Sawasdee is the Thai greeting word and a key word in the Thai language, more than you may expect. This one word says it all in Thai as it is used to say "Hello", "Goodbye", "See you later", everything. It is used at the beginning and ending of every coming together. It is the most important word of every conversation as, if you say nothing else, you say "Sawasdee" at the beginning and end. What goes in between is not so important. Actually, what is said in between could be absolutely devastating or just say nothing at all. What remains key is the "Sawasdee" and how you say it for no rude or lax "Sawasdees" are allowed, and absolutely frowned upon.
In Thai, you do not say "Happy New Year" but "Sawasdee New Year". You greet the New Year itself, saying "Hello. New Year".
For a culture where the greeting is so central to all conversation, communication remains ever lacking or failing. They just do not put the same emphasis on what is spoken between the Sawasdees. It is like the rest of the conversation does not need or demand the same level of care, attention and energy. Amazing!
I guess Sawasdee or no Sawasdee, we are all human. Communication remains ever challenging for all of us.
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