Contact uS

We strongly recommend that you set up your finances so that your support is deposited directly into your personal bank account in your home country.  If you bring an ATM card with you with either the “Cirrus” or “Plus” symbol, you can withdraw finances quickly and easily as bank machines can easily be found throughout Thailand. Please be aware of the following:

NOTE – When bringing USD, it is best to bring $100 and $50 bills as they tend to get the best exchange rate when compared to $20, $10 and $5 bills. As well, the majority of banks and currency exchange counters will only exchange USD bills that have been printed after 2004.

NOTE – When bringing travelers cheques, please be aware that there is usually a $1 – $2 USD fee for each cheque regardless of the amount.

NOTE – If you are looking for a hassle-free and secure way to handle your teams funds while here, we recommend that you use an ATM card issued by your local bank. UPDATE – Please be advised that Thai banks are now charging a 150 baht surcharge fee every time you withdraw money. This is on top of any fees that your local bank may levy or any international fees. This means that you could potentially pay up to $10 USD per withdrawal.
 
Visa debit cards are also useful as they can be used at many stores although a 3% surcharge will be added. Credit cards are also widely accepted. When booking travel tickets through a travel agency, if you use a credit card, they will also charge you a 3% surcharge.

The local currency is currently rated at around US $1.00 = 35 baht. For the most recent currency exchange rate, please visit: http://www.bangkokbank.com/

It is current YWAM Thailand policy that all long-term staff, as well as short-term volunteers, have health insurance prior to their arrival. While it is true that health care within Thailand is cheap when compared to the West, there have been instances where a family or individual came down with a serious health issue that required extensive treatment. It is during situations like these, that having health insurance is a much needed and appreciated blessing.

Further details on how much to budget per month can be found in the attached Budget document. For further information, please contact Talent Trust at – http://www.talent-trust.com.

During your time in the Culture and Language Phase you will need to learn the Thai language. There are six (6) modules that you will need to study. Modules 1-3 deal with the basics of Thai language while modules 4-6 cover reading and writing. It is the stated goal of the Culture and Language Phase that you are able to communicate effectively with the local Thai population by the time your studies of module 1-6 are complete.

Please recognize that learning the Thai language is of daily benefit to you as you will be able to order food, travel around, communicate with locals, share your testimony etc.

The YWAM Thailand National Office has an official Thai language teacher that provides you the opportunity to learn ‘on site’. By studying at the YWAM Thailand National Office, you are able to save on travel expenses and travel time. We typically prefer all Culture and Language Phase students to study 4 day a week, 2 hours per day. NOTE – You do have the option of studying as an individual or with a classmate (if available).

However, if you are on a tight budget, and are unable to meet the stated language budget as mentioned in the Budget document (that was sent to you earlier), then further options may be discussed with you. NOTE – While we do believe that studying with our official Thai language teacher is the best option for you, we do understand that some students may prefer a group (10+ people) classroom setting.

By Sam Sarvis, Former National Director of YWAM Thailand and Phil Porter, National Director of YWAM Thailand

Our hope is that the C&L program we have established will aid you greatly as you adjust to living in Thailand. The requirements we ask you to fulfill have been set with your best interests at heart. We do feel that one “rule” needs further explanation and thus, we are including this article to that end. Specifically, we wish to discuss the requirement that states, “Refrain from any romantic relationship with locals within the first two years.” We would like to clarify some of the reasons behind this rule.

It must be noted up front that IN NO WAY is the leadership of YWAM Thailand against romantic relationships or against mixed-culture marriages. We DO believe that God often creates mixed-culture marriages and we celebrate these. However, the bottom line, in our opinion, is that most newcomers arriving from the West cannot understand the implications of marrying a Thai national. Of course, the following information does not only apply to new C&L staff. It also is for others who may have lived in Thailand for several years already and who are now interested in pursuing a relationship with a Thai of the opposite sex.

There are primarily two reasons for the general dating rule.

1) We believe that the first 12-18 months of a missionary’s time in the country is extremely important in setting the tone for the rest of that person’s life here. There are so many things to learn and absorb. It is also a time for developing and deepening our understanding of God’s call on our lives as it relates to Thailand. We need to really be able to focus on these things without the added stress/time of working through a cross-cultural relationship. We must recognize that ANY romantic relationship (even in our own culture) will naturally take up an incredible amount of emotional time and energy. We feel that if one’s C&L Phase is heavily focused on a relationship, it will severely limit the ability to really “get” a lot of the other important things.

2) More importantly, however, life, relationships, and especially the development of romantic relationships here is SO, SO different than in the West. The way that men and women relate, communicate and understand that communication, and the hidden messages in body language are extremely different than in the West. As well, unwritten (or un-communicated, but very much assumed) expectations from a Thai perspective are greatly different than the West. Some of these things might be learned from books but most of them can only be learned from being here for an extended period of time. Most of the Western men who have married Thai ladies would probably have appreciated having a better understanding of Thai culture/ways/thinking before starting a relationship if they were to do it over again. Not that they wouldn’t do it, but a lot of unnecessary stress and relationship challenges would have been avoided if there had been a better understanding on their part when they started the relationship.

A few thoughts to ponder regarding cultural differences between Thais and Westerners in regards to girl/guy relationships:

• Looking into a Thai girl’s eyes, if for more than a second or two, communicates something very clearly to her about your thoughts/feelings toward her.
• Spending time alone with a girl, whether at her work place, a restaurant, or just about anywhere, says to her very clearly that you are romantically interested in her.
• Buying or bringing any type of gift to a girl also communicates romantic interest.
• Going to visit a girl’s family/village, in their eyes, communicates to her and her family that you have intentions to marry. It is basically the final step before setting a date for the wedding ceremony. 
• A Western guy giving an unmarried Thai girl a ride on a motorcycle will make most people who see this assume that she’s doing what certain other Thai girls do with Western guys.
• It is most likely assumed by the Thai girl’s family that all Western men are rich and that the Western man will assume responsibility for the needs of the girl’s entire family (and perhaps even extended family) from then on.
• The girl’s parents may well expect to live with the newly married couple for the rest of their lives and will certainly expect that the girl and her Western husband will meet any of their financial needs.
• A generous dowry is expected to be paid by the guy to the girl’s parents. Although the amounts can vary, the very minimum would be approximately US$1700 (and this amount would only be accepted by a Thai family who fully understood that the man is a missionary with very little financial resources). To refuse or balk at giving a dowry would be roughly the same as telling the parents that their daughter doesn’t have any value.

These issues are not necessarily “negative” aspects of Thai culture. It’s neither better nor worse than Western, just different. And, this is not an exhaustive list of differences. There are many other cultural differences as well. These are just a few that a new missionary should be aware of. As Westerners, we may think that our biggest cultural struggle will be the language. But actually, the spoken language is a lot easier to understand and learn than some of these other differences. We may feel that once we’ve learned to speak and recognize a few obvious cultural differences (such as not pointing our feet) that we can court or date here as we would in our home country. However, it doesn’t work that way.

There are some other things to consider before becoming romantically involved with a Thai, such as, what are your long-term plans? Are you thinking of staying here from now on or is there a good chance that you might end up returning to your home country in a couple of years? This is something that would need to be seriously considered and discussed before a relationship goes very far. It is a major issue for a Thai person to consider moving to a new country where they know no one, don’t eat the food, etc., for the rest of their life. If there’s a possibility that the missionary may be moving back to his/her home country long term, the Thai person should understand that very clearly (even if it’s not definite) before the relationship progresses at all. It is important that the Thai person think through the implications of such a move on their own life and on their relationships with their family, etc. On the other hand, many Thais are looking for a Western spouse specifically so they can move to a Western country. This makes them extremely prone to the temptation of pursuing a romantic relationship with a Westerner for the wrong reasons. A multi-millionaire has a hard time knowing who his/her friends really are. A Westerner in Thailand is in a similar vulnerable position.

With regards to ministry vision, what is the Thai person’s long-term calling? Do they know what your ministry vision is? What is their commitment to their current ministry or church? One of the difficulties with an issue like this is that it can seem to some like a “control” thing. Actually, no one has the right to tell you whom you can or cannot marry. There are times when a girl will let go of her vision to follow her husband (or future husband). We cannot judge if that is right or wrong. However, it is extremely important, before two people pursue a deep relationship, that both people know what God’s calling on each of their lives is and how this relationship might affect that calling. The reality is that once our emotions get involved, it can be a lot more difficult to clearly and objectively hear from God about anything that doesn’t directly involve the other person.

The primary factor in the “no dating locals” rule for the C&L time is the major differences between the Thai and Western culture. If an C&L staff guy from the West started getting interested in a missionary lady from the West, it wouldn’t be such a big thing. The relationship rules we have are not just to help you get married in a culturally appropriate way in Thailand. They are to protect both the new missionaries that are coming AND the local Thais. By this, we do NOT mean to “protect” them from falling into sin but rather to protect them from getting into something that they know nothing about–in other words, a romantic relationship with someone from almost “another world”, with a totally different world view, way of thinking, way of relating, way of viewing relationships, way of communicating, way of giving/receiving affection, and many, many more differences that aren’t necessarily evident in the beginning.

This rule was put into our policies because of a number of very, very difficult situations where Western men arrived here and fell in love with a Thai girl immediately. They weren’t “difficult” situations because of sin but rather because of major challenges. Most of these challenges (if not all) came from the fact that both parties became attracted to one another and then (naturally) proceeded on with the relationship in the same way they would have proceeded in a relationship with someone of their own culture, in their own country. However, they didn’t realize at the time that they didn’t have a clue about where the other person was coming from in regards to their ways of relating, outlook on life, and ways of communicating, etc.

Finally, one of the common challenges that most new missionaries will experience in the first couple of years is a sense of loneliness. You are away from all your close relationships, your family, your support system, etc., and you can be very vulnerable. At times like this, it is extremely easy to subconsciously meet that need by getting involved in a romantic relationship. Doing this during the C&L time can seriously hinder your progress, not only in learning the language, but also in learning other important cultural things. And more importantly, it can hinder you from really getting God’s heart for the people you are called to here in Thailand. We realize that two years can seem like an eternity, particularly if you have to wait that long for something. However, that has to do with perspective as well. If you compare waiting two years for a relationship so that for the next 40 years you will be where God wants you to be, doing what He wants, and doing it together with the one He wants, it’s not really that big of a sacrifice. Please know that more than anything else, we want God’s perfect will to be fully accomplished in your life, and His kingdom to be established in Thailand just as it is in Heaven.

Every two years, YWAM Thailand hosts a National Staff Conference. In anticipation of this event, all staff, both intern or long-term, pay a conference of 250 baht per month. This fee will be credited to your conference fee account, and should prevent you from having to pay any additional fees at the time of the conference.  Should the staff conference take place less than 2 years following your arrival, it may be necessary to ask you to pay an additional fee of no more than 3000 baht per person to cover housing and meals during the conference in lieu of an insufficient accumulation of conference fees.
 
Please consult with your ministry leader to confirm if you will need to pay staff fees.

We ask all individuals and families, both short-term volunteers and long-term staff, to please look into your home country’s laws regarding the payment of taxes. We do understand that each country can vary in their tax laws and requirements. We do believe that it is wise on our part to ensure that our volunteers and staff are aware of any and all tax obligations that they may be held accountable for.

There have been several individuals in the past who were unaware of their tax obligations and ended up having to pay some very steep back taxes and penalties. We want to do all that we can to ensure that this does not happen again. If you need assistance, a tax accountant can be recommended to you. He is based in the US and assists several of our staff already.

The visa situation in Thailand, as in many other countries, is constantly changing. Although we suggest that you apply for a one-year, multiple-entry, non-immigrant Type “O” visa, the Thai authorities may not grant this request. We have found that this has been happening more often in recent years; and although it is inconvenient for our staff, it is one of the challenges we must accept as staff / volunteers in a foreign land. 
 
While there are many embassies and consulates around the world, there are some that we would recommend that you try to avoid. We would not recommend that you apply for your visa at the embassy in Los Angeles, California due to many previous failed attempts. However, we would recommend that you consider trying the Thai embassy or consulate in the following locations:

Portland, Oregon
Honolulu, Hawaii
Denver, Colorado
Chicago, Illinois

If you do receive a one-year, multiple-entry, non-immigrant Type “O” visa, you will still be required to exit Thailand every 90 days as part of the visa restrictions. Each time you re-enter the country, until the expiration date of your visa, you will receive an additional 90 day stay in Thailand. In most cases, these “visa runs” may be accomplished in one day or less. When your current one-year, multiple-entry, non-immigrant Type “O” visa expires, you will need to go to one of the above listed cities / countries or return to your home country in order to apply for another one.
 
Many of our long-term staff still do not have missionary visas and they are required to do these “visa run” trips, as well.  Once you are in Thailand, at your specific ministry location, your ministry leader will be able to give you the exact costs of such a trip as well as advice on the best way for you to get there.
 
If you do not receive the one-year, multiple-entry, non-immigrant Type “O” visa, please contact the YWAM Thailand National Office administrator (office@ywamthailand.org); and they will assist you through alternative options.

Couples Budget (xls)

Singles Budget (xls)

The national form of greeting in Thailand is the “wai”. It is done by placing the hands palm to palm and raising them to the face. About the level with the mouth or chin is normal, with a slight bow of the head. Quickly discipline yourself to greet with the “wai”, except to younger children, where a smile or nod is sufficient acknowledgement. When greeting, the younger or socially ‘inferior’ greets the elder or socially ‘superior’ first.

NOTE – When bringing USD, it is best to bring $100 and $50 bills as they tend to get the best exchange rate when compared to $20, $10 and $5 bills. As well, the majority of banks and currency exchange counters will only exchange USD bills that have been printed after 2004.

NOTE – When bringing travelers cheques, please be aware that there is usually a $1 – $2 USD fee for each cheque regardless of the amount.

NOTE – If you are looking for a hassle-free and secure way to handle your teams funds while here, we recommend that you use an ATM card issued by your local bank. UPDATE – Please be advised that Thai banks are now charging a 150 baht surcharge fee every time you withdraw money. This is on top of any fees that your local bank may levy or any international fees. This means that you could potentially pay up to $10 USD per withdrawal.

Visa debit cards are also useful as they can be used at many stores although a 3% surcharge will be added. Credit cards are also widely accepted. When booking travel tickets through a travel agency, if you use a credit card, they will also charge you a 3% surcharge.

The local currency is currently rated at around US $1.00 = 35 baht. For the most recent currency exchange rate, please visit: http://www.bangkokbank.com/

Thais consider the head as the most honorable part of the body. Therefore it is a great insult to touch a person’s head, reach over it or point at a person’s face. If you accidentally forget and do so, politely beg his or her pardon. If necessary to reach for something above someone’s head, say “excuse me” first.

Further details on how much to budget per month can be found in the attached Budget document. For further information, please contact Talent Trust at – http://www.talent-trust.com.

The foot is considered to be “dirty” by Thais. It is the lowest part of the body. Never point your foot (especially the bottom of the foot) at someone, refer to it or draw attention to it unnecessarily. Never move anything with your foot or step over someone if they are sitting on the floor. Sit cross-legged or fold your legs to the side, when sitting on the floor. Do not sit with your legs extended out in front of you. Always remove your shoes before entering a house.

Please recognize that learning the Thai language is of daily benefit to you as you will be able to order food, travel around, communicate with locals, share your testimony etc.

The YWAM Thailand National Office has an official Thai language teacher that provides you the opportunity to learn ‘on site’. By studying at the YWAM Thailand National Office, you are able to save on travel expenses and travel time. We typically prefer all Culture and Language Phase students to study 4 day a week, 2 hours per day. NOTE – You do have the option of studying as an individual or with a classmate (if available).

However, if you are on a tight budget, and are unable to meet the stated language budget as mentioned in the Budget document (that was sent to you earlier), then further options may be discussed with you. NOTE – While we do believe that studying with our official Thai language teacher is the best option for you, we do understand that some students may prefer a group (10+ people) classroom setting.

Buddhist monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman, or to accept anything from the hand of one. If a woman has to give anything to a monk, she first hands it to a man, who then presents it. Women do not sit down next to a monk (eg. on a bus). When speaking to a monk, be sure to leave space between you and him.

Since Buddhism is the national religion in Thailand, all Buddha images, large and small, in good or bad condition, are regarded as sacred objects. Do not climb up on them to take a photograph or do anything that will show disrespect to Buddhism and indirectly to the Thai people. Showing disrespect to Buddhism and other religions is against the law and could cause you to be deported!

Please consult with your ministry leader to confirm if you will need to pay staff fees.

The Thais have a deep respect for the Royal Family and they love their king and queen. We therefore need to show respect for the members of the royal family also. Never talk about the royal family when Thais are present. Even if what we say is positive it may be misinterpreted and may offend the Thais. When in government buildings, in parks or on university campuses, the National Anthem is played at 8am and 6pm and everyone stops what they are doing and stands still and at attention, in respect. This includes the Ram 2 campus where we are located. Do NOT step on money because it has the king’s image/head on it and this would be VERY disrespectful.

There have been several individuals in the past who were unaware of their tax obligations and ended up having to pay some very steep back taxes and penalties. We want to do all that we can to ensure that this does not happen again. If you need assistance, a tax accountant can be recommended to you. He is based in the US and assists several of our staff already.

Bargaining is not done in departmental stores or up-scale shops. However, bargaining is done in markets and in small shops set up along the streets. Do not bargain with food vendors on the street. Find out the price before you order food. The same goes for taking motorcycle taxis. It is good to ask someone who has lived here for a while about the approximate costs in order to determine of what is a fair price to pay.

While there are many embassies and consulates around the world, there are some that we would recommend that you try to avoid. We would not recommend that you apply for your visa at the embassy in Los Angeles, California due to many previous failed attempts. However, we would recommend that you consider trying the Thai embassy or consulate in the following locations:

Portland, Oregon
Honolulu, Hawaii
Denver, Colorado
Chicago, Illinois

If you do receive a one-year, multiple-entry, non-immigrant Type “O” visa, you will still be required to exit Thailand every 90 days as part of the visa restrictions. Each time you re-enter the country, until the expiration date of your visa, you will receive an additional 90 day stay in Thailand. In most cases, these “visa runs” may be accomplished in one day or less. When your current one-year, multiple-entry, non-immigrant Type “O” visa expires, you will need to go to one of the above listed cities / countries or return to your home country in order to apply for another one.

Many of our long-term staff still do not have missionary visas and they are required to do these “visa run” trips, as well.  Once you are in Thailand, at your specific ministry location, your ministry leader will be able to give you the exact costs of such a trip as well as advice on the best way for you to get there.

If you do not receive the one-year, multiple-entry, non-immigrant Type “O” visa, please contact the YWAM Thailand National Office administrator (office@ywamthailand.org); and they will assist you through alternative options.

Hand-holding between a man and woman is acceptable but no other public displays of affection are appropriate in Thai culture. However, you will often see members of the same sex holding hands, etc. This usually does not imply homosexual feelings but rather is a sign of friendship.

Thais call any Caucasian visitors “farangs”, derived from the word for the French people that came during the time of French Indochina. Thais love to ask “farang” and other visitors questions. Most questions are quite routine but others can appear quite shocking to foreigners who like to protect their personal privacy. The questions “Where are you going?” or “Where have you been?” or “Have you eaten lately?” are really a kind of greeting and they do not demand a detailed explanation. Other more prying questions such as “Why are you so fat?” or “Why are you not married yet?” or “How much money do you make?” or “What kind of birth-control do you use?” are quite normal questions in Thailand and are not considered nosy. A straightforward answer is not always expected and you can make a bit of a joke about it.

Thais place a high priority on neatness and cleanliness and are rather sensitive to body odor. It is not uncommon to shower several times a day here. The better you dress the more respect you will get in any level of society. One of the major differences between Thai culture and western culture is that long pants are worn in almost all settings. Shorts are worn only to play sports. When doing ministry, you will need to be especially careful about your attire and make sure you are not “sloppy”. Please ask your leaders for appropriate specific dress codes, since this will be different for each location.

In Thailand, it is not polite to show emotion in public. Thais are especially offended when one openly displays anger. So guard your tongue (Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips”) and learn to control your emotions. One angry outburst directed at a Thai could cancel your influence with that person and those who observed your behavior.

If people are sitting on the floor in a meeting, it is best to walk around the outside of the group. Do not step over people or books on the floor.

When visiting Thais in their home (or when they are visiting your home), it is the host’s responsibility to give the guest something to drink. Failure to do so is a breach of common courtesy. It is not the guest’s responsibility to drink the water, and it is acceptable not to, especially if you are not sure whether the water is pure.

When visiting Thai homes, especially if you are invited for a meal, it is customary to bring some fruit or small desserts. When in doubt about questions of etiquette, ask the YWAM staff or a Thai. It is common for a Thai person to invite you to eat rice with them. Often, the Thai person is only trying to be polite and expects you to refuse the offer. It is good to politely say, “No, thank-you…” If the Thai person persists, then they genuinely want you to accept the invitation. The same is true in the reverse. If you ask a Thai person to eat with you, often they will decline the first offer, but accept the second or third.

The Thai people are very group-oriented, compared to western individualism. Young Thais are going to share little snacks with you, and they sort of expect you to do the same with them. Try to become a cheerful giver, when you buy a bag of chips, some chocolates, etc.

To call a taxi or a person, signal them with a palm down, hand waving action. Do not use your index finger to call someone or to point somewhere or at somebody.

Be aware of the volume of your voice as some foreigners tend to speak loudly compared to Thai norms. It is basically impolite to shout, yell, or speak loudly in public. Go talk to the person instead of shouting to them. It is also considered impolite to laugh loudly in public.

When using the public dressing room, such as a pool changing room, use the changing stalls provided, as nudity is considered impolite.

Gifts are generally opened in private, not in front of the giver.

The Thais consider it poor manners to sit on a chair with your legs crossed, extended out in front of you, especially if you are bouncing your foot up and down. When sitting on the floor, sit as discretely as possible. Always try to sit on the same level as others. If someone is seated when you enter the room it is desirable to be seated as soon as possible. This is especially true if the person of higher status or older than you. If you disregard this, you will be thought rude.

It is impolite to pass something by tossing it to a person or pushing it toward them with the foot. When passing something, use your right hand, since using your left hand for passing things is rude because of cultural toilet practices.

Thais place great emphasis on politeness and respect for elders and those in authority. From an early age, they are taught to respect superiors, parents, teachers and the elderly. The emphasis in relationships is vertical rather than horizontal. In other words, Thais are concerned about fitting properly into society. Deference, avoidance of conflict and a desire to please people are all hallmarks of the Thai character. Therefore, when meeting people of higher status, it is wise to remember to address them politely and with respect. Remember to smile and “wai”.

Generosity is a sign of an important person. Don’t be stingy.

Generally, Thais accept their lot in life without resentment. They are usually good-natured and give the appearance that they are carefree (which is not always the case.) There is a sense of fatalism in their attitude towards life, which comes from the Buddhist concept of karma. That is, one’s past deeds bring consequences, both bad and good, to one’s present life. Trouble and suffering are believed to be a result of bad karma, while prosperity results from good karma.

Help should not be offered verbally. If you see that you could be of help, help! If you ask first, the person will refuse and say “never mind”, because they want to be considerate and do not wish to bother anyone. Your desire to help is noted and appreciated if you actually take the opportunity to be helpful.

Thailand is known as “The Land of Smiles”. To the foreigner who is unfamiliar with Thai culture, it may seem that the Thais are always smiling. Smiles have a variety of meanings in Thai society: to indicate amusement, to excuse and give pardon for minor offenses, to thank someone for a small service, to avoid comment on issues, or to show embarrassment, etc. Smile when you greet people and if people smile at you, smile back. Thai hearts (like most other hearts *grin*) are more open when they are met with heartfelt friendliness.

The concept of “Face” is most important in Thai culture. Keeping one’s “Face” is equivalent to keeping one’s self-respect and dignity intact. Thais will go great lengths to ensure that, as much as possible, neither you nor they will lose “Face”. In fact, almost anywhere you go in Asia, you will find this concept important. This means that Thais will rarely confront even when you have offended them. Therefore, confrontation must be done with great care to avoid shaming a Thai friend. It is best to ask a “farang” who has lived in Thailand for several years for advice if you feel confrontation is necessary.

The Thais are very relationship oriented. That means that unless they feel like you want to be their friend first, they are usually not going to be interested in the Gospel. Do NOT start sharing the Gospel with them before you have asked them about their family, where they live, their hobbies, school etc.

Remember that Thailand is a Buddhist country and many of our concepts concerning God are very difficult for them to grasp and understand especially Christian cliches. When sharing your testimony, keep it simply and to the point.

When explaining the Gospel, we have found it best to start from the very beginning of creation, attempting to explain God and His purpose for creating the universe and man. Just keep in mind that most Thai people have no Christian background whatsoever.

Never argue with them about Buddhism or say anything negative about Buddha or compare him to Jesus. That will only create resentment. Thai people believe in reincarnation, karma, merit, ancestor worship, ghosts of many kinds and much more. Remember when sharing with a Thai don’t get bogged down trying to figure out all these things, just stay focused on your testimony and the love of God. When it comes right down to it, Thai people have an emptiness in their hearts which only God can fill. They need to know that God loves them and wants a personal relationship with them.

Here are some Thai words that may be helpful for you.(ph is pronounced with a ‘p’ sound not like an ‘F’)

God = phra jaaw

Jesus = phra yesu

Love = khwaam rak

Sin = khwaam baap

Hell = narok

Grace = phra khun

heaven = sawaan

church = boat

God loves you = Phra jaaw song rak khun

The national form of greeting in Thailand is the “wai”. It is done by placing the hands palm to palm and raising them to the face. About the level with the mouth or chin is normal, with a slight bow of the head. Quickly discipline yourself to greet with the “wai”, except to younger children, where a smile or nod is sufficient acknowledgement. When greeting, the younger or socially ‘inferior’ greets the elder or socially ‘superior’ first.

NOTE – When bringing USD, it is best to bring $100 and $50 bills as they tend to get the best exchange rate when compared to $20, $10 and $5 bills. As well, the majority of banks and currency exchange counters will only exchange USD bills that have been printed after 2004.

NOTE – When bringing travelers cheques, please be aware that there is usually a $1 – $2 USD fee for each cheque regardless of the amount.

NOTE – If you are looking for a hassle-free and secure way to handle your teams funds while here, we recommend that you use an ATM card issued by your local bank. UPDATE – Please be advised that Thai banks are now charging a 150 baht surcharge fee every time you withdraw money. This is on top of any fees that your local bank may levy or any international fees. This means that you could potentially pay up to $10 USD per withdrawal.

Visa debit cards are also useful as they can be used at many stores although a 3% surcharge will be added. Credit cards are also widely accepted. When booking travel tickets through a travel agency, if you use a credit card, they will also charge you a 3% surcharge.

The local currency is currently rated at around US $1.00 = 35 baht. For the most recent currency exchange rate, please visit: http://www.bangkokbank.com/

Thais consider the head as the most honorable part of the body. Therefore it is a great insult to touch a person’s head, reach over it or point at a person’s face. If you accidentally forget and do so, politely beg his or her pardon. If necessary to reach for something above someone’s head, say “excuse me” first.

Further details on how much to budget per month can be found in the attached Budget document. For further information, please contact Talent Trust at – http://www.talent-trust.com.

The foot is considered to be “dirty” by Thais. It is the lowest part of the body. Never point your foot (especially the bottom of the foot) at someone, refer to it or draw attention to it unnecessarily. Never move anything with your foot or step over someone if they are sitting on the floor. Sit cross-legged or fold your legs to the side, when sitting on the floor. Do not sit with your legs extended out in front of you. Always remove your shoes before entering a house.

Please recognize that learning the Thai language is of daily benefit to you as you will be able to order food, travel around, communicate with locals, share your testimony etc.

The YWAM Thailand National Office has an official Thai language teacher that provides you the opportunity to learn ‘on site’. By studying at the YWAM Thailand National Office, you are able to save on travel expenses and travel time. We typically prefer all Culture and Language Phase students to study 4 day a week, 2 hours per day. NOTE – You do have the option of studying as an individual or with a classmate (if available).

However, if you are on a tight budget, and are unable to meet the stated language budget as mentioned in the Budget document (that was sent to you earlier), then further options may be discussed with you. NOTE – While we do believe that studying with our official Thai language teacher is the best option for you, we do understand that some students may prefer a group (10+ people) classroom setting.

Buddhist monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman, or to accept anything from the hand of one. If a woman has to give anything to a monk, she first hands it to a man, who then presents it. Women do not sit down next to a monk (eg. on a bus). When speaking to a monk, be sure to leave space between you and him.

Since Buddhism is the national religion in Thailand, all Buddha images, large and small, in good or bad condition, are regarded as sacred objects. Do not climb up on them to take a photograph or do anything that will show disrespect to Buddhism and indirectly to the Thai people. Showing disrespect to Buddhism and other religions is against the law and could cause you to be deported!

Please consult with your ministry leader to confirm if you will need to pay staff fees.

The Thais have a deep respect for the Royal Family and they love their king and queen. We therefore need to show respect for the members of the royal family also. Never talk about the royal family when Thais are present. Even if what we say is positive it may be misinterpreted and may offend the Thais. When in government buildings, in parks or on university campuses, the National Anthem is played at 8am and 6pm and everyone stops what they are doing and stands still and at attention, in respect. This includes the Ram 2 campus where we are located. Do NOT step on money because it has the king’s image/head on it and this would be VERY disrespectful.

There have been several individuals in the past who were unaware of their tax obligations and ended up having to pay some very steep back taxes and penalties. We want to do all that we can to ensure that this does not happen again. If you need assistance, a tax accountant can be recommended to you. He is based in the US and assists several of our staff already.

Bargaining is not done in departmental stores or up-scale shops. However, bargaining is done in markets and in small shops set up along the streets. Do not bargain with food vendors on the street. Find out the price before you order food. The same goes for taking motorcycle taxis. It is good to ask someone who has lived here for a while about the approximate costs in order to determine of what is a fair price to pay.

While there are many embassies and consulates around the world, there are some that we would recommend that you try to avoid. We would not recommend that you apply for your visa at the embassy in Los Angeles, California due to many previous failed attempts. However, we would recommend that you consider trying the Thai embassy or consulate in the following locations:

Portland, Oregon
Honolulu, Hawaii
Denver, Colorado
Chicago, Illinois

If you do receive a one-year, multiple-entry, non-immigrant Type “O” visa, you will still be required to exit Thailand every 90 days as part of the visa restrictions. Each time you re-enter the country, until the expiration date of your visa, you will receive an additional 90 day stay in Thailand. In most cases, these “visa runs” may be accomplished in one day or less. When your current one-year, multiple-entry, non-immigrant Type “O” visa expires, you will need to go to one of the above listed cities / countries or return to your home country in order to apply for another one.

Many of our long-term staff still do not have missionary visas and they are required to do these “visa run” trips, as well.  Once you are in Thailand, at your specific ministry location, your ministry leader will be able to give you the exact costs of such a trip as well as advice on the best way for you to get there.

If you do not receive the one-year, multiple-entry, non-immigrant Type “O” visa, please contact the YWAM Thailand National Office administrator (office@ywamthailand.org); and they will assist you through alternative options.

Hand-holding between a man and woman is acceptable but no other public displays of affection are appropriate in Thai culture. However, you will often see members of the same sex holding hands, etc. This usually does not imply homosexual feelings but rather is a sign of friendship.

Thais call any Caucasian visitors “farangs”, derived from the word for the French people that came during the time of French Indochina. Thais love to ask “farang” and other visitors questions. Most questions are quite routine but others can appear quite shocking to foreigners who like to protect their personal privacy. The questions “Where are you going?” or “Where have you been?” or “Have you eaten lately?” are really a kind of greeting and they do not demand a detailed explanation. Other more prying questions such as “Why are you so fat?” or “Why are you not married yet?” or “How much money do you make?” or “What kind of birth-control do you use?” are quite normal questions in Thailand and are not considered nosy. A straightforward answer is not always expected and you can make a bit of a joke about it.

Thais place a high priority on neatness and cleanliness and are rather sensitive to body odor. It is not uncommon to shower several times a day here. The better you dress the more respect you will get in any level of society. One of the major differences between Thai culture and western culture is that long pants are worn in almost all settings. Shorts are worn only to play sports. When doing ministry, you will need to be especially careful about your attire and make sure you are not “sloppy”. Please ask your leaders for appropriate specific dress codes, since this will be different for each location.

In Thailand, it is not polite to show emotion in public. Thais are especially offended when one openly displays anger. So guard your tongue (Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips”) and learn to control your emotions. One angry outburst directed at a Thai could cancel your influence with that person and those who observed your behavior.

If people are sitting on the floor in a meeting, it is best to walk around the outside of the group. Do not step over people or books on the floor.

When visiting Thais in their home (or when they are visiting your home), it is the host’s responsibility to give the guest something to drink. Failure to do so is a breach of common courtesy. It is not the guest’s responsibility to drink the water, and it is acceptable not to, especially if you are not sure whether the water is pure.

When visiting Thai homes, especially if you are invited for a meal, it is customary to bring some fruit or small desserts. When in doubt about questions of etiquette, ask the YWAM staff or a Thai. It is common for a Thai person to invite you to eat rice with them. Often, the Thai person is only trying to be polite and expects you to refuse the offer. It is good to politely say, “No, thank-you…” If the Thai person persists, then they genuinely want you to accept the invitation. The same is true in the reverse. If you ask a Thai person to eat with you, often they will decline the first offer, but accept the second or third.

The Thai people are very group-oriented, compared to western individualism. Young Thais are going to share little snacks with you, and they sort of expect you to do the same with them. Try to become a cheerful giver, when you buy a bag of chips, some chocolates, etc.

To call a taxi or a person, signal them with a palm down, hand waving action. Do not use your index finger to call someone or to point somewhere or at somebody.

Be aware of the volume of your voice as some foreigners tend to speak loudly compared to Thai norms. It is basically impolite to shout, yell, or speak loudly in public. Go talk to the person instead of shouting to them. It is also considered impolite to laugh loudly in public.

When using the public dressing room, such as a pool changing room, use the changing stalls provided, as nudity is considered impolite.

Gifts are generally opened in private, not in front of the giver.

The Thais consider it poor manners to sit on a chair with your legs crossed, extended out in front of you, especially if you are bouncing your foot up and down. When sitting on the floor, sit as discretely as possible. Always try to sit on the same level as others. If someone is seated when you enter the room it is desirable to be seated as soon as possible. This is especially true if the person of higher status or older than you. If you disregard this, you will be thought rude.

It is impolite to pass something by tossing it to a person or pushing it toward them with the foot. When passing something, use your right hand, since using your left hand for passing things is rude because of cultural toilet practices.

Thais place great emphasis on politeness and respect for elders and those in authority. From an early age, they are taught to respect superiors, parents, teachers and the elderly. The emphasis in relationships is vertical rather than horizontal. In other words, Thais are concerned about fitting properly into society. Deference, avoidance of conflict and a desire to please people are all hallmarks of the Thai character. Therefore, when meeting people of higher status, it is wise to remember to address them politely and with respect. Remember to smile and “wai”.

Generosity is a sign of an important person. Don’t be stingy.

Generally, Thais accept their lot in life without resentment. They are usually good-natured and give the appearance that they are carefree (which is not always the case.) There is a sense of fatalism in their attitude towards life, which comes from the Buddhist concept of karma. That is, one’s past deeds bring consequences, both bad and good, to one’s present life. Trouble and suffering are believed to be a result of bad karma, while prosperity results from good karma.

Help should not be offered verbally. If you see that you could be of help, help! If you ask first, the person will refuse and say “never mind”, because they want to be considerate and do not wish to bother anyone. Your desire to help is noted and appreciated if you actually take the opportunity to be helpful.

Thailand is known as “The Land of Smiles”. To the foreigner who is unfamiliar with Thai culture, it may seem that the Thais are always smiling. Smiles have a variety of meanings in Thai society: to indicate amusement, to excuse and give pardon for minor offenses, to thank someone for a small service, to avoid comment on issues, or to show embarrassment, etc. Smile when you greet people and if people smile at you, smile back. Thai hearts (like most other hearts *grin*) are more open when they are met with heartfelt friendliness.

The concept of “Face” is most important in Thai culture. Keeping one’s “Face” is equivalent to keeping one’s self-respect and dignity intact. Thais will go great lengths to ensure that, as much as possible, neither you nor they will lose “Face”. In fact, almost anywhere you go in Asia, you will find this concept important. This means that Thais will rarely confront even when you have offended them. Therefore, confrontation must be done with great care to avoid shaming a Thai friend. It is best to ask a “farang” who has lived in Thailand for several years for advice if you feel confrontation is necessary.

The Thais are very relationship oriented. That means that unless they feel like you want to be their friend first, they are usually not going to be interested in the Gospel. Do NOT start sharing the Gospel with them before you have asked them about their family, where they live, their hobbies, school etc.

Remember that Thailand is a Buddhist country and many of our concepts concerning God are very difficult for them to grasp and understand especially Christian cliches. When sharing your testimony, keep it simply and to the point.

When explaining the Gospel, we have found it best to start from the very beginning of creation, attempting to explain God and His purpose for creating the universe and man. Just keep in mind that most Thai people have no Christian background whatsoever.

Never argue with them about Buddhism or say anything negative about Buddha or compare him to Jesus. That will only create resentment. Thai people believe in reincarnation, karma, merit, ancestor worship, ghosts of many kinds and much more. Remember when sharing with a Thai don’t get bogged down trying to figure out all these things, just stay focused on your testimony and the love of God. When it comes right down to it, Thai people have an emptiness in their hearts which only God can fill. They need to know that God loves them and wants a personal relationship with them.

Here are some Thai words that may be helpful for you.(ph is pronounced with a ‘p’ sound not like an ‘F’)

God = phra jaaw

Jesus = phra yesu

Love = khwaam rak

Sin = khwaam baap

Hell = narok

Grace = phra khun

heaven = sawaan

church = boat

God loves you = Phra jaaw song rak khun