Asian culture is unique and different from that in the Western world, particularly regarding its approach to community, status and way of life.
I initially had the opportunity to obtain a better understanding of Thai culture by taking courses that directly teach me more about Asian culture, and Thai culture more specifically. While in Thailand, I am taking courses in cooking, Buddhism, daily communication, and social and cultural dynamics. Each of these classes has provided me with greater insight of these people and how they see the world. For example, some key aspects of Thai culture include community, status and their common way of life which is intertwined with Buddhism.
Thai community and family dynamics can be hard to understand from a Western perspective. Thai individuals rely heavily on their families and may even live within their parent's households for their entire lives. In Thai culture, it is much more common to take care of one's aging parents rather than hiring someone to take care of your parents for you. In Western communities, individuals are eager to escape their parents' households and become themselves as independent people. Here, though, after marriage, it is almost expected that a couple will live with the bride's parents for several years.
