Of Western values in Thailand

More and more Westerners do at home in Thailand. We are all with us are our set of values deeply rooted in our different customs and societies from which we come. Are the rules we live our life, principles and moral guidelines that govern our actions and decisions. Not everyone has the same set of values, but what our values, the risk is that they are rather different from those in Thailand.

Many emigrants> Thailand are the breadwinners in their families who own their own businesses or are employed in management positions. There are therefore often in a position of authority or influence on Thais. This leads us to a dilemma. To what extent should we rely on our set of Western values to the Thai people we influence?

I have great respect and appreciate the Thai culture. I happily embrace many of the values of my new home. However, I have my setValues and can not leave everything behind, only because I am now in Thailand. Many of them are deeply rooted in my psyche. Enforcement of my series of Western values in my life inevitably means their strength in the life of my wife. My wife is Thai and not always the same things I believe.

A good example of Westerners and Thais hold conflicting values is the subject of road safety. Most Thais do not wear helmets or seat belts to believe. You are not normallythem, but they do a fine to avoid the police, instead of the interests of safety. Westerners usually accept that the security arrangements are a good idea. Perhaps not as our governments meet their law enforcement on us but we still believe in the principle of security measures.

It 's easy to understand the reasons for this difference in Outlook. Thais are fatalistic. Part of their Buddhist religion. They believe that to be what you will. If something is, then there will beHappen and there's not much to do, anyway. In the West we believe that in the control of our destiny. We believe that our actions have consequences which affect the ability of future actions.

We have therefore a possible cause of the dispute. I know that some Western ex-pat who do not start their car until all passengers have them put on their seatbelts. I know that no other passengers on his motorcycle when they have a helmet. These are not only widely shared principles of Western securityThe laws, but also from Thailand. But they still force their western values on Thais who have the same values. We have come to their country and forcing them, how we act. And 'correct?

I have no doubt that our Western Outlook, the law on this issue. I am sure that most accidents are preventable, and if not, you can at least take precautions to reduce their impact. But this is not the point. There is no question of who is right or wrong, but ifRight to force Western values, I believe in the people of our host, not to them. One is my moral conviction that it is wrong to force my beliefs on other people. So I take the attitude that if people want to go with my car or motorcycle without safety precautions, it is their choice.

But what if you are responsible for the safety of that person? What if the person is a child?

When we had our first child, I assumed it would buy a seat for the car. That 's what wewould in the West. My wife was surprised when I suggested going shopping for a post. Because we want to exploit our children in the back of the car? He held the baby while I was driving.

I still believed that a child was a good idea, so we went shopping. Of course, you will not find seats in most businesses in Thailand. This is something that would not have bought most Thais think. We went in search of withdrawal Robinsons department store. They were expensive, and all requestSecurity fix. Our car does not even have rear seat belts, as well as buying the child seat would still take the car changed. At this point I took, we would not buy.

I still believed we needed one, but it was easy to demonstrate the hard work against the Thai belief that we have not. Sellers also agree that it was not necessary.

There are many ways that Westerners in Thailand for a resolution to bring parts of their country with their lifestyle. In Phuketwe can get western style houses, furniture, kitchens, appliances and satellite TV. I love Thai food in our house, we eat Thai food most of the time but sometimes I feel like eating food western. This will never be a problem in Phuket.

There is nothing wrong with building your own little piece of home in your new country, if this is what you want. The problem is when your home values invading the lives of Thais who do not want to run it.

Western culture is veryinvasive. Let the Western fast food popping up all over Thailand. High profile advertising campaigns seem trendy and exciting fare ignore the fact that it is not so good the food is nutritious or as the local. The result is much lower percentage of fat children in Thailand. New 7-Eleven stores are popping up in every neighborhood, while closing the local Thai grocery stores. The Christian religion has a story in itself heavily in countries to promote non-Christian. The UnitedBeen a policy of promoting "the American way 'around the world.

It seems that we have a deeply rooted belief in our own correctness have. Are not easy to accept other cultures or nations values. We expect that to change, to be more like us. This is an issue that we should be cautious when forced to live in another culture. We must not lose our identity and values, but we need a way to integrate them into our lives, without stifling the local culture or offend local searchPeople.