Mai Pen Rai and other Cool Thai Phrases

Fuad and I have just spent a bulk of the last 2 days in Thai Language and Culture Training. A total of 20 hours is required by law in order for me to receive my Thai teaching license. CMIS generously offered for Fuad to attend along with me since he will be working in the Bangkok office of Leo Burnett. Additionally, starting in September, CMIS provides 30 lessons in Thai language for me! Yesterday our teacher told us that in 30 lessons some teachers have become proficient in Thai. Knowing my history in attempting to learn languages, I don't think I'll be one of those people...but perhaps if I try REALLY hard, I can do it.

I previously wrote about slowing down the tempo and yesterday I discovered an essential phrase in the Thai language which explains a lot about the perception of time here, "Mai Pen Rai" It means "it's ok, don't worry about it, or never mind." If you click the link you can see scenarios of when to use this phrase. I also learned that Thai people avoid conflict, so the use of "mai pen rai" helps them to skirt around confrontation. They also use it to show consideration. So the question arises, how do they solve problems if everything is treated with this "it doesn't matter" attitude? (From what I hear) They approach problem solving problem with a sense of diplomacy, tact and compromise. Bottom line, nobody should lose face. As a Westerner coming from a fast-paced, instant gratification society (and especially so coming from urban living in Chicago) my perception of "mai pen rai" is that nothing is getting done, or it's taking entirely too long to do it.

I have already experienced this delayed response shortly after our arrival. Our AC in the bedroom wasn't getting cool. We showed this to our landlady (after she came 2 hours late) then her husband had to check it out...they arranged for someone to come the next morning to look at it...he checked it out and told them to call someone else, he couldn't fix it...finally the right person arrived at the house, essentially it took about 7 people looking at the AC to find the right person to do the job. But mai pen rai, it's ok!

So for me, when I hear mai pen rai, I need to remember it doesn't mean it's forgotten, it just means don't worry about it right now, it'll get taken care of, just not right now.

The word Jai also resonated with me, it means heart. Here are a few phrases they taught us using this word, Jai:

Jai yen yen=serenity, cool your heart or calm down.

Nam Jai=generosity, water of the heart, as in offering help or objects to others, and

Kreng Jai=harmony, as if you don't want to impose on someone

I can't really think of any phrases in English that have quite the same meaning as the three above, that are centered around how you feel in your heart. This is going to be quite a learning experience!