Confessions of a Cross-cultural Geek

Just at the time that Philippines was having election for new president and other major political positions, Thailand was having political trouble which started in March and went on until this month of May. It was only last week that the situation has escalated which resulted to extreme violence. It is not the intent of this post to talk about what happened, how it happened, and who were responsible. Instead i just want to write about its effect on me being in Thailand for almost seven years now.
I was not able to pay close attention to news about my country (though i tried to be updated) because the situation in this country had been making big, disturbing, and painful news. I have never realized the depth of my attachment to this nation until all that had happened within the last two months. I have come to realize that Thailand has indeed become a second home... I followed the events. Watched news on TV and read opinions on the internet... wanting to know what to pray for. I have never been so interested in politics as i have a very limited understanding of it. But Thailand was under severe trial and as an expat who's  been trying to learn to speak, read and write the language, understand the culture and adapt those which i think make sense to my personality, i knew i had to be aware. I wanted to be relevant... to be able to sympathize with friends.

That was what was surprising... how subconsciuosly, Thailand has become so much already a part of me. Doesnt matter if i dont earn as much as some people i know who chose to be in more progressive countries. Doesnt matter if traffic is so bad and weather too hot almost all year round. At the end of the day, i know that at this point of time i'm where i am suppsed to be...

Unlovey words and phrases that we love to use anyway...

This is list of some words and phrases that we often used to buy time, avoid giving answers, and escape commitment... or simpy annoy the person talking to us... If you use these words and phrases yourself, you may want to limit their use and only use them when really necessary... Read on and see if you're guilty or not.

Try...
"Try" is a weasel word. "Well, I'll try," some people say. It's a cop-out. They're just giving you lip service, when they probably have no real intention of doing what you ask.

Whatever...
This word is a trusted favorite of people who want to dismiss you, diminish what you say, or get rid of you quickly. "Whatever," they will say as an all-purpose response to your earnest request. It's a way to respond to a person without actually responding. When you say "whatever" after another person has said his or her piece, you have essentially put up a wall between the two of you and halted any progress in communicating.

I remember being told by a friend to stop saying whatever because it appears like i am not intrested with what he's syaing. One time was telling me how he planned to go to the islands during a long holiday, what he would be doing, etc., and i simply said, "fine... whatever." There,  i got rebuked...

Maybe and I don't know...
People will sometimes avoid making a decision, and hide behind words and phrases like "maybe" and "I don't know." There's a difference between legitimately not knowing something and using words like these as excuses. Sometimes during a confrontation, people will claim not to know something or offer the noncommittal response "maybe," just to avoid being put on the spot. If that seems to be the case, ask, "When do you think you will know?" or "How can you find out?" Don't let the person off the hook so easily.

I guess . . .
I guess is one of the most commonly spoken phrases in English. It is used when one is not completely sure of something.

It becomes quite unacceptable if it is spoken in a weak, soft-spoken, shoulder-shrugging manner. It's another attempt to shirk responsibility and commitment... a phrase that is muttered only when people half agree with you but want to leave enough leeway to say, "Well, I didn't really know. . . . I was only guessing."

We'll see . . .
How many times did we hear someone say this? We knew they were buying time, avoiding a fight or confrontation, or really saying no. It's better to be decisive and honest.

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There are many other words and phrases that people [including me... and maybe you as well]  to show uncertainty, diregard, disrespect or disinterest when somebody's telling us someting. Sometimes they're simply used for the fun of it... Which of them do you use most? Which of them do you hate the most?