In Thailand however there are also a lot of western teachers, a large number of whom are quite shady characters. If you read any of the chat rooms where these men hang out (and yes, they are mostly men), you will hear them berating the Thai system and Wai Kru Day especially, talking about how it's a 'forced day of respect' and that the kids don't mean it. Some of them even go as far as to refuse to take part in the Wai Kru ceremony (a stupid decision, and one which is likely to make the western teacher not liked by the Thai staff, kids and the parents). It just goes to show how many westerners live in Thailand, make no effort to understand the culture and, in fact, lord themselves above it acting as if their culture is superior to the Thai culture. It's not.