Learn more about Thai

      If you come to  Thailand for the first time, whether for a few day  visit  or  work  for a  several  years, some understand of the character of  the average Thai people will help prevent  you from some of the experience. Perhaps the most prominent feature of the  character of the Thai people is their natural inclination to "smile".

         You may have learned of Thailand as the "Land of Smiles" epithet frequently used in the tourism  promotion campaigns of  this  country  in  recent years. You may have no doubt about the truth contained  in  the statement, since it had bad result if it were not true. But you may wonder why this is so.

         The  most  important  influence  the Thai  people have received  in their character  formation has  been  the teachings  of  Buddhism, which emphasize on the doctrine of causality. They  take  things  easy because they believe that everything  in  life  is the result of some action in the past, and that what will happen. (Karma)  They  are  kind  to  strangers because they believe that good deeds will bring rewards to the doer in a future life. They are tolerant of evils because they believe that the evil-doer will be punished without their intervention. (in short) They are always cheerful no matter whether in success or in adversity.

   These same factors and influences have also helped is another significant trait of the Thai nation-their love of peace.  This is shown in their exceptional abillity to co-exist with people of different nationality, different religions, different political views and different social classes. 

     But all this does not mean that the Thai people will allow themselves to be trodden upon. There is always a limit to their tolerance. That was why the Burmese invaders were expelled by King Naresuan in 1584 and again by King Taksin in 1767.    The Thai people's love of peace is also reflected in their tendency to compromise and their reluctance to disturb others.