I grew up in a small town in North Georgia. It was a "white" town. Meaning, over 90% of the population was white. This is a fact, so don't get all political and say I'm making racist comments. Feel free to check the census, then rethink your hyper-sensitive attitude if that offended you. Seeing someone who wasn't white was a rarity. I'm white, so I didn't have any clue what it felt like to be a minority in a small town. But, after moving to Thailand, I'm finally on the receiving end of being a curiosity.
"Can we take a picture with you? You're white..."
People in Kamphaeng Phet have never seen white people. We're aliens here. Thais call us "falang," which means "Westerner." They have no problem openly staring, gawking, pointing, and yelling "FALANG!" because they're so amazed. That's the equivalent of yelling "Asian!" to someone's face.
Kids in supermarkets, on streets, in school, wherever try and touch me because they want to feel my skin and see why it's different from theirs. Strangers want to take pictures with me because I'm white. Kids at school want to touch my hair because it's "blonde." (If my hair is blonde, then these people would freak if they saw my sister, who is actually blonde.) And green eyes? Clearly, I'm from outer space.
I'm blonde? K.
The most peculiar encounter so far had to do with the cops. I was visiting a historical park with some other teachers. The site includes ruins from old Wats (temples). One of them had steps, so obviously, I started to climb them. There wasn't a sign that said "no climbing," and I prefer the "ask for forgiveness, not permission" model. About halfway up the steps, two security guards started walking toward us. Assuming I shouldn't have been climbing, I started to get down. But, where they there to stop me? Nope. Just wanted to take a picture with me because I'm white.
The other really cool thing about being a falang is that you're going to pay more for things where ever you go... like admission to a historical park, a cab, food, merchandise, etc. Because, clearly, if you're white, you're rich and should pay more. White privilege, right?
NO CLIMBING! Unless you're white... and you take a picture with the security guards.
Thais are so obsessed with being white that they will do anything to become white - like bleach their skin. Dark skin is a sign of someone who works outside, which means the person isn't fortunate enough to work inside. It's hot in Thailand. People want to work inside. If Thais do have to go outside, they're covered from head to toe, so they don't get tan. Even if it's 100 degrees outside, they're still wearing long sleeve shirts, pants, hoodies and sweaters to keep the sun blocked. I've seen Thai's in leggings and sweaters go swimming. So, there's that.
It's 100 degrees outside. But, I'll be damned if I'm going to get tan.
Deodorant, lotion, talcum powder, makeup, or anything else you put on your skin has a whitening agent in it. The whiter the skin, the better. I'm not sure if Michael Jackson started this trend, or if Thais taught him a thing or two?
It's borderline impossible to find things without a whitening chemical in them.
Bottom line, if you're white and in remote Thailand, you're an alien. A curiosity. A freak. You're going to pay more for things because you're a falang. It's not a racist thing. It's a Thailand thing. Accept it, move on, and prepare yourself for some bizarre encounters with the locals.