Questions about Thai Culture

Okay so these are the classic symptoms of culture shock. I've gone through my "honeymoon period" where I think everything about Thailand is so cool and interesting and now I'm in this weird frustration where all I can see is what's different about this culture than my own. I know that after a month or so I will start to feel more comfortable but now all I can think about are the following questions:
(Please don't think I'm being too harsh. I truly want to know the answers to these questions.)

1. If you constantly have to maintain "face", that is keep up the appearance that everything is fine and dandy, how can you ever really get close to people?

2. Why is appearance so much more important than content?

3. Why is directness equated with anger or rudeness?

4. Why does the "mai pen rai" philosophy only apply in certain situations? In other words, how can I tell when something is important versus when something is unimportant?

5. Why are people allowed to drive their babies around on motorcycles without helmets?

Alright well I feel a bit better after venting. Thankfully this week is almost over and next week won't be so bad. Only a month left in the semester! Then it's a month-long vacation for me. Woo-hoo! I get to see my family...who I miss....a lot...