Thailand Sojourn

Salutations

I finally thought I had the basic salutation down here.  which is Sa wat dee.  But if you are male you add what sounds like “cop” at the end so it’s sawat dee cop.  Just about the time I thought I had that one down I’ve started hearing something that sounds more like “how’s your kneecap.”  I have had two surgeries on my kneecap so maybe they are making a polite inquiry about my knees.  The more I listen the more variations I hear.  Another one sounds like “gnat,”  Same with thank you which is I think “korp kun,” which has began to sound more and more like a like an owl that got his “h’s” mixed up with “k’s.”  And then another variation.  One of the security guards for my Apartment--I did mention I have a small army protecting me, right?  No less than 4-5 between the front gate and the elevator--greeted me saying something that sounded like “How’s your cup?”  Referring to what?  My trip to Starbucks or my jock strap? 

Another small variation on salutations.  I am greeted sometimes as professor Steve.  Or ‘khun” Steve which sometimes sounds like Colonel Steve.  Finally rank.  I never  got past 2nd class in Boy Scouts. And when I refused to go to Vietnam I couldn’t even get a C.O. designation.

PASSENGERS ON A JOURNEY INVOLVING AN ULTIMATE DESTINATION OR A STOP IN A COUNTRY OTHER THAN THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN ARE ADVISED THAT THE

PROVISIONS OF A TREATY KNOWN AS THE WARSAW CONVENTION MAY BE APPLICABLE TO THE ENTIRE JOURNEY, INCLUDING ANY PORTION ENTIRELY WITHIN THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN OR DESTINATION. "WARSAW CONVENTION" MEANS THE CONVENTION FOR THE UNIFICATION OF CERTAIN RULES RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL CARRIAGE BY AIR SIGNED AT WARSAW, 12TH OCTOBER 1929, OR THAT CONVENTION AS AMENDED AT THE HAGUE, 28TH SEPTEMBER 1955, WHICHEVER MAY BE APPLICABLE.

I don’t know about you but I think its about time we rewrote these laws.