1. Yuki Matsuda
TSEA: Period 7
October 5, 2009
Interview on Animist Beliefs in Thailand
Name of person interviewed: Yaowarat Pattanaprasit Nickname: K. Mai
Occupation: High School Counseling Secretary Age: 43
Relationship to the interviewer: Not relate to K. Mai
Language in which interview was conducted: English
Date of interview: October 2, 2009 Place of interview: High School Office
Sample Questions: Note, if the person gives a vague answer, then ask a follow up question
in order to get more information.
1. Are you a Buddhist? What are some things you do to practice your religion?
She is a Buddhist and she prays to Buddha (god) every night before she goes to bed.
2. Is there a spirit house at your home? Why? (Why not?)
She does not have spirit house because in general, old generation have spirit house but new
generation does not have spirit house. Furthermore, most family does not have spirit house
because they do not know the event, single family or they pray at temple.
3. How often do you visit it? What do you do there? (Does someone else visit it?)
She does not visit sprit house but also, she is a half Thai and half Chinese so she also goes to big
Chinese New year for once a year. She put some fruits into the Chinese statue and when she
prays, she takes the fruits to eat it.

2. 4. Is there a spirit house at your place of work? Why? (Why not?)
She does not have spirit house at her work because in workers (High School Staff) does not pray
at the spirit house but also they go to the temple and pray to god.
5. How often do you visit it? What do you do there? (What do others do there?)
She does not visit but instead she goes to China town twice a year to meet her friends and talk.
6. Do you have an amulet? Why? (Why not?) If you have one, do you wear it? When?
She does not have an amulet because she does not believe that the amulet is protecting against
the bad luck or disease. She only thinks that if the person do good thing, the person can achieve
and successful.
7. Have you ever had an experience with a ghost? What happened?
She had an experience with a ghost. When she comes back her home, she finds the shadow but
when she comes near it, it was her shadow.
8. Do you know anyone else who has had an experience with a ghost? What happened?
Her friends also experience with a ghost. When her friends arrived at hotel at night and enter the
room, she saw that TV is on and she heard some sneaky sound so she went to the office and ask
to change the room.
9. Have you ever been to an astrologer? What advice did you ask for? What did he tell you?
She never goes to an astrologer because she does not want to think her future and if she also does
not want to hear bad thing. She just wants to think now because she wants to enjoy her life.
10. Have you ever been to a ceremony to rid a house of bad spirits? If so, please
describe the ceremony.
She never been a rid a house of bad spirits,
11. Have you ever been to a “bai sri” (bai see) ceremony or a “sai sin” ceremony? If so, please
describe it. What is the purpose of the ceremony?

3. She went to a bai sri ceremony when she enter the university and graduate the university. The
main purpose is to welcome to the new students when they enter the university and when the
students graduate the university, they celebrate the graduation.
12. Do you have a tattoo? Do you know anyone who has a tattoo? Why did you (or the person you
know) get one?
She does not have a tattoo because she thinks when the person put a tattoo, it is pain and she
thinks the person put it for fashion.