Clothing, Equipment & Resource List THAILAND Climate There are three seasons in Thailand The rainy season from July to November, the cool season from November to February and the hot season from March to June. So generally, it is hot and humid but can get cool enough to need a sweater, especially in the North. Appearance Thai people are well presented at all times. The way you dress is extremely important in Thailand and will determine the way you are treated by local people, i.e. you must differentiate yourself from the cliché traveler in shorts and a vest if you would like to be taken seriously as a teacher. To be accepted and respected in Thailand you must try to dress the way your colleagues do. You are making the transition from being a student to a teacher who sets the example. All clothes must be respectable and conventional when at your project. This list is intended as a guide only and will be discussed in more depth on Training. General Points About Clothing Male And Female White clothes get easily and permanently stained and should be avoided. Washing machines almost always have no hot water setting, so stains are hard to get out. Brightly coloured and patterned clothes look nicer in hot climates. Strong, hard wearing material is recommended, as hand washing is hard on clothes. Synthetic materials are not ideal for hot climates. Although much of what is on sale in Thailand is synthetic, it is advised you bring/look for cotton or cotton/polyester mix - the latter means your clothes won t look so creased. Thais take care in their appearance. Clothes for work must be clean, respectable and ironed. Revealing or semi-transparent clothes are not suitable.
Females Essential Clothing Amount* Trousers or Jeans 3 For time off. Three-quarter legged trousers are good as they are cooler. Most Thai people tend to wear jeans in their free time. Skirts 4 Fitted (but not tight) knee length smart skirts are popular. No shorter than knee length. Dresses 1 Good for smart occasions. Tops 2 Short or long sleeves, smart for work. Non-synthetic material if possible cotton will keep you cooler. Should cover your shoulders. Bright-coloured work shirts are also a good idea with yellow, pink and blue being particularly important in Thailand. Jumper 1 Or cardigan as it can get chilly (more if in the North) and for travelling on air-conditioned transport. Shorts 1/2 For holidays only. Shoes 2/3 Smart for school (easy to slip on or off) not high heel. A few pairs of pumps are ideal, although they do wear out quickly. Shoes for social occasions too. Sandals/flip flops 1 Sturdy. You can buy flip flops anywhere in Thailand for out of school wear. Trainers 1 For sport. Swimsuit 1 Not bikini for around your project, although ok for travelling. Tracksuit/ sportswear 1 For sport. Nightwear 1 Natural fibres are cooler. Pants 15 Dark are better; white deteriorates in hot countries, and washing machines don t have hot water. Bras 5 Dark are better; white deteriorates in hot countries, and washing machines don t have hot water. Socks 5 Lightweight * Guide only
Comments Avoid low plunging, gaping, and tight or transparent clothes. Clothes that are remotely see-through should not be worn without a top underneath, as this may cause offence. It is also considered particularly offensive to wear tops that show any midriff or cleavage. It can be difficult to get larger sizes in shoes and underwear. Underwear is likely to be made of synthetic fabric too. Thais remove their shoes before entering most homes and many other buildings, so slip-on shoes are highly recommended. Getting clothes made up is both inexpensive and quick; but make sure you take enough to get you started. Casual clothes such as jeans and T-shirts are very cheap and easy to buy. Thais are generally pretty stylish. Clothes are very widely available and cheap in Thailand so don t worry too much about what you pack. Kit List Moon Cups Recommended by many female volunteers (cheaper and more environmentally friendly) and certainly worth researching if you have not come across these before. There will be more discussion on this during training. Tampons are available too in Thailand although can be more expensive. 7-11, Boots and Tesco exist in Thailand and even if they aren t at your project it is generally manageable to top up when you are in bigger towns or cities. Guidebooks First Aid Kit Camera A spare memory card (better two small cards than one large one in case you lose it or it becomes corrupted).
Males Essential Clothing Amount* Smart Trousers 3 Lightweight, respectable trousers for teaching. Ties 2 Some projects require these, others don t. Ties should be adaptable to more than just one shirt and are good for formal occasions. Shirts 6 For work, long or short-sleeved (Cotton shirts are cooler) however most men will wear normal shirts. Bright-coloured work shirts are also a good idea with yellow, pink and blue being particularly important in Thailand. Jeans 2 Or casual trousers. Most Thai teenagers wear jeans in their free time. Shorts 3 One pair for sports, NOT high cut. T-Shirts 5 Any t-shirts will do, but no profanity or lewd imagery. Polo shirts with a collar are good to protect the back of your neck. Sweaters 2 May need more if you are in the North where its cooler. Pants/boxers 10 Cotton, in hot countries they can wear out quickly so avoid white. Socks 10 Lightweight cotton Jacket 1 For important functions ( light weight), a simple blazer will do. Pyjamas 1 Swimming trunks/ shorts 1 Some places misinterpret swimming shorts as actual shorts and won t let you swim in them, best to have one of each just in case. Respectable shoes 2/3 Smart for teaching in; slip-ons best. Casual trainers for weekends/travelling. Canvas shoes are good for hot countries. Sandals/flip flops 1 Sturdy. You can buy flip flops anywhere in Thailand for out of school wear. Trainers 1 Good for trekking and casual wear. * Guide only
Comments It is possible to get most things there but it can be difficult to get bigger sizes. This is certainly the case for footwear, so bring them from home. Slip-on shoes are best as Thais take their shoes off before entering homes and many other buildings. Having clothes tailor-made there is both inexpensive and quick; but take enough clothes to get you started. Fitted, smart clothes are the order of the day; short-sleeved shirts and chinos are ideal. Make a real effort to bring out smart looking clothes for school it will make a big difference not just to first impressions but also to how locals view you long-term. Casual clothes such as jeans and t-shirts are very cheap and easy to buy. Facial hair is accepted by some, and not by others. Either way, if you have a beard then assess the situation when you arrive and if you are asked to shave, then shave. A teacher must look respectable at all times. If you are allowed facial hair, ensure it is not messy, dirty, or too long. Kit List Deodorant Many Thai deodorants are quite weak so if you are worried about finding appropriate deodorant, bring lots from the UK. Guidebooks First Aid Kit Camera A spare memory card (better two small cards than one large one in case you lose it or it becomes corrupted). PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THINGS CAN STILL CHANGE OVERSEAS AND WITH PROJECTS THEREFORE THERE IS STILL A POSSIBILITY THAT YOU MAY NOT END UP GOING TO THE COUNTRY WHERE YOU WERE INITIALLY PLACED. IF THIS IS THE CASE WE WILL TELEPHONE YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Essential Equipment Large rucksack Small rucksack Money belt First Aid Kit (between 65-75 litres). This is much more appropriate than a suitcase. (approx 15 litres). For day trips/general use. This should fit under your clothes as a safety precaution. No more than a 3 season is necessary. Useful Equipment Sewing Kit Sleeping bag and/or liner Decoration Entertainment Torch Teaching Aids Including good scissors, string, a few clothes pegs and coat hangers. Mainly needed when travelling, a sleeping liner will probably be adequate. Blu-tak (impossible to find in Thailand so bring your own), posters and postcards of where you come from are really useful, as are photos of family and home. As well as decorating your room, these are useful for teaching and for explaining to people about life at home. Travel games, books and playing cards. Please note that gambling is illegal in Thailand, so should be avoided. The law states that no person shall possess more than 120 playing cards (2 decks) unless they are government regulated and stamped decks. Particularly useful are head torches and wind-up torches. General texts on your subjects for teachers, an English grammar book and dictionary, books of instruction on games, arts and crafts, scouting and guiding (if you are keen) and music. Basic stationary supplies will be useful to get you started however stationary is easy to find in Thailand. Important Note Airline baggage allowances may be as little as 20 kilos only. Confirmation of this will be given to you on your training course.
Suggested Thailand Resource List It s certainly not essential to purchase and read all of the books listed below however it is recommended that you look at the websites listed below. It certainly will make Training more interesting. Remember, if you do purchase anything please help Project Trust out by buying through the Amazon section on your Project Profile page as that way a percentage of the value of the order will be donated to us. A GOOD GUIDE BOOK IS USEFUL Lonely Planet or Rough Guide Southeast Asia on a Shoestring (good if you plan on traveling to surrounding countries) PHRASEBOOK/CULTURE I recommend the Lonely Planet one as it s small and quite easy to follow. GENERAL BOOKS ON THAILAND Thailand Culture Shock Robert and Nanthapa Cooper Looking for Mr Rin Lawrence Whiting (especially for the volunteers in Phana but also anyone interested in Isaan and Thai families during the 20th century) People of Esarn Pira Sudham (about the Isaan region there are a number of different ways to spell it) Phra Farang: An English Monk in Thailand Phra Peter Pannapadipo (especially useful for those in Nakhon Sawan) Little Angels: The Real Life Stories of Thai Novice Monks Phra Peter Pannapadipo The Bridge over the River Kwai Pierre Boulle Touch the Dragon Karen Connelly Very Thai (2nd Edition) Philip Cornwell-Smith (great book about everyday popular culture in Thailand a real eye opener) WEBSITES Link to English language Thai newspaper http://www.bangkokpost.com/ Link to English language magazine all about Chiang Mai (The Rep also works as an editor here) http://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/ Information on Thai Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette: http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/thailand-country-profile.html Thailand profile on the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15581957