A Quick Lesson in Thai
The Thai language is very different from English because they use character symbols like many other eastern cultures instead of the letters we're used to. Hello looks like this, สวัสดี, though it's pronounced "S-wa-dee". The Thai characters represent phonetic sounds that make up words, similar to how our letters stand for sounds that make up the English language.
This makes reading Thai pretty impossible for me. However, I'm making progress in being able to speak it! I've got down the most basic words/phrases:
Hello = สวัสดี (S-wa-dee)
Goodbye = ลาก่อน (La gorn)
Yes = ใช่ (Chai)
No = ไม่ (Mai)
Bathroom = ห้องอาบน้ำ (Hong nahm)
Water = น้ำ (Nahm)
Thank you = ขอขอบคุณ (kob kuhn)
You're welcome = ไม่เป็นไร (mai pen rai)
It's a start! Most locals don't speak English unless they're at the university or in the tourism industry, but luckily most signs and menus have English subtitles. Even so, I hope to learn enough to make basic conversation. Out of respect, females almost always add the phrase "ka" to the end of their sentences, and males add "krup". It's a short formal word with no English translation but that expresses respect and politeness. Manners are super important in Thai culture and I hope to fit right in!