ScandAsia Singapore - October 2014

OCT 2014

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Coming Events

DABS Visit to Pandora in Bangkok

Your FREE ScandAsia Magazine in Singapore ScandAsia is the only magazine that covers all the Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish residents in Singapore.

We also publish a ScandAsia magazine in China, Thailand, and the rest of South East Asia.

Get your own FREE copy: scandasia.com Publisher : ScandAsia Publishing Co., Ltd. 211 Soi Prasert Manukitch 29 Prasert Manukitch Road Chorakae Bua, Lad Prao Bangkok 10230, Thailand Tel. +66 2 943 7166-8, Fax: +66 2 943 7169 Editor-in-Chief : Gregers A.W. Møller gregers@scandmedia.com Assistant Editor: Thana Poopat thana@scandmedia.com Advertising : Frank Leong frank@scandmedia.com Finn Balslev finn@scandmedia.com Graphic Designer : Peerapol Meesuwan Peerapol@scandmedia.com Distribution : Wanvisa Rattanaburi wanvisa@scandmedia.com Printing : Advanced Printing Services Co., Ltd.

Pandora is a highly successful Danish jeweler company, recognized globally for its brand. The main production base is in Bangkok where more than 5.000 employees produce the famous bracelets.

DABS has been invited to visit Pandora in Bangkok for at tour at the factory and a briefing about the international Danish company and the way business and production are done in Thailand.

The visit will be combined with a networking dinner in the evening with the Thai Danish Chamber of Commerce.

The Tour will take place Friday October 17th.

Peer Gynt Open Golf Tournament 15 October 2014 Date: Wed 15 Oct 2014 12:30 PM Venue: Sentosa Golf Club, 27 Bukit Manis Rd, Singapore NBAS - The Norwegian Business Association (Singapore) – holds the annual Peer Gynt Open Golf Tournament on Wednesday 15 October. The event, which is for members only, takes this year place at the Sentosa Golf Club.

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New students Imogen and Ryohei relax at ‘home’ on UWCSEA East

…YOUR CHILD FELT AT HOME FROM DAY ONE? Would feeling secure and supported make learning easier?

That’s the finding by leading education specialists, and it’s certainly the experience of students at UWCSEA. Take Imogen and Ryohei, new students who had a friend from day one through the school’s Buddy Programme.

Because their buddies accompanied them throughout the day and introduced them to other students, Ryohei and Imogen felt they belonged from the start. This feeling followed them from playground to classroom, giving them the confidence to do anything from making friends to learning new mathematics concepts.

UWCSEA Dover is registered by the CPE CPE Registration No. 197000825H Registration Period 18 July 2011–17 July 2017 UWCSEA East is registered by the CPE CPE Registration No. 200801795N Registration Period 10 March 2011–9 March 2017

This is just part of the school’s Personal and Social Education (PSE) programme, a key element of the learning experience. Through PSE, students explore their identity and place in the world. With the support of their teachers and each other, students are prepared to take their seat at school and beyond, with confidence.

What if your child joins UWCSEA? Visit www.uwcsea.edu.sg to find out more.

October 2014 • ScandAsia.Singapore 5 016ADV-1415

News Brief

Students visit Norway’s Singapore-based shipping terminals

N

orwegian Embassy staff visited the Stolthaven Terminals together with students from NTU to learn more about chemical shipping. Many of them are taking an exchange semester in Oslo.

To be proud of the history and impact of the shipping industry was one important message

that was given to the students who visited the Stolthaven Terminals on August 29.

“Stolt” means proud in Norwegian. To be proud of the history and impact of the shipping industry was one important message that was given to the students who attended a field trip to the Stolthaven Terminals at Jurong Island.

New Grundfos Chief in Asia Pacific region to double the revenue in five years

Moreover - long histor y does not preclude current day success. The Norwegian shipping industry is probably stronger than ever - in particular in offshore oil and gas and other advanced market segments.

Stolt-Nielsen Limited is a leading global provider of bulk-liquid transportation, storage and distribution services. Stolt Nielsen Singapore, Youngship Singapore and the Maritime Business Society from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) jointly organized a trip for the students in the shipping course in NTU to visit the Stolthaven terminal to learn more about chemical storage and chemical shipping.

During this program at NTU, the students go for one semester on exchange to BI, the Norwegian School of Management, in Oslo. The collaboration between NTU and BI started over 10 years ago and the students get to learn about the industry from two great shipping nations – Norway and Singapore. As a result, a large number of students from both countries form part of an interesting talent pool for the shipping industry in both countries.

Drunk Norwegian kicks cop, lands in Singapore jail

G

rundfos has found a new man to lead their ambitious growth plan in the Asia pacific region. His name is Okay Barutçu and he has been promoted from being Grundfos’ general manager in Singapore.

He has been with the Danish pump manufacturing company since 2007.

In his new role Okay Barutçu will lead 1,100 employees and fight to develop and strengthen Grundfos’ position in the Asia Pacific region. The strategy is to double the revenue within the next 5 years.

“Grundfos has been in the Asia Pacific region for 30 years and we already have a substantial business in place, but we want to grow it further.

What we are planning is evolution rather than revolution – doing more of that what we are good at, and doing it better as a reliable partner and responsible corporate citizen,” Okay Barutçu says in a pressrelease from Grundfos.

A

Norwegian man who came to Singapore from South Korea for a business meeting and holiday was jailed one month on September 16 for kicking a police officer.

Staale Lie Jorgensen, 34, was also fined $3,000 for punching and kicking a hotel staff at Naumi Hotel where he stayed on May 10 this year.

Prosecutors said he admitted to causing hurt to Mr Vergel Dela Cruz Morlano, 26, at the Seah Street hotel between 5am and 5.30am as well as kicking the thigh and shin of reservist Inspector Li Tian Fu, 30 at the carpark of Singapore General Hospital about five hours later.

Jorgensen was working in South Korea as a site manager in the oil and gas industry when he came here for a short vacation and to attend a business meeting in May. 6 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2014

News Brief

Volvo Trucks Rolls Out Plan For Expansion Across Asia

V

olvo Trucks announced an ambitious plan to expand its Asia operations at the Singapore Productivity Forum 2014.The plan includes substantial investment to upgrade its dealer networks in Thailand and Malaysia, a new representative office in Mongolia and opening of new offices in Myanmar and Pakistan by the end of the year.

Volvo Trucks, one of the world’s leading heavy truck brands, approaches productivity from the perspective of its customers and offers total transport solutions to the construction, mining, logistics and urban-use sectors.

Addressing the audience at the Singapore Productivity Forum 2014, Mr Christophe Martin, President of Volvo Trucks in Asia Oceania, said, ”Our customers rely on us to understand their needs and find the best possible transport solution for their business.To stay close to them,Volvo is investing and expanding in Asia. We made a THB3 billion investment (US$93.5 million) in Thailand growing the dealer network, and similar plans are in place for Malaysia. The company also

recently opened a new representative office in Mongolia, and by the end of the year additional offices in Pakistan and Myanmar will follow.”

Innovation by People for People Volvo’s new range of award-winning trucks, the Volvo FH, the Volvo FM and the Volvo FMX were developed at the cost of US$3 billion and intro-

duced to Asia in May 2014. “Our trucks are the most advanced in the market, and are designed with customers’ productivity in mind. It is the combination of innovative products, services and a truly caring approach, that makes Volvo the market leader in our segment and the No. 1 brand to own,” continued Mr Martin.

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Making it possible Nordea Bank S.A, Singapore Branch is part of Nordea Group, the leading financial services group in the Nordic and Baltic Sea regions. Some products and services may, due to local regulations, not be available to individuals resident in certain countries and their availability may depend, among other things, on the investment risk profile of persons in receipt of this publication or on any legislation to which they are subject. Nothing in this publication should be construed as an offer, or the solicitation of an offer, to purchase, subscribe to or sell any investment or product, or to engage in any other transaction or provide any kind of financial or banking service in any jurisdiction where Nordea Bank S.A., Singapore Branch or any of its affiliates do not have the necessary licence. Published by Nordea Bank S.A., R.C.S. Luxembourg No. B 14.157 on behalf of Nordea Bank S.A., Singapore Branch, 3 Anson Rd #20-01, Springleaf Tower, Singapore 079909. www.nordeaprivatebanking.com subject to the supervision of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (www.mas.gov.sg).

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October 2014 • ScandAsia.Singapore 7

News Brief

Asian air traffic heading towards a gridlock Photo: Bill Larkins, WikiCommons

Republic of Fritz Hansen launches 1st flagship store in Singapore

D A

sian air traffic could be heading for “catastrophic gridlock,” unless the region’s countries start to cooperate more, aviation experts warn.

Air passenger traffic in the Asia-Pacific region is to grow by 5.7% a year between 2013 and 2017, compared with 3.9% annually in Europe and 3.6% in North America, IATA told The Straits Times.

“The situation right now is barely tolerable in some pockets of the region.

If we don’t do anything, my guess is that in five to 10 years, we will experience what Europe went through 15 years ago, a catastrophic gridlock,” said Hsin Chen Chung, head of the Air Traffic Management Research Institute at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.

Countries should work together to deal with the increasing demand for international and domestic air travel in the region, he was quoted as saying.

Since Asian states are unwilling to share information about their air traffic capabilities, Hsin predicts than an open-sky policy such as the one in Europe will not be realistic. But the region should strive to set up common procedures and better technology for air traffic control, he said.

anish furniture company Republic of Fritz Hansen has launched their very first flagship store in Singapore in collaboration with W. Atelier.

Fritz Hansen is one of the world’s leading design and manufacturers of exclusive design, recognized for their iconic designs such as the Egg and the Swan chair created by the legendary Danish Architect, Arne Jacobsen.

The Danish Ambassador to Singapore was asked to speak at the event and to cut the ribbon for the official opening of the store.

W. Atelier where “W” stands for Water, is a studio for purveyors of fine bathroom designs. W. Atelier Pte Ltd, formerly known as Inhwa Marketing Pte Ltd, was established in 1979 as the sole agent of TOTO sanitary products and world-class furniture in Singapore.

Danish Ambassador to Singapore Berit Basse (left) presides over the opening of the Republic of Fritz Hansen flagship store. Photo: Embassy of Denmark in Singapore

Carlsberg increased profits in Malaysia and Singapore

C

arslbergs’ Malay subsidiary has increased the turnover significantly in the year’s second quarter; this resulted in a 29 percent profit jump.

According to Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia’s press release the increase was driven by a growth in revenue by 3,3 percent, improved performance in Singapore and effective cost management.

Carlsberg Malaysias managing director Henrik Juel Andersen thinks it is satisfying to see this progress in a 8 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2014

time where the demand for beer has softened in Malaysia.

“The efforts we have made over the past nine months to turn-around the Singaporean operations and build a stronger foundation for future growth are starting to payoff,” he says and adds that the addition of Asahi Super Dry and other alcoholic brands to Carlsberg’s portfolio, after acquiring the majority share in MayBev earlier this year, has further boosted their performance in Singapore.

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19/09/14 15.109 October 2014 • ScandAsia.Singapore

New Swedish priest in China

After 21 years serving as a priest in Kalmar the almost 30 year old dream of living and working in Asia caught up with Anders Johansson and his wife Kerstin Johansson.

by Lasse Henriksen

In China the church will have to be largely reliable on volunteers. ”When you operate a church over such vast distances the community becomes more important. We want to have regular services every month and then depending on who is in the congregation and who attends the services, we will see what people need and what we can do,” Anders Johansson says.

An old dream

A

nders Johansson, the new Swedish priest in China and Hong Kong is a bit of a spor ts nut, he is an eager cyclist, a crosscountry skier, and when it comes to football he is a loyal supporter Kalmar FF and Arsenal.Together with his wife Kerstin Johansson, who will help with the administration, Anders is ready to take on the challenge of serving Swedish expatriates using the Swedish church in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing to build a strong spirit of community, while commuting the almost 2000 kilometers between the cities.

Anders Johansson comes directly from a position as priest in the Kalmar Cathedral, where he had 10 employees working for the church. In Hong Kong it is just him and his wife and even though the cathedral has been exchanged with 10 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2014

borrowed premises, Anders is looking forward to the challenges and simplicity that comes with the new job. ”You can relax in a big organization were you have funds, staff and a location. Here we have to be creative in another way. We want to make the church a meeting point for people, it should be a place where they feel free to come and share their life’s burden when it is not easy,” Anders says and adds that the church should be a place with space for people going through both good and bad times.

But insuring that the church can fulfill its role in the Swedish community will be a challenge, in addition to the absence of employees the commuting between the three cities will make Anders’ priesthood very different from the one he had in Sweden.

Anders and Kerstin shocked their friends when they told them that they were leaving for Hong Kong. Some admired the couple’s decision while other thought they were crazy to leave jobs, friends and family in Sweden. One of their closest friends even missed a night of sleep upon the receiving the news. But what might have seem like an impulsive decision to friends and family was not born of a midlife crisis, but an invitation the couple received after 8 months of volunteering in India in the 1980’s.

After volunteering in Goa, India 1986 and 1987 the couple was invited to work for a Christian center in Hong Kong, back then the couple declined since they were still studying, but the dream of working and living in Asia was born and the wish to work abroad followed them through the years. ”Since we had been talking about working abroad for so many years, we did not want to look back on all this talk and say, alright we did not do it,” Anders says before Kerstin cuts in ”and we looked at it and said, okay, what is the worst thing that can happen. Worst case scenario would be finding out that this isn’t something for us, but if that is the case we can always move back when our contract has ended.”

Letting go of the dog and 3 trucks packed with furniture and clothes Selling their SAAB and 150 square meter home of 14 years, was not the toughest part about leaving, as Kerstin puts it, there are lots of cars and houses in Sweden. Putting their dog Tussen, a chihuahuapapillon mix, up for adoption was the hardest part for the family. Though they will miss being around friends and family, the couple are confident that the friendships can survive and hope that mov-

You can relax in a big organisation were you have funds, staff and a location.

Here we have to be creative in another way. We want to make the church a meeting point for people, it should be a place where they feel free to come and share their life’s burden when it is not easy.

ing abroad will be an opportunity to evolve on a personal level.

“We do not do this to start afresh, we still have our friends and family, it is a way to take a break from ordinary life in Sweden, we see it more like a chance to reevaluate what is important to us,” Anders says.

The family have stored 40 cubic meters of belongings in Sweden and have donated 3 lorries full of furniture and clothes for charity. All the family brought with them to Hong Kong was 3 suitcases and 5 cardboard boxes with essentials like sports equipment, games and family photos.

The decision Kerstin and Anders have three children, two sons, who already left home to study in Canada and work in Sydney, and a 17 year old daughter Hanna, who moved with them to Hong Kong and had the final saying in whether the family should move or not. ”I was actually sitting with my application the night before the submission deadline, wondering if I should apply or not, when Hanna and one of my sons told me to just send it in and see what happens, it’s not that dangerous,” Anders says and adds that they would not have moved if Hanna wasn’t in on the idea.

Hanna was doing her first year at a gymnasium in Sweden, when her parents asked her if she wanted to move to Hong Kong, she accepted the idea and was excited about the possibility of improving her English skills. She is now enrolled at Delia School of Canada in Hong Kong and will finish her last 2 1/2 years of secondary school there.

About a month after Anders had sent the job application he was offered the job with Kerstin working an administrative part-time position, after a night of talking it through the couple decided to take job and move to Hong Kong. ”We have been attracted to Asia, and I do not believe there will ever be a perfect moment to move abroad. Maybe it would have been better if Hanna had finished her school and so on, but then something else would probably have come up,” Kerstin says.

A village in the metropolis Even though Hong Kong is a large city, the Swed-

ish community is very small and in some ways Anders’ new job can be compared to the one of a village priest. In Hong Kong and Shanghai the Swedish community only consists of a couple of thousand individuals, while there were 50.000 potential churchgoers in Kalmar. ”When we come here as a family, we come as the priest family. Like Lennart Hamark, the former Swedish priest in China, told me: “You are living in a big city but within this city there are many smaller cities, one of those small cities is the Swedish community,” Anders says.

Even though Anders has been a priest for 21 years, moving to Hong Kong is a whole new and different chapter of his priesthood, but challenges and new experiences is what he is seeking. ”We have been talking for several years, about doing something different, maybe moving to Stockholm, just do something to make some sort of change. Our trip to Asia in 1986 made us grow, we learned so much, we changed as persons because of the experiences we had, so I think it is also curiosity to learn new things, the challenges and then of course our craving for adventure is also part of the equation,” Anders says.

Getting Christianity down-to-earth Anders looks at Christianity as a way to reflect on your daily choices and way of life, and in that sense Christianity becomes a ”down-to-earth” thing that has a direct effect on your life and actions. ”Through Jesus the Christian God becomes a human figure, not just a guy in the sky, but a man that shows what it means to be a true human. For me, being a Christian is to find out what Christianity means in everyday life and what Jesus is showing me in the ordinary life I live,” he says, and adds that some might be confident in their faith and some might be in doubt, but that this is a good thing, cause then people can talk to each other and learn from one another. ”My religion is rooted in the confidence, that God is greater than me, I don’t have to save the world, that is up to God. I think this makes me relaxed and allows me to be open toward other peoples interpretation of Christianity,” Anders Johansson says.

If everything goes as planned the church’s activities will start at the end of October. Like

former priest Lennart Hamark, Anders is going to Shanghai and Beijing on a monthly basis to do services and prepare young Swedish expats for their confirmation.

There is something about Asia The family is now in Hong Kong and are ready to settle in. Their first impressions are good, the combination of lush mountains and skyscrapers suits the family well, with opportunities for trekking, as Anders puts it ”If it had only shopping malls I would probably die down here”.

The family appreciates the cultural diversity of Hong Kong and are ready to venture into the unknown, undeterred by bureaucracy or daily challenges. ”In Sweden everything is very effective, here in Asia it is not always the case, at times it can be frustrating, but sometimes when the systems are not flexible the population learn to be.”

Fact Box • Anders is 51, born in Uppsala and became ordained in 1993 by the age of 30. He has been a priest in Kalmar ever since.

• Even thoughAnders’father was a priest,Anders did not feel like he grew up in a priest-family, none of his siblings became priests and before Anders chose to become one, he considered becoming a teacher.

• Anders has completed Vasaloppet 3 times, and when in Sweden he watches Kalmar FF on the stadium.

• Anders has been married to Kerstin for 30 years in May. • Kerstin is a teacher of 1st to 7th graders and got a leave of absence from her job in Kalmar.

• The couple has 3 children: • Simon who is 24 and works as a volunteer for Svenskakyrkan in Sydney.

• Rasmus who is 21 and studies economy in Canada.

• Hanna who is 17 and has left her Swedish Gymnasium to attend to Delia School of Canada in Hong Kong.

October 2014 • ScandAsia.Singapore 11

A brighter future

for immigrant children in Sabah plantations In 1991 Torben Venning and a group of Danish teachers launched a modest project to provide basic education for 70 children of immigrant plantation workers in Sabah, Malaysia. Since then the number of children enrolled in their schools has risen to 13000.

By Kristian KrĂźger Lauritzen

I

n the eastern par t of Malaysia, in Sabah, Borneo, oil palm plantations covers a massive swathes of land in the region, and these companies are the biggest employers. Most of the plantation workers are immigrants, and under strict Malaysian laws, no immigrant workers are allowed to have a family or bring up children while being employed in the country.

Such unrealistic and unenforceable restriction results in a lot of immigrant children being born on Malaysian soil without official documentation regarding their nationality. Only children born to Malaysian citizens can be enrolled in state schools, leaving a huge number of children without access to education.

Since 1991 the NGO, Humana Child Aid Society, has been providing basic education for a growing number of immigrant children, the majority of which are from Indonesia. Starting out with seed funds from a Dutch NGO, Humana has grown by leaps and bounds. Today the organization has become more or less self-financed.

51-year-old Dane, Torben Venning, Executive Director of Humana Child Aid Society, was one of founders of the school projects back in 1991. “We were a small group of Danes, most of us teachers by profession, who came out here.

We soon found out that all those children running around were not going to school. It seemed obvious to us what needed to be done. But with an estimated 50000 immigrant children outside 12 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2014

We were a small group of Danes, most of us teachers by profession, who came out here. We soon found out that all those children running around were not going to school. It seemed obvious to us what needed to be done.

the Malaysian school system, it was fair to say that there were a lot to be done,” he recalled. Torben Venning has a BA in anthropology from Denmark, and had taught for many years at independent schools.

When Humana Child Aid Society star ted out almost twenty five years ago with local NGO counterparts in Lahad Datu in the eastern part of Sabah, they were able to enroll some 70 immigrant children to their network of schools. Today there are more than 13000 receiving education in 135 learning centres in Sabah.

“We began teaching the children without any formal permission. After some time, Malaysia’s Ministry of Education heard about our activities, and an official delegation came for inspection.

That turned out well, they recognized the benefits, and we got the green light to carry on with our school network offering a full curriculum, “ Torben Venning said.

Strict immigrant labour rules From a Scandinavian perspective, it would seem obvious that every child, regardless of nationality, should have access to schooling. In Malaysia, it is a different story. In a multicultural country such as this, there are millions of illegal and legal immigrants, particularly from poorer neighbouring countries, like Indonesia and the Philippines. In an effort to keep the number of immigrants at manageable level, the government issued strict rules on non-Malaysians.

“When you are an immigrant plantation worker in Malaysia, the official rules forbid you to marry and/or have children. Of course the reality is that these people are getting married and are having children - which is basically what people do, “ Torben Venning stressed.

The plantation workers typically lives in longhouses located inside the oil palm plantations in village settings, with the majority from Sulawesi, Indonesia. Without access to school the children are likely to become child labourers at an early age. The Malaysian government officially acknowledges the need for school under the principle “Education for All”, but leaves it solely to NGO’s to provide schooling for non-Malaysians.

Humana Child Aid Society presently have more than 300 teachers employed in addition to 109 teachers sent by the Indonesian Government.

In-house training and learning by doing, are essential part of the teaching staff recruitment and skill development. Teachers don’t really need to have a degree in education,Torben Venning stressed.

“It is important that the ones we hire, have their heart in the right place. Usually they are people who lives in the rural areas, struggling to find work. So we hire some of them, provide them with training, and often they end up becoming very dedicated and great teachers.”

Social responsibility From 1991 to 1999 the schools was funded by Dutch NGO, Humana People to People. That organisation closed down in 1999, so the Sabah school project adopted the name Humana. At that time an essential donation came through a request to the Danish Embassy in Malaysia.

“We had asked them, if there were any possibility for financial support from DANIDA(Danish International Development Agency) or anything similar, but the average income in Malaysia is too high to qualify as international aid recipient. Luckily the Danish Ambassador forwarded our funding request to the Finnish Embassy, which had available budget allocated for a project like ours, “ Torben Venning said.

The Finnish Embassy were the main donors for the following nine years. In 2012 Humana Child Aid Society received from the EU a donation of 600000 euros to be spent over three years. Humana also receives financial support from Danish businesses such as ØK(East Asiatic Company) and Maersk. Also UNICEF has provided important support and cooperation. In 2013 the Finnish Embassy ceased funding. As of today it is mostly the plantation companies that pay for the day-to-day running of the schools. At long last, they have realised the need for corporate social responsibility.

“Good plantation workers are sought after.

And as is turns out, the ones that are reliable are also the ones with a family. They are not going anywhere because employment gives them the

financial security they need. So the plantation companies have learned that the schools are not only about charity, but basically is part of good management.”

Eager to learn Torben Venning sees it as quite an exceptional situation, that a private foreign organization gets the opportunity to implement school project in Malaysia.

“Our project played an important role in putting a spotlight on the problem that these children exist. Now there is a general understanding that they also deserve education,” he stressed.

Since 2011 Humana Child Aid Society has opened up 32 new learning centres for more than 3000 immigrant students and continues to expand. For the immigrant children, the schools, the time they spent in classes provide them with a structure in their lives, and a better future when they grow up. Torben Venning recounted with a smile how visiting teacher-groups from Denmark told him that they were very envious, when they saw how dedicated the children are at the learning centres.

There are still immigrant children who are still deprived of schooling in Sabah. Humana Child Aid Society are striving to reach out to as many of them as possible, to make the noble concept of “Education for All” a reality.

October 2014 • ScandAsia.Singapore 13

How to

By Nina Jagota

select the best

Most children are ready for pre-school from the age of three or four years. Before that, childcare outside the home should either be in a nursery or a private arrangement.

T

he process of selecting which preschool or kindergar ten is “best” is obviously difficult. Below we offer some general advice that you may find useful.

Location and fees Two crucial factors are typically the location of the school and the cost of the school fees.

So first step is to find out what international kindergartens or pre-schools are available within a reasonable distance from your home. Traveling back and forth between your home and the school will be part of your daily life for years to come. So be honest to yourself and admit that convenience matters!

For your child, a short distance to school certainly also offers benefits. No need to be pulled out of bed in the early hours of the day, rushed through breakfast only to sit sleepy in the car for an hour.

14 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2014

In Singapore, remember to count in all the opportunities along the excellent SMRT system.

Distance is not just a question of kilometers, but rather a question of time.

When you have found four or five nearest options, it is time to look at the school fees. Do not rely only on what is posted on the websites, it is highly advisable to call the schools and kindergartens that you are considering, and ask them what your real costs will be.

Again, it is important to be honest - don’t go shopping for a Benz if all you can really afford is a Toyota.

Now you are probably down to two, maybe three options without having exhausted yourself too much. This is important since you will for sure need all your energy for the next crucial step - your visit to the selected schools or kindergartens.

The classroom teacher What should you be looking for exactly at each kindergarten or school visit?

Meeting the classroom teacher is a must.Your child will be spending several hours per day under the supervision and care of this person. Notice how she is interacting with the other children in her class - she will be interacting with your child in the same way.

Do you hear the other children talking, laughing, singing, asking questions, and expressing their ideas, expressing their preferences and points of view? Do you hear the teacher speaking warmly, kindly, and respectfully to the children? Do you hear the teacher inviting the children to make choices, decisions, and be a part of the activities in progress?

The teacher should emphasize on promoting open-ended questions, prompting the children when interacting. This can encourage the children to experience new ideas, and furthermore, enable them to be creative, critical, reflecting to new ideas and enhance their problem solving skills.

Overall, the one thing well-qualified teachers do have in common is that they are usually atten-

school and the teacher to understand and know the children fully if they exclude the parents and family from the child that they are working with in the class.

The environment Another impor tant factor to consider when visiting a kindergarten is the overall environment.

A stimulating and creative classroom environment can help children to progress effectively in their development.

The learning environments that stimulate children’s physical and social experience could be both outdoor and indoor but there should be rich resources that are flexible and easy to use. The environment should also be filled with activities that stimulate critical thinking skills. For example, the activities and the toys should be inviting to the children as well as providing opportunities for interaction, hands-on play and exploration.

The recommended learning environment for children in the early years is learning through play.

The kindergarten should have centre play areas such as, easel painting, art table, science, books, puzzles, play dough, blocks, and water/sand play.

If you are in Bangkok, remember to count in all the opportunities along Bangkok’s excellent BTS / MRT systems. Distance is no longer just a question of kilometers, but rather a question of time.

pre-school or kindergarten for your child? tive listeners. Children are very expressive, and a teacher with good understanding would be acting upon the children’s verbal and non-verbal cues in the process of constructing an enjoyable learning experience for your child.

Smaller classes help. It is significantly easier to give one-on-one attention and be responsive to each child in the room when there are fewer children in a class. At your school visit, you can ask about this ratio in your child’s class.

The relationship that you would be having with the teacher once your child enrols in the school should be a strong, trustworthy, respectful and honest relationship.

In the process of finding the right school, it is also suggested that the school you are visiting should have a welcoming gesture towards you to encourage your involvement as parental inputs in your child’s class.

Every child has a unique background both culturally and sociologically. It is impossible for the

This means that activities should be well organized in clearly defined areas in the classroom, and most importantly, should be accessible to children.

Having papers, markers, and blocks on shelves that children can reach would help build their independence. A quiet reading corner and dramatic play area are also important to encourage their concentration, creativity and imagination. A corner as simple as a dramatic play area is more essential than it may seem. Studies have in fact shown that the imaginative play in the form of daily ‘pretend play’ actually improves emotional and behavioural skills, which could lead to improved academic performance later in their schooling years.

Outside play should also be a part of a typical day. The outdoor area should be where children can run, climb, walk, explore, and participate in other types of play with their friends. There is a direct correlation between the gross motor skills practice that children achieve through outdoor physical play to their long-term health.

No “perfect recipe” The perfect recipe for choosing the ‘ideal’ school for your child does not exist. Many parents simply go by their own parental instincts. This is natural, and there is certainly nothing wrong in trusting your own instinct in the process. After all, you should feel comfortable and confident in leaving your child at the school gate in the mornings.

However, the few professional tips and suggestions above should give you some ideas about what to look for when making up your mind. Keep in mind the important role you are taking in deciding the right choice for your child’s first school will contribute to your child’s progress toward a crucial foundation and an enjoyable first schooling experience.

October 2014 • ScandAsia.Singapore 15

Indicators for choosing a quality international school Choosing a school for your child is one of the most important decisions a parent will make. The quality of your child's education will impact his/her future so it is important to choose wisely. You will never regret the time you invested in making the right decision in choosing a quality international school and providing the very best education for your child.

Educational research has shown that high performing, quality schools have a number of common characteristics.

These seven key areas are common features of excellent schools, whose focus is upon providing outstanding learning opportunities for families.

AN EXPERT TEACHING TEAM Quality of teaching and learning provision is by far the most salient influence on students’ cognitive, affective, and behavioural outcomes of schooling – regardless of their gender or backgrounds. Indeed, findings from the related local and international evidence-based research indicate that ‘what matters most’ is quality teachers and teaching, supported by teacher professional development.

GEMS World Academy (Singapore) places a high priority on ensuring that, in their day-to-day teaching, classroom teachers identify and address the learning needs of individual students. Teachers are encouraged and supported to monitor closely the progress of individuals, identify learning difficulties and tailor classroom activities to levels of readiness and need. Our quality educators have high levels of professional accountability, taking personal and collective responsibility for improving students’ learning and their own teaching methods.

A CLEAR AND SHARED FOCUS Effective schools have a clear, shared mission and vision resulting from common beliefs and values. Starting with the school's mission and goals helps to develop a powerful school improvement plan focused on desired results. Everyone in the school is working towards a common goal and knows where they are going and why. The focus is on a consistent, positive direction for all involved.

GEMS World Academy (Singapore) mission is to develop inquiring, reflective and caring learners who have the knowledge, skills and character to take action and create a better,

more peaceful world. Supported by highly qualified staff in world-class facilities, our diverse international community is encouraged to develop intercultural understanding and respect.

offered at GEMS World Academy (Singapore) is a rigorous course of study that focuses on holistic excellence.

HIGH STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL STUDENTS

Highly performing schools have procedures in place to encourage a school-wide, shared responsibility for student learning and success, and to encourage the development of a culture of continuous professional improvement that includes classroom-based learning, mentoring and coaching arrangements. A high priority is given to the school-wide analysis and discussion of systematically collected data on student outcomes. Teaching is adjusted based on frequent monitoring of student progress. Assessment results are used to focus and improve instructional programs.

Effective schools are driven by a deep belief that every student is capable of inclusive learning. GEMS World Academy (Singapore) provides a learning environment that is safe, respectful, tolerant, inclusive that promotes intellectual rigour. Students in GEMS schools are offered an ambitious and rigorous course of study, across the arts, sports and academics. Children in GEMS schools continue to perform up to 14% above international averages.

EFFECTIVE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP School leadership can have a significant impact on the quality of teaching and learning. Effective leaders create cultures of high expectations, provide clarity about what teachers are to teach and students are to learn, establish strong professional learning communities and lead ongoing efforts to improve teaching practices.

QUALITY CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENTS Research reinforces the relationship between a quality curriculum and a strong impact on student outcomes. GEMS schools have a coherent, sequenced plan for curriculum delivery that ensures consistent teaching and learning expectations and a clear reference for monitoring learning across the grade levels. The curriculum

FREQUENT MONITORING OF LEARNING AND TEACHING

HIGH LEVEL OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Highly performing schools actively seek ways to enhance student learning wellbeing by partnering with parents, training institutions, local businesses and community organisations. In GEMS World Academy (Singapore), parents and families are recognised as integral members of the school community and partners in their children’s education. The GEMS '3-a-Day' Parent Engagement Program encourages parents to focus on student learning through daily discussions, sharing and

Author: Jacqueline McNalty Head of Early Years / PYP Coordinator GEMS World Academy (Singapore)

Turn your child’s hopes and dreams into reality.

Stuart, Aspiring Astronaut, Age 7

It starts with a teacher who can truly nurture and inspire.

Science teacher, Neil White from GEMS World Academy (Singapore) doesn’t just live and breathe theories and equations. He teaches a child the values of questioning old ways and looking for new solutions. Neil is one of our exceptional and passionate educators, dedicated to inspire and motivate the best in your child.

Neil White Chief Inspiration Officer Science teacher 20 years of international education experience

Needless to say, our efforts extend way beyond the school laboratory. We have made significant investments in the latest learning advances, leading curriculum and child research, as well as the world’s largest professional development programme that constantly enhances teacher skills.

We believe that teachers make the difference when it comes to the success of your child’s education. So we hire only the best educators. With the support of role models like Neil, GEMS students from our 132 schools worldwide have been accepted into 860 leading universities and colleges in 46 countries. That’s what you might call a truly inspiring result.

Meet our Education Team today.

+65 6557 2702 www.gemsworldacademy-singapore.com

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The people to inspire your child to international success.

ISS International School was founded in 1981 to serve the expatriate community in Singapore

ISS

is an authorised International Baccalaureate (IB) World School with a multicultural environment for students from almost 60 countries with no dominant group. It is the ONLY IB World School in Singapore specialising solely in the IB, incorporating IB Primary Years, IB Middle Years and the IB Diploma Program.

It is also the first to offer a one-to-one Apple Macbook program. ISS has a high percentage of IBO workshop leaders, moderators and examiners among its staff, one of the highest in Asia.

ISS International School is:

Academic Program

Student Information

• An established PYP, MYP and DP authorized IB World School, with years of experience offering each program.

• A truly international school with a multicultural environment, comprising of students from almost 60 countries with no dominant culture.

• A school with outstanding student support, including ESL, counselling and university advising.

• The first international school in Singapore with an Apple MacBook program.

• Known for student activities, including an established CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) program with an extensive list of activities, field trips and the adventurous activity week held each year.

• ISS is an authorized IB World School offering PYP (Kindergarten 1 – Grade 5), MYP (Grade 6 – 10) and DP (Grade 11– 12). The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accreditation enables ISS to offer a High School Diploma to their IB Diploma and IB Diploma course graduates.

• ISS offers pre-IB Diploma skills and IB Diploma subject preparation courses during the summer.

• Academic Year – August to June (Semester 1: August to December, Semester 2: January to June).

• Students from almost 60 countries.

• Class sizes – elementary school: 15-20 students, middle school: 20-24 students, high school: 15-20 students.

Faculty • Teachers from 19 countries.

• Predominantly trained in United States, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.

Many faculty members are IBO moderators, examiners and workshop leaders.

Admissions • Admissions staff are available year round to meet with potential families regarding admission for all three schools.

• Applications are accepted year round, subject to places being available.

• Please refer to the following link for the admission procedures: http://www.iss.edu.sg/ admission_procedures.php • Students must pass the English language proficiency test to be eligible for admission.

ISS International School Elementary and Middle School campus 25, Paterson Road, Singapore 238510 Tel: (65) 6235 5844 High School campus 21, Preston Road, Singapore 109355 Tel: (65) 6475 4188 www.iss.edu.sg Email: admissions@iss.edu.sg 18 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2014

October 2014 • ScandAsia.Singapore 19

Facilitating Academic Excellence Through Inquiry and Play Andrea Strachan, Vice Principal Elementary School, Lakeside Campus

T

he Canadian International School (CIS) early years classrooms (ages 3 - 6) are inspirational and vibrant learning spaces, and ones that utilize years of research about how children learn best. Our programme is based on the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), and has an inquiry and play-based approach – an approach at the heart of substantial research, documenting the importance of play in young children’s healthy development and learning.

This research clearly shows that children who engage in play have greater language and social skills, and more empathy, imagination and capacity to understand others. They are less aggressive and demonstrate more self-control and higher levels of thinking than children not in play-based kindergar ten programmes. By the age of 10, children who have “played” in kindergarten excel over those who have not in many ways. They are more advanced in reading and mathematics, and are better adjusted both socially and emotionally. Students who have benefited from a play-based kindergar ten programme typically excel in creativity, intelligence, oral expression and work habits.

There is often a misconception among many as to what “inquiry-based” or “play-based” learning is. Some believe that play is a waste of time in school. Others assume that the earlier a child begins to master the basic elements of reading, such as phonics and letter recognition, the more 20 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2014

likely they are to succeed in school. While phonics and letter recognition are crucially important in an educational context, when we look at decades of research, we know that these beliefs about how children learn best at a young age are false.

At CIS, we have a purpose-built school facility that was designed to suppor t our inquiry and play-based programme in the early years.

All classrooms are organised around learning “pods”. These are large, open, shared spaces where teachers can set up hands-on learning centres, organised in ways that suppor t how young children best learn. Literacy and numeracy are taught explicitly by teachers in large and small group settings, along with daily learning centre experiences that provide students with time to learn through inquiry and play.

In terms of literacy, our teachers job is to build a bridge from oral language to written language. This bridge must be built on a strong foundation of oral language and creative thinking, both of which are developed through play. How do teachers do this? Students write “grocery lists” in dramatic play centres that are set up to represent home or a grocery store. They participate in writing thank-you notes with their teachers to guest speakers and visitors to their classroom. Children also build language as they engage daily in responding to stories through writing, drawing, art and music.

In math, or numeracy, our students explore number concepts through a variety of “hands-on” learning opportunities.These might include water

play for exploring volume and capacity, coloured toys and blocks for sorting and classifying, creating graphs reflecting student interests and questions, and daily counting and number opportunities.

This hands-on exploration solidifies concepts and understanding much more concretely than rote learning. Our inquiry and play-based programme allows us to work with small groups of students and to differentiate teaching to suit the academic needs of a variety of learners.

Inquiry and play-based learning at CIS does not mean a chaotic approach to learning or a lack of guidance by teachers. Instead, it is a balance between a classroom rich in childinitiated play and focused learning guided by our teachers. In all child-initiated play activities, our teachers are actively present. They monitor, engage, and where needed, guide the children’s play, answering their questions, building on their ideas and introducing new content and concepts as appropriate. Classrooms are organised in a purposeful manner that leads to the exploration of concepts (ideas) that they want the children to explore. While we recognise that young children develop on a continuum, high expectations for learning are still in place within our inquiry and play-based classrooms.

To find out more information about CIS’ inquiry play-based learning programme, please visit www.cis.edu.sg

SCHOLARSHIPS ... Rewarding Excellence

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Register at www.cis.edu.sg/scholarships

Two-Year Academic Scholarships. PYP, MYP and DP. Join a community of like-minded individuals.

To celebrate our 25th birthday, CIS is launching an attractive scholarship programme for students who display outstanding academic ability. These scholarships will provide successful candidates with an opportunity to benefit from a world-class educational programme, facilitated by highly qualified faculty members. Students in Grades 4 to 10 are invited to apply.

Visit www.cis.edu.sg/scholarships to learn more.

As an IB World School, CIS offers the PYP, MYP and IB DP. Canadian International School Pte. Ltd. CPE Registration Number: 199002243H | Period of Registration: 8 June 2011 to 7 June 2015

October 2014 • ScandAsia.Singapore 21

The Right Age for Joining Preschool At what age should a child be enrolled in preschool?

Social and health concern It is usually found that a child can enjoy positive peer interaction when they are older than two years old. It is therefore by the age of two that the child becomes a social being. At the initial stage the teacher-child ratio should be 1:3.

It has been observed that children living in group care units happen to suffer from infections, especially ear infections. Although the care givers are generally careful with such issues, it is essential that the child is able to take basic care of him or her self, especially regarding putting shared things in their mouth. This requires a minimum level of maturity that comes after the child completes two or two and-a-half years.

You are not alone You will not be entirely on your own in your evaluation. Most preschools call for an interview with the child. The principal objective of this meeting is to ascer tain whether the child behaviour is conducive to their classroom environment. In other words, it is checked if the child has any behavioural problems.

This is followed by a meeting with the parents.

The purpose is to conduct a background check on the kid and get necessary additional information related to the child.

D

eciding the right age for joining preschool is not easy. Parents have different reasons for enrolling their children in a preschool at differing ages. For the majority of parents it is a practical decision because both of them are working or want to get back to work.

At the same time, parents also want to provide the social experience that comes with preschool and so they opt for the preschool at a relatively early age.

Most parents start looking for a preschool by the time the child is two to two and-a-half years old. But at times it is found that the child may not be mentally prepared to adapt to the environment away from home before the age of three.

When does the child need it?

Determining when the child would benefit from preschool stimulation, it is important to see what sort of experience he or she is having at home.

Many households already provide a sort of preschool environment at home. There are certain attributes of such an environment like • A wide array of children’s books stacked away in cupboards that are within the reach of the child. These include stor y books, books on 22 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2014

superheroes, comic strips and fairytales along with science journals for kids.

• There is a huge collection of hands-on educational toys. The kid has access to them whenever the need arises, be it for fun or for explaining something.

• The family has an active social atmosphere marked by frequent visits by family and friends who are accompanied by children of similar age groups.

• The parents have surplus energy to devote a fair amount of time with the kid during the learning and fun sessions.

Children who grow up in such an atmosphere do not need an early admission because the home itself provides a good developmental opportunity. On the other hand if the parents lack time are are too tired after work to provide quality time with the child, it is advisable to start the preschool early. So when the child is between two to three years of age, you need to decide whether you should consider an early or a late enrolment.

Now from a practical approach from the point of view of the child, here are a few concerns that you need to note.

Languages in Preschool

the Approach of GESS

A

new world opens up for a child when starting in a preschool. In the international context of Singapore this quite often also includes the need to communicate in a less familiar language. The Preschool Department of the German European School Singapore (GESS) strives to promote and value both: the language of instruction that the children encounter and use in the learning environment of their classrooms and the respective mother tongues that are spoken at home.

GESS has a bilingual preschool with German and English being the core languages. Every teacher in our preschool understands his or her responsibility towards making the classroom routines and PYP curricular contents accessible for children on different language levels. Additionally, an extensive support system is in place to help those children who do not speak the classroom language on an age appropriate level yet. There the children are playfully exposed to core vocabulary and concepts in a small group setting, which enables them to develop more confidence in speaking out.

At the same time the GESS Pre-School has understood the importance of nurturing the children’s mother tongues. Valuing the children’s home languages enables them to identify emotionally with their preschool and consequently supports the acquisition of the classroom language.

Additionally, the GESS strives to support parents in fighting against a common problem of expat life: the loss of the mother tongue. The children’s cultural and language background is present in everyday classroom routines, e.g. through singing songs in different languages or inviting parents to read stories in their home language. Furthermore an extensive Danish program has been established where children that have Danish as a mother tongue spend two afternoons in a week having lunch, singing and playing with Danish-speaking teachers.

The Pre-School Department of GESS seeks to establish a holistic language program that does not put the language alone but the students and their communicative needs in the centre of all language usage and language instruction.

German European School Singapore CPE Registration Number: S72SS0010G Registration Period: 22.06.2011 – 21.06. 2017

A home for your curiosity!

Because an education is all about asking questions At GESS, we believe that children are naturally inquisitive from the day they are born. They demonstrate a remarkable curiosity and thirst for knowledge that drives them to reach their true potential when properly nurtured. That’s why we encourage our students to think outside the box, question the way things work and look for answers in unusual places, guiding them on a pathway to success.

Ope on O n Hous e c Nov tober 8 , emb er 4& 19

We give our students roots and wings.

GESS Advertisement ScandAsia October 2014 192x135.indd 1

founded on European traditions, educating children from 18 months to 18 years. We are an accredited IB World School, as well as an Excellent German School Abroad.

www.gess.sg 2/9/2014 10:27:54 AM

October 2014 • ScandAsia.Singapore 23

Louise Berner left behind the cold in Sweden and the daily struggle against her debilitating joint pains, and came to warmer climes to lead a healthier and more active life in Thailand. Once she had settled down, Louise Berner found herself another struggle - for the soi-dogs. Now she is campaigning to improve conditions for man’s best friend and to stop criminal gangs trying to smuggle those poor creatures to slaughterhouses and the dinner-tables in China.

The Swedish dog-whisperer in Thailand

Text & Photo: Michael Töpffer

I

Louise Berner is the Swedish dog-whisperer in Thailand. She has a unique ability to communicate with the dogs, developed over many years helping the dogs.

24 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2014

n a cute little house in a narrow back-soi in Jomtien, Chonburi, two hours southeast of Bangkok, Louise Berner, 54, was working on her computer. A small kitten is snoozing in her lap, another on a chair.

“The landlord doesn’t allow any dog to enter the premises, but cats are still welcome,” said Louise Berner, in a Swedish dialect that reveals she is from the northern part of Sweden.

Perhaps the restriction is there to preserve good neighborliness.

As it turned out, Louise Berner is very popular among the street dogs - or soi-dogs - as they are called in Thailand.

She knows practically all of them in Jomtien and they know her.

After many years working for soi-dogs on the streets of Jomtien, Louise Berner has become a well known character in the area, both among the local population and local government officials.

“My first priority is to make sure they have food. Secondly, I check for diseases. If and when I found sick dogs, I would take them to the vet and make sure they get treatment,” explained Louise Berner.

Another impor tant task is to sterilize the dogs to try to slow the ever growing population of soi-dogs.

The work is done through the organization, Dog and Cat Rescue in Pattaya.The city of Pattaya is the better known place right next to Jomtien.

The organization is staffed by Thai and expat volunteers, who all dedicate themselves to ease the hardship of the soi-dogs.

Louise Berner pays a visit to some street-dogs taking shelter in a temple in Chonburi province. She gives them food and checks if they are in good health.

“When I first came here in 2010, I immediately saw that the soi-dogs were suffering. I decided to devote myself to the cause of helping them,” she said.

“They have fleas and ticks, and crusty eyes.

Some have skin diseases that cause them to lose the fur,” Louise Berner explained, adding that her organization works closely with two veterinary clinics in the area.

“Normally, I first try to medicate the dogs myself. If that doesn’t help, I take them to the clinic,” she said.

In Thailand, soi-dogs are everywhere. Though many people care for them out of pity, complaints are also heard, not least from tourism-related business owners, who regard soi-dogs as a nuisance as they tend to scare off foreign tourists.

“Some hotels use rat-poison to kill the dogs in their neighbourhood, while others encourage their staff to throw rocks at them to scare them off ”.

Soi-dogs are thus a constant source of conflict between those who want to rid the streets of them, and those who want to care for them.

Louise Berner has made it abundantly clear which side she belongs to - and it comes at a price.

Some residents in the area have complained about her feeding the dogs they regard as a problem.

Despite this, Louise Berner is continuing her struggle in good spirits.

It was somewhat a coincidence that Louise Berner came to Thailand. She previously worked as an assistant-nurse in her hometown Luleå, but after she had been diagnosed with muscular osteoarthritis her working career came to an abrupt end. She became a disability pensioner.

Constant joint pains that limited her movements compelled her to move to Thailand.

“Once I arrived here, I immediately felt much better and I could move around outdoors more freely,” she recalled.

Then she quickly realized she needed to fill

Louise Berner seems to have befriended all the street-dogs in Jomtien, where she has been living since 2010.

her time with something worthwhile. Just staying at home would be intolerable. Working with the soi-dogs became her mission.

Her financial situation was another contributing factor. Her disability pension was not quite enough to get by in Sweden. In Thailand, the situation is so much different.

With her current rent of around THB10 000 per month, there is money left for other things at the end of each month.

“Most of my expenses for the work with the soi-dogs, I am paying out of my own pocket. Occasionally, there are some contributions coming in via my Facebook-page,” she said.

“A hundred baht is enough for medicines for several dogs, or spaying of a female dog”.

After five years in Thailand, she regards herself as a true resident in this country. All her belongings in Sweden have been sold or given away. Only a few boxes are left at her daughter’s house in Sweden.

“Today, I count more Thais than Swedes among my friends,” she said, adding that most Thai people are very generous.

Part of her mission is to put some of the soidogs, most of them abandoned by their owners, up for adoption by caring families looking for a pet. A number of dogs have been saved and put off the streets this way.

She said that generally people of Thailand are very caring towards animals, including dogs - but only as long as everything goes smoothly with the dogs.

“If the dogs get old and sick or the owners bought themselves a new puppy, then very often the old and sick dogs are abandoned on the street,” she said. “As Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist country, it’s not acceptable to put a dog down.”

Once on the street, the domesticated dogs are picked up by dog-packs and quickly adapt to this hostile environment and change their behavior.

On that particular day, Louise Berner got on her motorbike to visit a nearby temple. A few monks dressed in their traditional safron robes were resting in the shades away from the heat of the afternoon sun.

Some geese and chickens wandering about and a monkey chained to a tree.

A dozen or so dogs are also dozing off under the trees. These are soi-dogs who have come to seek shelter in the temple from the noisy traffic of the streets.

At first, the dogs seemed annoyed by Louise Berner as she approached them, and slowly retreated.

But then something happened.

As she stooped and started talking smoothly with the dogs and offered them some treats, one by one they slowly came to her.

“Some dogs are aggressive, but I have learned how to approach them. Sometimes it takes a few attempts, but I have always succeeded eventually to build trust and to relate to the dogs,” said Louise Berner.

She is like a dog-whisperer who can communicate with dogs.

The dogs would usually bark and become aggressive at the sight of foreign tourists, but with Louise Berner, they react differently.

One of the monks, sitting nearby, told this writer that he was impressed by Louise Berner’s ability to handle some of the unruly dogs.

“These dogs can be so aggressive that they scare away many foreign tourists who come to this temple, but this woman seems to be able to talk with the dogs,” the monk said, visibly impressed.

Being street-dogs are bad enough, but criminal gangs doing the dog meat trade are making it worse.

These gangs drive around in their pickup trucks to catch stray dogs. The dogs are then crammed into small cages and loaded on to large trucks heading for Thailand’s northeastern October 2014 • ScandAsia.Singapore 25

border with Laos. They are then loaded onto boats and transported across the Mekong river, then trucked through Laos to Vietnam and China, where dog-meat is regarded as a delicacy.

This is a inhumane trade in dog meat is a growing business.

Even though the dog-trade is outlawed in Thailand, Louise Berner has the impression that some members of the local authorities tip off the criminal gangs when the number of soi-dogs grow to a point where people living in the areas become vocal in complaining.

“It looks suspicious as if they work in collaboration with those dog meat traders,” she said.

But she also revealed that dog-lovers too get information about gangs coming in to catch streets of soi-sogs.

“Then we quickly round up the dogs and move them to more secure places, or put collars on them to indicate ownership, she explained.

Despite this, large groups of soi-dogs could suddenly vanish overnight.

“We know what has happened, but then it would be too late,” she lamented.

Many people in Thailand are working hard

to improve the situation of soi-dogs and to give them a better life. Notable among them is PoliceLieutenant Akkaradech Phuthong. He works at a Marine police unit in the northeastern province of Mukdahan.

Mukdahan is a notorious transshipment point for dog meat traders to smuggle live dogs from Thailand to Laos.

Akkaradech Phuthong said that the criminal gangs involved in the dog meat trade are organized and well equipped. “ They move fast and have contacts with corrupt officials within local authorities,” he said.

Every month, an estimated 30 000 live dogs are smuggled from Thailand, through Laos to northern Vietnam and on to China.

Eating dog meat is not very common in Thailand, even though some people in a few northeastern provinces do. There is a growing voice against consumption of dog meat in Thailand, but the practice is not yet banned.

In China and Vietnam, however, it’s a different story. There, dog-meat is regarded as something that brings warmth in cold winter days. The demand of dog meat far exceeds the supply.

Dogs that are seized from the brutal hands of the smugglers are taken to animal shelters, like this one in Nakhon Phanom in northeastern Thailand.

Here the dogs recover and get treatment. They also get sterilized. Later, they are moved to dog centers around the country and put up for adoption.

Police Lieutenant Akkaradech Phuthong at the Marine Police unit in Mukdahan province is on the lookout for dog-smugglers from his 60-year-old patrol boat. He has been part of rescue operations that have saved thousands of dogs.

26 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2014

That explains why dog meat traders are looking for supply outside these dog-eating countries.

That’s where Thailand comes into the picture.

As many people in Thailand care for the soidogs and look after them, many of the stray dogs are well-fed and considered suitable supply for the dog meat trade.

Akkaradech Phuthong is in charge of a Marine Police unit that is patrolling a section of the Mekong river in Mukdahan in a 60-year-old motorboat.

“We raid and make arrest just when the cages filled with live dogs are being loaded on to the smugglers’ boats from the trucks. That’s when criminals are most vulnerable and easy to spot,” he said.

“The last time we made arrest, we intercepted a boat crossing the river, loaded with 200 dogs,” he said.

Several Thai government agencies are working hard to stop this illegal trade. Sometimes they achieved good results.

The dogs that are rescued from the cages end up in the care of the authorities. In neighboring province Nakhon Phanom, some two hours drive from Mukdahan, another Thai official, Chusak Pongpanich, is working hard to save them.

He is the chief veterinarian at the province’s main animal shelter. Chusak is the caretaker of all dogs delivered here by the police.

“Sometimes we take in hundreds of dogs in a week. They are hungry and suffering from injuries caused by the brutal handling by the dog smugglers or communicable diseases, he said.

His first priority is to make sure the dogs can recover. Next step is to sterilize them. When the dogs are well enough to leave, they are transported to official dog-centers around the country where they are put up for adoption as pets.

Some of the dogs at the animal shelter are clearly stressed out and agitated, while others are much more calm and curious about visitors who come to take care of them. It’s obvious that some dogs used to be someone’s pet, judging from their good behavior and ability to do simple tricks.

“Some of the dogs here used to live indoors with their loving owners, they even have a collar on when they come here,” said Chusak Pongpanich.

Together with Police Lieutenant Akkaradech Phuthong, he is one of many unsung heroes in the fight against the brutality of the dog smugglers in Thailand.

Meanwhile in Jomtien, Louise Berner left the temple and its dogs and the smiling monks to go home.

But on her way, she stopped at an intersection.

A young dog approached her, wagging the tail. It’s obvious the dog knew the Swedish woman on the motorbike.

The woman got off her bike and opened a plastic bag with some grilled chicken satay, and handed it over to the dog. The dogs quickly ate food and looked happy.

Louise Berner radiated warmth and enthusiasm.

“I get the opportunity to help and that makes me feel good. I feel that I am doing something important here in Jomtien. My life has a whole new meaning,” said the Swedish dog-whisperer in Thailand.

By Morten Krogsholm

A retiring baker, a homecoming son and his Swedish Pizza... the Wissmars are not expanding but not for want of trying.

Circumstances have changed so much during the last decade that he no longer sees it as a viable project.

“You need funds to set up new outlets in other countries. We don’t have the means to do that on our own, so we would need to lend from a bank. Unfortunately there are others who can do this at much lower interest rates, such as the Chinese who can borrow money for investment in a foreign country at a 0 percent interest rate,” Sune said by way of explaining why he had to let go of the dreams of expansion.

No sooner than the dreams has been dashed, Wismars Bakery, located right next to the fountain, Nam Phou, is also downsizing.

“We’ve sold part of the property to a local bank, and I’m actually quite satisfied with that.

Nam Phou used to be a great location for business, but somehow someone got the fountain renovated in a way, that in my opinion, destroyed its beauty and the attractive surroundings completely,” said Sune, showing me an old postcard of how it used to look.

tiane to ask if he could come back to Laos and help him out.

“Daniel went to school here when we moved here and Daniel fell in love with the country and the people. His knowledge of the local language is of course also a huge advantage in terms of living and working here. He is a very valuable asset to our company,” Sune said, adding that his twin brothers were doing just fine in Sweden.

“Daniel came here and started helping out in the bakery. Even since he was back, he was always on the lookout for a good pizza, but he couldn’t find any that satisfied his tastebuds. So he decided that he would open a bakery that serves pizzas with a Sweden slant,” he told me. Before my interview with Sune Wissmar I had walked by one of Daniel’s pizza outlets in Vientiane and I was quite intrigued as the sign that reads “Swedish Pizza & Baking”. Never before had I heard of “Swedish Pizza”, so I simply had to ask Sune what a Swedish pizza is and what makes it unique.

He explained to me how many Italians had travelled to Sweden in the 70’s to work and many of them had set up pizzerias in Sweden. Their proud tradition of making pizzas had rubbed off on the Swedes, who then proceeded to modify it to suit their taste.

“Today in Stockholm I would estimate that there are probably around 10.000 pizzerias. Only 500 of those make bad pizzas. The rest of them are churning out quality pizzas that meet high standards,” he said.

But the Swedish variety of pizza have also been modified to fit the tastebuds of the people of Laos.

“Our pizzas are less salty than what you would have in Sweden, Laotians do not like their food as salty as we from the western part of the world do,” Daniel Wissmar said.

To begin with, the pizzas are mainly sold to backpackers and expats and as time went by and rumours began to spread about the good pizza, the Laotians joined the crowd and now make up a big share of the clientele.The pizzerias also bake specialities, like the Selma that Swedes eats during Shrovetide, which is also Daniel’s favorite.

The growing popularity of the pizza-places have also earned its entry in The Lonely Planet.

Swedish pizza

A new generation

D

reams of expansion are put away and the Scandinavian Bakery is downsizing. Swedish Pizzas and a homecoming son will now determine the future of the Wissmar family’s business in Laos and Southeast Asia.

When ScandAsia last talked with Sune Wismar, nearly a decade ago, plans for expanding the Scandinavian Baker y to other par ts of Southeast Asia were so meticulously laid out as if they were just about to come true.Those dreams have now been shelved and new ones have been conjured up.

Different circumstances

Daniel, one of his children, nearly completed a business degree when he phoned Sune in Vien-

run by Daniel. It’s the son and his pizzas that represent the future of this family business. Sune Wissmar described himself as being semi-retired though he hasn’t left Vientiane. Sune continues to take 12-hour trips to and from Bangkok to bring in the ingredients for the family’s bakeries while dropping by the office every now and then. But he promised to go back to Sweden and retire there with his wife, but said that that will happen the day Daniel kicks him out on to the curb.

It is not hard to understand why it is difficult to let go of something that has been the labor of love and a passion of one’s life for over thirty years.

“I’ve been here for so long that I’m one of the grand oldtimers. It seems like yesterday people came to me for advice about setting up businesses here and what to and what not to do.

But those times are over,” Sune said. He described how his role had changed and how his son has grown to become a full partner and is now taking the lead. Sune Wissmar has complete faith in his son’s ability to bring the family business to the next level, but at the moment he is quite satisfied with sticking around.

“We’ve grown to employ over 100 employees and with that the burden to hold regular staff meetings and the responsibility to keep your employees satisfied. On top of that, we also have to compete for competent staff members, which are not easy to find these days,” Sune said, glancing at the office where Daniel was poring over accounting tasks.

Whether the Swedish Pizza will remain an obscure specialty only to be found in Laos or whether it will travel across the borders to conquer other Southeast Asian markets, only time will tell. One thing is for certain - Daniel is now fully in charge while Sune is counting down towards a happy retirement back in Sweden.

Throughout my talk with Sune Wissmar, he kept reminding me that the company is now being October 2014 • ScandAsia.Singapore 27

Visit Laos...

By Morten Krogsholm

before it’s too late

Everything closes at midnight. A sense of calmness settles around you. Gastronomic experiences awaits you and commercialization is on the verge of happening. Welcome to Vientiane, Laos.

T

o many it is known as one of the most chilled-out places on earth. It has a undescribable vibe to it that is so far removed from the hectic everyday life. If you wish to experience this along with its unique selection of cuisines from all over the world, it might be time to pack your suitcase and get to Laos before big businesses move in and change the scenery.

Simply cosy It is all about the vibe. Everything in Vientiane seems to run on a different set of tracks than in the rest of the world - smooth, calm and easygoing. On arriving from the hustle and bustle of the city life, you be struck by the down-tempo vibe that embraces you and you might end up dwelling in it. The Laotian people are friendly and seem to have a lot less mercenary attitude than in some other Asian countries where everything turns into haggling over prices. And surprisingly enough, a lot of people in Vientiane speak English or at least understand what you are trying to communicate. Walking down the streets, it is common to see TukTuk drivers enjoying a bit of relaxation in a hammock that they put up in the back of their vehicles and you instinctively settle in and adopt their laid-back way of life.

If you can withstand the heat, it is possible to get anywhere in Vientiane on foot due to its modest size of approximately four square kilometers and a population of just around 800.000. But the compactness of the place also means that there are limited opportunities for 28 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2014

sightseeing and activities, relatively speaking.

Because Vientiane offers both rich cultural experience and creature comforts, with street vendors keen on catering to your every needs for every budget.

If you are a big fan of architecture, Laos can offer that as well, such as Pha That Luang, the most impor tant Laotian Buddhist monument, which was originally built in 1566 and restored in the 1930. You will also stumble upon different official government buildings, which always feature big name plates in gold letters both in French and Laotian.

The streets are narrow and you will find yourself walking as much on the road as on the pavement as street vendors display and sell their ware right on the pavement, forcing pedestrians on to the road surface. On top of that, it is worth mentioning that traffic is not as bad in Vientiane as in many other Asian cities, so you do not have to fear for your life at all times. And making your way around the narrow streets on foot also

offers added advantage as might actually lead you to some treasured items that may not be available anywhere else in the world. Like in the bookstores, which are a good place to go bargainhunting if you are looking for that special present for yourself or a bookworm friend. First or second editions of some famous books, which would be a complete nightmare to find elsewhere - not to mention the exorbitant price tags to match.These things might just be hidden around the corner somewhere in Vientiane.

All of this might be a result of Laos being one the poorest countries and therefore it is in many ways underdeveloped. But you could easily misread the relaxed atmosphere as absence of development, which is not the case.

Under development Vientiane will not turn into Times Square any time soon and probably never will, so you still have time to experience the calm and uniqueness of Vientiane. But you should hurry up. Though being underdeveloped, there are new developments in Laos and the capital Vientiane, that are transforming them into a more modern, westernized look and perhaps also the rhythm of life.

For a long period of time, both the capital city and the country have been free of international brands and their franchises, with only Beer Lao being the sole key player as the nation pride, and every shop owner dreaming of having the signature yellow and green Beer Lao logo to be associated with their business. The lack of international franchises has left Laos in the company of few Asian countries without McDonald, KFC and Burger King, among others - which is not altogether a bad thing. But times are changing.

Globalization and commercialization have now established a beachhead with chains, such as Swensen ice-cream parlor, The Pizza Company and Dairy Queen, popping up around the city and standing out because of its strict guidelines in regards to the decoration of these modern fastfood outlets. A quick look at McDonald website

also indicates that they are monitoring the market closely with the intention to penetrate the market in the near future.

Even the signature morning market, Talat Sao, has had its commercial makeover, going from being a traditional open street market to having a modern shopping mall in one corner and enclosing a part of the traditional market. That resulted in a clash of cultures and some would say an eyesore as the shops inside the extension, which looks very like modern, western architecture, seem not to have fully adapted to its new environment. It looks like the developer simply transplanted traditional street shops inside the new extension as none of the shops seem to have put any effort into decoration of their businesses to fit the modern decors. That why the new center has no shopping mall feel to it. This ongoing modernization in Vientiane and Laos in general suggests that the country is fast becoming a hotspot for foreign investment and it is said that Chinese entrepreneurs are the main driving force, backed by availability of cash and cheap loans.

Treat your tastebuds As a small land-locked country, Laos has to import many things, from groceries to meat used for cooking - but the Laotians obviously know how to cook. The country was a French protectorate in the late 19th Century and it seems as if the proud French food culture and tradition has rubbed off on the Laotian people who accepted it whole-heartedly.

The small capital of Vientiane offers a humon-

gous selection of cuisines from all over the world and in contradiction to experience you might have of western food in Southeast Asia the food prepared in Laos is nothing less than excellent rendition, which does justice to the original.

Culinary adventure is definitely a must-do if you visit Vientiane as you get a surreal experience of finding yourself in a mini version of Europe.

Another upside is that the food, to a cer tain extent, is affordable, though food is actually more expensive in Laos than in most other Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand. This goes for street food as well. One thing that is very cheap

and very good is their sandwiches. Fresh veggies and French baguettes are used and it will only cost you around 20.000 Lation Kip, which is just around 2 Euros.

If you have money to spend, you should immerse yourself in one of the many gastronomic experiences the capital serves up. You will be greeted by a wide selection of pizzas made in real wood-fired pizza ovens and though pizza is Italian and many of the pizza places around town are French or Italian, one of the more popular ones is a Swedish pizza bakery, which serves a pizza with banana as topping.

At 20 Euros you can get a tasty and tender buffalo steak with a creamy mushroom sauce and pommes. And should you opt for even more lavish feast, you may try out some french delicacies - a tenderloin steak with foie gras and truffle sauce can be had just around the corner.

The local Laotians dishes are also wor th tasting as they bear slight resemblance to the food found in other Asian kitchens. They neither ver y spicy nor salty, Laotian cuisine is more influenced by herbs than spices, and there is, of course, the sticky rice. Some Laotians even refer to themselves as the descendants of sticky rice - Luk Khao Niaow.

So to sum it all up; If you feel like you could need a break and chill out, while getting A+ food without breaking your bank account and experience a country that has not yet been overrun by modern western chain stores and franchises - a trip to Laos might be a perfect fit for your wellearned vacation

October 2014 • ScandAsia.Singapore 29

Smoked Bacon with Apples and Onions

By Anders Holm Nielsen

This traditional recipe from Denmark makes a hearty lunch or a tasty Sunday evening dinner.

Ingredients (Serves 4) • 4 tablespoons butter • 1 pound sliced back bacon • 2 large onions •3 medium apples cut in wedges • Black pepper • Preparation Melt 2 tablespoons butter.

Add bacon and fry until lightly browned.

Remove bacon and drain on paper towel.

Add remaining butter and fry onions until soft and transparent.

Add apples; cover pan and simmer 7 to 10 minutes.

When apples are cooked, put bacon back in and simmer about 5 minutes.

Grind pepper over top.

30 ScandAsia.Singapore • October 2014

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