?
Cheers,
Desmond
Hey Glen,
Thanks for commenting on my blog. I've heard about Thais an their head. Well we have to know that we are not the only ones in this world and that our culture may not be appreciated by all.
As much you would that it was stupid for him to react that way, I am sure there are many habits and reactions we do that evoke the same disgust by other cultures.
I must say you have the gift to write interesting stories.
cudos bro!!
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