COM 250 Research Paper

INTRODUCTION While Im 16 years old, i have a friend from Thailand, name is Prem Predict. During that time, his father was a factory manager and has to shift from the Songkhla, Thailand to a new branch at Seri Kembangan, Selangor. So, he also has to migrate from Thailand and continue his school session at Seri Serdang Secondary School.

He was my best friend and we are closed. He was so cool and quite funny. Although we have different culture, race and religious, we got no problem to have suitability among us. We know how to interact each other and almost the students and teachers are comfort with him. As far as I know, he was committed with what he do and have a lot of experience with his life because always migrate from a place to another place since 10 years old.

I have learnt several things about his life and culture. Its was my first experience to have a friend that wellborn outside from Malaysia. Our relationships not stand for a long time because once again, his father has to shift back to Thailand after one year. We still connected through the telephone call, but it does not withstand longer because his father was always be shifted to another placed.

COM 250 Research Paper

THE COMMUNICATION Thailand was classified as High Context culture country. People in the country is tend to be homogenous and collectivist. They know very much and understand each other. People of this culture like to use nonverbal communication and they like to use indirect style communication which is to control the spoken words when deliver the meaning to someone.

They also collectivist with work together and the most important to saving face to take care the relationship among them.

Refer to the High Context culture, I got no problem when had communicate with Prem. For information, the official language of Thailand is Kradai and its similar with Lao in Burma. The good thing about him, he can speak Malay language very fluently. He comforts to use Malay language because had learns it since 10 years old. His father always shifted and this is giving him opportunity to learn another language. As far as I know, he can speak in Thai, Malay, Chinese and English. His mother was a Chinese, but Prem cannot speak in Cantonese or Mandarin fluently.

I think there are not too many differences between the Malaysian culture and them. Malaysia also a High Context culture country. He have an attitude to make a good conversation (save face). He tends to be in group and show his commitment with deliver the good idea.

COM 250 Research Paper

ACCULTURATION Prem was classified as a sojourner which is he lives in this country for a limited period of time with a specific & goal-oriented purpose. As I mention above, he only stays in Malaysia for a one year and to further his school session. A sojourner can be a person who lives in a country from a little as 6 months to as long as 5 years. His father can be an expatriate, which is a non citizen worker who lives in a country for an indeterminate length of time.

During my age at the time, a Hip Hop phenomenon was attack the youth through the music and fashion. At the first time I know him, Prem was a simple guy and not to stylish. Suddenly after the several months, he had changed his style through his clothes and loves to learn Hip Hop music. I think he had a culture shock. At the age like Prem, youth is easy to get influenced and alert about what happened surround them. They like to keep update what is new and latest. Prem also had start smoking since meet the immoral friends. I agree that friends will influence him to do a negative behaviour.

RELIGION Prem was a Buddhist follower. Majority of the people living in Thailand practice Buddhism and they form about 94% of the total population of Thailand. Prem told me that most of Muslims people, which are ethnic Malay, are staying at southern tip of Thailand. The area is included Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla.

COM 250 Research Paper

CULTURE AND CUSTOM Every time we meet, usually Prem will do a wai, followed with their hands pressed together, fingertips pointing upwards as the head is bowed to touch their face to the hands. Usually the act will followed with soft-spoken words Sawat dii khrap for male and Sawat dii ka for female. Afterwards we must respond the greeting, but I not sure the wai is counter with the Islam teaching because during that time we always respond back when Prem do the wai. In Islam, we have to wish Assalamualikum to the people we meet.

Prem told me the elder will respond afterwards in the same way. Regarding the social status and position such as in government, there also have procedure that will perform the wai first. Usually, the visitor gives the respect first although the visitor is older than the officer. If you notice, the wai sign are similar to the namaste greeting of India.

The children also do a wai to his parents before go to somewhere to represent their respect for them. In Malay custom, we should shake the hand and followed by kiss when meet the older.

Prem also told me that we cannot touch someone head. The head is considered the most sacred. Pointing with the feet its also a rude attitude because the foot is dirtiest part of the body. Cross over someone bodies and food is considered insulting which is give us another interesting culture of Thailand.

COM 250 Research Paper

CONCLUSION I dont face any problems when having the communication with Prem. Hes was easily adapting the Malaysian culture. He also knows how to respect our custom and rules. Prem never bring the counterculture when do an unfamiliar things towards us. As we know, Prem was a Buddhist and Malaysia also has a Buddhist follower. So what he does is a normal custom and related with the Buddhist teach.

If Prem is really from the centre of Thailand which is never had been travel to Malaysia, I think its will give me the hard situation when to have a communication with him. Totally, Im glad to have a friend like him give me an opportunity to know better about the Thailand culture and custom.