Dear Inappropriately-Dressed-European-Women in Phuket,
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I wanted to write and thank you, this week you helped me teach my children an important lesson. You see, my children tend to point at people that amaze and disgust them. In Cambodia where women rarely show their legs, let alone their boobs, we very rarely get to work on our No Pointing Rule. Here in Phuket though you have allowed us to really sink our teeth into this parenting thing. For instance, Inappropriately-Dressed-European-Woman with your boobs out by the pool, my daughter pointed and said, “Mommy, that lady doesn’t have a top on.” This was the perfect opportunity to explain that pointing is not appropriate, even if someone is missing their shirt. I also want to thank the lady in the striped shirt with cut out pieces in it…bravo for inappropriate, my daughter thought that was yucky and she pointed so I would know what she was referring to, again, I explained the no pointing lesson. So Inappropriately-Dressed-European-Women, even though this is a Buddhist country and thus conservative in nature, I applaud you for cultural disregard and appreciate your lack of shame, this week it has served a purpose and furthered a cause.
The victory I experienced this morning belongs to all of us…at breakfast Callie turned to me and whispered, “Mommy, there is a lady behind you and I can see her boobs and her fat tummy and I’m not pointing.” Lesson learned.
Thank you,
Andrea
PS. Now that the lesson has been learned, hows about we put some clothes on hmmm??
Bwahh ha ha ha. I love this. I do happen to have pictures of Callie shirtless on the beach. What is the age break-off?
I know, I totally have a double standard, but my theory is, ‘if you got ’em, try to not flaunt ’em’. Now please no references to high school and college;)
Aiee, hilarious. I had no idea what your post was about, but this was never going to be on my guess list.
I am amazed at this behavior even outside Asia. At the Vatican they *tell* you not to wear tank tops or shorts, but I was shocked at how many tourists thought it was fine to be gawking in Notre Dame wearing Daisy Dukes–it’s an operating Cathedral, people! There are priests and nuns running around in full robes in July!
Can you please teach this to my son when you return? Pointing at and singing “BOOBIES” and then laughing is a normal occurance while we’re out and about now. I wonder who encouraged my son to think that this was totally ok?? I’ll give you 3 guesses, but I think you’ll only need one.
There is a huge debate going on about this very subject at Matador. A writer asked why women and men can’t follow the suggested dress protocol in Luang Prabang. The women went nuts and mostly said that asking them to cover their shoulders was stifling their self-expression. It’s insane that travelers refuse to be gracious to their local hosts so they can express themselves with two inches more of exposed skin.
Isn’t it crazy, and Luang Prabang isn’t even the beach! All of my guests are so respectful and ask what they should and shouldn’t wear, who are these people that have such disregard?!?