I teach at a mid-sized government school in the Northeast. Overall, it’s been an incredible experience - great students, a laid-back lifestyle, and coworkers who have mostly been kind and supportive. But one day, I learned the hard way how one tiny comment, especially about food, can land you in hot water. Here’s what happened. Every day, the Thai teachers would gather in the staff room around 11:30 for lunch. I usually brought my own or grabbed something from the canteen, but a few times, I was invited to join in their shared meal. Picture this: a bunch of delicious home-cooked Thai dishes laid out on the table - curries, fried fish, vegetables, chili pastes, and, of course, a mountain of rice. It was always generous and flavorful.

Now, on this particular day, someone had made a dish with fermented fish (pla ra). If you know, you know. It has a very, um, distinct smell - strong, salty, almost sour. I’m trying to be polite, but I’m also caught off guard. So I make a face (not on purpose!) and say something like: “Whoa, that smells intense! What is that?” That’s it. Nothing mean. I didn’t say it was gross. Just... surprised. Suddenly, the room goes quiet. One teacher kind of chuckles awkwardly. Another just mumbles something and turns back to her food. The vibe shifts. Later that day, one of the English-speaking teachers quietly tells me that my comment might have been taken as an insult. Apparently, pla ra is a beloved part of Isaan cuisine, - and joking about it, especially in a way that could be interpreted as disgust - is kind of like mocking someone's family recipe or tradition.

I felt awful.

The next day, I brought in some mangoes and sticky rice from a local shop as a kind of peace offering and said (very clearly), “The food yesterday looked amazing - I really didn’t mean to be rude.” That seemed to smooth things over, and now we’re back to smiles and lunch invites, but wow… lesson learned. Moral of the story: In Thailand, never underestimate the cultural pride tied to food. If something smells strong or unfamiliar, keep your poker face strong and your comments light - or better yet, just ask to try it and smile.

Robert