Time to study, learn and become

 While I don't actually start all my classes until January 31 I've started a few already. The two required courses that I have to take are Thai language and Cultural Foundations of Thai society. We're going to stay with the Mae Chaem village next week so we're getting a crash course in Thai and Thai culture.

I think there's a lot to learn this semester and I'm actually pretty excited about the classes. Thai language is really quite interesting and I'm enjoying the teaching style of Ajan Boy. In Thailand students call their professors "Ajan" followed by usually their first name or their nickname. Speaking of nicknames, I've already been given a Thai nickname of my own. It's Fah which means "blue sky".

I've had three days of Thai and we just started Cultural Foundations of Thai society today. We learned some do's and don'ts of Thai culture.

-Don't point your feet at anyone. Your feet are seen as the lowest part of your body and it's considered very disrespectful to point at someone with your feet.

-Don't touch anyone's head. While your feet are the lowest part of your body your head is considered the center and most important part.

-Don't walk over someone when they are laying on the ground.

-Don't wear a graduation gown or wedding gown before the ceremony. If you do it is considered to prevent you from completing that ceremony.

-Don't write your name or anyone else's name in red ink. Red ink is for the dead.

-Don't step on the threshold of the doorway of a temple, step over it. A spirit is believed to be in the threshold of a temple.

-And one of the biggest don'ts...Don't talk bad about the King, ever. You could end up in jail, seriously.

-Do take your shoes off before entering a house, temple or even some rooms.

-Do "wai" to those higher to you. A wai is when you put your palms together, left palm first, at your chest or head. For an equal you wai at your chest. The greater someone's status is compared to your own the higher you wai.

-Do sit lower than someone of higher status. Even if you're walking by someone of higher status you should almost bow when you walk by so that your head is lower than theirs.

-Do come to a new culture with a blank slate. This way you can accept another culture easier instead of judging it. "Observing is the key to understanding".

-Do use terms like older brother/sister, younger brother/sister, mother and father when in Thai culture even if they're not related to you. It shows that you accept their culture and you're more one with them.

There's a lot to take in but at the same time it's amazing to experience a new culture. Trying to not be a "farang" is an exciting task that i'm really hoping I can accomplish in my time here.