Culture in Thailand

In class we learned about the three different norms: more, folkways, and taboos. After learning about other cultures in class, I realized how I had experienced all these norms on my trip to Thailand. One of the mores that was in another South Asian culuture I also esperienced in Thailand. A more there is to have the bottom of your feet facing someone. Sitting indian style was highly offensive if someone sat next to you. You could not kneel if there was anyone behind you. However, when we would meditate in the temples, the position is very similiar to indian style. It was odd how it was accepted in the temple, but not around the school or house. Another more they have with feet is shoes. Before we entered any building or room, we HAD to remove our shoes. The kitchen was detached from the orphanage so we would put on shoes, walk 10 steps to the kitchen, and then have to take our shoes off before we walked in to get food. Shoes were removed before going into the class rooms and before walking into any structure at the temples. A folkway that is part of their culture is wearing tank tops and shorter shorts. In Chaing Mai, the biggest northern city, the people would walk around in mini skirts and tanks. They were not looked down upon or as a disgrace, because that has become normal in the big cities. However, in the village I lived in, 6 hours from Chaing Mai, we had to dress extremely conservative. We would often put on shorts to teach at the school because it was so hot out, and our counselors would make us change into longer shorts because we did not want to offend the students or teachers. A taboo was talking about sex and alcohol with the monks. They are not allowed to have either, and it is extremely disrespectful to even ask them about it.