Learning Thai

Recently I talked with two of my English classes about superstitions. Our book gave some examples of American superstitions (walking under ladders - bad; finding horseshoes - good, etc.) Then I asked the students about equivalent Thai superstitions. Here are a few of them...

If a black cat jumps over a coffin, you'll see a ghost.

If you point at a rainbow your finger will fall off.

If you sit on a book you'll become stupid.

If you sit on a pillow you'll get "bad acne" (maybe a boil?) on your bottom.

If you cut your nails at night, your parents will suffer misfortune.

If you wear a hat inside you'll lose your hair.

When you're eating a fish (here they are usually served whole) and finish the first side, you shouldn't flip the fish over because that will cause a boat to sink. (Instead you carefully peel the bones away from the remaining meat.)

If you are doing something important that day, it's important to step out of your door with your left foot first.

On the other hand, it's perfectly safe to open an umbrella inside your house in Thailand!

-Tom