So, I’ve been living here for 5 years and been visiting for over 15. My Thais not bad, but in no way Fluent.
I love Thailand, I like the culture, I could well be considered Buddhists and I find Thai people very friendly, generally speaking.
However, I do not have too many close Thai friends. Not close like I do foreigners. There seems to be a wall after a certain level of knowing one another.
The more educated and western the Thai, the easier the friendship. Obviously, the language issue helps, as I can communicate more naturally and even ifai spoke fluent Thai, I would not be able to have the same kind of conversations with someone who has not had the level of education and exposure to the world as I have, and that’s not a knock. I get long better with college educated Americans than someone who’s never left their small-town in Georgia.
Some things I have observed about relationships here and would like to get everyone’s opinion, especially Thais.
It is way easier to talk to a stranger here, and much more comfortable than westerners. Westerners have more of an initial wall than Thais do.
However after that initial phase of breaking the ice, it is tough to get closer. There is always a distance while with other people Western and otherwise (like Chinese) it is easier to have a deeper friendship over time.
It also seems easier for Thais to stop talking to you or to leave a friendship, and not necessarily because there’s been an argument or misunderstanding (or perhaps I didn’t pick up on it)
Thais don’t seem to get very upset when people leave. Even if for a long time. I don’t see much crying and hugs at airports for example. They do get happy to see you again though.
Again, this isn’t a criticism. I like it here, I like Thai People, I am happy to raise my children here and have the naturally pick up on some the subtleties of culture, like politeness, being outwardly cheerful, kindness to strangers etc.
But I do find some of the deeper parts of friendship to be a mystery to me.
