Immersion in Thai Ambiguity, Sydney Style
May 9th 2010 07:18
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Category: No Category
Five days ago I arrived in Thai Pothong, Sydney's finest Thai restaurant, for the first Meetup for Thai people, the people who love them, and those with an interest in Thai culture and/or language.
First, the down side: Everyone was overly open to suggestion, hesitant to open up and expose their most interesting narratives. We all swayed along, roughly guided by each others' timid assertions. The up side: I managed to learn a lot of new things from the guests, who were invariably older and had more in-depth experience with Thailand. I learnt that Thai culture become more elusive the more I learnt about it, but that I was learning to love the mystery... on a Lonely Planet Thorn Tree Forum thread somebody posted a list relating to things Thai, and one of them asserted that watching Thai politics was like watching two chameleons make love. I'm not sure I know enough about Thai politics to claim that it's an effective metaphor, but it seems a fitting analogy for the interactions between the 5 people sitting immediately around me.
I've never, in Australia, been amongst a group of such unassertive people. They were nice and interesting, but what's the point of being interesting if you're not going to share it with others? I think I need to hang out with Spanish people or maybe Italians next... ;P
Love,
Epiphanie
P.S. Don't forget, I've moved here. No ads, only one link to others' materials, the page has a fresh glow and a sleek interface which makes navigation a dream. Join me as I create a new identity, informed by the best of Postmodern Critic, and a new, more personal touch which the discoveries of today are inspiring me to take.
First, the down side: Everyone was overly open to suggestion, hesitant to open up and expose their most interesting narratives. We all swayed along, roughly guided by each others' timid assertions. The up side: I managed to learn a lot of new things from the guests, who were invariably older and had more in-depth experience with Thailand. I learnt that Thai culture become more elusive the more I learnt about it, but that I was learning to love the mystery... on a Lonely Planet Thorn Tree Forum thread somebody posted a list relating to things Thai, and one of them asserted that watching Thai politics was like watching two chameleons make love. I'm not sure I know enough about Thai politics to claim that it's an effective metaphor, but it seems a fitting analogy for the interactions between the 5 people sitting immediately around me.
I've never, in Australia, been amongst a group of such unassertive people. They were nice and interesting, but what's the point of being interesting if you're not going to share it with others? I think I need to hang out with Spanish people or maybe Italians next... ;P
Like translucent bamboo sticks
Love,
Epiphanie
P.S. Don't forget, I've moved here. No ads, only one link to others' materials, the page has a fresh glow and a sleek interface which makes navigation a dream. Join me as I create a new identity, informed by the best of Postmodern Critic, and a new, more personal touch which the discoveries of today are inspiring me to take.
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