Baby steps
on My Thai (Thailand), 02/Feb/2011 02:12, 34 days ago
Wow!Well, I've been in my placement for three and a half months now and there are still several people in the office yet to acknowledge my existence.My desk is front and centre and I get all the passing traffic so it's not like I'm festering away in some damp cobwebbed attic or anything!I've been told several times that Thai people are shy and don't often know how to speak to foreigners, even if they want to.  Because of this I decided it was best not to force people into a situation that made them uncomfortable and pounce on them as if I were their new best friend but give them time to get used to my presence. I don't know whether this was the right way to go about things. Probably not but I would class my social skills as limited to non-existent so I'm not the best judge of appropriate behaviour! Until yesterday, my interaction with one staff member had been limited to some slightly suspicious looks and the demand 'You give me 7 Baht' after a parcel arrived in my absence.And then, miracle of miracles, yesterday she asked me in Thai how much my bike had cost (pink 'Target Turbo': 6 gears, basket and bell. 3000B from Big C in case you were curious).I was astounded!On coming into the office this morning she then asked me how long I'll be here.I took this as polite curiousity rather than impatience at my presence!I'm sure people don't appreciate how much such a small thing can make or break each of my days here.Baby steps!Right, I'm off to get some work done and listen to more classics on BBC Radio iplayer.I am currently enjoying Hancock's Half Hour and Ronnie Barker's 'Lines From My Grandfather's Forehead': Genius.