You might be Thai if you do these things
After living in Thailand for a while, you might notice some things have changed within you.
What once seemed like a culture shock - local myths, traditions, and superstitions, now starts feeling normal.
Here are some signs and things you might be doing that prove that you’ve gained some Thainess in you.
You prefer to take a motorcycle taxi instead of walking short distances
You might love taking strolls and walking to places back home but here in Thailand, with the heat and humidity, it gets harder and harder to do so.
It’s also super convenient and cheap to use bolts and grabs to get to your destinations, quick. They are a great way to beat the traffic as well - most of the time.
And even better, you get to avoid being stuck in the train or bus with other sweaty people.
Zoom, zoom.
You use water instead of tissue paper
Bum guns suddenly become your best friend here in Thailand.
And rightfully so as they offer lots of benefits over tissue paper.
The bum gun provides a more thorough and hygienic cleaning than tissue paper, is gentler on the skin, and reduces environmental waste by eliminating the need for paper.
Now you start wondering how you even considered tissue paper to be enough?
Like come on.
You put chili on everything
Thai food is generally quite spicy.
Thais love spicy food because it enhances flavors, boosts metabolism, and has cultural significance. Spicy ingredients like chili are deeply integrated into Thai cuisine, offering a balance of taste sensations and making meals more enjoyable and satisfying.
After a couple of months or years, you start getting used to the heat, not just the weather but in your food as well. Until you can’t get enough of it. You want it on everything.
Yup, you have become a Thai. More Thai than some Thais, in fact.
Take off your shoes when entering
Removing shoes is important for Thais as it shows respect for homes, temples, and certain indoor spaces.
It also maintains cleanliness and honors cultural norms, reflecting the value placed on keeping living areas pure and free from outside dirt.
Have you started doing this without realizing? Congrats, you are as Thai (or Asian) as you can get.
Or you are just being a good and respectable guest into the country.
Order beer with ice…the horror
Ordering beer with ice is a right of passage for being a Thai.
But it is also a necessity.
Thais often order beer with ice to keep it cold in Thailand's hot climate.
The ice helps maintain a refreshing temperature and can also dilute the beer slightly, making it more suitable for leisurely drinking in warm weather.
It’s also just a cultural thing that some Thais enjoy as part of their dining and socializing experience.
You start a conversation with “have you eaten yet”
Asking "have you eaten yet?" (กินข้าวแล้วหรือยัง / gin khao laew reu yang) is deeply ingrained in Thai culture.
It's a common greeting and an expression of care and hospitality. It’s not really literal.
Kind of like “how are you?”
In Thai culture, sharing food is a way to build and maintain relationships, and asking about someone's meal status shows concern for their well-being and ensures they are comfortable and satisfied. It reflects the importance placed on food as a social and communal activity in Thai society.
You can’t get enough of sniffing Yadom
You have probably seen people sniffing on something resembling an inhaler or a big green box.
That my friends is what they call yadom.
Yadom is a beloved Thai inhaler made from menthol, camphor, and eucalyptus oil. It instantly clears stuffy noses and gives an amazing, refreshing boost of energy!
Thais love it for its stress-relieving power and how it keeps them alert all day. Compact and portable, you can find it everywhere, from stores to street markets.
Besides its fantastic scent, it also helps with headaches and motion sickness. A definite must-have if you want to feel like a Thai.