[psbiuigw]

Empty acts of courtesy such as the 7 Eleven greeting I can live without. The unmotivated, genuine kindness I have seen in Thailand on the other hand, is something very special.

Now I agree it'd be great if people could hold up the door for me, but I have also learned to not expect it - because it is obviously not one of the things kids are taught here. The term *common* courtesy is useless in trying to look at Thailand. This *common* courtesy does not even look the same between European countries - Swedes thank their tobacconist twice when paying, the Aussies once at most. Englishmen always say 'sorry' after bumping into someone, Swedes don't. Etc.

If you are not taught it, you cannot be expected to practice it.