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    Cuaprer 12 The Thais Michael Fukuda and Anongnart “Mickie” Carriker The Southeast Asians Souther we for decades by Wester biel torepresent the geographic region east of India and south of China, an ssrch the erm covervavatand sen, es pals ad multitude of peoples. Countries within the Southeast Asia categor- sia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The term and classification continues to be used, perhaps simply to dif- {erentiate countries in the region from those in East Asia (eg, China, Korea, and Japan). Whereas the distinctions among East Asian coun: tries and cultures have long been acknowledged by Western scholars, Southeast Asia is often viewed as a more or less monolithic entity and Southeast Asians as part of a somehow connected, interrelated society. On the contrary: The extraordinary diversity of cultures and customs within the region camnot be overstated. Still, because of Hawai'ts unique history of interactions with those ‘who came from other places and its resultant multiracial, multicultural society, the experiences of those from the countries of Southeast Asia in the Hawaiian Islands are important to explore here. Within the confines ofthis volume, only a fraction of the Southeast Asians in Hawai'i can be explored and discussed. The editors have chosen to explore three sig- nificant groups in Hawai'i—the Thais, the Vietnamese, and the Cam- bodians—each with its own chapter, beginning with this chapter on the ‘Thais. Notably, geographic linkage does not necessarily mean there are 262 The Thais ms corresponding political or cultural linkages among the groups. As the ‘fader will discover, however while there are many differences among the three groups, they are indeed linked by their common experience of developing a nique ethnocultural identity as part of the multiculteral Stew Pot that is Hawai'i Overview and Demographics Thailand, also known as the Land of Smiles, is well known for its hospitality and generosity. Seen as the gateway to Southeast Asia, i is an independent country bordered by Laos, Cambodia, Myanmnar and Malaysia, The government i a constitutional monarchy, with King Bhue ‘ibol Adulyadej as head of state. The king has guided the country for Siny-three years and has the distinction of being the longestreigring monarch in the world. Thai people have great respect and admiration {for King Adulyade, relying on his wisdom and generous nature to lead the kingdom to prosperity. Thailand has a surface area of 198,000 square miles (similar to California) and a population of approximately 65 mnllion, Ethnic Thais zmake up 75 percent of the population, with 14 percent Chinese, 3 per ‘cent Malay, and the rest belonging to various hill tribes, Thercveda Buddhism is the national religion, with 94 percent of the population belonging to this group. Buddhist teaching praises the “middle path and detachment’ avoidance of extremes in emotion and anger is seen 4s desirable behavior. This theme impact all aspects of Tha life and is seen throughout the life span, Emigration ftom Thailand is relatively recent, beginning in the 1960s with a small number of professionals (physicians, nurses, and engineers) moving to the United States for occupational opportunities, During the 1980s, semiskilled and unskilled workers moved tothe Midi ‘fe East aking advantage of the oilrich region's expanding econony,. During the 1990s, East and Southeast Asian economies experienced tremendous growth, drawing workers away from the Middle East the United States, and Europe? The 2000 census for Hawaii reported 1200 individuals listing ‘Thai ethnicity only, and almost twice that many claiming a combin, tion of Thai and other Asian ethnicities. Thais immigrate to Hawaii for educational and employment opportunities, along with family obligations. The first two categories tend to be transient. obtaining their educational or economic goals and returning to Thailand. The 264 People and Cultures of Mawar family group represents those who plan to permanently reside in the state, with Hawai'i-based spouses or family that have established Thai- themed businesses.? Unlike other Southeast Asian peoples, Thais do not emigrate because of political or economic instability. Thailand was never colo- nized; subsequently most leave the country permanently to join farnily ‘or to follow a spouse to their home country. Those following a spouse are usually in the U.S. military, making the population transient (mov- {ng to a new duty station every three to four year). While only a small Thai community exists in Hawai, itis an ideal Jocation for Thai immigration, Hawai'i has a warm climate, proximity to other Southeast Asian ethnicities, and food produce availability sim- lar tohhome, making it an ideal area to reset Ethnocultural identity Understanding Thai culture requires knowledge of chaat, sasaana, and phra maha kasat, or the nation, religion, and the monarch, This forms the foundation of the Thai house: Respect for country, religion, and the royal family sets the tone and behavior over the life span, Thais have great respect for their country and take pride in its accomplishments, As previously mentioned, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country not colonized by Europe. Criticizing elements of the nation is tolerated amongst Thais; however, criticism from out side Thailand is never tolerated, Buddhism in Thailand differs from religious practices in the West Thais do not pray to a supreme being; rather they pray for themselves ‘or others, recalling the teachings of Lord Buddha (serenity, enlighten. ment, purity of mind, tongue, and action)* Thais believe in Karma— good and bad actions create energy that lasts beyond one's lifetime. Providing tham boon (merit) is accomplished by visiting the local wat (temple). Performing religious acts at the wat and giving to the poor during one’s life increase the chances of a better life when reborn, ot they ultimately may lead to stopping the rebirth cycle and entering a state of Nirvana viewed as Buddhist paradise. ‘The king and royal family are highly respected for their works on behalf of the country and people. The king has championed projects that help rural and remote villages improve agricultural productivity, decreasing poverty and bringing hope to the people. Thais love their king and queen; travel to any home in Thailand and you will find sev- The Thals 265 eral portraits of the king and royal family. Thais will not tolerate any citicism of the king or royal fail. Thailand is a vertical society, with its history going back to fif teenth-century rule under King Trailok of Ayuthaya (the old capital of Thailand). A system was developed ranking citizens under the saldi na, 3 point system based on occupation. A peasant rated 5 inthe system, a craftsman 50; the ultimate was a top offical in government, rating 10,000 points. The system also allowed access to land grants and social and economic benefits commensurate with rank Sakdi na was abol- ished by King Chulalongkorn, although vestiges ofthis system remain in the Thai psyche.¢ ‘Modern Thais still believe in a hierarchical system, and when meet- ing someone for the firs time they will ny to determine their status ‘While upward mobility exists in Thai society, Buddhists beliefin rebirth, and one’s current status based on past acts is strongly instilled, This accounts for the modern-day adherence of those in lower status, hoping ‘to improve their status in the next life through good deeds and acts, Family is most important to Thais, with family cohesion and coop- eration being crucial to surviving a challenging environment. Parents sacrifice for their children, and children in retum practice katanyu, In this tradition learned early in life, children understand that if someone does good for you, you ate expected to return the favor. Katanyu applies especially to the bond between child and parent staying strong through out the life span, and it accounts for the many extended families seen in Thai households. An adult Thai child, no matter how far from home, will always support his o her parents Discovering one's place in society is taught early on; children lear (through language) their place and when to show respect. Their parents are referred to as Mze and Poh (Mother and Father), with the prefix Kun (Mrs. Mother and Mr, Father). Older siblings also have a place in respect: They are addressed as Pee Chai or Pee Sau (older brother ot sister or a close older friend). Younger siblings are referred to as Nong. While it may seem that children in Thailand lead strict lives, in actuality they are pampered. The main leaming objective is that chl- dren become polite and respectful oftheir elders. Some Thai adolescents ‘moving out ofthe country must modify their behaviors yet still respect their elders. Anecdotally, one Thai teenager told a story about buying a ‘at. He felt the salesman was very respectful, even though he was older. ‘The adolescent bought the car and brought an oldet Thai friend to pice up the cat. When the friend discovered what the adolescent had paid, 266 People and Cultures of Hawaii hhe immediately renegotiated a fair price forthe car. The adolescent was stunned that his Pee Chai, who was younger than the salesman, actually raised his voice to geta better deal (more on this late). AAs the child transitions to adolescence, school and peer group become important, Those that show aptitude and have financial resources enter college and obtain careers in business or civil service. During their time in school, respect for teachers and older students is reinforced as it was in childhood. In Hawaii, adolescents represent separation from parents and developing one’s own identity. A Thai adolescent in Hawai'i may expe- rience this through the peer group; however, ties to the family remain strong. The family identity and respect for parents protect the teenager from rebellious acts. A Thai teenager who attends college and works part time gives all of her salary to her mother. The family does not need the money, however, the teenager willingly parts with her salary to help support the family When an adolescent enters adulthood, marrige is considered a good way to maintain family stability and continuation of the fatnly line. Traditional Thai courtship is conservative, not allowing the poten- tial couple to date without an escort (usually the woman’ older sister ot friend). After courtship, the bride and groom's family must agree and approve before the couple i allowed to marry. Some families requite sin sot (a dowry) for the wife. This goes back to the theme that all children practice katanyu, the bride price thanking the parents for raising a wor erful wife. This also replaces the work the daughter would have done forthe family. This practice is changing, however, some families no lon- ger participating or giving the money back to the groom, The act of sin sot becomes more one of face (a pride issue) than a monetary contribution. Adult men are usually the major wage eamers, with the wife run- ning the household. Both move into comfortable lives and in times of ‘turmoil fall back on teachings they leaned as children. Thais believe in ‘calm and dignity (the middle path) and feel that outbursts of emotion ae distasteful. Keeping jai yen (cool hear) is beter than having a jai ron (hot heart). Mai pen rai (no problems or worries) is a good way of saving face when becoming angry. Instead of giving in to jai ron and having an outburst, the Thai coolly says, “mai pen rai,” and the prob- Jem is de-escalated. As previously mentioned, however, criticizing the government or the king will likely result in extreme hostility, and itis something a non-Thai should never do. Mai pen rai or jai yen will not solve this problem once spoken. The Thais 267 Religion ‘The wat is the center point of religion for Thai life. TWo exist in Hawaii on the island of O'ahu, Both allow laypeople to practice tam boom—making merit through supporting monks (who take a vow of poverty) with gifs and food, tothe ultimate: a male ordaining as a monk for a short period of time. A male entering the monkhood provides ‘uch merit to his parents, allowing them to enter a better life in rebirth, Death also takes part at the wat, with important rituals such as ‘ashing the body and providing joss sticks and flowers forthe casket. A seven-to-ten-day waiting period before final cremation allows the fam- ily to grieve and prepare forthe final ceremony. During this time, one will se few tears and more ofa stoic appearance, helping the person to ‘move onto the next birth. Tears and sobbing would hold back the per. son's journey to the next life ‘ANew Ethnocultural Identity ‘As mentioned previously, jai yen and mai pen rai could be face- saving acs tha allow Thais struggling in rural areas to form together and work sa collective group to survive times of adversity. Farming in the northeast of Thailand requires great cooperation; families rey on relatives and neighbors to help with planting and hat. vesting of rice, Villages that did not have this cooperation suffered and eventually stopped working the land. Thus over a period of years, jai yen and mai pen rai may have become a phenotype expressed through language a a survival mechanism, Saving face becomes an issue fora: Losing the cooperation of one person, ther family, ota neighbor could Jead to catastrophe, asthe harmonious community work ethie would belost. Thais in Hawaii As previously mentioned, the Thai teenager who bought an over Priced car was shocked when his Pee Chai (older brother or friend) tased his voice atthe salesman. Instead of getting into a fight, the sales- ‘man smiled and lowered the price ofthe car. The teenager’ friend had adapted to the negotiation tactics required forthe situation. Two things surprised and taught the Thai teenager a cross-cultural lesson: First, in America (even in multicultural Hewat‘), age is not as important as 268 People and Cultures of Howat the principle of getting a fair bargain; and second, in certain situations, negotiating a fair price, even with an older Euro-American male, will result in respect and deference to a younger man who asserts himself, This is a cultural lesson in adjusting to living in Hawai'i (and America). ‘Thais in Hawai'i have preserved their lifestyle and follow cultural Practices established in Thailand generations ago. Because they are a small, tight-knit group, change has not come to their culture; however, ‘they have learned to adapt and appreciate the many cultures of Hawai'i ‘Thais share their culture through yearly events such as Songran (Thai New Year) and the King and Queen's Birthday. Both are open to the Public and also include other Southeast Asian countries. The events are seen as opportunities to share their culture with their new host culture. Adaptation ‘Thailand is a complex country, with a language that focuses on being polite and respectful. Often a simple “yes” or "no” is not simple atall. "Yes" may be said not to offend the person, yet no action will be taken on the request. Raising one’s voice or becoming angry results in a “loss of face,” thus demeaning oneself in front of the person from ‘whom help is require. ‘The Hawaii Thai community practices its own culture; however, ‘Thais have learned to adapt to Hawaii and its Western traditions. In Thailand there are many shades of gray, whereas in Hawai'l issues can be polarized or black and white. Our Thai teenager who tried to buy car did not know that Hawai'i decisions were black and white and assumed hhe was getting the best deal, asthe salespeople were polite (when, in fact, they were getting the highest price for the car). His friend, having been in Hawai'i longer, had adapted to the Western ways and was able to negotiate and lower the price ofthe vehicle ‘Summary and Conclusions Despite having a small population, Thai people in Hawaii have preserved their home culture, providing a protective factor when adapt. ing to the diverse cultures of Hawaii, Generosity and friendliness are key Thai approaches when seeking harmony in a Hawai'i community that focuses on outcomes, not process. {tis unique that most have adapted to the black-and-white, out come-oriented Western approach, while maintaining the best of The Thais 269 Hawaii culture. Aloha and ‘shana are important processes familiar to Thai culture, demonstrated through the sharing of music, dance, and food at various festivals in the Islands. ‘Those encountering a Thai forthe first time will be better prepared if they can determine if the person has adapted to Hawai'i. Cultural barriers will become less if both parties understand the straightfor ‘ward approach of the West, keeping in mind that the Thai person will respond in a way that will preserve the relationship and not let anyone lose face if possible Further Reading Cooper, R. Culture Shock! Thailand: A Survival Guide to Customs and Bi ‘ett, Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2007. Jones, R Thailand: A Quick Guide to Culture and Etiquette. Portland, OR: Graphic Arts Publishing Co,, 2006. Notes 1. CIA World Fact Book: Thailand, retrieved February 6, 2009, from |ups://wwwicia.go library publications/the-world-factbook/eos/ths html, 2.C.Supang, “Thailand's responses to transnational migration during ‘economic growth and economic downturn,” Sojourn 14 (1999) 162-165 3. The Honorary Royal Thai Consulate provides language translation and social services to Thai nationals living in Hawai'i. The consulate main ‘tains contact with Thais in Hawai‘, providing a rich source of information, fn the Thai community. 4M Keller, Living Thai Ways, Bangkok Book House: Bangkok, 2004 49. According to Keller, Buddhism is a way of life, and itis not theistic one can become enlightened by freeing oneself from pain and suffering Life is impermanent, and the desire for selfambition (to become “some, fone” in pursuit of fame and fortune) or clinging to pleasure leads t suffer. ing. Freedom from self and desire liberates the heart from greed, jealousy, and hatred (the cause of pain and suffering). Once this state is obtained, t ‘opens the heart to kindness and the mind to wisdom, 5: RJones, Thailand: A Quick Guide to Culture and Etiquette, Portland, OR: Graphic Arts Publishing Co., 2006: 32. S. Thais new to Hawai'i will assess status when interacting with oth es, although they recognize the hierarchical system is not static and can

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