Once I was traveling in Mexico, and I met a girl from Spain. Just as I was, she backpacking across the country and we spent a few days hiking and sightseeing together. Then we both continue on our separate ways. When we said our good-bye, she kissed me on the cheek, and I hugged her. We were both surprised and a little uncomfortable.
In those days I did not know that kisses on the cheeks is a normal way of greeting in several European countries. And they did not know thatHug is a normal exchange between friends in the U.S.. But in the U.S., we are not to kiss on the cheek when we greet someone, and in Spain people do not embrace casual friends. So I was a little surprised to kiss her and she was surprised by my embrace.
Now I live in Thailand and moving is an interesting thread here. Girls often walk hand in hand, and people sometimes put her arm around the shoulder of another man in a casual manner. Thais have often socializing in the bodyContact, but only in an informal manner.
In America, it would be seen as very odd, two women walking around hand in hand, or a man with one arm around the shoulders of another. In social settings, which in general we avoid physical contact. Two are fine touches: hand shakes, and sometimes a hug. Hugs can be a quick light pat on the back or can truly from the heart with friends or in a situation where we are somebody who is sad or comforting grief.
But in Thailand the incidental contactnot included embraces. Actually, hugging is not done here and is considered very inappropriate. Thais do not hug each other at all and foreigners looking to draw in the embrace of the public disapproving. Men and women are not held by the public and kissing in public is seen as strange or even offensive. The loose connection is in order to touch more so than in the U.S., but a meaningful, sincere way is not right. Also contact the head of a person is considered very inappropriate.
To win the Western habits aA foothold in Thailand, do not exist kissing lovers either. Instead, Thais themselves smelled cheeks. Western-style handshakes are not appropriate either. Instead, the Thais put his palms together and bow slightly, depending on social status.
One way of contact is quite common in Thailand and the Thai massage is. Enjoyed in the professional attitude Touch Massage and appreciated. It is also quite common for women to each other a littleShoulder and neck massage during the work day. Men do not.
As in many countries, massage is sometimes used as a come-on for sexual services, but most of the massage shops are clean and legitimate.
Remember that touching habits in Thailand are very different from our Western ways. Some Thais, who have spent much time in the West, are comfortable with the hand shake or even a hug, but in general the best advice is to avoid touching Thais in any way. If youwant to be mentioned here, treat yourself to a massage or Thai oil massage, which is available everywhere for a few dollars per hour. This is one of the great luxuries of life in Thailand.
