tourist in disguise

After spending a year as a public spectacle, I'm enjoying being a foreigner who blends in with the general population. Most Thais speak Thai and assume I'd understand. Whenever possible, I nod in agreement or use the few phrases I know. For the most part, greeting, pointing at what I want and saying "thank you" gets me by.

Then I go shopping or ride the bus with one of my non-Asian friends who live in Bangkok and speak Thai. As they communicate with the vendor or bus conductor, the Thai person would invariably look to me and, through either words or looks, invite me to assist in the conversation. I'd blink with a confused look on my face, then attempt my backup phrase ("I do not speak Thai"), usually mixing the words in a moment of performance anxiety.

The conversation would then resume between the other parties. I'd stand aside, somewhat embarrassed but mostly relieved that my cover's been blown.