HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: tstil@Auspex.COM (Tim Stilwell)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Thai Views on Gift Giving
Date: 6 Jan 93 17:58:01 GMT
Distribution: soc
Organization: Auspex Systems, Santa Clara


 Sawasdee Khrup Tuk Kon

 I am going to Thailand soon and I will be bringing some gifts with me.

 I have heard that if you give a gift to a Thai and the gift is wrapped,
 the Thai will not bother to open it in front of you.  Instead he/she
 will thank you and open it privately.  I have actually seen this in
 fact as several students gave gifts to several professors at Chulalongkorn
 University when I studied there.  Also, I was invited to a birthday
 party for a friend of my girlfriend's older sister.  You wait impatiently
 to see what they get and leave never knowing.  :-(

 This method is different from the American method.  Americans like to
 observe the facial expression when the gift is opened.  

 Also, if the gift is clothing, the receiver is expected to wear it so the 
 giver knows if the correct size was chosen.  For example, I watched some
 Chinese friends give some clothes to my Chinese friend.  She (unlike Thais)
 DID open the gifts and look at them.  I was surprized that she did NOT
 try them on.  When I mentioned the difference in custom, she immediately
 went into another room and tried on the clothes.  As expected, the dress
 and blouses were too large in the chest (built for American girls).  :-)

 Further, if the gift is clothing and it is mailed, then the receiver is 
 expected to wear it (even if he/she hates it) the next time the giver visits.  
 For example, I received some bath towels for Christmas from a friend.  I put 
 her gift on display in my bathroom, the day I invited her over for dinner
 so that she would know I like and appreciate the gift.

 So, should I wrap the presents or not?

 Also, last time I visited, I gave my girlfriend about 7-8 gifts.  I gave
 her all of the gifts on the first day and nothing (but fun dates) for the
 remaining 6 weeks.  This time I have about 5 gifts.  Should I give her
 all of the gifts on the first day or every other day?

 Opinions please... (Thai ladies?  which method is more romantic?)

 Also, I have 1-2 gifts for each of her family members.  Should I distribute
 the gifts all at once or every other day? 

 Khawp Khun Khrup

 tim
 

Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
From: g9utxu@fnma.COM (Tanin Uthayanaka)
Subject: Re: American Boy marries Thai Girl
Reply-To: g9utxu@fnma.COM
Organization: Fannie Mae
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 18:00:22 GMT

I wish you many years of happy marriage life and hope your children joins both Social 
Culture Thai and Social Culture Asian American. It is an utmost pleasure to see two 
people really in love and having the opportunity to be married 'cause good marriages nowadays is like a precious commodity. And if thing seems to go wrong, remember the 
first time you saw her and how you felt then read what you have posted for the world 
to see.


Tanin U.

Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
From: emaruchi@meena.cc.uregina.ca
Subject: RE: ""The Good Woman of Bangkok""
Date: 12 JAN 93 16:08:53 GMT
Organization: University of Regina, Regina, Sask., Canada

The woman in the movie "the good woman of Bangkok" was not the representative
of most women in Thailand.  In fact she was only a greedy prostitute from the
north.  She claimed that the poverty forced her to earn the money this way.
But after the film maker committed buying her a farm land, she was still sellingher body.  So, it was not the poverty, but her love to earn money this way made her become the greedy prostitute.
        Bunlur
From: kamol@ipied.tu.ac.TH (Kamol Hengkietisak)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Bangkok Post Jan 9: PDP decline predicted if Chamlong quits
Date: 10 Jan 1993 22:52:17 +1100
Organization: Mail/News gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: munnari.oz.au

 
IF Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang refuses to return as Palang Dharma 
(PDP) leader, the party will have great difficulty and will 
decline in popularity, chief party adviser Deputy Prime Minister 
Boonchu Rojanasatien said yesterday.
 
Asked about the chances of him becoming leader, Mr Boonchu said it 
is unlikely.
 
He wants Chamlong to make a sacrifice for the party and return as 
leader.
 
"If Maj-Gen Chamlong does not, it may cause the party difficulty 
because the people believe in him greatly," Mr Boonchu said.
 
Maj-Gen Chamlong has become a farmer and started a leadership 
school for villagers in Kanchanaburi.
 
Mr Boonchu said Chamlong may feel frustrated that he has worked 
and apparently accomplished nothing.
 
This may be why he is trying to build a good political base in the 
countryside, Boonchu said, adding that this will benefit the 
democratic system.
 
Mr Boonchu said the party was born out of the practice of Buddhism 
and good deeds.
 
Its founder has a character that has inspired confidence.
 
He lives modestly and is honest, and no one has been able to do 
what Maj-Gen Chamlong has done.
 
If no one can be found to replace Chamlong then public confidence 
in the party will decline, he said.
 
Asked if PDP can survive only with Maj-Gen Chamlong as leader, Mr 
Boonchu said no, but without him, it will probably not be able to 
increase public support.
 
Asked why he himself does not take the post since he has 
experience leading a political party, Mr Boonchu said he cannot 
inspire the same type of confidence as Maj-Gen Chamlong.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
From: ssg9328@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Samart Srijumnong)
Subject: What're up in other newsgroups...(as of 01/06/92)
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 07:07:37 GMT
Keywords: Thailand


From:       clarinews@clarinet.com (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.news.trouble
Subject:    Seven dead, 30 injured in Thai bus crash
Date:       Mon, 4 Jan 93 22:51:33 PST


From:       clarinews@clarinet.com (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.news.law.crime.violent
Subject:    Thais seek to improve strained relations with Saudi Arabia
Date:       Tue, 5 Jan 93 3:49:32 PST


Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
From: godfrey@vxdesy.desy.de
Subject: Re: Hello? Anyone? What is real MEAN value of $US in Thailand?
Organization: (DESY, Hamburg, Germany)
Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1993 02:14:44 GMT

In article <1993Jan12.180709.1772@zooid.guild.org>, Adam Lawrence Salter <adam@zooid.guild.org> writes:
> 
>  
>  Hello! I would like to get some idea of the real or "mean" or whatever value 
> of US dollars in Thailand. For example, how much land, food etc. costs. How 
> much an average yearly salary is, how much money one needs to survive, per 
> year or any other related information. 
>  
>  
>                                                 Any Help Greatly Appreciated, 
>                                                          Adam Salter 
>  
> adam@zooid.guild.org 

There are around 25 baht to the US dollar - this has been the rate (give or
take a few percent) for the past ten years or so.  At this exchange rate,
most thing sin Thailand cost less than 1/4 of the price of the US, many around
1/5 or less.  To see if something is overpriced, use an artificial exchange
rate of 5 baht to the dollar rather than 25 - if it comes out costing more
than in the US at this rate then it's probably not the correct price.  At
this rate, cigarettes cost about $2.50 - $3 per pack, (in reality about 
50 cents), a poor hotel outside Bangkok costs about $30 (in reality about
$6), a bus fare about 60 cents etc.

If you've not been to bangkok before, expect to be seriously ripped off, and
I mean seriously (paying up to 10 times the correct price for things).  Things
that are intended for use only by foreigners (certain restaurants, hotels,
guided tours etc.) really are as expensive as they seem.

regards Laurence

Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
From: jturley@netcom.com (Jim Turley)
Subject: Re: American Boy marries Thai Girl
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Distribution: soc
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 08:57:39 GMT

You have expressed you love for this Thai princess in a very beautiful way.

Congradualtions. I *know* you'll make it last.

(BTW, does she have a sister? <g>)

Are you going to live in Thailand>
From: ssg9328@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Samart Srijumnong)
Subject: Chao-Thai-News...a Pacific North West monthly news bulletin
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 22:41:10 GMT
Keywords: Thailand


I have got a copy of Chao-Thai-, a monthly Thai News published by a group
of Thai students at U of Washington, Seattle. Since many of you may be
interested in and want to subscribe it, I have decided to go ahead talking
about it in details.

It is the issue of January 1993 which is number 2 of volumn 1.  The news 
bulletin is 8 page thick with news on Thailand on the front and back pages.
In this particular issue, there is news on the coming home of S.Sivalak, 
Arthit Urairat, as a MP, criticized Thailand's educational system, new
Laotian leader, and, Thailand is to open Thailand-Laos free trade.

Page 2 publishes editorial on prostitution problem. The article briefly 
analzed the problem of prostitution in Thailand and commented that there
were not enough agencies to take care of the problem. The editor suggestes
that the government seek cooperation from the NGOs in solving the problem.
At the end of the article, the editor criticizes the police who have involved
in the sex trade and complained that none of them had ever been punished.

"Culture column" is publised on page 3. In this particular issue, the column
is presented in form of a letter written by a Thai to her sister (or brother?)
talking about "good old days" of New Year actitivities. 

On page 4, "Paul Bush", a pseudonym, wrote about the election of provicial
governors in the political news analysis column. The article continues on
page 5 which also publishes "gossip" column informally reporting individual
friends' activities in the area and the United States as a whole. 

On page 6, Boongate Fongkaew wrote "Education and Development" mentioning
the role of science and technology on the country's development. He also
mentioned many research organizations which have recently been estabished
to cop with the world technological progress. 

Page 7 is divided for sports news and household economics. Brief results
of sport competitions both in Thailand and the US is provided. The latter 
column discussed about how to eat in order to maintain good health.

I would say that I am very impressed with the quality of the publication.
The whole credit should be given to the editor, Charn Sumrit, and his 
editorial board members: Boongate Fongkaew, Cholada Yesuwan, Keerati 
Giratiganon, Prasert Thuntarag, Sanga Seubsahagarn, and Voradesh Yenbut.
The publisher claims that the news bulletin is free to anybody who wants.
If you want to subscribe or send donation to cover the costs and mailing,
please send to:

	ChaoThai News
	1729 NE Northgate Way
	Seattle
	WA 98125
	Tel (206) 364-1413
	FAX (206) 365-9000
	email yenbut@cs.washington.edu

Thanks for your attention.
Samart Srijumnong
Champaign, Illinois
January 12, 1993
From: kamol@ipied.tu.ac.TH (Kamol Hengkietisak)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Bangkok Post Dec 31: Bomb case still unresolved
Date: 5 Jan 1993 19:26:48 +1100
Organization: Mail/News gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: munnari.oz.au

 
INTERIOR Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said yesterday the 
mastermind of the Thon Buri bus terminal bombing last week was 
believed to be hiding in the provinces.
 
He urged members of the public to be patient while the police 
search for the culprit.
 
In his capacity as interior minister, Gen Chavalit will provide 
security to people and their property.
 
He also said the Police Department needed to be revamped but did 
not elaborate.
 
Meanwhile, the Police Department is considering setting up a unit 
to train personnel from government and private agencies on how to 
handle objects suspected of containing explosives and how to 
recognise the characters and appearances of persons suspected of 
carrying dangerous objects.
 
Speaking after a meeting of police officers of the Special Branch, 
Crime Suppression, Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Scientific 
Crime Detection divisions and other units concerned, Police Chief 
Sawasdi Amornvivat said the training will be given to personnel of 
such units as the Post and Telegraph Department, security guards 
of department stores and schools, and employees of the Bangkok 
Mass Transit Authority.
 
He said Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has also pledged to provide 
the police with modern equipment to increase efficiency in 
detecting explosives.
 
Two centres for taking public reports on objects suspected of 
being explosives have been set up, one at the Police Department 
and the other at the Metropolitan Police headquarters.
 
Each centre is manned by police equipped with bomb detectors.
 
Pol Gen Sawasdi said there are four Border Patrol Police teams and 
four Ordnance Division teams that will be immediately despatched 
on receiving an emergency call in Bangkok.
 
In the provinces, there are 48 teams of provincial and Border 
Patrol Police.
From: messina@netcom.com (Tony Porczyk)
Subject: Re: Thai Views on Gift Giving
Organization: Messina Software
Distribution: soc
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 19:48:56 GMT

tstil@Auspex.COM (Tim Stilwell) writes:

> I am going to Thailand soon and I will be bringing some gifts with me.
> I have heard that if you give a gift to a Thai and the gift is wrapped,
> the Thai will not bother to open it in front of you.  Instead he/she
> will thank you and open it privately.

Then I should have been born in Thailand  :-)   I always found
our custom of opening gifts right away to be rather phony and
aimed only at pleasing the giver.

Tim, thanks for a very interesting article.  It would be great
if more people who know Thai customs and culture well posted
articles of this kind.  While it does not deal with political
issues, it would allow many of us who are not Thais to learn
more about the country and the people.  I think it would be a
legitimate use of soc.culture.thai.

t.
From: cooneys@gw.wmich.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Re: "The Good Woman of Bangkok"
Date: 13 Jan 93 04:38:20 GMT
Organization: Western Michigan University

Tony Porcyzk lets a blast of fresh air in on this topic. I 
think his unsentimentality is refreshing. What's offensive 
about it?

Wasn't the girl in the behaving just as he describes? i.e., 
choosing the easy money over the sober country life she 
professed to want. So the film wasn't sentimentalizing her, 
I thought.

But in taking an exclusively economic approach to the topic, 
Tony is in danger of simplifying human complexity, I'd say. 
There's an intangible but very real cost for the money 
making by prostitution. Your sense of yourself has got to 
suffer, and you can't go back. That must be what the   woman 
meants by claiming it was her "fate." Of course, she's 
evading choices there, and sentimentalizing herself. But if 
you watched her, I don't think you could feel devoid of some 
fellow-feeling.

So ... did anyone actually SEE the film?

		
-------------------------------------------------------------
	SEAMUS [pronounced "shaymuss"] COONEY
-------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
From: kamol@ipied.tu.ac.TH (Kamol Hengkietisak)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Bangkok Post Dec 31: Chavalite to decide fate of expressway
Date: 5 Jan 1993 19:25:15 +1100
Organization: Mail/News gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: munnari.oz.au

 
INTERIOR Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh is expected to decide by 
next week if the Expressways and Rapid Transit Authority of 
Thailand will build an expressway between Urupong and Pratunam.
 
Gen Chavalit and ETA Governor Charan Buraparat yesterday discussed 
the project, which is strongly opposed by the Muslim community in 
Ban Krua.
 
The Interior Minister said the expressway project has been delayed 
for five months and he will decide by next month whether to allow 
it to go ahead.
 
Ban Krua residents have said the project is designed to serve a 
major shopping centre located nearby.
 
The Urupong-Pratunam project would be the second stage of an 
expressway linking Bangkhlo and Chaeng Wattana.
 
The ETA has nearly completed the northern span of the project from 
Phaya Thai to Chaeng Wattana but opposition by the Ban Krua 
residents has delayed land expropriation for the Phaya 
Thai-Bangkhlo section.
 
Gen Chavalit reaffirmed that the Phaya Thai-Bangkhlo section, 
which cuts through Ban Krua, will be constructed.
 
Land Department chief Phan Chantharapan, who is also an ETA board 
member, was appointed yesterday to head a committee to study ways 
to help Ban Krua residents whose land will be expropriated for the 
expressway.
 
Mr Phan said there has been no order from the ministry to suspend 
the project between Urupong and Pratunam.
 
ETA Governor Charan said the expressway must be built, and the ETA 
would build new apartments for the residents if they insist on 
staying there.
 
However, the residents may have to move out of the area for two 
years during construction of the expressway and the housing 
project, he said.
From: kamol@ipied.tu.ac.TH (Kamol Hengkietisak)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Bangkok Post Dec 31: Krisday to see to small issues
Date: 5 Jan 1993 19:25:14 +1100
Organization: Mail/News gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: munnari.oz.au

 
LESSER important problems which had been ignored in the past due 
to bigger ongoing projects will be tackled in the new year, 
Bangkok Governor Krisda Arunvongse na Ayutthaya said yesterday.
 
He said issues such as garbage collection, water shortage and 
flooding prevention will be paid due attention in the coming year.
 
During the past eight months, the governor, said he had been busy 
handling some major projects initiated by the former governor such 
as Area Traffic Control and Water Treatment projects.
 
He added that tenders for most of these projects had been opened 
so he would now have more time to handle minor problems.
 
"Minor problems in the city will be 100 per cent better within 
next year," said the governor.
 
He added that 36 district chiefs and 13 bureau directors had been 
instructed to seriously control garbage collection and improve 
district officers' service.
 
Moreover, the Planning and Policy Bureau had been told to carry 
out a population survey in the city so that the number of 
districts could be increased in order to provide better services 
to residents, he said.
 
Meanwhile, Deputy Governor Chaiwat Sinsuwong said there would be 
two more additional districts in the city as the BMA planned to 
upgrade the sub-districts of Suanluang and Dindang.
 
He said the expansion plan would be timed to coincide with the 
city council election scheduled for early 1994, adding that the 
number of city councillors would also be increased.
From: calvin@lysator.liu.se (Chris Maluszynski)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Price of a HP48sx in Thailand/Singapore ?
Date: 6 Jan 93 18:07:51 GMT
Organization: Lysator ACC at Linkoping University

Hi folks,

I'm not sure this posting is that appropriate in this newgroup - but I'll
try...

I'm just wondering what a HP48sx calculator costs in Thailand or Singapore.

So, if you know - please tell me by responding by email.

Thanks, 

	-Chris
	
	

--
	      
	      ------------------------------------------------
	      If you got the feeling - jump across the ceiling.
	      ------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
From: cooneys@gw.wmich.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: "The Good Woman of Bangkok"
Date: 12 Jan 93 06:21:49 EST
Organization: Western Michigan University

Did anyone see the documentary called "The Good Woman of 
Bangkok"? It was on Canadian television last night. It's an 
hour-long piece about a Bangkok prostitute, mainly 
consisting of her talking to the camera, interspersed with 
shots of the dance bars and brief interviews with some of 
the customers.

It was very striking and saddening. She is a beautiful young 
woman, but desperately unhappy and full of self-loathing and 
hatred for men.

But she seemed committed to the life she has chosen. The 
film maker said he bought her a rice farm after making the 
film, but when he returned a year later, she was back 
working in "a sleazy massage parlor." She said it was her 
fate.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
From: cyprich@fraser.sfu.ca (Dusan Cyprich)
Subject: Re: American boy & Thai girl
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Distribution: soc
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 18:40:58 GMT

In article <1993Jan11.205027.16767@vax5.cit.cornell.edu> mptj@vax5.cit.cornell.edu writes:
>I am not trying to start an everlasting argument, so this will be my last 
>posting on this subject, but it seems like the following message comes from a
>user who cannot post, and obviously wanted to say something, so here it is.
>As this is my last posting on the subject, I would like to wish Tim and his
>bride-to-be a very long, happy and fulfilling marriage life together.
>
>	Abi
>
>
>
>From:	IN%"cesloane@staff.tc.umn.edu"  9-JAN-1993 23:34:55.38
>To:	IN%"mptj@VAX5.CIT.CORNELL.EDU"
>CC:	
>Subj:	Praise for your response to Tim
>
>Dear Abi: 
>
>I have a non-interactive account, so I can't contribute to the sct network
>directly; I can only read the postings through Gopher. However, I did
>manage to read your rather detailed reply to young Tim's immodest
>declaration of love. Congratulations! I have found it a bit of a dilemma
>in reading his horrendously racist and sexist statements, but all imbued
>with a puppy-dog eagerness and curiosity. He says these deeply oppressive
>things, but without the malice one often associates with such attitudes.
>Your reply, I felt, was balanced and kept a good perspective.  Let's see
>if she just wants the green card. 
>
>Cliff Sloane, Ethnomusicology
>Metropolitan State University, Minneapolis

    Doesn't anyone on soc.culture.thai have a sense of humour? (I'll
probably be labelled a racist for asking this.) Tim is in love and
engaged to be married and with this combination, people tend to babble
and say things without thinking. Since Tim is walking on air now, he
is in joking mood as well. To suggest that he may be a racist is
ridiculous. I think the problem here is that there are people who read
messages looking for anything bad that is said about Thai people and
when something can be interpreted as such, its time to point out what
a racist they are (especially if a white person said the thing). I
think you should realize that not everyone is an English major who
sends mail here, so its easy to say things that do not reflect your
actual opinions. Besides, a true racist wouldn't use soc.culture.thai,
they would probably be on soc.culture.arian.

    djc
From: mellon@ncd.com (Ted Lemon)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Re: Thai Views on Gift Giving
Date: 7 Jan 93 23:58:06 GMT
Distribution: soc
Organization: Network Computing Devices, Inc.
In-reply-to: tstil@Auspex.COM's message of 6 Jan 93 17:58:01 GMT


>Also, if the gift is clothing, the receiver is expected to wear it so the 
>giver knows if the correct size was chosen.
>Further, if the gift is clothing and it is mailed, then the receiver is 
>expected to wear it (even if he/she hates it) the next time the giver
>visits.  

Tim, the U.S.A. is a rather large country, and not everybody here
follows the customs that you describe.   For example, I consider it
rather gauche to insist that people try things on while you watch or,
particularly, to "display" the gift at a later date.

In some cultures, it's actually impolite to even acknowledge that a
gift has been given, or to expect acknowledgement.   If you were to
insist in such a situation that your cultural biases be observed, you
would be considered rather boorish.   I don't know what the Thai
custom is, though.

			       _MelloN_
--
mellon@ncd.com						uunet!lupine!mellon
Member of the League for Programming Freedom.   To find out how software
patents may cost you your right to program, contact lpf@uunet.uu.net