Setting off for Thailand: wai am I doing this?!

LoveTEFL blogger Hasunehana is setting of to teach English in Thailand. A New York City fish out of water, how will she cope with exciting new customs?

After a couple minutes into Googling all my many questions about Thailand, I came across the “wai”. This is the main form of greeting used by the people of Thailand, involving the use of your hands, chest and head just to acknowledge another person! While the rules for who, when and where to use this greeting are a little more complicated (you can google the details yourself), the gesture itself is strange to a westerner. Especially a New Yorker.

Greetings here in New York City are little to none. We acknowledge new people we meet with sometimes firm, sometimes limp, handshakes. Maybe they washed their hands, maybe they didn’t. This handshake usually doesn’t feel very genuine and friendly; almost robotic. To be honest, I’m not a fan of it. Acknowledging new people with the “wai” seems much more pleasant and welcoming, peaceful even. I practiced it a couple of times in the mirror, trying to get it right (lots of helpful YouTube videos) but I felt odd doing it. It’ll become comfortable after doing it habitually, eventually.

That’s really the big wall here, with going overseas, traveling and relocating. Allowing myself to let go all comfort and plopping myself in an unfamiliar space with unfamiliar toilets. I have never been in any non-English speaking country longer than a week. Sure, Google said that many people in Thailand usually speak some, basic English, but experiences and circumstances varies. Maybe I’ll come across many English speaking Thai people, maybe I won’t.

The first few weeks in Thailand, I won’t know the basic everyday tasks like ordering food, using transportation, and table etiquette (and so much more). I imagine I’ll be mostly be trotting the streets gesturing at things I want and need. I just hope I get the currency counting part right sooner than later; the difference in monetary value is immense! Fortunately, I am familiar with Asia. I was born in Bangladesh (not far from Thailand), and I’ve visited there often, for long periods at a time, over the course of my life. I know I will be accustomed to the hot, humid, tropical weather, the mangos and coconuts and the almost life-threatening taxi rides that I hear Thailand has in common. Like the students I’ll be teaching in Thailand, English was also my second language. I grew up the first 5 years of my life speaking Bangla only and I’m still pretty fluent at it (though I have developed a serious American accent!). So getting around in Bangladesh was a piece of cake but Thailand will be a whole other… strange, unfamiliar dessert.

In a few days, I have to give my goodbyes to the students I’ve been teaching for a year now. They were my first class as a new teacher and I got to know each one of them so well; grew to really care about them. Many personalities, talents and perspectives that were in my hands to help guide and teach. I will miss them very much. I have no clue what my new class will be like. It will be my second experience teaching and a huge difference from the English speaking students I am used to. I want to understand them as much as they want to understand me. So, I am hoping to learn as much as I can from them, as they learn from me because I have unexpectedly learned a lot from my first class.

I want to keep my expectations neutral and my mind completely open to what’s to come. I have about two weeks left before my plane lands onto a strange land and into an unknown, new adventure. Leaving my New York City habits and fast pace of living back at home. No more running for crowded subways at 8am and the clicking, clacking of my heels! Ultimately, I am nervous and excited all the same time. Though, from all the things the all mighty Internet has revealed to me about Thailand, I know I will not be disappointed. Now, you should put your hands together, onto your chest and bow your head over your hands, gently. There you have it, the “wai”. Tell me you don’t feel a little bit more at peace just doing it? I do. I’ve conquered that obstacle, now I just have to fill this suitcase and aim to under pack, but will probably over pack.