Family is the cornerstone of Thai society, and families seem to be much closer in Thailand than in most western cultures. Children are taught to respect and honor their parents, and that hierarchical model blends to the rest of society as well. Even in social relationships, one person is typically superior to the other, based on things like age and status. Employees are taught to respect and be subordinate to their bosses, students to teachers, and children to parents. When first meeting a Thai, you may be asked questions that seem much too personal for an initial encounter. They do this so they can try to place you within a certain hierarchy and thus know how to properly treat you. Things like clothing, age, education, and career all have an effect on social status and how people are treated, and it's important to know and understand this part of the society, particularly if you will be living and working with Thais.