Having shared about my run in Lumphini, I recall some observations I have while here in Asia--taking these presuppositions and generalizations from the Western world and holding them up here, thinking, "Is this true?" It is in frequently Lumphini Park to run that I really have seen Western individualism really challenged, in my own opinion.
Thais and farang (western-foreigners) of all kinds frequent the park here, mostly to exercise. I have seen serious runners, like I would see back home, and I have seen some people I think... Wow. They think that is running?! I've seen people "run" by shuffling their feet at a pace slower than some elderly people walk with walkers. I've seen a man walk backwards--really exercising the other muscles. I've seen a woman running while carrying an umbrella, and many people run in the humidity and sun wearing long sleeves and long pants--Thais go to extreme lengths to avoid darkening their skin from the sun (White skin is quite beautiful).
Besides running, I've seen groups of Tai Chi, Chinese dance, Fan dancing, men wearing capri pants and cut off shirts doing dance aerobics, plenty of yoga groups with their blankets and mats on the grass, and then the people using the circuit machines, and the men at the outdoor gyms. Most of these who are in groups all have matching shirts! Usually yellow, pink, or white polo shirts. Some exercise wearing jeans, a tshirts, and basic shoes that tie--no rules here for what shoes to wear on the machines. Some people wear flip flops. Mai pen rai!
I've seen one man standing in the middle of the park, standing still, just moving his head to the left and then to the right. Then, a couple days ago, I saw two women standing with their feet shoulder width apart, pretty still, except for they were shaking their arms and knees like noodles. One woman in another part of the park was standing alone just shaking her arms at her side.
Here, the people love uniforms. Public or private, all schools have uniforms, even wearing the same shoes, same style socks, and the children must all have the same hairstyles. Nurses, receptionists, and even construction workers--all have uniforms. Just about every job here: uniform. The Thai people love uniformity in clothes! On a side note, they take very good care of their uniforms--even coming from a slum, their uniforms are clean and ironed, and shoes are polished. Another side note, when not in uniform, their "casual" dress is extremely casual.
What does this have to do with Western and Eastern ideals?
From my experience as a United States-ian, I grew up with individualized thinking. Be who you want to be, express yourself in your clothes, choose whatever field you want to pursue, do your own thing, be your own person. We fight against uniforms, wanting to be free and having freedom to us means having a choice not only in clothes we wear, but in just about every facet of life.
Asia, as most Westerns observe, is accustomed to a lot of "group thought". With uniforms and groups for everything. Then comes whether we judge this to be postive or negative, from which I think many people may diverge when coming to a conclusion. I refrain from making a stark judgement on it, but I have observed and learned something beautiful from this.
My observations in the park struck me. Here is so much uniformity, which normally makes me think everyone just follows the crowd. However, I see so much individualism, people exercising whatever way they want, feeling no inhibitions or fear of "Who is watching me?" or "Do I look cool enough?" Of course, I do not know what they are thinking, but by seeing more of this here than I feel I see at home in the States, I think I'm on the right track.
So what is the big judgement on this experience?
In this society, expectations are clear (at least clearer than at home). How you are to act, what are the rules in society, what is polite, what is good etiquette. When the standards are clear, and you know what bar to meet, something happens within a person: You are free to be yourself.
Here is the diversion. In the Western world, rules and expectations are viewed as an obstacle to freedom. But I see an example here where the more rules and standards they have, the more the people are free as individuals--not looking around thinking, "Am I doing it right?" --because we often don't know: What are the standards?
Now, being Christian, "Wherever two are three are gathered, I am with you" says Christ. When Jesus is present among us, there is a unity, and within the unity is diversity! We have a set of expectations we at least try to live and we are set free in this!
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