A little insight into cultural norms and other little tid-bits of information:
-It is rude to show the bottom of your foot, as feet are the lowest part of the body.
-Never touch a Thai on the head, as the head is regarded as the highest part of the body
-"Sanuk" means "fun"... everything in Thailand, no matter what you do, should have an element of "sanuk" otherwise it become drudgery.
-Thais believe strongly in the concept of "saving face," which means avoiding confrontation and embarrassment of themselves and other people. A Thai may laugh at you if you trip and fall, but it's actually an attempt to save face for you so that you don't feel bad about tripping.
-Teachers are positions of honor in Thailand
-Sleeveless shirts are considered improper dress (essentially it is rude to show your underarm), as well as shorts that are any shorter than the knee. Women should really wear skirts that cover the knee when sitting. Capris are welcome in public, but the school requires that women wear skirts. (It actually wasn't until recently that it was considered "acceptable" for women to wear pants. I think I'll stick with skirts and capris considering the heat...)
-Accept things with your right hand, with your left hand under the right as a support.
-Sandals are okay for almost anything but formal ocassions. Fortunately, I think it's okay to wear my birks and my chacos at school. (EXCITING!!!)
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