Any comparison by an outsider between China and Thailand is bound to reflect poorly on China. The reason is simple: Thailand has been built for outsiders and China has been built for the Chinese. Blame it on China's ancient heritage, massive population, historical isolation, recent history of bitter hardship, discouragement of religion, economic reliance on factories, and trenchant xenophobia. Or blame it on Thailand's Buddhist heritage, beautiful scenery, culture of peace, and heavier dependence on tourism. Either way, Thailand is an easier place for foreigners to visit and enjoy than China. Period.
Thailand's King is known as the "Defender of All Faiths." China's leader is known as Chairman and Paramount Leader of a Party that harmonizes all that it touches into one unified whole "with Chinese characteristics."
China is the country with the world's largest population, but still remains insecure about the "unequal treaties" they were forced to sign in the 1800's and the way that they were subjugated by colonial powers, most recently Japan in the 1940's. Chinese people are intensely protective of all things Chinese because they view their nation as having been persecuted and oppressed by American and Japanese devils. Many of these ideas are wrapped into the rhetoric of revolution that is taught in school. (It is also the reason why Chinese people identify historically with Jews).
Thailand is the only South East Asian country to have very little history of colonialism because they were used as a buffer state between the British Empire and French Indochina. The country's cosmopolitanism is immediately apparent in the Bangkok airport, where I could easily believe I was in any city in Europe.
On average, people in China dress to fit in. People in Thailand dress to be seen. Take these Thai wedding dresses as an example.
IMG_3072
Ugly? Yes. Conservative? No. Boring? Also no.
People in China are generally frustrated with you and occasionally condescending toward you if you cannot speak Chinese. (I should also note that many Chinese people will appreciate a passing effort at speaking the language. You can think of the Chinese as being like the French in both of these regards. This may account for the amazing relationship between the two countries). The service people in Thailand overwhelmingly speak English. If they can't, they will not look down on you for not being able to speak Thai.
IMG_3009
The first thing I noticed about Thai people is that they smile. Chinese society is one of muted reverence, not carefree and joyous exuberance (unless shots of alcohol are involved). If you smile at a Thai person, they will smile back. I surprised these Thai Starbucks attendants with this picture. Look how they took it in stride.
Every business person in Thailand thanks you for your patronage, whether they are a restaurant owner or a taxi driver. When they thank you, they put their hands together in front of their hearts and bow to you as an acknowledgement of their gratitude. This is a clear carryover from Buddhism's ideology of respect for all creatures.
In China, "thank you" is a sign of distance. The response is 不用谢 bu2yong4xie4 "don't use thank you" or 不客气 bu2ke4qi4 "no politeness."
China is a country in a rush. Buildings and roads are constructed as quickly as possible without regard for who they may inconvenience or what impact they may have on the surrounding environment. Chinese people go to bed early and wake up early. Inconveniences are borne with a stiff upper lip, not least among them the squat toilets. Service is an inconvenience; you have to chase down the waitresses to bring you what you asked for 20 minutes ago. Business owners are usually trying to sell you the lowest price. People smoke cigarettes to relax.
Thailand is a country that takes things slowly. People go to bed late and wake up late. Store owners are selling the freshest and healthiest ingredients or the best party in town (there are national celebrations every other week). When they serve passion fruit and mango smoothies, they ask if you want a boost of ginseng or gingko biloba (they know about the organic/healthy trend in Western countries). Service is still slow (because they are so relaxed), but they will eventually make eye contact and smile at you from across the room, making it all seem OK. The toilets are western style. There is a Thai massage parlor on every corner where an hour costs less than $4. Thai people use incense to relax .
China's Chinese food is nothing like the Chinese food in the United States. Chinese people can cut costs anywhere; they will cook and eat whatever they kill. It goes along with their "culture of austerity" developed during their history of privation. The street food in China can be described using one word: grease. Many Chinese people do not find Western food palatable, and many Westerners do not find Chinese food palatable. I don't know why.
Chinese people will not change the way they cook to appeal to Western tastes. China has very few Western style restaurants, and those they do have are often a mediocre amalgamation of stereotypical foods (burgers, spaghetti, and sandwiches).
Thailand's Thai food is exactly like the best Thai restaurants in the United States. In Chiang Mai, every meal was colorful, healthy, and under $3 a dish. Foreigners love Thai food because it is much closer to what they are used to. If it weren't, Thai people would change it. The street food even appeared to be fresh and healthy. I hadn't had all-white-meat-chicken in months.
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IMG_3057
IMG_3058
IMG_3087
China is for the Chinese because it can afford to be. Their population has reached critical mass to not require outsiders' approval in order to be important and successful as a nation. The irony is that Thailand is poorer than China; China could change if it wanted to.
Both are export driven economies, so both need to sell to foreigners. Both are places where the world sends its dirty work. Only Thailand wants people to want to move there and visit there. China has enough people, and they have different tastes than foreigners do.
To you future CIEE English teachers, consider your goals: if you are looking for a foot in the door with the world's next great economy, then China is your best destination. If you are looking to experience a more welcoming culture with better weather and a somewhat easier transition for a foreign teacher, Thailand is a better destination. That is not to say that both transitions are not challenging; English teaching is always challenging. Integrating into a new culture is always challenging. But China is uncomfortable for foreigners because China has been built for the Chinese.
Any comparison by an outsider between China and Thailand is bound to reflect poorly on China. The reason is simple: Thailand has been built for outsiders and China has been built for the Chinese. Blame it on China's ancient heritage, massive population, historical isolation, recent history of bitter hardship, discouragement of religion, economic reliance on factories, and trenchant xenophobia. Or blame it on Thailand's Buddhist heritage, beautiful scenery, culture of peace, and heavier dependence on tourism. Either way, Thailand is an easier place for foreigners to visit and enjoy than China. Period.Thailand's King is known as the "Defender of All Faiths." China's leader is known as Chairman and Paramount Leader of a Party that harmonizes all that it touches into one unified whole "with Chinese characteristics." China is the country with the world's largest population, but still remains insecure about the "unequal treaties" they were forced to sign in the 1800's and the way that they were subjugated by colonial powers, most recently Japan in the 1940's. Chinese people are intensely protective of all things Chinese because they view their nation as having been persecuted and oppressed by American and Japanese devils. Many of these ideas are wrapped into the rhetoric of revolution that is taught in school. (It is also the reason why Chinese people identify historically with Jews).Thailand is the only South East Asian country to have very little history of colonialism because they were used as a buffer state between the British Empire and French Indochina. The country's cosmopolitanism is immediately apparent in the Bangkok airport, where I could easily believe I was in any city in Europe.On average, people in China dress to fit in. People in Thailand dress to be seen. Take these Thai wedding dresses as an example.IMG_3072Ugly? Yes. Conservative? No. Boring? Also no.People in China are generally frustrated with you and occasionally condescending toward you if you cannot speak Chinese. (I should also note that many Chinese people will appreciate a passing effort at speaking the language. You can think of the Chinese as being like the French in both of these regards. This may account for the amazing relationship between the two countries). The service people in Thailand overwhelmingly speak English. If they can't, they will not look down on you for not being able to speak Thai. IMG_3009The first thing I noticed about Thai people is that they smile. Chinese society is one of muted reverence, not carefree and joyous exuberance (unless shots of alcohol are involved). If you smile at a Thai person, they will smile back. I surprised these Thai Starbucks attendants with this picture. Look how they took it in stride.Every business person in Thailand thanks you for your patronage, whether they are a restaurant owner or a taxi driver. When they thank you, they put their hands together in front of their hearts and bow to you as an acknowledgement of their gratitude. This is a clear carryover from Buddhism's ideology of respect for all creatures.In China, "thank you" is a sign of distance. The response is 不用谢 bu2yong4xie4 "don't use thank you" or 不客气 bu2ke4qi4 "no politeness."China is a country in a rush. Buildings and roads are constructed as quickly as possible without regard for who they may inconvenience or what impact they may have on the surrounding environment. Chinese people go to bed early and wake up early. Inconveniences are borne with a stiff upper lip, not least among them the squat toilets. Service is an inconvenience; you have to chase down the waitresses to bring you what you asked for 20 minutes ago. Business owners are usually trying to sell you the lowest price. People smoke cigarettes to relax. Thailand is a country that takes things slowly. People go to bed late and wake up late. Store owners are selling the freshest and healthiest ingredients or the best party in town (there are national celebrations every other week). When they serve passion fruit and mango smoothies, they ask if you want a boost of ginseng or gingko biloba (they know about the organic/healthy trend in Western countries). Service is still slow (because they are so relaxed), but they will eventually make eye contact and smile at you from across the room, making it all seem OK. The toilets are western style. There is a Thai massage parlor on every corner where an hour costs less than $4. Thai people use incense to relax .China's Chinese food is nothing like the Chinese food in the United States. Chinese people can cut costs anywhere; they will cook and eat whatever they kill. It goes along with their "culture of austerity" developed during their history of privation. The street food in China can be described using one word: grease. Many Chinese people do not find Western food palatable, and many Westerners do not find Chinese food palatable. I don't know why.Chinese people will not change the way they cook to appeal to Western tastes. China has very few Western style restaurants, and those they do have are often a mediocre amalgamation of stereotypical foods (burgers, spaghetti, and sandwiches). Thailand's Thai food is exactly like the best Thai restaurants in the United States. In Chiang Mai, every meal was colorful, healthy, and under $3 a dish. Foreigners love Thai food because it is much closer to what they are used to. If it weren't, Thai people would change it. The street food even appeared to be fresh and healthy. I hadn't had all-white-meat-chicken in months.
IMG_3056
IMG_3057
IMG_3058
IMG_3087
China is for the Chinese because it can afford to be. Their population has reached critical mass to not require outsiders' approval in order to be important and successful as a nation. The irony is that Thailand is poorer than China; China could change if it wanted to.
Both are export driven economies, so both need to sell to foreigners. Both are places where the world sends its dirty work. Only Thailand wants people to want to move there and visit there. China has enough people, and they have different tastes than foreigners do.
To you future CIEE English teachers, consider your goals: if you are looking for a foot in the door with the world's next great economy, then China is your best destination. If you are looking to experience a more welcoming culture with better weather and a somewhat easier transition for a foreign teacher, Thailand is a better destination. That is not to say that both transitions are not challenging; English teaching is always challenging. Integrating into a new culture is always challenging. But China is uncomfortable for foreigners because China has been built for the Chinese.
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