ScandAsia Norway - April 2010 by Scandinavian Publishing Co., Ltd.

APR 2010

Crown Prince Couple Visited KL April 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ ScandAsia.No 1

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Annual NGO Meeting with Norwegian Embassy in Hanoi The Norwegian Embassy had a fruitful seminar with Norwegian NGOs working in Vietnam, Paccom and Norad March 19 in Hue

fter several field visits to Norwegian NGO projects the day before, the seminar focused on experiences from the work of NGO’s in Vietnam, including a presentation of recent and ongoing changes of NGO regulations in Vietnam by Director General Don Tuan Phong from People’s Aid Co-ordinating Committee (Paccom) in Vietnam. He stressed the solid efforts of the Norwegian NGO’s already present in Vietnam, and welcomed more organizations to the country. Director Terje Vigtel from the Civil Society De-

partment in Norad summarized the annual NGO meetings as successful events: “This way of arranging meetings; with field visits organized by the NGOs themselves and the inclusion of all stakeholders gives a unique opportunity for discussion. We now call this “The Vietnam Model” in Norad, and urge other Norwegian embassies to copy this model,” Vigtel said. Several Norwegian Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are represented in various areas of socio-economic development. Nordic Assistance to Vietnam (Norwegian Church Aid), Plan Norway, SOS Children’s Villages, The Norwegian Mission Alliance, Norwegian Red Cross, Norwegian Peoples Aid, Danang Sculpture Foundation and Norcode were all represented at the annual meeting. Many of these organizations pursue activities to relieve suffering, promote the interests of the poor, provide basic social services, undertake community development or promote cultural cooperation and exchange.

Indonesia Signs Maritime Safety Agreement with Norway n Thursday 25 March Norway and Indonesia signed an agreement regarding Norwegian assistance to establishing a system for monitoring the vessel traffic off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, in the northern part of the Malacca Straits. The overall goal of the cooperation is to improve maritime safety in coastal waters of the northern part of the Malacca Straits and to enhance the search and rescue organization in this region.

The total value of the project is approximately 15 million USD, and contains both a loan and a grant contribution. An international tender for the development project will be made public shortly. “As one of the largest shipping Nations in the world, Norway is pleased to work together with Indonesia and provide such assistance”, said ambassador Homme. “A great number of ships, including Norwegian, travel through this vast sea line every day, and an improved monitoring capability will benefit Indonesia as well as the International shipping community”. His Excellency Ambassador Eivind S. Homme signed the agreement on behalf of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, whereas Indonesia’s signature was provided by Director General of Debt Management of the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Rahmat Waluyanto. April 2010 • ScandAsia.No 3

The Crown Prince Couple Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit paid a visit to Kuala Lumpur this March. By Katrine Sigvardt rown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit arrived in Kuala Lumpur on March 8th at Kuala Lumpur International Airpoirt for a three day visit to Malaysia. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen the already good relationship between Malaysia and Norway and lay the ground for a successful development of the economic cooperation between the two countries in the future. Upon arrival, the Crown Prince Couple had a busy schedule ahead of them, which among other things included seminars on different matters such as Solutions for Deep Water Developments and Stranded Gas, Tunnel and Underground, Aquaculture, Norwegian Seafood, and National Defence and Security.

Day 1: The Norwegian Crown Prince Couple Have Arrived in Malaysia Like everyone else, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon had a reddish glow to his face but it was a mystery to the sweat drenched reporters how Mette-Marit was able to effortlessly wear what appeared to be a trench coat under the baking Malaysian sun. That was, however, the case when the official Norwegian visit to Malaysia was kicked off in Putrajaya. The Norwegian flag wavered alongside the Malaysian one throughout Putrajaya, and Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit were smiling brightly when the Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife officially welcomed them to Malaysia. On this bright and sunny day, there were no flashes as the royal couple arrived and got out of their car with tinted windows, but the sound of clicking cameras among the present members of the press was unmistaken. The focus remained on the couple throughout the ceremony but the camera noise died away as a Malaysian military marching band took over and saluted as well as greeted the royals. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon then showed his respect to the soldiers as he walked past each and every one of them before disappearing into the residence of the Prime Minister – the grand palace of Dataran Perdana. Next on the list was a visit and audience with the Malaysian King Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the Royal palace Istana Negara in central KL. The visit was a brief one and soon the Norwegians were off to their next appointment in their busy and tightly packed schedule. 4 ScandAsia.No • April 2010

At the Mandarin Oriental Hotel where they were staying during their visit in Malaysia, Their Royal Highnesses met with the press for a short photo session and comments about their impression of KL so far. After that, they went back to Putrajaya where they attended a dinner hosted by the Prime Minister. Prior to the visit, for several weeks there were speculations as to whether the Crown Princess would be able to travel to Malaysia at all because of the severe neck pains she has suffered from lately. During the day’s events however, both she and the Crown Prince seemed fine and in high spirits. Day 2: Big Hopes for Strong Malaysia-Norway Cooperation in the Future The main themes of the second day of the Norwegian royal visit in KL were the understanding of each other’s similarities as well as differences. Politics and business talk played a big part all day but it did not dominate it entirely. There was also plenty of time to take a few minutes to savor the culinary experience that both Norwegians and

Malaysians enjoy: seafood. Before savouring the delicious food that would be prepared later that day, His Royal Highness officially opened the Malaysian-Norwegian Forum of Competence, which took place during that same week as well. As soon as His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon took the stage, he started off by thanking Malaysia and the people he met there for the experiences they had given him and the Crown Princess. After a brief talk about how the visit has lived up to their expectations, he quickly moved on to the topic that is the whole purpose of the Royal Visit to Malaysia: the strong bond and business relationship that has existed between Norway and Malaysia for 42 years. He said, among other things, that he hoped that the increasingly strong relationship between Malaysia and Norway will continue to grow and that the seminar would open the doors to many new business opportunities. The words of the Crown Prince were supported by the Norwegian Minister of Trade Mr. Trond Giske, who used a Malaysian proverb to illustrate the purpose of the conference and strong cooperation between the two countries. “Where there is water, there is fish,” he said and added that because there is a lot of water in Malaysia (metaphorically speaking), there is also a great potential for catching a lot of fish. He encouraged the more than 130 business delegates to be creative and think of new business opportunities that are beyond the obvious. Focus on common interests Throughout the day, there was put great emphasis on the things Norway and Malaysia have in common. Both countries have long coastal lines and their oil and gas industries are thriving. At the

Visited Kuala Lumpur same time, both have experience with tunnel digging as well as the defence and security industry. During his opening speech at the business seminar, the Crown Prince said that he hoped that Malaysia and Norway will be able to provide each other with complimenting technology and knowledge on the fields of interest that they have in common. However, in order to put even more focus on the things they have in common, that are neither political nor business related, His Royal Highness also visited the Berjaya University College of Hospitality where he witnessed a Norwegian seafood competition. The love for seafood is one of the many things that Norwegians and Malaysians share. The competition was a unique opportunity to let the two different cultures meet and apparently the combination of Norway and Malaysia is a delicious one. In any case, Crown Prince Haakon seemed to like it and the fusion appeared to be a good illustration of the successful outcome of the royal visit that both countries are expecting. Day 3: Norwegian Architecture and Businesses in Malaysia On the final day of the royal visit, the Crown Prince couple attended an exhibition on Norwegian architecture at Pavilion shopping centre. The Norwegian community in Kuala Lumpur was also invited to this event and the following reception, where they had the chance to meet and mingle with the royal couple. After the exhibition and the social events, Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit paid a visit to the Jotun paint factory in Shah Alam in the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur and Aker Solutions in Port Klang.

Jotun The couple was welcomed to the facilities by Peder Bohlin, Managing and Regional Director of Jotun Malaysia, and his wife. There were bubbles and confetti all around when His Royal Highness unveiled the model of the new Jotun factory to be built in the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan. The new plant will produce paints and powder coverings for the markets in Malaysia and Singapore. Their Royal Highnesses were also introduced to some of Jotun’s other products. Among these was the new environmentally friendly paint technology that reflects heat and helps preserve

the environment and limit the impact of climate change. Whereas the main event of the day was supposed to be the unveiling of the new factory model, to the Crown Prince Couple, however, the highlight was when the Jotun staff performed the “We are the penguins”-song. The couple enjoyed it so much that they requested an encore before they left for their final stop of their Malaysia tour. Aker Solutions Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit were welcomed at Aker Solutions in Port Klang by Executive Vice President of the company, Mads Andersen, and the President of the Sub-Sea Asia Pacific division, David Hutchinson. After the official welcome, Mr. Mads Andersen gave a presentation of Aker Solutions in Malaysia, which is a production centre of underwater technology based in Port Klang just outside Kuala Lumpur. Established in 2007, the factory in Malaysia is the biggest and only of its kind. The subsea systems that are produced by Aker Solutions are used to obtain oil from under the bottom of the sea. After the presentation by the Executive Vice President, the visitors went on a tour of the company’s impressively vast facilities. In order to be able to cover the 150,000 square meters in the time available, the Crown Prince couple was driven around in a buggy. With the visit to Aker Solutions, the Royal visit to Malaysia came to an end. After answering questions from the press about their experiences during the visit and their time in Malaysia, Their Royal Highnesses took off and went to Kuala Lumpur International Airport from where they departed for Oslo that same night. April 2010 • ScandAsia.No 5

In many cases, moving abroad can take its toll, but for this Finnish family, relocating to Singapore has been a piece of cake. By Katrine Sigvardt

Finnish Kids Enjoy Life Abroad

s they sit there by the big conference table at International School Singapore, it is clear to just about anyone that Emil, Karin, and Paul aged 14, 16, and 18, are related. Not only do they look alike, with that Finnish glow of content and peacefulness, but they also talk to each other in that very peculiar way that only exists between siblings. “We go to Finland in the summer and we always stay for two whole months,” one of them says. “No, school is only out for six weeks,” another adds, while the third claims that in fact both are wrong and that they stay in Finland for six weeks at a time every summer. Almost a year and a half ago, Emil, Karin, and Paul moved to Singapore with their parents. Joining a new school that followed a completely different curriculum than they were used to and taught in English rather than Finnish, there were a lot of new things to get used to. The three Finnish teenagers have, however, sailed though obsta-

cles and challenges, and now they are like fish in water in their new surroundings.

Easy transition According to the children, they were the ones who pushed their parents and made them move. Paul especially was excited about the idea. “I wanted to move. If we hadn’t come here, I would have gone on exchange somewhere,” he says and adds that at the time, he was open to change and wanted to experience something new. Coming to ISS was indeed a new experience, but the teens adapted quickly and within a couple of weeks they had completely accepted and adjusted to their new surroundings. Even though the Finns were suddenly exposed to the challenges and demands of MYP (Middle Years Program) and IBDP (IB Diploma), which are the curricula taught at ISS, Paul says it only took him two weeks to get used to the new system. His siblings agree and add that the reason they were so quick to pick it up was because of the support they received from teachers and other students.

“I think it is easier to come here and be new at an international school than it is at a normal school in Finland,” Karin says. “Everyone is international here and they are all used to adjusting to new schools and students, so they know what it is like when new people come.”

City life vs. small community

ISS - International School Singapore

For the three Finnish students, the main difference between living in Finland and Singapore is that Singapore is much bigger in the sense that they come from a small town community just outside Helsinki. “Everyone knows everyone there,” they say. “Here we don’t have that.” Because they come from a small town, they enjoy the fact that they have come here and met new people from all over the world. Back in Finland that rarely happens and one’s circle of friends stays the same forever. The fact that they have seriously improved their English language skills is just an extra bonus.

Elementary School (Grades K to 5) ISS International School 25 Paterson Road Singapore 238510 Phone (65) 6235 5844 Fax (65) 6732 5701

Family life Living abroad has also changed the children’s relationship with each other and with their parents. “We probably see our parents more than we would have, if we still lived in Finland,” they say and Karin adds that moving abroad has brought them closer together as a family.

6 ScandAsia.No • April 2010

Middle School (Grades 6 to 8) ISS International School 25 Paterson Road Singapore 238510 Phone (65) 6737 6407 Fax (65) 6735 4966 High School (Grades 9 to 12) ISS International School 21 Preston Road Singapore 109355 admissions@iss.edu.sg Phone (65) 6475 4188 Admissions Office: admissions@iss.edu.sg Phone (65) 6470 0113, 6470 0114, 6470 0138 www.iss.edu.sg

The ONLY 100%

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INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SINGAPORE Elementary & Middle School 25 Paterson Road, Singapore 238510 Tel: (65) 6235 5844 Fax: (65) 6732 5701 High School 21 Preston Road, Singapore 109355 Tel: (65) 6475 4188 Fax: (65) 6273 7065 Website: www.iss.edu.sg Email: admissions@iss.edu.sg

Seafood Dinner for 900 Guests Flown in Seafood prepared by 40 chefs when the Royal Norwegian Embassy and Norwegian Business Association (Singapore) – NBAS - co-hosted the annual Norwegian Seafood Dinner at the Raffles Ballroom. By Joakim Persson t was another milestone for Norwegian Business Association Singapore (NBAS) when it, in its 17 year of operation, co-hosted the highly successful 2010 edition of the traditional seafood dinner with the Royal Norwegian Embassy. No less than 960 guests attended the sold out event on Friday 5 March, with the Minister of Trade & Industry of Norway, Mr Trond Giske, as special guest. The highly impressive and sumptous feast was held at the Raffles Ballroom where the seafood on offer was specially flown in from Norway and skillfully prepared by Norwegian master chefs.

Chef Geir Skeie, winner of the 2008 Bocuse d’Or and who was already on a visit to Singapore, and the unique foursome of Norwegian chefs that make up the Flying Culinary Circus provided the tasty buffet with their specially created dishes. The Flying Culinary Circus, as team of four chefs from Norway who travel the world to cook at the world’s most exclusive events and destinations, were also in Southeast Asia to prepare a dinner in Kuala Lumpur during the recent Royal Norwegian visit to Malaysia. The Norwegian Export Council for Fish (EFF) and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) co-sponsored the event which is now in its 11th year. Frank Nesheim, from Snorre Food Singapore was overseeing the 40 chefs that prepared the sumptuous 200-metre long buffet! ”The Norwegian Seafood Din-

ner is a traditional annual event,” said Signe A. Engli, the Executive Director of NBAS to ScandAsia. ”It is our - NBAS’ and Norwegian Embassy’s - most popular event during the year. When we opened up for booking of tables among the NBAS members on a Thursday afternoon, the tables were all booked up by Monday the following week,” she adds. “We could have sold the double amount of tables looking at the number of companies that tried to book tables after we were ’sold out’. The NBAS members book their tables and invite guests among their customers. The Singaporeans, who are really into food, really love this event as the food is extraordinary both in taste and to look at.”

NBAS Award And having matured to a large as-

socation (152 Norwegian member companies) NBAS this year surprised the attending guests with the introduction the NBAS Award. This Award is to recognise an individual or a company who has distinguished themselves and has demonstrated a significant commitment to enhancing the business relations between Norway and Singapore. The candidate will have demonstrated a willingness to share knowledge and network of contacts so that other companies could also benefit from and contribute towards the enhancement of Norway – Singapore bilateral business relations. The Award was presented to Mr Choo Chiau Beng, CEO of Keppel Corp and also Chairman of Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd, Singapore Petroleum Company Ltd, Singapore Refining Company Pte Ltd and SMRT Corporation Ltd. He is well-respected within the maritime and oil & gas fratenity in the region and in Norway and among many other positions the Chairman of Det Norske Veritas South East Asia Committee. Besides his contributions towards the bi-lateral relations within the maritime and oil & gas sectors he has also been very supportive when it comes to seminars and delegations organised by Norway. “Choo Chiau Beng is a man with an impressive list of achievements – local as well as international. He has been a close friend of Norway for many years, and has been instrumental in making the maritime and offshore sector such a dynamic bilateral success,” said Minister Mr Giske when handed over the award. “Mr Choo, you are truly a worthy first recipient of this award, and I am pleased to be able to present it to you on behalf of the Norwegian Business Association.”

Giske’s Singapore Visit uring his 2-day visit to Singpore Innovation Norway, The Norwegian Embassy and NBAS also organized relevant meetings for Minister Giske. One of the highlights for the local maritime businesses was the Maritime roundtable meeting, which saw an opportunity for local Norwegian companies to

8 ScandAsia.No • April 2010

meet up with the minister and exchange views on topics such as: stable framework conditions for the Norwegian shipping sector; current and future directions for private ownership in Norway; employee mobility in a global business, practical solutions needed; the future of the Norwegian Maritime knowledge HUB; and the Shipping clusters role

in environmental protection. ”A visit to Singapore was long overdue from the Mininstry of Trade and Industry taken Singapores positions within the maritime and offshore cluster in Norway. Mr. Giske and his entourage from the Ministry and Norwegian industry had useful meetings and learned about the importance of SIngapore

to the Norwegian Maritime Industry and Offshore Cluster. In addition they visited the REC factory and companies within solar energy is as a growing edition to the Norwegian Business Cluster in Singapore,” the Executive Director of NBAS also reported.

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Maintaining Swedish Roots in Singapore Five years ago, the Karlsson’s made the decision to move to Singapore with their two children. Since then, many things have changed. A third child has made her appearance in the family, but one thing that hasn’t changed is their mind about living abroad.

ouise Karlsson is sitting by the end of the table in a soft leather chair in one of the meeting rooms at Canadian International School of Singapore. She is only seven and in her school uniform but she is principal of this meeting. Her parents, Conny and Victoria Karlsson are sitting next to her, smiling. The whole family looks so Swedish that they could be picked straight out of an episode of “Emil from Lönneberga.” In fact, the Karlsson’s don’t just looks Swedish, they try their best to be, because to them, maintaining the culture and values is tremendously important – especially because they live thousands of kilometers away from what used to be home.

By Katrine Sigvardt

Life in Singapore

Conny and Victoria Karlsson with their daughters Louise and her younger sisters Elin and Jennifer.

“We wanted to live in Singapore, because we wanted to be warm,” Louise announces. Conny and Victoria add that although being warm is certainly one

of the benefits of living in Singapore, it was not for them the primary reason why chose a life abroad. They decided to move because Conny was offered a position with Cybercom in Singapore. Victoria had already lived in America for six years, and the couple had also spent a year in Madrid together. So it did not take long for them to accept the new opportunity and meet the adventure moving to Singapore would be. At the moment, they have no current plans of ever going back.

Taste for international life “Life in Singapore is easier than in Sweden in many ways. The climate is better and the children can run around in their underwear all day if they want. We are able to travel to exciting places that are close by, and we can afford to have hired help in the house which, in the end, gives us more quality time together.” But even though the family enjoys their Singaporean lifestyle, they make a point of going back to Swe-

den twice a year for summer and Christmas. “Then we go ice skating and I throw snowballs at my dad,” Louise says. There is however more to the visits than fun and games. Both Victoria and Conny are proud to be Swedish, and it is very important to them that their children grow up knowing their roots and feeling Swedish. “Sweden is a good country. A lot of good things come from Sweden, and we want our girls to know that,” Victoria says.

A fairy-tale country Both Conny and Victoria are aware, though, that the children’s idea of Sweden might not correspond entirely with reality. “Because we only go at those times of the year, they think that Sweden is the land of Christmas presents and summer barbecues, but of course there is more to Swedish life than that,” Victoria says and adds that she hopes one day to be able to take them there during spring or fall, because even though those seasons are the epitome of Sweden, her children have no concept of what they are. To compensate, Louise’s best friend in Sweden sends her photographs of the sprouts and delicate flowers of spring and of the piles of red and orange leaves in the fall.

Relationship with grandparents The hardest part about being abroad as a family, is that the grandparents are not always around to help out when they are needed. The fact that they do not see each other for long periods of time is also something that might affect the relationship the daughters have with them. Fortunately, the grandparents try to visit as often as possible, and the children love it. Sometimes, however, Conny and Victoria wish they had their families closer. The Karlsson’s have recently bought the well-known and well-known STYLE:NORDIC shop in Singapore that sells exclusive Scandinavian design in the area. Victoria is the Managing Director of the company and sometimes she wishes 2 ScandAsia.Sg • April 2010

that her parents were around. “It would be nice if I could just call and ask them to help me out once in a while. We do have our hired help, of course, but it’s not the same. They’re not family.” The Singaporean school system expects a lot of involvement, too. “When your child asks why all the other mommies are there and you are not, you’ll want to be there,” Victoria says.

A global education The couple decided to enroll their daughters at Canadian International School of Singapore where they believe their children will receive a better education than they would if they still lived in Sweden. However, as they say, it all depends on what goals you have for your kids. “We want our children to be world oriented and global. They get that here and they learn to believe in themselves. To us, that is really important.” And the kids are truly global. Louise has friends from all over the world. Her best ones are from India, Australia, and Singapore, but it is not something she really thinks about. “I just play with them and have fun,” she says, and to the Swedish family, the fact that everyone is con-

sidered equal disregarding nationality and skin color is also one of the benefits of attending international school.

Belonging somewhere Even though it is important to be global, it is also important to maintain and nourish one’s roots. That is why Louise attends Swedish school for two hours every Friday. There the students, who are already able to speak Swedish, follow a Swedish curriculum and learn about Swedish culture and literature. “The roots are important. That is why we make sure we celebrate all the Swedish festivals even though we are here. We have name days and Mid Summer festivals,” the couple says and adds that it is important to them that their children do not grow up feeling rootless. They know children who do not know what to say when people ask where they are from. “It is such a simple question, but for these children it is very tricky,” Victoria says and emphasizes that her children will never have any doubts about where they are from. Both Louise and her little sister Elin were born in Sweden, even though they left at an early age. The third child, Jennifer, was born in Singa-

pore and the whole family chuckles as they start talking about her because apparently, she is more Asian that any of them: “My little sister only eats at school because she loves Asian fish porridge,” Louise says and giggles as her mother adds that the rest of the family has no idea what fish porridge is but that they have been told by the teachers that she devours it every day. Even though she acts Asian, little Jennifer will also grow up feeling Swedish in Singapore, and that is why both Conny and Victoria are not worried about the children’s future even if they, however unlikely, should decide to move back to Sweden. “They will realize that Sweden is not the magical country of Christmas and summer holidays that they know. The international environment abroad has its own challenges though – learning a new language and saying goodbye to close friends on a regular basis are just some of them,” they say and add that life abroad has taught them to overcome different challenges but also prepared them for whatever the future holds.

Canadian International School (Singapore) Tanjong Katong Campus (Early Childhood to Grade 8) 371 Tanjong Katong Road Singapore 437128 admissionstk@cis.edu.sg Phone: +65 6345 1573 Fax: +65 6345 405 Toh Tuck Campus (Early Childhood to Grade 3) 5 Toh Tuck Road Singapore 596679 admissions@cis.edu.sg Phone: +65 6467 1732 Fax: +65 6467 1729 Bukit Tinggi Campus (Grade 4 to 8) 71 Bukit Tinggi Road Singapore 289759 middleschool@cis.edu.sg Phone: +65 6875 1519 Fax: +65 6875 1516 Kampong Bahru Campus (Grade 9 to 12) 514 Kampong Bahru Road Singapore 099450 highschool@cis.edu.sg Phone: +65 6323 0208 Fax: +65 6323 0209

April 2010 • ScandAsia.Sg 3

Swedish Victory in Singapore By Jan Tommy Fosse Photos Stein Mangersnes

he annual Swedish-Norwegian sports day in Singapore took place on Saturday March 6th. This year the event was held at Serangoon Stadium and almost 450 Swedes and Norwegians participated in the various events. Before the sport activities started, both the Swedish and the Norwegian national anthems were sung, there was time for warm up and “good luck” wishes. The annual sports day started with the youngest children running their 10 meter race,. Then the older children ran their 40 meter and 60 meter races. Simultaneously those that were not running went over to the long jump venue to participate there. When the children’s races and long jump was over, it was time for the adults to run and jump before the football matches for children and adults. In addition to the sports, the children could play on the playground, the cafeteria was open and sold “kanelbullar” and “vafler”, soft drinks, hotdogs, fruit and ice cream and there was plenty of time to catch up with old and new friends. As always the competition is serious and participants from both countries want to leave the stadium with the best nation trophy. This year the victory, by a good margin, went to Sweden. Congratulations to the Swedes in Singapore! The Swedish and Norwegian Church in Singapore is looking forward to welcoming everyone back next year.

4 ScandAsia.Sg • April 2010

Be the First to Be Surprised at B – Lay Tong B – Lay Tong Resort, the new Hip and Exciting Resort in Patong is now opened. ocated on the most prime convenient address at the up-market north end of Patong Beach, B – Lay Tong is a pulsating resort that offers state-of-the-art design and lounging space. The resort is, just steps away from the beach and offers great sea views and sunsets to remember! Consisting of 123 rooms & suites, all rooms are designed with subtle lighting and decorated in one of 4 colour schemes based

on the concept of Feng Shui, red (fire), blue (water), green (earth) and gold (wind). All of the rooms boast state-of-the-art audio and LCD equipment with free WiFi and LAN internet connection, as well as luscious in-room amenities combined with the finest quality furnishings and fittings. All Deluxe rooms come with a spacious Jacuzzi or a large bath tub while rooms on the ground floor have direct access to the adjacent lap pools and the lush inner garden courtyard. The resort facilities include a meandering see-through infinity pool, a serene spa, a gym, contemporary dining spaces offering Mediterranean and Asian flavours, a library to nourish the mind and a full service business centre to stay connected. At the heart of it all will be

One Free Night at

the Beat Club with the latest hi-tech sound system playing the hottest beats. Music will play an essential part in the B – Lay Tong experience as well-know guest DJs from around the world spin their tracks and the latest hits spill out over the airwave’s of the resort’s own radio station. “Be the first to Be Surprised at B – Lay Tong”, introductory rates are available from now until October 31, 2010. Rates start at THB 4,900* for a Superior Garden View inclusive of breakfast for two persons. Come and be surprised with funky

surroundings and extra value to enhance your stay. *Rate is net and inclusive of service charge and applicable tax. For more information or to make reservation, please contact the resort reservation centre Tel: +66 76 344 999, e-mail: rsvn@b-laytong.com, website: www.b-laytong.com or InVision Hospitality’s Sales & Marketing office at Tel: +66 2 684 1616 or e-mail: sales@b-laytong.com

Haad Son

Stay one night Free! Valid: 01.05.2010 - 30.06.2010

aad Son Resort are located on their own secluded white sandy bay on the popular sunset coastline of Koh Phangan. The hotel was established almost a decade ago. Its rich tropical gardens and beautiful natural surroundings harmonize with the environment creating a special private paradise. Haad Son resort has a great variety of accommodation options with the emphasis focused on quality and style, from island huts to luxury aircon villas. Haad Son resort prides itself on its great service and friendly family atmosphere, so no matter what type of accommodation you choose you are guaranteed to enjoy

2 ScandAsia.Th • April 2010

your stay at this luxurious beautiful location. Haad Son beach is one of very few on the Island which has remained undeveloped and it presents a perfect picture of an idyllic desert

island cove. The complex occupies the north end of the beach and the central and southern areas are completely uninhabited, leaving a 300 metre long stretch of tropical beach fringed with shady coconut palms.

- Stay 03 nights pay 02 nights - Compulsory breakfast during free night is 200 per person - Applicable for new booking from 01.05.2010 onwards - First and last night of stay must fall within the above periods. - This promotion can not apply to extra bed. - This promotion cannot be combined with Special Rate or any other promotions For more information contact: Haad Son Resort 85 Moo. 8, Koh Phangan, Suratthani 84280, Thailand, Tel: +66(0)77-349103-4, Fax: +66(0)77-349104, E-mail: haadson@hotmail.com www.haadson.net www.haadson.info

Bonus Night

See Through on Haad Yao Haad Yao beach is one of very few on the Island which has remained undeveloped and it presents a perfect picture of an idyllic desert island cove.

aad Yao See Through resort is a brand new hotel located in the north-west of the island, in Haad Yao. The area of Haad Yao is also called long beach for its one kilometre beach. Many people consider it to be the "perfect" beach of Koh Phangan. Its rich tropical gardens and beautiful natural surroundings creates a special private paradise atmosphere. In the resort the sand is white, the sea is blue and that makes it the perfect spot to dive or snorkel. The landscape is unique and irresistible.

Haad Yao See Through resort is the perfect place to relax and enjoy your vacation. See Through resort prides itself on its great service and friendly family atmosphere. The hotel has 30 rooms just by the sea. Almost all the rooms have sea views and the swimming pool. The rooms are modern and well equipped and the resort has it own private beach where you can spend easily all your vacation. The hotels restaurant and bar are just on the beach; from there you can enjoy splendid sunsets.

The restaurant serves western and Thai food from the morning to the evening. At your disposition there is a pool table and a video projector for movie evenings. The bar is on the beach and it is a perfect place to enjoy the sun with a drink and have a swim on the sea. Our professional bar team will be happy to make you a special cocktail.

Special Promotion:

Bonus Night Valid: 01.05.2010 - 30.06.2010

Stay 03 nights pay 02 nights Compulsory breakfast during free night is 200 per person Applicable for new booking from 01.05.2010 onwards First and last night of stay must fall within the above periods. This promotion can not apply to extra bed. This promotion cannot be combined with Special Rate or any other promotions

For more information please contact: See Through Boutique Resort 85/6 Haad Yao, Koh Phangan, Suratthani 84280, Thailand Tel: +66(0)77-349315, 083-0707317 Fax: +66(0)77-349316, Email: haadyaoseethrough@gmail.com www.haadyao.net 4 ScandAsia.Th â&#x20AC;˘ April 2010

Five Scandinavians Friday night entertained around 100 Thais at Mingles Pub and Restaurant at the Atrium Hotel. By Niels C. Jensen Photos Disraporn Yatprom he band was the SwedishDanish-Norwegian JazzKamikaze, which plays their own fusion of jazz and rock. This month they are doing their tour in Asia. Friday night was a special concert for HitmanJazz business partners and friends. Most of them Thais but also a few foreigners enjoyed JazzKamikaze’s music this night. Kamikaze is Japanese and means something like storm, which very well suits the Scandinavian band, which have to be experienced live. Jazz is usually sit down and relax music but the JazzKamikaze concert was more in

Hard Rocking Jazz stand up rock manners. The stage was filled with an amount of energy never seen at jazz concerts before. Their repertoire included a song for Myanmar, which two of the band members visited a couple of years ago, the song was called Land of Gold. While playing a more jazzy song the band promised the next one will be more rocky, still the first song was doing it quite good as a track of rock. The five young guys where all dressed in black t-shirts and vests and very much into their music performance. Using their bodies as well as their voices to tell their story and reach the audience. The big applauses and the many young women screaming were a clear indicator that the audience was satisfied. The concert went on without any pauses for the band. One time the Danish version of “one-two-threefour” said like “en-to-tre-fire” was shouted out by the Danish vocalist. Before the concert ended so many young women was screaming and cheering it was more like Rolling Stones was in the house than a jazz band. And standing was no more a possibility but an obligation, when the saxophone and clarinet was played at once by one man and the audience was singing along: “The music is heaven.” April 2010 • ScandAsia.Th 5

Cafe Europe in Bangkok Saturday Denmark came to Bangkok. When the new Cafe Europe at Sukhumvit Soi 20 held Grand Opening. he hostess had lost her voice, but the Danish specialities, soft jazz music and cold beers was more than enough to make it “Hyggeligt” aka a good time for everyone. Before Anita Lauritsen worked in her husband Kenn Lauritsen's company selling plumbing and heating products. But all the computer work became a bit too boring for Anita, and then suddenly there was the opportunity for her to start her own Café. “I always wished to start my own and here was the chance, and I took it,” whispers Anita, who had also her voice temporarily due to a too cold air-conditioner. Cold beer, drinks, water and samples of Danish and Thai foods were all free this Saturday afternoon at the Cafe Europe. It was a clear success, some of the best-sellers included samples of Danish open sandwich with meatballs and others with liver pâté and bacon.

In Denmark know as smørrebrød med frikadeller and leverpostej og bacon. But the tasty spring rolls were also quite popular. Anita and Kenn Lauritsen and their eight-year old daughter Cassandra have lived in Bangkok for almost three years. This is also easily recognized this day were the Danish greeting “Go'dav” is heard more than “Hello” or “Sawasdeekaap”. The guests this day is friends of Anita and Kenn and and most of them resident Danes in Bangkok, and almost everyone is on first name with everyone. When the talk of this, that and the other is going on at Café Europe, Mark Hodgkings are playing his saxophone at soft and pleasant tones. Meanwhile Anita and the Thai waitresses serves more cold drinks and snacks to the guests. Come at visit Anita and her Café, it is further down Sukhumvit Soi 20 than you have ever been, but then you will also meet a bit Denmark, that you did not believe was in Bangkok.

“I always wished to start my own and here was the chance, and I took it,” says Anita.

6 ScandAsia.Th • April 2010

April 2010 • ScandAsia.Th 7

Richelieu as Entrepreneur How was it possible for Richelieu to accumulate such wealth during his years in Siam? On a general level the answers can be named: Commissions, ‘Corruption’ and Concessions.

hen the Admiral left Siam in 1902 it was onboard the Royal Yacht ‘Maha Chakri’ bound for Singapore, from where he would sail to Europe with one of the regular shipping lines. The direct EAC route Bangkok, Europe, Copenhagen had not yet been established. King Chulalongkorn and many members of the Royal family accompanied him to Singapore as a sign of friendship. We can also suppose that Richelieu, as he so very often did, also served as the captain of the ship. He had been the Royal Yacht captain for many years and sailed extensively with the King, especially during the seasons of inspection. On arriving in Denmark with his wife and children, Richelieu first rented, then bought Kokkedal Castle in North Zealand. From other sources we learn that his personal annual income was higher than the ten leading financiers in the country — combined, and they were definitely not poor people. He was one of the richest men in Denmark. How was it possible for him to accumulate such wealth during his years in Siam? On a general level the answers can be named: Commissions, ‘Corruption’ and Concessions. On a more personal level: Hard work, loyalty, political flair and language skills. Richelieu taught himself Siamese during his first command in the navy; he furthermore learned the elaborate language spoken at court. He was a visionary and saw the options and opportunities during this ‘Nation-building’ period in Siam.

The Oriental Provision Store With a partner H.N. Andersen he founded a business in Bangkok in 1884, Andersen & Co. (later EAC). The company owned The Oriental Hotel and soon thereafter established the ‘Oriental Provision Store’. In 1878 Richelieu was appointed Captain of the Royal Yacht ‘Vesatri’, and in 1887 made Superintendent of The Marine Forces. In this capacity he was the purchaser of all goods and commodities for the forces and also for the Royal Yacht. It seems that Oriental Provi8 ScandAsia.Th • April 2010

sion Store became the main provider of all goods and commodities for the forces and also for the Royal Yacht. They were punctual with deliverances, which was especially important regarding supplies for the new yacht of 2,500 tons, ‘Maha Chakri’ delivered in 1892. The ship was sailed to Siam from Scotland by H.N. Andersen and Captain Guldberg; Andersen did not have a Certificate for International navigation.

Mister 5 percent In the book ‘Admiralen, Kongen & Kaptajnen,’ A. Eggers-Lura (1998), former Manager of EAC, discusses the belief that Richelieu, with a probability amounting to certainty, drew a personal commission of around 5% on top of the deliveries to the Marine Forces and Court from Andersen & Co., even though it is known that Richelieu always sought acceptance of delivery agreements from his supervisor Prince Chao Sais. For reasons understood there doesn’t exist any written ref-

erences, e.g. in memoirs, to these deals. Nevertheless, the money involved must have been enormous, taking alone the lavish lifestyle of the Court, and his responsibilities while onboard the Royal Yacht, into consideration. Introducing the Western moral concept of Corruption into this ‘Nation-building’ period in Siam would be meaningless. Clear and transparent transactions are most desirable in modern societies. Instead, the concept of ‘One good turn deserves another’ reigned in Siam, and to some extent still does. The system was built on family relations, both Chinese and Siamese, discretion and trust. To give an example of things as they then were and the way things were done, it can be mentioned that king Chulalongkorn in 1891 sent Richelieu as his envoy on a private diplomatic mission to France, Denmark and, most importantly, to Russia. The Siamese group was headed by the King’s brother Prince Damrong. During Richelieu’s

Richelieu founded with his partner H.N. Andersen a business in Bangkok in 1884, Andersen & Co. (later EAC). The company owned The Oriental Hotel and soon thereafter established the ‘Oriental Provision Store’ - which became main provider of provisions for the navy under Richelieu’s command.

Richelieu’s first concession was to build and run a private 21 kilometer railway between Paknam (Samut Prakan Province) at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River and Bangkok. The most important concession was the Siam Electricity Company Ltd. It is due entirely to Richelieu’s determination, networking and business flair that this company succeeded. In 1912, the majority of the stocks were sold to Belgian interests. Below left: Richelieu bought Kokkedal Castle when he returned from Siam, effectively one of the richest men in Denmark.

that it takes at least 50 years for a teak tree to mature.

Paknam railway

absence, H.N. Andersen was appointed acting Superintendent of the Marine forces. Now he was the purchaser and the provider. Practical it may have been, but even then maybe a trifle unorthodox. However, there was no law regulating such matters, and the absolute Monarch King Chulalongkorn was in the know concerning what happened in the foreign companies. Bangkok was not a big place in those days.

Concessions paid the bills The Concessions were the deep wells of wealth from which the King could draw the money needed for the modernization of Siam, as well as to cover the costs of his travels and private building enterprises, such as, for example, the Summer Palaces in Bang-Pa-In. You can say that the King sold the teak forests of the country to raise capital for modernization. Foreign companies, including EAC, paid highly for concession plots of forest land where they could log the trees in millions. No thought seems to have been given to the fact

Richelieu also acquired concessions, but all within the field of urban development. The first was a company concession to build and run a private 21 kilometer railway between Paknam (Samut Prakan Province) at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River and Bangkok. At a certain stage, the project became short of funds, but the King invested around 172,000 Baht and became a shareholder. The line was strategically important, as shown by the ‘Paknam Incident’ in 1893. It was inaugurated in July 1891 and was soon a success. Richelieu headed the company, which continued to run all the years up to 1959. After World War II it became a tramline. The second was the first electric tramline opened 1894 under Danish ownership; Richelieu was the leading figure in the company. W. Fleuron Jacobsen was hired as manager and proved to be a very competent daily leader. The line ran 7, later 18 kilometers, from The Royal Palace to the harbor around Klong Toey. It was inaugurated by the king. Richelieu must really have had a partiality for rails, because when he got back to Denmark he started and controlled a private railway line between Copenhagen and Slangerup in North Zealand.

Siam Electricity Company The most important concession was the Siam Electricity Company Ltd., obtained in the year 1898-99. The company had the sole rights to deliver electricity to the capital, with at that time around 400,000 inhabitants. The concession was given for 50 years. SEC was founded by a consortium with G. M. Glueckstadt, Landmandsbanken (Farmers Bank), in Copenhagen as chairman, Richelieu as managing director and engineer Aage Westenholz as manager. The company was extremely profitable. Setting up of an electricity company in Bangkok had been tried earlier, but the attempts had failed. It is due entirely to Richelieu’s determination, networking and busi-

ness flair that he was the one who succeeded. In 1912, the majority of the stocks were sold to Belgian interests. We do not know exactly how many shares Richelieu himself possessed. It has not been possible to estimate the turnover and profits of these concessions, but a quite frank advertisement in a leading Danish daily from August 7th 1907 (this from Eggers-Lura (1998)) throws some light on the matter. Siam Electricity Company advertised an opening for a traffic manager to be stationed in Bangkok. In the text is mentioned that the tram line and the electricity plant combined generated a profit of 1,200,000 Danish Crowns—a gold mine in 1907.

Big business in Denmark After returning to Denmark, the Admiral engaged himself in many sorts of business at a high level; he was, of course, a member of the board of Directors EAC, Chairman of the board of directors Landmandsbanken, Chairman of B&W shipyard, DFDS shipping, etc. Defeat came late to Andreas du Plessis de Richelieu, but when it came the blow hit hard and darkened the last 10 years of this proud man’s life. He died in 1932 at the age of 80 years. Landmandsbanken collapsed in 1922, and in 1923 Richelieu was convicted of gross negligence and fined 4,000 Danish crowns by the Supreme Court. Through all the years Richelieu maintained friendships with the Siamese. King Chulalongkorn visited him while in Denmark and his close friend Prince Damrong paid his last visit in 1930. Andreas Richelieu always stayed in the realm of big business, unlike some of his contemporaries such as, for example, the Carlsberg brewer Carl Jacobsen, who founded both an art museum and foundations for art and culture. Maybe that’s why the Admiral is not anchored in the public mind and remains a strange bird in the aviary.

April 2010 • ScandAsia.Th 9

Future of SSS in the Hands of Scandinavian Society Siam recently celebrated its 90th anniversary, but the organization is struggling and whether it will live to be a hundred is entirely up to the members, says Chairman Eid Alexandersen. By Katrine Bach Sigvardt

s the oldest organization for Scandinavians in Thailand, Scandinavian Society Siam (SSS) has been a central meeting point for Scandinavians for almost a century. It has given its members a chance to meet and get to know other expats as well as exchange information on life in Thailand. For decades, being a member has been considered a privilege, and the SSS has been a strong and powerful organization. It has played an important part in people’s lives, but recently it has lost its influence. The older generation of expats in Thailand still considers the organization a legend. However, it seems that this opinion is becoming less and less dominant and the interest for Scandinavian Society Siam is dropping. Previously, the SSS was the only way for members to meet and interact, and the eagerness to spend time with other Scandinavians was evident. Now, however, the board can hardly get anyone to sign up for the planned events.

Great 90 Year Anniversary In January, the SSS celebrated its 90th anniversary at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Bangkok. Eid Alexandersen and her board had put a lot of time and effort into organizing the party. Their disappointment was enormous when they realized, three weeks before the event, that only 37 people had signed up. “We changed a few things and by the day of the party, 170 welldressed Scandinavians showed up. Thankfully!,” she says. The party, which had a 1920’s theme, was a big success. The guests had a great time, and to Eid Alexandersen, it was the highlight of her chairmanship. 10 ScandAsia.Th • April 2010

“That’s when I felt that all of our hard work had been worth it,” she says. But because it is so difficult to get people to respond to the different events, morale among the board members is dropping. The lack of commitment from the rest of the society has a discouraging effect on the board who feels that it is not worth the effort to spend both time and energy on planning events that no one is really interested in.

Internet society The changes that have occurred in society over the past 20 years have also affected the role of the SSS. When it was established, it was meant as an easy way for people with similar backgrounds to meet and interact. The introduction of the internet and the constant development of new technology have made it even easier for people to create as well as maintain networks no matter where in the world they are. The people for whom the SSS is still an important part of their lives belong to the older generation, and Eid Alexandersen thinks that the effect of the technical development is more prominent among the younger expats. The chairman welcomes modern life and the changes that technology has brought with it, but at the same time she thinks society is taking an unfortunate turn. She explains: “The internet is something that many people can’t live without. On the other hand, people can live without society. They don’t really feel that they need to be tied together with their own people anymore, but if they do, they can do it from their home.” People have so many choices. They are able to interact on several different platforms and Eid Alexandersen thinks that is one of the reasons the SSS is losing ground. She adds that the sad thing is that people do not speak to each

Its Members “They need to want to put all their time and effort into it willingly. ‘Willingly’,” she says, ”that’s the key word.”

Keep it alive

Board Members of the SSS blowing candles on the Birthday cake at the 90 year anniversary gala dinner.

other anymore, and the result of that will be destruction of the community and the act of being together. The SSS provides a forum for physical interaction, and she hopes that there will still be room for that in the future.

Wholehearted commitment The fact that many of the board members never had a real wish to join the committee does not help the situation either. Setting up SSS events and parties is very time consuming. Therefore, it is essential that the people involved in the organization are committed to the work and the task at hand. Most of the board members never had a plan to join the committee. People were forced to join the board. When they attended the meetings, they were lured into joining even though they did not have the intention of becoming active board members. According to Eid Alexandersen that is the reason the organization is falling apart.

The chairman really hopes that the SSS will live to see its 100th anniversary. As chairman of the organization, she has put a lot of time, work, and energy into the organization and she hopes it will not be wasted. More than that, though, she really believes in what the SSS stands for. To her, the organization is a legend with a good story and a great cause, and it is important to preserve that. For the SSS to live on, she hopes that the members will realize they need to give something back to the society. “I wish and hope that some of the Scandinavians here will give their time to save this organization,” she says. “That’s what this is all about; giving and taking. The members want to take. They want the opportunity to come to the functions and the parties but they really have to give back if they want this to continue. If they start giving, the SSS could continue for another ten years – maybe longer. If they don’t want to give, it has to die, and that’s hard.”

SSS 90th Annual General Meeting Wednesday 28 April 2010 Time: 18:00 to 00:00 Venue: The Rembrandt Hotel, Rembrandt III (2nd floor), 19 Sukhumvit Soi 18 Bangkok. Reception starts at 6:00pm with drinks and Biksemad! AGM starts at 7:30pm. Agenda according to the ByLaws

Swedish Duo Rolling to The Swedish couple Jim Petersson and Maria Larsson is doing the trip of a lifetime. Jim on a skateboard and Maria on In-liners. As the very first in world they do the journey from Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand to Singapore – skating all the way. A journey of about 2500 kilometres. By Niels C. Jensen

fter one week of relaxing at Koh Chang the Swedish couple Jim Petersson and Maria Larsson are ready to roll again. Wednesday morning they left Samut Songkhram. They started out in Chiang Mai the 16th January and until now they have been skating 12 days but there still is a long way to go. But they do not have any rush and are planning to stay some days in Hua Hin and later on in Phuket. “We sk ae 3-4 days and then rest for next 2-3 days. And we skate about 60 kilometres per day, which we are doing in like 5-6 hours,” Maria and Jim tells. Jim and Maria have been together for one year and in Sweden they still live separately. Maria in Skåne and Jim in Blekinge. But in this trip they are together 24-7 which is: ”So far – so good,” replies Jim when I ask how it has been to travel together as a couple.

On the roads of Thailand Maria and tells that the road condi-

12 ScandAsia.Th • April 2010

tions in Thailand have so far been very good: “The highways have a lane only for motorcycles, bicycles and skaters. It feels very safe,” says Maria. On the road the young Swedes often meet local people who want to talk to them. But since they do not speak Thai and the locals often do not speak English they most of the time use simple body language.

Why not backpacking? The big question to be asked is why the couple wants to skate through Southeast Asia and not “just” backpack. And Maria quickly replies: “We really like to challenge us self and we wanted to be the first in the world to do something special,” and Jim continues “I am the first to skate at a longboard all the way from Thailand to Singapore and Maria is the first woman to rollerskate the journey. They also like to meet new people and that is also one of the reasons that they did not book anything from home: “We have no bookings we just

skate until we find a place to stay,” Maria says and continues: “When you skate you see a lot of places and meet and lot of people. While the bus just passes by.”

Thai hospitality and spicy food The decision about where to go was easy as Jim and Maria both had been to Thailand before and they both loved the food and the people

Singapore “But first we need to go shopping in big scale, the shopping should be fantastic there I have heard,” says Maria with a big smile.

More than vacation

and wanted to go back. Then Malaysia came into the route as they the final destination should be Singapore. The plan is to roll into Singapore in the beginning of June. In Singapore they are going to visit some of Jims family who lives there and then finally fly back to Bangkok to get a flight back to Sweden:

The trip is not only a big experience for Jim Petterson and Maria Larsson, they are also raising money for The Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation. From when they started planning the trip they thought about the the publicity their journey could get and decided that it should be in benefit of a good cause. The goal is to raise 50.000 SEK. In the official homepage of Jim and Maria's trip you can help them achieve their goal and donate money directly to the The Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation. Make your donation here (Swedish) and for all non-Swedish: Information in English.

BEST TIME

WORST TIME

The best part so far has been a visit to Tiger Kingdom in Chiang Mai: “It was a very nice place, also for the animals. Not just concrete cellars but like a natural environment, that was very nice to see,” says Maria

The worst experience was when Jim had an skating accident: “We were skating downhill and I realised to late how steep it was, I could not brake and had to jump off the skateboard and hurt my right foot quite bad. And it is still not completely well,” tells Jim.

February 2010 • ScandAsia.Th 13

Foundation for the Future For Danish international students in Bangkok, an International Baccalaureate education from KIS will provide benefits throughout life, particularly in our increasingly borderless world.

KIS International School, 999/124 Kesinee Ville, Pracha-Utit Road, Huay-Kwang, Bangkok 10320, Thailand T: +66 (0) 2274-3444 F: +66 (0) 2274-3452 www.kis.ac.th

14 ScandAsia.Th • April 2010

KIS

International School is one of only three international schools in Bangkok authorized to offer all three International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes – providing a cohesive education for children aged 3 to 18 years old. Many international families in Bangkok struggle when choosing a school for their children, mainly due to lack of knowledge about the curricula offered and the value and relevance of each for their children’s futures. At KIS, we have chosen the IB curriculum as the sole education programme for a wide number of reasons, not least the value of offering an accessible and relevant education for students, regardless of home country or mother tongue. KIS’ ethos and the structure of the IB means students from almost 40 countries benefit from the international perspective and transferability of the curriculum at KIS. For Danish and other European families, the long term advantages of having their children study UK or US curricula, dictated by the Governments and economics of these countries, can be questionable. The IB, with its holistic approach and globally aware characteristics, is increasingly becoming the curriculum of choice for many international families.

Combination of the best Danish parents wanting to educate their children with an international perspective, without denying their home culture, can gain advantages from many of the characteristics of the IB

programmes. At each stage in the children’s learning, starting right from the Primary Years Programme, children are taught to understand and respect different cultures, including their own, and to embrace both similarities and differences. Mother tongue learning is also an important focus of all IB Programmes. This emphasis becomes particularly relevant in the later stages of a student’s education because of university choices and admission requirements.

Recognized all over The IB Diploma is recognized and welcomed as an entrance qualification for all higher education institutions in the Nordic countries – provided the applicant has passed their mother tongue in their IB examination or is able to pass a required language test in the country in question. KIS secondary students whose mother tongue is neither Thai nor English may decide to study their mother tongue as their second language as an independent study unit. This option allows students to continue their mother tongue studies to an advanced secondary level all the way to the IB Di-

ploma. KIS assists parents in setting up additional mother tongue language programmes upon request which can be done at primary and secondary levels through after school classes, personal tutorials and small group tuition during school time. For international students in Bangkok, the benefits of having an IB education are numerous. Not only does it give admission to universities all over the world, its strong emphasis on international understanding, responsible citizenship and critical thinking provides skills for life that will assist students in both the workplace and their personal relationships.

University counsellor available For families who are settled in Bangkok for the long term but want their children to attend university in Denmark, the IB is by far the most transferable curriculum. Additional assistance is provided by KIS’ full time university counsellor, who is responsible for contacting universities around the world and helps students prepare for admission requirements and applications. Families who wish to arrange a campus visit can contact the Admissions Dept on +66 (0) 2 274 3444 ext. 4118 or email aine@kis.ac.th.

Two old-school nerd guys, Erland Øye and Eirik Glambek Bøe, from Norway was truly loved by the crowd in Bangkok who screamed and applauded at every opportunity when the Kings of Convenience performed in Bangkok. By Niels C. Jensen

1000 People Bewitched From Track One ings of Convenience did not need the big set up. The two guys were just there with their guitar and piano and the audience was complete bewitched. The Norwegians even got away with their special Norwegian humour. Some girls in front of the scene had for example made a banner showing the letters “ooooohh” which could become very useful if the musicians should forget their lyrics, Eirik Glambek Bøe claimed. Eirik Glambek Bøe did also entertain with his many gestures and some kind of dance, which is not easily described by words. The crowd was mainly smiling youngsters between 20-35 years, dressed in t-shirt and jeans, in all the concert had a very nice and chilled or should we say convenient atmosphere. “The music makes you smile and feels like driving on a long road with the windows open,” as described by a girl in the audience.

The words from the crowd The self-promoted Kings stepped into the heart of more than 1000 people. Some of them was Thai Manopan Leepaibool and his friends, who were at the concert to listen to the nice music and afterwards they go to a party. It was Manopan Leepaibool who introduced his friends to the Norwegian Kings: “I read about Kings of Convenience in a Art and Design magazine four months ago and I have listened to their music since,” he says. 16 ScandAsia.Th • April 2010

He explains why he prefers international music to Thai music. “I am a big fan of folk-pop music and Thai music is often just a copy of international music. So I prefer international music,” says Manopan Leepaibool, who works as creative designer. Scandinavia was also represented at the floor in the Studio 1 at the Moonstar Studio, Lad Prao 80. Swedish Stefan Bengtson and his girlfriend were lucky to find a ticket to the Concert on Facebook: “We really wanted to go but it was sold out so very fast, but then we were lucky to find a ticket on facebook,” says Stefan Bengtson, 31, who has seen Kings of Convenience live one time before in Germany. The Swedish couple has lived in Thailand for one and half year. Stefan is writing on his Ph.D. about Education in Vietnam and his girlfriend is working for the UN.

The music makes you smile and feels like driving on a long road with the windows open.

Southeast Asia Tour It is the very first time Kings of Convenience is performing in Thailand, but this in the next month they have jobs all over Southeast Asia. Originally the plan was not to go Thailand – but at the end of the concert the Norwegian Kings promised that they will come back to Bangkok in future. This time Bangkok was not only performing at Moonstar Studio, for the Erland Øye and Eirik Glambek Bøe, they had also been out in the streets to see for themselves what was going on in Bangkok and the moment: “It is really hard to understand who is the good guys and who is the bad guys is all this, and then we wrote this song,” said Erland Øye. The song is called “Rule my world” and you can hear it at MySpace. http://www.myspace.com/ kingsofconvenience

April 2010 • ScandAsia.No 9

A Passion for Teaching After 38 years of teaching, Holger Jensen, Danish language teacher at NIST, still loves his vocation.

Holger Jensen feels like a fish in water - both in Bangkok and in his choice of career. Some of his students at NIST are Max and William Bestle (bottom far left), Natascha Lefort (middle left) and Henrik Romhild (middle right.)

By Katrine Sigvardt

hen Holger Jensen thinks back on his own school experience, he remembers an incident where the teacher handed out stickers to his students according to how well they had finished an assignment; the better the assignment, the bigger and brighter the sticker. Holger’s disappointment was enormous when the boy sitting next to him was awarded a large, colorful sticker with a Red Indian on it, while all he got was a small one of a boring, gray mouse. At the time, he never thought he would once make a career of teaching himself, but he did, and now, having taught more than 500 students, one of the core principles of his work is still that learning has to be fun.

Leaving Denmark To Holger, a career in teaching was not an obvious choice, and he had to try his way forward working odd jobs. He started working on a ship, but suddenly the dream of becoming a teacher emerged in his head, and instead of slowly disappearing, it continued to grow. Holger therefore attended teaching college to see if this was really the career for him. As it turned out, it was and in

and exchange ideas on how best to teach their foreign languages to their students. He explains that it is such a nice group of people to be a part of and he appreciates the level of cultural understanding they have achieved by sharing a teachers’ lounge and drinking coffee.

Life in Thailand

1972, he started his new career. In 1994-95, Holger went on his first pack packing experience around the world. It was an experience that made a huge impact on him. Little did he know that just a few years later, he would actually leave little Denmark behind for good. A Danish couple based in the capital of Thailand contacted him and asked if he might be interested in coming to Bangkok for eight months to teach their teenage son, Simon. “All of a sudden, I just heard myself say ‘yes’,” he says and before he knew it, he was off to Bangkok and a new job that would prove to be very rewarding.

Little victories

New International School of Thailand 36 Sukhumvit Soi 15 Bangkok 10110, Thailand T: +66(0)2651-2065 F: +66(0)2253-3800 www.nist.ac.th

10 ScandAsia.No • April 2010

“It was amazing! The things I was able to teach that kid,” Holger says as he recalls his first teaching experience abroad. “When he had learned how to read, the two of us went to a café to celebrate.” To Holger, those are the moments that matter the most, and it is within those same moments that his passion for teaching lies. “It is the most fantastic experience when you know that finally,

the student gets it. You can almost see, the piece of the puzzle falling into place, and bingo! It just clicks! That is why I love my job,” he says and adds that he gets the greatest pleasure when a child after a lot of hard work, suddenly knows how to read.

Teaching at NIST For the past nine years, Holger has practically been part of the inventory at New International School of Thailand (NIST) where he has been teaching Danish at the foreign language department. He does not work there full time but he comes in several times a week to teach some of the Danish children who go to school there. It is a big school but Holger knows the hallways and the numerous corridors like the back of his hand. He turns corners and walks up and down stairs until he comes to a halt in front of a door covered in different flags. “I love this room,” he says as he walks into the foreign language teachers’ lounge. It did not exist when he first started at NIST, but now the teachers who represent 22 nationalities have a place where they can talk

Holger Jensen loves his life in Bangkok and feels that he got it just right when he decided to pursue a career in teaching. At 64, however, he is starting to consider putting an end to the busy days of teaching. “I have this dream of one day opening a little café shop where I can sell silver jewelry and old books. I see myself sitting at a small table in the corner where I will be reading my books while eating brownies and talking to customers,” he says with a dreamy look in his eyes and a little smile on his lips. At the same time, though, he admits that he will probably never be able to let go of teaching completely. It has been such a big part of his life for so long that he feels he will have a hard time living without it.

Born to teach When watching Holger at NIST it becomes clear that this man is truly in his right element. He is one of those teachers who leave a mark on the children they work with, and it is no wonder that he is still in touch with several of them and that even people he taught back in Denmark still visit him in Bangkok from time to time. With a chuckle and eyes of wonder, he concludes: “I am so surprised that I am not sick of it yet, but the truth is that I am just as excited about my job now as I was when I started at 26.”

Smooth Transition from Denmark to Harrow When Line Jessen had her first day at Harrow International School, she hardly knew any English. Coming straight from a traditional school in Denmark, seeing the other students in their blue uniforms and the different way of teaching was a shock. That was two years ago, and since then a lot has changed.

Harrow International School 45 Soi Kosumruamchai 14, Kosumruamchai Road, Kwaeng Sikun, Don Muang, Bangkok 10210 Thailand Tel: +66 02 503 7222 Fax: +66 02 503 7223 www.harrowschool.ac.th

12 ScandAsia.No • April 2010

was really nervous,” Line recalls of her first day at her new school. “Mostly, because my English wasn’t that good. Everything was so different for me.” Line had just moved from Denmark to Bangkok with her parents and everything was new. She had been with her parents on a successful familiarization trip prior to the move, but still there was a lot to learn. However, after meeting her Housemaster, she soon felt part of the group. She was given a buddy to show her around and help her settle into her new environment. And settle she did. After some intensive English lessons, she is achieving great academic success and she has made a wide circle of friends from many nationalities. Her quick adaptation and progress was so evident that she was awarded a prize at Harrow’s annual Speech Day last year. Line’s achievements didn’t come out of thin air, though. They required hard work and, knowing only a little English, getting through the first couple of weeks was tough. She received a lot of help from her new class mates, but her teacher, especially, supported her and helped her through the transition. “He made sure that I got lots of extra English help and spoke to me clearly and slowly whilst I was learning the language,” Line says, and according to her that is what gave her the confidence to keep working at improving her skills.

Line Jessen’s hard work won her an award in 2009 at Harrow’s annual Speech Day.

The hard work paid off, and Line has always been glad that her parents chose Harrow as her new school. Of all the schools they visited, they liked Harrow and the idea of the British Curriculum the best. “My parents wanted a curriculum that would help me in later life choose the universities I want and they understood that the British Na-

tional Curriculum has a very strong reputation,” Line explains about the choice her parents made. She is particularly happy about the way they teach at Harrow. “My previous school was OK, but I felt that the teaching wasn’t that great. I remember sitting in the history class, and just wanting to sleep. At Harrow the teachers expect you to give your opinions much more and to work out what you have learnt for yourself. It is more challenging, but it means that we understand things in a more meaningful way,” she says. According to Line, her first impression of Harrow was a good one. Everyone was friendly and they helped her adapt to her new surroundings. Even though it was tough in the beginning, she highly recommends the school to other Danish students who are moving to Bangkok. “The way they teach at Harrow is very different from Denmark, but in a good way. Everything about this school is great. What I really like about it is that it is so easy to make friends and when you are new, there is always someone to ask you how you are feeling or to help you out.” As for the future, Line isn’t quite sure of which path to choose yet. “I am going to take IGCSE, and then we will see what happens next,” she says, and because of her education at Harrow, she feels prepared for whatever comes her way.

April 2010 • ScandAsia.No 13

Boarding Schools Prepare Stu The expat lifestyle provides many practical reasons for sending children to boarding school, but the advantages of a boarding experience can go far beyond that.

lthough the distance can take its toll on both the child and its parents, sending children to boarding school in their home country remains a popular choice for expats. In spite of the separation from family and loved ones, ultimately, the benefits of attending boarding school are many. Gaining a better understanding of roots and cultures, desires for academic achievements, a change of scenery, or being bored with life abroad are just some of them. Focused attention 24/7 According to advocates of the boarding school experience, students at boarding schools are usually taught in smaller classes, which is not always possible in regular schools. The fact that students as well as teachers live on campus also allows for more focused attention on the individual student, and he or she will be able to become absorbed in different subjects and receive the help they need along the way.

Furthermore, advocates claim that students are encouraged to study more than normally because they are constantly in an academic environment, and they are inspired to do so by their peers. Because of this, people who have attended boarding school are, on average, better prepared for future challenges such as college and university. Adapting to a changing world Proponents also claim that because they are constantly surrounded by people their own age, students will acquire the skills to become independent, critical thinkers at an early age. They learn how to deal with their problems in a mature and responsible way, and they will develop the ability to quickly adapt to new surroundings and environments. Being apart from parents and other loved ones also gives the students a strong sense of self, supporters say. They learn to trust and believe in themselves as they work through challenges and hardship on their own without the physical support of their parents nearby. Friends for life At most boarding schools, there is a strong feeling of unity and the community on campus is often

People who have attended boarding school are, on average, better prepared for future challenges such as college and university.

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udents for Life

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very strong, proponents claim. Although the students receive a lot of help and support from their teachers, they very much rely on themselves and the other students. As everyone is in the same boat in a very intense environment where studying and being away from home are some of the key words, the students at boarding schools often form very strong bonds of loyalty and trust with their fellow boarders. After a boarding experience, many find that the friendships they have made last a lifetime. Not for everyone Boarding school provides you with skills that will be benefit you throughout life. However, it is important to keep in mind that boarding is not for everyone. For

the robust child, the experience will prepare him or her for an ambitious life and it teaches the students to survive on their own when things get rough. If the students has a need to feel secure and comfortable in order to thrive, a boarding school may not always be able to provide that kind of environment. Some will like it while others will not. Having selected a boarding school for their child, parents should observe their child maybe even closely than before the move in order to detect early on any signs that may indicate if their decision to go for a boarding school was wrong - or if the chosen school was not the right choice for their child,

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April 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ ScandAsia.No 15

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