Hi dear all? I?ve been away for a while, cuz I have been busy with work. I can say busy as hell. Hrrr. Well but something happened at my office lately. I think I should share this story with u guys

I think most of u know about Thai time system already but for some people who don?t know it. I wanna show u a table to make u get some idea. It?s better to see this table before reading my story..

Hehehe, it confuses most of ppl right here but I can?t help it. That?s the way we(thai) tell the time.

It confuses me so many times also. When I wanna tell farang hmm for example. I wanna tell a farang guy that I have to go home around 9 pm. I have to try to convert from Sam Thoom (Sam = 3) to 9 o?clock cuz I always say ?I have to go home by 3 o?clock? that means 3 o?clock morning. I don?t think it?s a good idea . (I hope u understand me)

Ok, let?s get start my story. My work place needs an English teacher, must be a native speaker who can speak Thai. So many farang call us lately. A couple day ago, my colleague talked with a farang teacher who wanted to apply for this job. He needed to speak with our boss. Mostly, if farang or ppl who speak English call here they will ask me to speak with them but that time I was away for lunch break. Then she had to communicate with him by herself.

She told him that our boss was not in the office and would be back around 3 pm. Now I think u can guess what would happen next. Her brain process?. And thought if she says 3pm it was not right. Cuz she always convert 9am. and 9pm. In thai say Sam(3) mong chou and Sam Thoom. So, she told this guy that our boss would come back around 9 pm. And she didn?t ask for his phone number to call back. Hrrrrrrr. I think he made a call around 9pm. Cuz it makes sence, we work in the hospital and it?s open 24 hrs a day. Hehehehe. He must be surprise cuz there was no one answer the phone..

Hope it won?t happen with u guys na?..

Neung / Sleepy Grandma

hahaha...a fun AND educational story

Khun Neung,

Anyone living here must have been through this at least once, if not many times!!

The worst for me were flight times

I was in Phuket and we finished a meeting early at about 2pm so a few of us tried to change our flights to an earlier one. Nobody could get anything but my office called back and said their was a flight at 3 o'clock.

Are you sure? I said. Yes was the confident reply.

Wow I have to get to the airport quick!!

Informing everyone rather smugly that I had a flight but had to go immediately, I left them to call whoever to complain and demand why they couldn't get the same flight as me

Of course you know what happended when I got to the airport. Flight was 9pm, Sam thoom, 3 o'clock thai time :-)

Fortunately I did get on another flight about 6pm but I did have to face the others who arrived for the same flight. I wasn't allowed to forget that for a long time.

Well done with the table. I recommend people read and learn!!

Just one of those quirky things that makes Thailand different and enjoyable.

If you get it wrong, all you can do is smile and laugh at yourself. Getting angry gets you nowhere

PS

Can I print your timetable as a reminder please :-)

p' Bobby and impossible me, do u think i should add it in Learn Thai Forum lol

JayB...Poor u na... and u can print my table it's my pleasure.

For everyone who read this journal u can save and print it out if u like. for reminding. Yindee

After 21 years I finally have the opportunity to learn it correct..

Thank you bCool..

Many times I have told my friends who is coming to Thailand the first time about "Thai-time"..

But that is not about "Sam thom" and 3 pm..

Its about the delights of people not mind to much about the time..

That Thai people take it easy, and meet up when they have time, not the time they have made an appointment..

Like JayB say, it will not help to get angry..

The best thing to do is get a cold beer, sit down and take it just as easy! :-)

welcome Steel

Thai ppl tell the time by feelings too.. hrrrr hard to explain.

Well until they get used to it, military time is easier as opposed to the waylah system. In such case, one just says the military time followed by the word nahligah. Military time is the same everywhere - lol

1 krup, I think it would be very educational to add it in the Thai learning forum. I would call you now krup, but i have to study the chart first lol

Thanks, bCool, my catlover for this nice post. It really confused me, now I thuoght I could count in Thai ..... u make this journal!!!!!! ...... more confused nwo ......... 55555555555

I have to go now it's alraedy ha thoom ..... ooohhhh, no ...... it's here ha mong yen ...... Whatvere ......... OMB, I have to go to school again :-D