Comments on: Putting my Foot in it (Culture Shock) http://www.bangkokdiaries.com/2007/09/04/putting-my-foot-in-it-culture-shock/ Tales from the "Big Mango" Mon, 1 Dec 2008 23:59:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Bill Bobby http://www.bangkokdiaries.com/2007/09/04/putting-my-foot-in-it-culture-shock/#comment-2197 Bill Bobby Sat, 20 Oct 2007 12:10:23 +0000 http://www.bangkokdiaries.com/2007/09/04/putting-my-foot-in-it-culture-shock/#comment-2197 Thanks for the comment Steve. I understand how you must have felt with the ankle kicking incident. Not long after the above head/foot thing I was having my photo taken with the in-laws. Unthinkingly I through my arm around the father-in-laws shoulder, real friendly-like. Being the polite guy he is, he never flinched (apparently he didn't want me to lose face by asking me to remove my arm at the time). Needless to say I was informed later by my missus that he didn't like my hand so close to his head and not to do this again. ‘Sorry dear.’ I never seem to learn. Thanks for the comment Steve. I understand how you must have felt with the ankle kicking incident.

Not long after the above head/foot thing I was having my photo taken with the in-laws. Unthinkingly I through my arm around the father-in-laws shoulder, real friendly-like. Being the polite guy he is, he never flinched (apparently he didn’t want me to lose face by asking me to remove my arm at the time). Needless to say I was informed later by my missus that he didn’t like my hand so close to his head and not to do this again.

‘Sorry dear.’

I never seem to learn.

]]> By: Steve http://www.bangkokdiaries.com/2007/09/04/putting-my-foot-in-it-culture-shock/#comment-2194 Steve Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:17:09 +0000 http://www.bangkokdiaries.com/2007/09/04/putting-my-foot-in-it-culture-shock/#comment-2194 Love this story. I still remember when my girlfriend (now wife) started dating I made the mistake of tapping her on the shin with my foot to get her attention. As you can imagine all hell broke loose! It made no difference that I didn't know, was ignorant, was apologetic, none of it made any difference. It was as if I had spit in her face and nothing I could say would make it better. Of course to this day I keep my feet on the ground :) And to Johnathan's point...my wife seems to think it's ok to kick me, because I am a farang she says, but heaven help me if I even point at her with my feet. Women. Love this story. I still remember when my girlfriend (now wife) started dating I made the mistake of tapping her on the shin with my foot to get her attention. As you can imagine all hell broke loose! It made no difference that I didn’t know, was ignorant, was apologetic, none of it made any difference. It was as if I had spit in her face and nothing I could say would make it better. Of course to this day I keep my feet on the ground :)
And to Johnathan’s point…my wife seems to think it’s ok to kick me, because I am a farang she says, but heaven help me if I even point at her with my feet. Women.

]]> By: James http://www.bangkokdiaries.com/2007/09/04/putting-my-foot-in-it-culture-shock/#comment-2122 James Thu, 06 Sep 2007 07:16:57 +0000 http://www.bangkokdiaries.com/2007/09/04/putting-my-foot-in-it-culture-shock/#comment-2122 One of the teachers at our school was sacked for glueing coins to his shoes to teach the children how to Tap Dance. One of the teachers at our school was sacked for glueing coins to his shoes to teach the children how to Tap Dance.

]]> By: Matt http://www.bangkokdiaries.com/2007/09/04/putting-my-foot-in-it-culture-shock/#comment-2121 Matt Thu, 06 Sep 2007 05:56:05 +0000 http://www.bangkokdiaries.com/2007/09/04/putting-my-foot-in-it-culture-shock/#comment-2121 I heard a story that a guy got beaten close to death in Pattaya because he glued a coin to the ground as a prank. People didn't take kindly to that one. I heard a story that a guy got beaten close to death in Pattaya because he glued a coin to the ground as a prank. People didn’t take kindly to that one.

]]> By: Bill Bobby http://www.bangkokdiaries.com/2007/09/04/putting-my-foot-in-it-culture-shock/#comment-2116 Bill Bobby Wed, 05 Sep 2007 06:52:32 +0000 http://www.bangkokdiaries.com/2007/09/04/putting-my-foot-in-it-culture-shock/#comment-2116 Yeah thanks for the comments guys, can understand the coin, banknote thing. Anything showing any sign of disrespect towards the king is seen as sacrilege - Back to the old feet and head rule. Mind you, I have to say I have yet to experience that one, chances of finding a single stang on the road side are slim. Jonathon, your comment made me smile, but isn’t that just a woman thing? :-) Yeah thanks for the comments guys, can understand the coin, banknote thing. Anything showing any sign of disrespect towards the king is seen as sacrilege - Back to the old feet and head rule. Mind you, I have to say I have yet to experience that one, chances of finding a single stang on the road side are slim.

Jonathon, your comment made me smile, but isn’t that just a woman thing? :-)

]]> By: Thaiways http://www.bangkokdiaries.com/2007/09/04/putting-my-foot-in-it-culture-shock/#comment-2114 Thaiways Wed, 05 Sep 2007 03:35:46 +0000 http://www.bangkokdiaries.com/2007/09/04/putting-my-foot-in-it-culture-shock/#comment-2114 Also remember never to stand on a coin or banknote. It's better to let the 1000 Baht note go, with the breeze, than risk a lynching. Also remember never to stand on a coin or banknote. It’s better to let the 1000 Baht note go, with the breeze, than risk a lynching.

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.bangkokdiaries.com/2007/09/04/putting-my-foot-in-it-culture-shock/#comment-2112 Jonathan Tue, 04 Sep 2007 22:38:33 +0000 http://www.bangkokdiaries.com/2007/09/04/putting-my-foot-in-it-culture-shock/#comment-2112 Funny thing is, my girlfriend uses her foot to move things around (She is Thai) but when I do it she throws a fit. Funny thing is, my girlfriend uses her foot to move things around (She is Thai) but when I do it she throws a fit.

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