Being Thai, as Kukrit notes, assumes a form of identity linked to particular
characteristics. As a speaker of the Thai language myself, I have been mistaken to be Thai by
many native Thais around the world, as long as I act in the proper Thai manner, i.e. posture,
mannerisms, speech. In my personal interactions, it would appear that I have become Thai,
even though I am a true blue Singaporean. Many a time, I was asked if I was Thai. After I had
replied in the negative, the next common question asked, would be whether I had Thai
blood, specifically if I had a Thai parent. Only after, would they ask if I was working in
Thailand or had lived in Thailand for a long time. My personal experiences of being
considered Thai, had thus led me to question why I had been treated as such. Why had I
been considered as Thai, on the basis on my appearance, manners and speech? Why had I
been considered to have Thai blood in my ancestry?