ScandAsia Thailand - April 2016

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Your FREE ScandAsia Magazine in Thailand After the same format has been used for our yearly gathering of members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for a number of years, we are excited to introduce a new format for the 2016 AGM. At the start of this year’s AGM, we are inviting all members to join a 90-minute forum discussion about how we can all make better use of our chamber to address the most pressing and urgent challenges, our members are facing.

We will divide into groups of 10-12 members where we – facilitated by a moderator – will discuss challenges in various areas such as for example: • Immigration and visa challenges (To/from Thailand) • Work permit and other Labour Department challenges • General HR challenges • Customs and Revenue Depar tment challenges • Ownership structure challenges incl. BOI, Foreign Business Licence • Any other challenges or issues suggested by members At the end of the forum, we will compile a list of the most pressing challenges facing our members, and this will form the basis of what the incoming board and chamber office should focus the chamber’s activities on, not only for our events and media but in par ticular our advocacy as a national chamber and as members of Joint Foreign Chambers Commerce in Thailand (JFFCT) and of European Association for Business and Commerce (EABC).

And instead of spending the majority of the AGM proceedings going over the past year’s activities in detail, this year will send out the 2015 report in advance, together with the 2015 financial statement and the proposed budget for 2016.

This will allow members to prepare questions or comments in advance, which can then be discussed after the brief verbal report for the year, which the president must present according to our by-laws.

As usual, we will arrange dinner, but also here we are introducing a number of changes aimed at making the AGM more engaging: • Dinner will be served after the member forum and before the approval of last year’s balance sheet and the election of the 2016 board.

• Seating will be assigned, so new members will meet existing members, and so key people in the Thai-Danish business community are distributed across all tables.

• Menu selection will be less formal, also to be able to offer at a more competitive price level.

We will contact you soon to ask what challenges, you would like to see discussed at the AGM’s member forum, and you can also send us your suggestion now atcontact@dancham.or.th In accordance with our by-laws, minimum one-third of our chamber’s 11 board seats are open for new candidates, so please contact our chamber office at:contact@dancham.or.th, if you would like to stand for election and if elected, take a more direct role in making sure your cause is being promoted through our member activities such as our events, our newsletters, our website and, in particular, our advocacy towards Thai and Danish authorities.

ScandAsia is the only magazine that covers all the Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish residents in Thailand.

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

Please sign up for your own FREE copy: www.scandasia.com Publisher : 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 E-mail: news@scandasia.com Editor-in-Chief : Gregers A.W. Møller gregers@scandmedia.com Managing Editor: Joakim Persson Joakim@scandmedia.com Journalist: Frederik Guy Hoff Sonne Advertising : Finn Balslev finn@scandmedia.com Joakim Persson Joakim@scandmedia.com Piyanan Kalikanon piyanan@scandmedia.com Nattapat Maesang nattapat@scandmedia.com Graphic Designer : Peerapol Meesuwan Peerapol@scandmedia.com Printing : Inthanon Interprint Co., Ltd.

Daily news and features here: www.scandasia.com

News Brief

Steffen and Nim sell Stable Lodge

by Gregers Møller

T

he Stable Lodge, the legendary Danish hotel and restaurant in Sukhumvit Soi 8 in Bangkok, has been sold. The new owners will take over by the 29th of April.

“We got an offer that was too good to refuse,” says Steffen Ingemann.

Steffen and his wife Nim owns half of the popular hotel and restaurant with Norwegian businessman Ole Teigen as the owner of the other half, a shareholding he took over from previous co-owner Jorgen Lundbaek.

“It breaks my heart after all these years and I will really miss it, but I am not quite new anymore, so when you get an offer like this, you better take it.”

4 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2016

According to Steffen Ingemann, the new owners are not planning to demolish the building and build a highrise straight away. From what he understands, the plan is to renovate the rooms and then for the next 4 -5 years to continue operating as a hotel and restaurant – then later on maybe acquire one or more of the neighbors and build something big.

When asked what his own plans are after the 29 April he says jokingly: “I don’t know. First I will count all the money.”

The Stable Lodge has been the preferred location for innumerable Scandinavian parties and activities over the years.

April 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 5

News Brief

The new Volvo Cars era introduced to Thailand

T

he appropriate tagline was ‘A new beginning’, as Volvo Cars Thailand hosted invited customers, VIPS and the media for a sparkling and Nordic-inspired launch event in Bangkok on 9 March for the highly praised and most successful car model for Volvo Cars ever, the XC90.

“We are very excited and proud to introduce, for the very first time in Thailand, a new stunning SUV, one of the world’s most luxurious and safest cars and that comes with the most cuttingedge technologies available today,” began Volvo Cars Thailand’s new Swedish Managing Director Anette Andersson.

“Today we are launching XC90 and it’s also the very day that we embark on this first chapter for Volvo’s new journey. Volvo XC90 is first-class;

6 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2016

it’s the one to start our new major transformation with the brand positioning and future direction.”

“The XC90 is an exceptional true seven-seat SUV and has been the most luxurious Volvo ever built.”

The XC90 is the first model in the new Volvo generation based on its new Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA) and Drive-E powertrain family, and part of a USD 11bn investment programme.

Volvo also remains committed to world-class safety and the one setting continuing to set new standards.

“The strength in Volvo’s positioning in safety is innovation, where the new XC90 is the first model that comes with IntelliSafe – our new smart system that will detect drivers, passengers as well as pedestrians, prevent accidents and to

lessen impact when accidents do happen.”

“The new technologies will take us a significant step closer to our vision that no one will be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car by 2020.”

“With the cutting-edge technology in our luxury flagship model, we are confident that our XC90 will make our customer’s live easier, more comfor table, safer and more environmentally friendly.”

Program Chief Designer Jonathan Disley highlighted in detail the design features of the all-new Volvo and Chris Wailes, Market Area Director Asia Pacific Region Volvo Car Group continued the tour of the next-gen car and the technical details behind the SPA platform and Volvo’s new own powertrain family.

Richelieu’s Navy Uniforms returning to Thailand

By Gregers Møller All photos: Hasse Ferrold

R

oyal Thai Embassy in Copenhagen hosted an event at the Residence of the Thai Ambassador, H.E. Mrs. Vimol Kidchob on 7.March 2016 where the Royal Thai Navy uniform of Andreas du Plessis de Richelieu was given to back to Thailand. Admiral Richelieu served prominently King Chulalongkorn of Thailand in a number of positions, among others as Chief of the Royal Thai Navy.

Andreas du Plessis de Richelieu (1852-1932) was born on 24 February 1852 in Loejt Kirkeby, Southern Jylland.

In 1875, Richelieu, then a young Danish naval officer, came to Siam with the letter of introduction by King Christian IX of Denmark.

Richelieu served as the captain of the Royal Yacht for many years and sailed extensively with King Chulalongkorn, especially during seasons of inspection.He went on to become the first and only foreign-born commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy, from 1900 to 1901. For his contributions, King Rama V awarded him the noble title of Phraya Chonlayutthayothin.

When Richelieu moved back to Denmark in 1902, King Chulalongkorn and members of the Royal Family saw him off to Singapore on board the Royal Yacht “Maha Chakri” as a sign of friendship.

Royal Thai Embassy received the in total five navy uniforms from Richelieu’s grandson Andreas Hastrup at the reception on 7.March 2016.

Thai Princess visited Danish Design Studio in Bangkok

by Frederik Guy Hoff Sonne

O

n 26 Februar y, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand presided at the inaugural ceremony of the Knowledge Exchange Center (KX) Building in Bangkok; a new venture by King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT).]

Danish Jacob Jensen Design was privileged to be among the only company that the Princess visited in the 19-storey building.

Princess Sirindhorn was welcomed by the Jacob Jensen Design’s Bangkok Studio team when she arrived to the 15th floor of the Knowledge Exchange Center, where the Danish company is located.

“We presented the Princess for two of our Jacob Jensen design watches, the Classic and the Strata, one of our latest smart products, the Air quality monitor and our design classic, the Margrethe bowl”, Jessicaploy Yansucon, Studio Coordinator in SEA, reported.

“The Princess came to observe our unique education programme where it is a ‘learning by doing’ for students in our Masters degree program. In the one-year course, students are treated as a team member of Jacob Jensen’s design team, working on real design projects from real clients.”

“The princess toured around our studio and interacted with some of our product designs like our upcoming smart bracelet, which she tried on.”

Jacob Jensen Design has a history with the Royal Family in Scandinavia. Two of their best known designs were named after the Princess

of Sweden and the Queen of Denmark. They’re happy to continue this tradition outside of Scandinavia.

“We are very honored to be visited by a princess of Thailand, as we have just opened our studio in Bangkok not long ago (2012).

The princess’s visit definitely establishes us as a respected design consultancy and in that aspect, it is both prestigious and a great story for our potential clients”, explained Jessicaploy.

Danish Ambassador Mikael Hemniti Winther attended the visit with two representatives from the Embassy’s commercial section.

The studio also hosted a Scandinavian style buffet dinner party with 41 VIP guests. Among the guests were Peter Romhild, Vice Chairman of ECCO Thailand, Rewat Chumnarn, Editor in chief at Wallpaper magazine Thailand, Per Enevolsen, Founder of Pandora, Wiwat Wongwarawipat, President at Design Gateway and more.

Established in 1958 in Denmark, Jacob Jensen Design is Scandinavia’s oldest and most awardwinning design consultancy. It has design studios in Hejlskov, Shanghai and Bangkok.

April 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 7

News Brief

Nordic tour operator launches love hotel in Thailand

C

ustomisation and niche groups within the travel industry are increasing and the large tour operators with extensive experience in Scandinavia are belong to the trendsetters.

As par t of the Nordic tour operator Fritidsresor’s new concept for couples, their Sensimar Khaolak Beach Front Resort FFFF, on Nang Thong beach, has been launched, available for bookings in 2016.

The new concept is presented as the ultimate love hotel Sensimar Resort, offering sun beds for two, spa and two restaurants for two. Fritidsresor enables love’s optimal conditions.

The target groups is adult couples traveling without children. Here, the entire hotels are designed with a mind-set around two: Duo treatments in the spa, lounge chairs for two and many places for pairs in the restaurant are some of the details the concept includes. In addition, an extra punch has been placed on design and food.

According to a Fritidsresor survey more than half of their guests they feel that the opportunity to dine and experience things together is among the most important things when traveling on a holiday with their partner, while one fifth believes that having time for each other is most important.

“We see a growing demand around niche hotels. Already today, two out of three travellers book customized hotel accommodation, with extra thought given to needs such as the pool area, food, training oppor tunities and so on.

Sensimar Resorts which is particularly suited to couples is a step on the way to meet this growing vacation trend,” says Tor Claussen, Product and Aviation Director at TUI Nordic / Fritidsresor Group.

Sensimar Resorts will be available in most parts of the world, including Thailand and Mexico and the popular destinations of Crete, Rhodes, Majorca and Turkey. The number of travellers opting for Sensimar is expected to increase 50 per cent over the next three years.

With a market share of 20 percent TUI Nordic / Fritidsresor Group is the largest player in the Nordic travel market. The group is since year 2000 included in the world’s leading travel group TUI Group.

Swedish Ambassador in Bangkok tours Thailand and Laos

By Frederik Guy Hoff Sonne

T

he Swedish Ambassador in Bangkok, Staffan Herrström made an eventful roundtrip in the region in February. He was granted diplomatic accreditation in Lao PDR, discussed gender equality with the Governor of Chiang Mai and met with independent broadcasters in Myanmar.

The travels took off in Northern Thailand, where Pawin Chamniprasart, Governor of Chiang Mai, was paid a visit.

“I had a very useful conversation with the Governor on a broad range of issues, not least the preconditions for tourism in this lovely city.

We talked in detail about i.a. traffic safety”, Staffan Herrström told ScandAsia.

“I am happy that I also got the opportunity to raise the issue of gender equality and the impor tance to engage men in the effor ts to promote women’s rights. This is a theme of highest priority for the Swedish Government. for the Embassy and also for me personally”.

The Ambassador is a warm advocator for the HeForShe-campaign, a solidarity campaign to engage men in gender equality launched by UN Women.

In Chiang Mai the Ambassador also visited the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), the only independent broadcaster in Myanmar, which Sweden has been supporting for a long time.

“Free, independent journalism is crucial for 8 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2016

democratic development in any country, and I think DVB continues to play a significant role in the historic process Myanmar now is going through.”

“I think there is generally good reasons for optimism, given the free character of the elections last autumn. But major challenges lie ahead, not least in the peace process. Sweden will continue to be a committed par tner to the people of Myanmar, and I look forward to participate in that work”, replied the Ambassador.

Sweden has a long history in Lao PDR and have been a major provider for development assistance since 1974, which Staffan Herrström personally took part in.

“I am happy that this is still remembered and highly appreciated. The Swedish development agency, Sida, has a very good reputation, which is great for me to note, since I was Deputy Director General for Sida for many years and in that capacity visited Vientiane ten years ago”, Staffan Herrström explained.

“Now we are on our way into a new phase in our relations with Lao PDR and the society at large. We have i.a. moved from aid to trade, and I note with satisfaction that sectors where we see interest and activities from the Swedish private sector like agroforestry and transport also are given priority by Lao PDR”.

News Brief

Dane closes business in Thailand over visa issue

By Frederik Guy Hoff Sonne

D

anish expat businessman Preben Pretzmann (in Thailand since year 2000) established FBI Real Estate in Udon Thani and has been directing it ever since.

Recently issues related to his visa is forcing him to close the business, he claims. According to Preben Pretzmann, the Immigration Offices has given no explanation to the problem.

He has been battling to get a new business visa in place for one and a half year and every month they provided him with a visa only lasting for a few months or refused him.

Contacted by ScandAsia, the Immigration Offices in Udon Thani says they do not comment on individual cases, fur thermore they asked ScandAsia to encourage Preben Pretzmann to “come by tomorrow with passport, papers and work permit.”

“But that’s what I’ve done the latest 14-15 months,” Preben commented.

The challenges started with a strange inquiry by a detective from the Immigration Office: “He asked me to change my company sign which I have had for 16 years since the company opened.

I found the request odd but followed it anyway.

When he returned he wasn’t happy with the new sign either, so he asked me to change it once again.

So I did. Once again he came back to register the changes but still he wasn’t satisfied. Now he suggested me to change the orange signature colour for FBI to blue, but I told him no”.

When opening FBI 16 years ago, Preben did so with his back then Thai wife, which meant they could start up the company with only 1 million baht, according to Thai law. But this year the authorities were suspicious about it.

“Most companies start up with 2 million baht or so, so suddenly I had to do the same. Which meant I had to raise 1 million extra really quick, which I did,” Preben Pretzmann recalls.

Since then, the latest 14-15 months, Immigration and Labour Offices have kept him on hold with unclear bureaucracy, he said, demanding submissions and repor ts which he had never been ask for before. He delivered the papers, paid for a 1 year business visa but only got 1 month.

At other times he was rejected from the office in Bangkok and had to leave for Laos to get a new business visa lasting maximum 3 months.

“This is not a sustainable way to run a company. When a customer asks to visit an estate in two weeks, I’ll have to say “yes okay, but I’m not sure, if I have a visa at that point” and that is not sustainable in the end”, he says.

Finally he gave up. On the 29th February his business visa expired. He had a 3-month business visa from Vientiane, so he could close the company in a proper way, he said. He will stay in Undo Thani on a retirement visa onwards.

Electrolux Thailand’s new products campaign

By Frederik Guy Hoff Sonne

T

h e S we d i s h h o u s e h o l d appliance flagship brand, Electrolux, presents a new line of products to the Thai market under new “Electrolux Turn Delight Up” Campaign. This introduces a green approach to the market, focusing on “innovation to conserve energy and protect the environment, as Electrolux strives to lead in healthier home trends.”

General Manager Sutti Manokitjarunman presented their biggest campaign for 2016 at the Marriott Hotel.

“We want to expand our customer base and reach out to the new and younger generation of homeowners who want high-quality products that suit their lifestyle. Electrolux is a brand for home appliances of European standard and we fulfill people’s happiness with functionality and quality”, he said.

To highlight the campaign’s focus on a “delightful life”, Electrolux had invited actress Sririta Jensen to share her stories about happiness; famous Thai traveller Jareyadee Spencer and her husband Jay Spencer; professional cyclist Jesada Sophonpanich Yangpichit with his wife Jannis Yangpichit and their children Janine and Jess, who shared tips on creating a happy marriage and family. Lastly there was a cooking demonstration by Swedish Chef Emelie Holm making healthy Swedish Pancakes.

A range of new products were launched in four categories: “Turn Taste Up looks at our range of refrigerators and how they help to preserve food better ; Turn Vibrant Up reflects the performance of our washing machines; Turn Fresh Up refers to the cool environment created by our air conditioners; and Turn Refresh Up by experiencing a refreshing shower with our water heater range.”

April 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 9

A day in life with...

Swedish Priest in Phuket and his unexpected path to priesthood

Text and photos: Frederik Guy Hoff Sonne

H

e was a craftsman with ambitions to become a world famous rockmusician, then he became a priest.

Erik Stenberg Roos, Swedish Priest of Phuket, talks about priesthood in Phuket and how he entered the religious path raised in an unreligious home.

There’s a 3-hour drive ahead for Erik Stenberg Roos and his wife Anna Stenberg Roos, as they’re leaving the Church of Sweden in Karon, Phuket, to do a wedding ceremony in Khao Lak. Erik was granted as the Swedish Priest in Phuket one and half year ago in August 2014 and he has been covering occasions like this all over Southern Thailand since.

“This car is our most impor tant work equipment”, Anna says, as she is steering the car in the northern direction to pass the border of Phuket.

The couple getting married today is Anna Rolfner, 36, and Magnus Bengtsson, 36.They called Erik more than a year ago to book this wedding.

“This is why I love the job as a priest. You often meet people in the most merry time of their lives, 10 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2016

when they’re getting married or when they’re having a child”, Erik explains.

Erik and Anna got married 15 years ago at the age of 39, but their relation actually goes back to the age of 11, as they went to the same primary school in Uddevalla. The small Swedish town where Erik’s family finally decided to settle down after moving every 2 or 3 years due to his father’s work as a constructor.

At the age of 11 Erik also took his first step towards a religious life. He visited the local church, looking for friends and something to do in a quiet town. Soon he visited the church every Sunday and began attending church camps and trips in Sweden and Europe.

Erik’s engagement in the church inspired his relatives. His brother, sister and mother also became regular visitors even though religion never played an essential part in their home.

Now Erik and Anna have both turned 53.

They had nothing holding them back to leave Sweden for Phuket one and a half year ago. “We longed to work and live abroad,” Erik says. They have 4 grown-up children ranging from the age of

22 to 29 and their parents are in good health, so they applied for the position and got it.

They left Göteborg after more than 15 years of living together; Erik left his job at Biskopsgården, where he was employed since 2000 and Anna quit her job as a social worker. Now Anna works as Erik’s assistant or “sister” at the church, handling the paperwork and continuing her social work, meeting people for conversations by request.

Arriving in Thailand “It was summer in Sweden, when we arrived to Thailand. The rain was pouring, it was dark, the car didn’t want to start, the telephone was dead and the internet didn’t work”, Anna recalls, when asked to describe their first days in Thailand. “But it’s better now”, Erik adds. “We had a hard time getting around in the beginning, but now we usually do it without GPS”, he says, as he glimpse at the GPS they’re following on their long trip today.

“Also you get used to that in Thailand things takes time. They have a very relaxed attitude towards time and planning”, Erik explains. He

remembers when they arrived and his boss, the Swedish Priest in Bangkok, advised him and Anna that “you can only do one thing a day”. “Right”, they thought planning to keep the busy schedule they had in Sweden with various tasks to do each day. Now they’ve adjusted.

“Look at our plan today. We have a 3-hourdrive for th and back, we need to meet the couple and do some planning, then we do the the ceremony. It’s a full days work”, Erik says. Erik did 25 weddings from the summer of 2014 to the summer of 2015. He expect to do around 20 this year, and besides weddings he baptizes, attend funerals and consults when the Swedish Embassy asks him to. Often when Swedes end up in the hospital or in the prison and the relatives can’t reach them, they reach out for a priest, Erik explains.

“We have a lot of tourists and backpackers with bad luck and they have no one else to turn to”, he says and points, that this is one of the differences from working as a priest in Sweden.

He works more now and travels more.

Visiting hospitals, prisons or doing lectures in one

of the Swedish schools around Phuket plays a bigger role in his work.

In addition Erik and Anna also arrange meeting points in cities around Southern Thailand.

A chance to get together with Swedes and just have a relaxed chat and a coffee. They’re fairly well-visited Anna tells, counting approximately 20-35 people every time. Besides that they do a weekly ceremony at the priest home in Kata every second Wednesday.

“Apart from working more, my overall duties as a priest are very similar to the ones I had back in Sweden. Maybe we add more flowers than we used to”, Erik explains when reflecting on whether the Thai culture reflects his work in the Church.

Entering Khao Lak and the path of priesthood Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” plays from the stereo as Erik and Anna are crossing the Sarasin Bridge, connecting Phuket with the mainland. The song also features on the guitarplaying and rock’n’roll-loving priest’s repertoire

for occasions like this.The wedding couple haven’t asked for any songs or hymns yet, so that’s one of the things, they’re going to discuss when Erik and Anna have the last meeting with them before the ceremony begins in the evening.

Prior to this the couple have written Erik a letter telling about themselves, their stories, their interests and so on. Erik talks to them and write a short speech founded on this information before he welds the couple together, something he has a many years of experience to do in a more literal way.

Before Erik began studying theology he worked as a welder. He was working in different workshops till the age of 30, when back problems forced him to change his path. Not a lot of thinking was needed before he entered the University at Göteborg to study theology in 1992.

In the summer of 1994 Erik had his first experiences as a priest, working a summer job in Billdal for 4-6 weeks. He returned to Billdal in the coming 3 years, and the Bishop accepted him as becoming a full time priest in the summer of 1996.

After listening to a parade of love songs Erik and Anna enters the Mai Khao Lak Beach Resort and Spa, where the wedding takes place. They meet Magnus, Anna, their kid, Liam, and the other guests by the pool and have a casual chat, before following them to the restaurant to talk through the final details of the wedding.

Soft drinks are ordered. Anna hands over a laminated sheet titled “Words from the Bible that fits the Wedding Blessing”. Magnus and Anna studies the paper for a minute before they decide on some words: Ruth 1:15 - 17. Songs are discussed and they agree on two hymns. Liam is splashing around in the pool, they finish their soft drinks and head towards the beach where the ceremony will take place.

The ceremony is not a formal devotion, as it’s more difficult and expensive to do in Thailand due to paperwork, applications and laws, but it works as a blessing. Ceremonies like these helps finance the Church in Phuket, but most costs are financed by the Church of Sweden, Anna explains.

Erik and Anna do the last preparations a couple of hours before the ceremony takes place. They print the hymns, rehearse them and Erik change into a cassock. A tiny altar is lined up by the foot of the beach: a bible, a chest and an electric candle.

The couple arrives to the beach at 6pm clothed in white. The Sun is setting and Erik’s guitar is tuned. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Magnus and Anna in holy matrimony”, Erik begins, following the traditional steps. Vows are said, rings are presented, the couple kiss and Erik performs the hard rock band, KISS, classic love song “I was made for lovin’ you” on his acoustic guitar. He might not have made it to Carnegie Hall, but a sunset by the beach of Khao Lak celebrating and sharing one the merriest time of Magnus and Anna’s life isn’t to bad a venue either.

Being Swedish priests in Phuket is a 3-year assignment. Erik’s contract runs until August 2017.

April 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 11

The Nordic House in Yangon - A promising

by Frederik Guy Hoff Sonne

O

n 3 March the Nordic House in Yangon, the natural focal point for anything Scandinavian, opened its doors for visitors, mar king the move to new premises. The Nordic House houses the Danish and Norwegian embassies as well as the Finnish and Swedish consulates.

It was a suitable occasion to put focus on this interesting Nordic unity in Myanmar and getting an update on the current Nordic engagement in the country. But first, let us take it back to the beginning.

The Nordic House in Yangon opened in 2012, as “kind of a coincidence” Peter Lysholt Hansen, Danish Ambassador in Yangon, explains.

It was foremost a practical arrangement, when the Nordic countries started diplomatic missions in Myanmar under the same roof in 2012. Soon they recognized that the setup was interesting and now it has developed into an innovative pilot project, that might be an inspiration for Nordic cooperation globally.

“I can’t think of any Nordic collaborations that 12 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2016

are so advanced. It’s like one joint embassy”, Peter Lysholt Hansen explains as he lists the benefits of this: “Naturally it’s easier to cooperate, which means cooperation between Nordic offices is without doubt more frequent than it would have been”.

This is among other things reflected in many joint engagements between the offices and of course this joint-hosted open house event in Yangon.

Swedish Minister Counsellor, Johan Hallenborg, shares this view: “Of course it’s easier to understand one another when you’re sharing an office and you sit together and talk on a daily basis. Everyone benefits from this when we share information and orientate one another”, he says.

“In the end it strengthens our joint Nordic profile in the country. We have a stronger voice and can offer a wide range of networking, which makes the house really attractive”, Peter Lysholt Hansen explains.

The project is still on a pilot basis and it hasn’t been evaluated yet, but attitudes towards sharing office space seems unilaterally positive.

“The pilot project is running smoothly, and we clearly see how our four countries and cultures jointly strengthen the Nordic presence in Myanmar”, says Hege Jørstad, Counsellor at The Norwegian Embassy.

“There should be some rationalization benefits, that’s the general idea, and I’m positive there will be”, the Danish Ambassador assesses.

Economic benefits are already reflected in shared rental and running costs for the Nordic house and salary costs for shared staff, according to Hege Jørstad.

The house is administr ated by two Norwegian diplomats with assistance from a handful of local Burmese. As Norway is the lead country, Norwegian legislation is the basis for local contacts and other administrative aspects of running a foreign mission.

In December 2015 an agreement between the four countries was signed, that lies out the guidelines for the administrative set up and cost sharing at the Nordic House. All offices uses the same personal and same accounting and financing processes. Administration costs a

perspective shared as is the telephone number to reach the reception.

Different diplomatic missions When wor king so closely as the Danish Ambassador described as “like a joint embassy” there could be a risk that national lines are getting blurred and diplomatic missions could get mixed, one might think. That is however of no concern to the representatives from the house. There are joint engagements and focuses are in the same areas, but the countries’ strategies and priorities differs, when you have a closer look.

The Swedish Office for example has a very clear main focus on development in Myanmar, which is also reflected on the staff, where four out of five people works with development.

“We work with three government decided guidelines in the development cooperation”, David Holmertz, Swedish Minister Counsellor on Development Cooperation, says.

“We want to increase the human rights and the freedom of speech in Myanmar, achieve broad

local participation in the peace process and to stabilize children’s health”.

The Danish Embassy is very much focused on providing development aid to Myanmar, but is also a keen supporter of the peace processes, the development of rule of law and the human rights situation in Myanmar. The embassy supports in particular the educational sector and economic growth of the country. Peter Lysholt Hansen mentions a co-management on fishing resources in ten Myanmar villages as one of the big Danish supported programmes to come.

Norway’s focus areas are “the peace process, long term development assistance related to sustainable development, climate change and environment, clean energy and fisheries. Support to democratization, civil society and human rights have been, and continue to be at the core of Norway’s collaboration with Myanmar”, Hege Jørstad reports.

processing a more or less democratic election on 8 November 2015 and continuing economic growth have made Myanmar a prosperous nation for business.

Several Nordic companies such as Maersk, Carlsberg, AGM, Ericsson and Arla are already present in Myanmar and there should be more in the future. Many Nordic companies are showing interest in Myanmar according to the Danish and Swedish offices.

“Grundfoss and Vestas have already probed Myanmar for potential business and there’s also a big interest from the textile industry”, Peter Lysholt Hansen says and adds that he’s positive investment interests will grow in the future.

Johan Hallenborg can also report on many Swedish companies showing interest in Myanmar.

In January he went to a joint seminar in Singapore to promote business in Myanmar. “There are around 250 Swedish companies in Singapore and they all have a regional outlook”, Johan Hallenborg tells.

“It’s a promising market. There are many great needs in the country, which means there are many interesting prospects for business”, he explains.

Both officials finds the interest positive, but at the same time they encourage potential investors to maintain composure.

“Myanmar is not an easy market to enter.

You have to keep in mind that five years ago the country was completely inaccessible. So to start doing business here you’ll have to be patient, it takes a lot of time and effort”, Peter Lysholt Hansen says.

Johan Hallenborg adds: “It shall be a very conscious decision for companies to set up business in Myanmar. Challenges are easy to see. Infrastructure is not good, also concerning energy and internet. Corruption is still a serious matter.”

Myanmar is ranked 156th out of 175 nations according to Transparency International’s 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index. At the World Bank’s Logistic Performance Index from 2014 Myanmar is ranked 145th out of 160 nations.

Johan Hallenborg is confident that the coming reform processes in the end will help Myanmar overcome many challenges. But currently he’s cautious: “We can open a few doors for companies, but it’s still limited how much help we can provide.”

The Danish Ambassadors tone in this matter is slightly different: “It’s a important task for us to assist companies with interest in Myanmar. We advise companies, identify potential partners for them and provide market information as well as help them through the bureaucracy”, says Peter Lysholt Hansen in answering how the Embassy can help interested companies.

Myanmar is part of the ASEAN Economic Community, which emphasizes regional cooperation. The economy has grown 6 to 7 percent in recent years and the growth is expected to continue.

The Nordic House is set to be evaluated in the second half of 2016.

Setting up business in Myanmar It’s no secret that Myanmar is a challenge, but ending five decades of military junta in 2011, April 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 13

I owe my Danish business career to my Thai grandmother

By Maria Andreasdottir

‘‘I

owe my Danish business career to my Thai grandmother.” ”In the beginning I was going to be an architect”, says Janphen Muennoi Karakaya, Store Manager of Hunkemöller.

But instead of buildings, she builded up a successful business career in Denmark, all thanks to her grandmother in Thailand.

Today, Janphen is acknowledged as one of Denmark’s best female sales persons. Her business and sales skills have been awarded, and

14 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2016

she has won the title Best Store Manager in Denmark several times, and is the most wanted Hunkemöller Training Ambassador in Scandinavia.

She was also chosen to open the ver y first Hunkemöller store in Sweden.

“As long as I remember selling and trading has always been a part of my life”.

Janphen grew up in Samutprakarn, a little city close to Bangkok. Every weekend she walked the streets along with her grandmother and sold savory snacks and home baked goods.

“I rather wanted to play like the other children did. But I had to help my family, even if there were many other things I wanted to do in the weekends.”

Selling food at the market was a necessity. In Thailand it is common that all family members live together under the same roof, and everyone helps each other. Janphen’s family was big, and a missing father did not make it easier to feed all mouths. Janphen’s grandmother needed help from her granddaughters to make just enough money so Janphen and her sister could go to school and be fed at the same time.

“All women in my family struggled to make it all work out.We were never negative about work, only grateful when we saw how it all bore fruit and that our family continued to prosper.”

Her grandmother made all the food herself, and even if her dishes were good, her bargaining skills were better. She never gave up, and would never go home before everything she made was sold and eaten up. Janphen was a quick learner, and replicated her grandmother; when setting a goal she secretly made it higher, aiming to reach further than her first goal.

However, selling items became more boring when the weekdays consisted of school and doing homeworks, and the weekends were dedicated to the market and selling. Little Janphen decided her life should be anything but trading.

She was one of the best students in her class, and she would take advantage of her good grades.

She dreamt of working in any other field than business and trading.

When Janphen was 10 years old, her mother felt in love with a Danish man, and Janphen, her siblings and the newly wed moved from Thailand to Denmark. Her whole world changed, and she was suddenly not the best student in class anymore. She recalls how her Danish classmates picked at her for not knowing the Western alphabet, and she had to study even harder than before. But the weekends remained the same like in Thailand. ”Just like always, the weekends were dedicated to going to the market selling things.

Now it was my mother who took me out

to ”kræmmermarkeder” at different places in Denmark, where we sold imported clothes from Thailand.”

Unlike any other in her family, she chose to study the Higher Technical Programme (HTE school) when finishing school. No more trading for Janphen. She was going for a career in architecture. After 18 weeks studying HTE, something strange happened to Janphen. ”I have no idea why, but I suddenly realized I missed selling. It was my thing”.

She completed the HTE programme, but instead of heading straight to the Architecture School, she began as a trainee in a shoe store.

Here she could use all her sales experience. It did not take long time before she was the best performer in the whole store. Not only did she sell for the highest amounts, she also managed to do most additional sales too. Dansk Detail (Danish Detail), the biggest organization in special detail trading, rewarded her with the Trainee of the Year 2000 for her outstanding performance in selling. ”Selling is the thing I have always been taught, and a thing I am good at. Back in my childhood it was a duty, but now it became my passion. I felt like being myself when I could sell, and I like to do things I am good at. I began loving it.”

When she graduated from her training position, she sat as goal to manage her own store. But first she wanted to take a break and do what she had been longing for years; to visit her grandmother in Thailand.The timing could not have been worse, because after she planned her two months visit to Asia, Dutch lingerie company Hunkemöller contacted her for an immediate position as Store Manager in Strøget, the largest shopping street in Denmark. ”I said “I’m sorry, but I’m gone for the next 2 months”. I was shocked when they said they were willing to wait for me. They wanted me. The contract was signed”.

The new job as Store Manager was not the only landmark that happened for Janphen. When she began at Hunkemöller two months later, she found out she was pregnant.The timing was once again perfectly wrong.

All women in my family struggled to make it all work out. We were never negative about work, only grateful when we saw how it all bore fruit and that our family continued to prosper.

”I knew I had to terminate the contract. I thought my career as Store Manager was a short experience”.

It was not. Janphen was not only good selling clothing and lingerie. She was also excellent selling herself. Hunkemöller were sold, and they were would not let her go. Janphen went to work while being pregnant, and she never had any day offs before or after she gave birth to her son.

Later she was also asked to run their store in Fields. 6 months after, she was awarded the Best Store Manager in Denmark by Hunkemöller. Her business skills became so popular, that she was asked to run even one more store in Copenhagen.

Hunkemöller also made her Training Ambassador, and she was and is always first choice when sellers need improvement. ”I had to say no to run a 4th store, because now I needed some time to relax with my new family. Later asked to be in charge for opening the very first Hunkemöller store in Sweden. Even if it meant less time with my family and extra working, I went for it. Women in my family have always worked hard, so of course I will do that too.”

Janphen went to Thailand again and visited her beloved grandmother, the woman who taught her selling lessons that made Janphen go from selling street food in Thailand to exclusive lingerie in Europe.

Now, the hard work of selling is not a duty anymore to Janphen. She laughs when she recalls the memories of a young girl reluctantly going to the market with her grandmother, and how her dream of becoming an architect seemed like a better career choice at that time.

She believes she owes all her success to her Thai childhood and especially her grandmother, who taught to never give up and to be a hard worker. Regardless of how far she has come, she never will forget her roots. ”It doesn’t matter what your title is, or how high in the hierarchy you are. It’s all about being happy for what you do. It took me years to find out that I love selling. Combining a job you love and a family you love even more, I could not ask for a better career than business after all.”

April 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 15

How to pick a school

H

ow do you pick the perfect school for your children, when you move to another country?

It might not be as easy as it sounds. During the years, more and more schools are established, and each institution offers different courses and has different ways of teaching. Many parents use social platforms like Facebook to get advices from other parents. But there will probably be no way around making your own inquiry into each avaible option.

Local v s international Are you looking for a local or an international school? In most countries in Asia, it is possible to sign your child into a local school – but it can be a challenge, if your child does not have Asian roots.

Local schools provide your child with a local environment and another benefit is that most of the local schools are more affordable than the international schools. One thing to be aware of though, is that psysical punishment has not been abolished in many Asian school systems.

If you go for an international school, consider that international students grow up in an environment that is much different to that of your own. Known as Third Culture Kids (TCKs), they often develop a different attitude.

Once this is said, many expat families decide to go for the international school – at least through primary school up to grade 9.

A few suggestions As said before, many parents seek advices from other parents.

But in the end, it is your choice and only you know what needs your child has.

First: Observe Visit the schools you are interested in during a regular school day. Ask to observe teachers in class so you can get a feel for how the adults treat the children, parents and one another. You don’t have to be an expert to get a good sense of what is — or is not — happening in a classroom when you visit.

Copyright : anatols / 123RF Stock Photo

16 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2016

Copyright : petro / 123RF Stock Photo

Second: Distance Make sure the school is not too far away from your home. Have in mind that in most big cities, it is travelling time between your house and the school that matters. Will you be driving your child to school yourself or how will your child be going there?

Especially in cities like Bangkok, the traffic is hectic and you can easily use hours stuck between cars, taxies and tuk-tuks.

Third: Reputation Use your network in the city. Ask as many as possible, what their experience with this school is. Do not listen to people, who have no children at the school themselves.

Fourth: Courses The school’s courses and programs will most likely be listed in the school’s informations packages or on their website. They will talk about British Curriculum and American Curriculum and what most Scandinavians go for these days is the IB Curriculum.

The IB Curriculum is an educational programme managed by the International Baccalaureate for students aged 3 to 12. Students are required to learn a second language during the programme.

Fifth: Supplementary courses More and more parents find it important that their children are receiving lessons in their mother language. On some of the international schools, the different Scandinavian communities have organized mother tounge language lessons as a supplementary course.

It depends on your child. Many children already have a long day in school with lessons in Thai, English and other courses.

Stay involved As a parent you might wish there were some secret education-analyst methodology. No matter how hard you do your homework, stay involved with your child’s everyday life. Is your child happy and motivated or tired and introverted? Talk with your child about how school is and spend more time together in the beginning. First period will probably be as exhausting for your child as for you – starting up your lives in a completely different country.

Copyright : Dmitriy Shironosov / 123RF Stock Photo

April 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 17

Copyright : racorn / 123RF Stock Photo

Keeping your kid on track with the mother tongue in

By Frederik Guy Hoff Sonne

‘‘O

ne, S̄xng, Tre, Fyra, Viisi, Seks”. Children brought up in Thailand with Scandinavian roots have a lot of languages to deal with. In the streets they speak Thai, in School it’s English and at home it might be Swedish, Danish, Norwegian or Finnish. So what are the opportunities to maintain or develop the children’s mother tongue? ScandAsia portrays the situation.

The privileged Swedes Swedes are by far the most privileged when it comes to school options for their kids. Swedish schools are found in many par ts of Thailand counting Bangkok, Hua Hin, Koh Lanta, Huay Yang, Rayong and Phuket.

Sanuk, Svenska Skolan Thailand, runs three Swedish schools in Hua Hin, on Koh Lanta and in Huay Yang, after establishing their first Swedish school in Thailand on Koh Lanta in 2004. Sanuk offers preschool and primary school classes from 1st to 9th grade. Classes normally consist of 18 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2016

small groups of 10 students. They follow Swedish curriculum and classes are conducted in Swedish.

Prices differs but it’s around 120.000 baht a year per student for the preschool and 90.000 baht a year for primary school.

In Kamala, Phuket, Quality Swedish School, QSS, is found. It opened in August 2010 and was the first School officially licensed by Thai authorities to operate as a Swedish primar y school in Thailand.The license naturally means that they follow the Swedish curriculum and spoken language is Swedish. QSS provides preschool and primary school teaching. Preschool covers the ages from 2 to 5 years. Primary school is divided into two groups covering 1st to 3rd graders and 4th to 9th graders. Prices depends on grades and the length of the stay but normal price for preschool is 130.000 baht a year per children and primary school is 150.000 baht.

If based in Bangkok you have a different branch of possibilities but there are no allSwedish day schools. The Swedish School Association offers weekly Swedish courses on different levels three days a week. On Mondays

Thailand they host a class from 6 to 12 year-olds at ISB, while on Fridays they teach 9 to 12 year-olds at KIS and on Saturdays 3 to 14 year-olds can take lectures at NIST. One course counts 15 lectures and is priced at 3000 baht per child and it follows International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, but the content is almost the same and all the material used is developed from the latest Swedish curriculum.

There’s also the opportunity to list your kids for distance learning in Swedish that the parents can arrange by themselves and do in their own home.This is offered by the Svenska Distans from the age 3-13 Sofia Distans from the age 6-16.

It differs from each municipality whether you’re able to carr y your Swedish school money with you to Thailand. So check with the municipality that you’re attached to.

Fair options for Finns Finns may not be as privileged as Swedes when it comes to Schooling opportunities, but they have fairly good options to keep the Suomi smooth.

There are two Finnish schools in Thailand, one in

Copyright : Cathy Yeulet / 123RF Stock Photo

and moreover there are no International Schools offering Danish as a second language additional course, which should be common for a bigger expat group like the Danes. So the situation is quite unclear.

However things are developing. A group of Danes in Thailand have taken initiative to start a Danish course with help from the Danes Worldwide organization. On the terms of gathering a minimum of 4 students the Danes Worldwide provides group lessons to Danish children around the world. A group of Danish parents have engaged in this prospect and already have an agreement with NIST to host this. A pre-meeting was held in October 2015 where interest was shown from parents to around 60 children. The price is not settled, but it could be around 2-3000 DKK a year plus a membership at Danes Worldwide for 650 DKK a year. The project is not officially announced yet, but iniative taker, Mai Ellegaard, says they hope for this to start in the coming summer. So stay tuned.

While waiting for that, Danes Worldwide offers online courses which is the same material that the group lessons consist of. With a helping hand from a Danish-speaking parent this is a good alternative. Right now more than 20 children in Thailand are attending this. Prices range from 6.690 DKK to 9.190 DKK depending on membership, levels and number of kids.

Asking the Danish Embassy their best recommendation at the moment is to make a private arrangement. There are lots of qualified Danes around, educated and uneducated teachers, just screen the internet or make an inquire at the expat community. Moreover they recommend the Danes Worldwide summer school taking place in Denmark, offering Danish lectures and learning about Danish culture. The summer school runs from 3. juli to 21. juli and consists of 75 lectures.

No Schools for Norway

Bangkok and one in Pattaya.

Finnish School Banksu in Bangkok was established in 1997. The school is meant for children who at least use Finnish as their second language at home. Lessons are one hour and are held once a week after normal school days in the premises of the international schools. Lessons are divided into three different age groups and are conducted by Finnish teachers with education background.

In Pattaya the all-day Finnish school Pattaya Suomalainen Koulu is run by the couple Tiiti and Tommi Mäkelä. It opened in the autumn of 2010 and counts 30 pupils spread in 7 classes ranging from 6 to 16 year-olds. The school follows a normal school week with lessons everyday from around 9 am to 3 pm. Tiiti and Tommi teaches themselves and the curriculum is almost as in Finland. Price is 195.000 baht a year per pupil.

Exciting initiative coming up for Denmark Currently there are no Danish Schools in Thailand

Thailand is barren land for Norwegian language.

There are now Norwegian schools in Thailand and no courses on international schools that teach Norwegian. So what to do?

T h e N o r we g i a n E m b a s s y m e n t i o n s Globalskolen as the best alternative, an online school used by 53 Norwegian children in Thailand at the moment. It is par tly financed by the Norwegian Government and partly by the users.

The teaching is based on Kunnskapsløftet, the Norwegians educational reform, and follows the Norwegian curriculum. It provides material from 1st to 10th grade for 3 different groups; mothertongued Norwegians, multilinguals that are wellversed in Norwegian but not good enough to follow the curriculum, as well as children who are very basic in Norwegian language and needs assistance from their parents.

However your child have to fulfill some minimum terms to attend Globalskolen. Firstly your child has to have a Norwegian personal number, be at least one year, and must be attending a local or international school in Thailand. Your child must participate in all 15 lectures that forms each semester. Prices are as follows; 1 child is 1000 NOK per semester, 2 children is 750 NOK each, 3 children’s is 500 NOK each and 4 or more children is free.

April 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 19

Bangkok Prep

marks the auspicious beginning of their Secondary Campus

M

embers of the Board of Directors at Bangkok Inter national Preparatory & Secondary School (Bangkok Prep), and the Head of School, Mrs Valerie ThomasPeter invited representatives from the Primary and Secondary Student Councils, parents and teachers to join in the Groundbreaking Ceremony that took place on February 4th on the future site of the new Secondary School Campus, set to open in August 2017.

Invitees were asked to “break-the-ground” with the Bangkok Prep’s commemorative shovels to mark the auspicious beginning of 20 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2016

the construction of the new Secondary School Campus, located on Sukhumvit 77 amid a secure and prime residential area of central Bangkok.

The new Secondary School Campus will feature state-of-the ar t learning spaces, an Aquatics Centre with an olympic sized swimming pool, an indoor Sports Hall, a 400-seat auditorium, a theatre, a large outdoor sports field and tennis courts.

“Our new campus reflects the need to expand our facilities to meet the demand of our growing student body, specifically that of Secondar y students”, explained Valerie Thomas-Peter, the Head of School.The facility will enable us to deliver

the School’s mission to provide a high quality and stimulating learning environment, where students can prepare for life and realise their full potential.”

The construction will take place from February 2016 and is expected to be completed

by August 2017. Approximately 400 students, aged 11 to 18 years old, will move from the current campus on Sukhumvit 53 to the new Secondary School Campus on Sukhumvit 77.

The campus on Sukhumvit 53 will be exclusively dedicated to the Primary School and will continue to cater for children aged 3 to 11 years old.

April 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 21

AIE Conference Drives International Education Dialogue

22 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2016

T

he world of international education, once composed of small and isolated school communities, has radically changed over the past two decades.

What was once a few hundred schools scattered around the globe has now become thousands of institutions catering to students of var ying backgrounds, beliefs and experiences. In this uncertain phase of growth, the Alliance for International Education (AIE) has taken the lead in shaping the future direction of international education. The AIE brought that conversation to Thailand at NIST International School, which hosted the 2016 biannual AIE conference from 26-28 February with the theme Engaging with Difference.

Attended by many of the field’s foremost teacher s, administr ator s, academics and consultants – and even student par ticipants – the conference upheld the AIE’s mission “to bring together those involved in the promotion of intercultural understanding and international education, including researchers and practitioners at every level of education throughout the world.” Keynote speakers at the event included M.L. Pariyada Diskul, founder and former president of the International Schools Association of Thailand and Deputy Secretary to the Minister of Education; Mechai Viravaidya, former Chairman of the NIST International School Foundation, and founder and director of the Population and Community Development Association; and Nick Alchin, High School Principal at United World College of South East Asia.

Throughout the three days of the conference, par ticipants grappled with many of the most difficult questions facing international schools, as well as nations around the world. What does it mean to engage with difference, both as individuals and communities? How do we strive to be inclusive in international schools that can sometimes be exclusive by their very nature?

What role should international education play in a diverse world that faces intercultural tensions and conflict?

Schools such as NIST have increasingly viewed diversity as more than simply engaging with difference in respect to nationality and culture. It encompasses far more: gender, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, physical capacity, ideology and other fundamental differences. Engaging with those differences requires going beyond charity or sympathy, recognizing that we can all respect and learn from one another. NIST strives to create learning opportunities that encourage students to truly understand, empathize and work with those who are different than them. NIST students have created social entrepreneurship projects, become activists for various causes and launched their own non-profits.

This arguably represents a central aim of international education: the development of informed, empathetic individuals who engage and work alongside others to find common ground and shared solutions.

For more information about the AIE conference and its aims, visit intedalliance.org.

April 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 23

Brighton College Bangkok – Imagine where you can go

B

righton College Bangkok will open its doors in September 2016, welcoming pupils between two and nine years of age to its Pre-Prep School. Sister school to Brighton College, the UK’s top co-educational school with a proud history of maximising every pupils’ talents, Brighton College Bangkok’s aim is to become one of the leading British curriculum schools in Asia.

Kelly Crompton, Head of Pre-Prep School is currently busy meeting with families at the Admissions Office. She explained how Brighton College Bangkok will provide a nur turing environment where every child is cared for and valued, which allows pupils to achieve the highest standards of academic achievement.

“At Brighton College Bangkok, our small class sizes and low pupil: teacher ratio means that we can treat ever yone as an individual.

Our curriculum is highly tailored to meet and exceed the English National Curriculum, offering abundant opportunities for children to develop their thinking and skills in ways which are unique to them, whether that be through the academic curriculum or as extra-curricular activities; our teaching truly is child centred.”

Kelly goes on to explain further: “Learning within the Pre-Prep will be highly personalised to each individual to ensure that children are both supported and challenged when the time is right for both, and that they are always inspired to learn.

We believe in and value the whole experience of

24 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2016

learning where academic excellence is coupled with excellence in sports, arts and music; this insures that children have the best possible foundations in order to succeed on whichever path they choose to journey through their world.

Our children will always be celebrated for their achievements, no matter how large or small.”

The Pre-Prep School’s motto of ‘Be Good.

Be Kind. Be Honest’ was also explained by Kelly.

“We place much value on the qualities of honesty, determination and kindness, guiding pupils to be a first rate version of themselves with the utmost respect for their peers, themselves and the world around them.”

The Brighton College family, which also includes two schools in the Middle East, is known for its innovative curriculum that offers a unique combination of specialist knowledge and personalised learning that makes a Brighton College education second to none.

Mrs Crompton expands on this fur ther : “We have created an inspiring curriculum which is world-class, drawing on the very best and most recent thinking in the UK. At Brighton College, we are thought of as leading the change in educational thinking rather than following, meaning that children here will be at the forefront of innovations in learning. An example of this unique approach to our curriculum is the ‘Story of Our Land’ which combines history, geography, philosophy and culture to celebrate Thailand and the United Kingdom. Another aspect of

our forward-thinking curriculum is compulsory Mandarin from Nursery.”

Kelly’s passion for education certainly shines through. She concluded by saying “I am determined that children at Brighton College Bangkok will have the very best and l am unapologetically striving to ensure that in the three words which encompass our vision for our school – Inspiration, Innovation, Excellence.”

The school is located at Krungthep Kreetha 15/1, in the Huamak area; 30 minutes from the city and only 20 minutes from Suvarnabhumi airpor t. Its green field site will be home to iconic school buildings for the three stages of the school: Pre-Prep, Prep and Senior. The latter two stages for children aged between nine and 18 years old will open in September 2017. For more information and to make an appointment to meet the team, please contact Head of Admissions, Kim Meaden-Kendrick at admissions@brightoncollegebangkok.com Brighton College Bangkok Soi Krungthep Kreetha 15/1, Huamak, Bangkok, 10240 T +66 (0) 2-136-7898 admissions@brightoncollegebangkok.com www.brightoncollegebangkok.com BRIGHTON COLLEGE BANGKOK A member of the Brighton College family of schools Inspiration | Innovation | Excellence

BRIGHTON COLLEGE BANGKOK

IMAGINE WHERE YOU CAN GO

Opening September 2016 Brighton College Bangkok, sister of Britain’s highest ranked co-educational school, is now accepting enrolments for Pre-Prep pupils between two and nine years of age.

Prep and Senior Schools will open in September 2017.

+66 (0)2 136 7898 admissions@brightoncollegebangkok.com brightoncollegebangkok.com instagram.com/brightoncollegebangkok @BrightonBangkok Soi Krungthep Kreetha 15/1, Huamak, Bangkok

Inspiration | Innovation | Excellence

Unique in Thailand, uniquely for you The American School of Bangkok

H

ere’s a quick hands-on experiment.

Check the clothing labels in your closet. Chances are you’ll find the articles come from nearly as many countries as there are garments, and most likely the labels will be printed in English.

Might even be some saying, “Made in Thailand.”

For many families results like these suggest the benefits of an international education with an English-langue curriculum. Schools, particularly those with established reputations of excellence, can prepare students for a seamless transition into an increasingly competitive and connected world.

For leading students and student leaders who welcome challenges, schools such as The American School of Bangkok provide ideal settings for young people to maximize their skills and potential in a global microcosm. In short, a truly authentic international school affords students from many countries an opportunity to excel in a global village with global learners.

These diverse learners, separated on paper by nationality are united in person in schools that promote common values as they master English a common language.

ASB, for example, is a highly regarded international school that propels students to excellence in an American curriculum with an international perspective. Each of the two campuses features rigorous academic programs that have created educational pathways to academic success for more than 35 years. In that time, each of the graduates has attended college and many have already distinguished themselves in professions and businesses. Currently ASB is home to students from approximately 45 countries. The graduates have been accepted in prestigious schools including the University of 26 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2016

California Berkeley, Purdue, Ohio State, University of British Columbia, the University of Chicago and the University of Washington.

The groundwork for these international citizens and global ambassadors has been laid by an accomplished ASB faculty. Currently there is a staff of over 100 cer tified and professional teachers, many with advanced or master certifications in their teaching field.

The majority of the faculty is recruited directly from the United States of America, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The educators have an abundance of experience, not only in education but also in other areas of expertise, such as fine and performing arts, business studies, information technology and foreign languages.

Accordingly, this faculty diversity allows students to excel in and out of the classroom.

Academically, ASB has been acknowledged by College Board as the only school in Thailand authorized to offer the elite Capstone Diploma.

As of School Year 2016/17 students can join a cohor t pursuing the rigorous program that requires a minimum of five successful advanced placement classes. In offering this opportunity ASB stands alongside other leading regional international schools such as The American School in Japan, Singapore American and Hong Kong International.

Beyond the classroom ASB is also alone in providing students an in-house golf program.

The Green Valley campus neighbors a 7000 yard, Bobby Jones-designed golf course, and striking while the irons and woods were hot, the founder incorporated these serendipitous surroundings into the curriculum with the International Preparatory Golf Academy. Students enrolled in this program combine class work with golf sessions enhanced by technology and electronic

driving ranges inside the school, putting greens outside by the main gate and a minimum of 36 holes a week on the adjacent course.

This IPGA curriculum is unique to ASB in Asia and has helped senior Panat Bodhidatta earn a golf scholarship to the University of Washington.

He says, “The (ASB) program with the new facilities has helped me win 10 tourneys, earn a scholarship and prepare me to join the PGA.” To date nine students have earned golf scholarships.

Moreover, the scholarship program is expanding. The school’s vigorous performing arts program which this year has featured major musical productions at each campus has just announced a scholarship program for Thai students who will compete in a nationally broadcast quiz show, “The Learning Curve.” The top 100 applicants will compete for the honor becoming one of the nine finalists, each of whom will be eligible for scholarship consideration. Beyond the Thai television scholarship, ASB offers scholarships to international students based on academic merit and leadership potential. Information about these programs is available at www.asb.ac.th.

When browsing that web site please pause to look at the expressions of the students and educators who thrive in the environment. The school founder, Lakhana Tavedikul, characterizes these surroundings noting, “We are proud of the fact that we have, and are continually creating successful, kind and caring young professionals with strong values who are able to contribute to a better world of tomorrow. “ This thought captures the qualities of the school. Like the finest of international labels found in our closets, we like to think the brand, “ASB made in Thailand, for over 30 years, especially for our students” stands apart from the others.

Not Every Lesson is Learned in the Classroom

B

angkok Patana’s Residential programme is an integral part of the curriculum for students in both the Primary and Secondary Schools. From Year 3 onwards, the carefully planned Residential visits provide unique possibilities for students to develop through experience; one of the main aims is to involve them in activities and situations which they may not have previously experienced.

Each visit, whether it be to Kanchaburi for three nights or an outdoor adventure week in Pak Chong, is designed to enhance the mainstream curriculum and provide opportunities for personal and social development.

As students’ progress through the school, the experiences they gain on Residential visits support increasing indepenence and cover the following personal and social skills: • independence and self-discipline • initiative and problem solving • confidence and self-esteem • leadership • development of sound relationships among students • the ability to enjoy the environment without destroying it • flexibility and consideration for others • ability to work with others in a team • development of sound relationships between students and staff • communication But who better to tell you about the benefits of these visits than one of the students? Here Tia, currently in Year 10, reflects on what makes the Residential programme so unique: ““How was your Residential?” A question asked hundreds of times by eager parents, at crowded airport terminals or the front of school. But for every one of us, there were hundreds of answers we wanted to give; answers that ranged from camping underneath the stars to mountain biking for the very first time, each one a new experience, a new surprise.

Answers that led to amazement from parents when they 14 ScandAsia.Singapore • April 2016

heard that we had achieved things of which we never thought we were capable. Residentials are more than just a week’s vacation from school work, parents and uniforms. The trips are full of adventure, interacting with people around us, teamwork and responsibility.

They are more than just a time when we can stay up late, take loads of photographs and stock up on bags of candy.

They are places where you discover a side of you that you never thought existed, where you suddenly divulge qualities and skills you never knew you possessed. In the midst of it all you find yourself by losing yourself.

You leave for the Residential visit as one person and return another. An alter-ego, a new personality. A quiet, hard working introvert found himself to be an outgoing, wild and carefree adventurer. A first class traveller found herself loving a night in a cramped tent.

Every trip is a new treasure of memories - a new journey of discovery; of diverse places and people, of bonding and exploration, of confidence and courage. Every year we add a new dimension to our personality, a new facet to our character. Without realising it, right from Year 3 in Primary through to Senior Studies, Residential visits teach us what no textbook ever could. They prepare us for what lies ahead.”

Fulfilling Potential Since 1957

Residential visits form an integral part of our curriculum for all students from Year 3 upwards.

These enrich learning, bolster personal and social development and promote the important attributes of open-mindedness, inquiry and informed risk-taking in our students.

643 Lasalle Road, Bangna, Bangkok www.patana.ac.th admissions@patana.ac.th +66 (0) 2785 2200

Bangkok Patana School is an IB World School, accredited by CIS and NEASC

April 2016 • ScandAsia.Singapore 15

From Concept to Creation:

The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Personal Project

W

onderful things happen when 15 and 16 year olds take on a challenge that interests them. Students realize that when they set their mind to it, they can do so much more than they thought. They delve deep into research and understand that some information out there is more useful than others. They learn numerous valuable skills and learn much more about themselves.

The Personal Project is a significant capstone project celebrating the final year of the IB Middle Years Programme. Students choose to create something, or achieve something in an area they are passionate about. They choose their own topic. The important part of the Personal Project is actually the process: star ting with an idea, refining it into a goal, planning, doing research, carrying out the work and reflecting on it all.

This year’s projects at KIS International School in Bangkok included a wide spectrum of interests including designing a humanoid robot, making a flowboard, learning to play the violin, creating an album with piano music composed by the student, creating an Ibook about the development of surgery, investigating applications

of nanotechnology, examining how people’s eyes change with different emotions, and designing a space suit.

Throughout the Personal Project students hone their research, self-management, thinking, communication and social skills.

Once the project is complete the students share their product and learning experiences in an exhibition. Visitors have the opportunity to ask the students questions and learn about their journey. Students gain confidence in presenting and welcome the feedback given by others. The final par t of the personal project is writing a report.

Many of the students use the personal project to find out if certain fields of study or careers would be suitable for them. One KIS student for example created an architectural model of an environmentally friendly house, enabling him to have a glimpse of the kind of work an architect would do, not just by creating the house but also by speaking with experts in the field and using software that architects use.

Another student wanted to use the project as an opportunity to do something creative and artistic before embarking on a career in sciences.

She chose to create a large work of mosaic art.

This year’s KIS Personal Project presentations can be found on Youtube: Group 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f656l4PhZww Group 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ5FPB40jmA Group 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZQkPMc5iB4 30 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2016

Annette Lillethun, from Norway, says of her Personal Project: “Although the personal project was challenging, we all showed persistence and excitement through the process which can be seen in the variety of final products we created this year”.

Though the project requires a lot of work, students appreciate the opportunity to do (within reason) what they like to do, share it with others, and then be graded on it. As one KIS student said of the project :”Inspire yourself and inspire others”.

Bangkok, Thailand

32 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2016

Spend Your Summer in Phuket

Welcome to BISP Summer School!

British International School, Phuket (BISP) has developed its long running summer camps for ages 8-15 yearsold, and this year incorporates for the first time BISP’s Sports Academy programmes: Tennis, Football, and Cirque Ed into the Skills School programme.

The always popular Adventure Spor ts & Activities Programme has been strengthened to include a stronger skills base along with the usual fun and challenges, whilst the framework for the English skills school has been extended to fully integrate the Cambridge English Young Learners courses with the option for end of course testing.

Choosing the Right Camp for You BISP Summer School gives students a choice of programmes to join.

Participation can be as a Half Day, Full Day or Full Time Camp student.

Registration can be from 1-4 weeks Dates: Week 1. July 3-9, Week 2.

July 10-16, Week 3 July 17-23, Week 4 July 24-30

Experienced and Qualified Staff BISP Summer School is led this year by a new team of experienced, energetic, highly qualified directors, teachers, coaches and support staff teaching through the medium of English, with additional language support will be available in Russian, Chinese, and Thai. A strong staff to student ratio will be in place during

the activity sessions, and during the night, ensuring the students are taken care of whilst having fun during their summer.

Weekly Structure for Camps Students will arrive on the Sunday of their chosen week and will settle in with welcome and orientation games, meeting new friends and teachers.

Monday to Saturday mornings for those on the Skill School Programme (English, Football, Tennis and Cirque Ed) consists of skills development in the student’s chosen field.

Afternoons and evenings for Skills School students will consist of activities and trips with students from all Skills School courses joining together for fun – both on and off campus.

The Adventure Spor ts & Activities Programme will r un independently from the Skills School, but if on campus at the same time, then students may join together for meals and activities. Departure day for all programmes will be Saturday afternoons and evenings.

Stay in the Best Accommodation For those joining the full-time camp programme and staying on campus, then a suitable boarding house will be allocated, with boys and girls in separate houses. Students will be accommodated in single, twin or dorm rooms with either private or shared bathrooms.

For more information, contact us: Tel: 076 335 555 Email: summer@bisphuket.ac.th Website: www.summerphuket.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/summerphuket April 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 33

Her er der intet der står med småt alt er inklusiv Selvrisiko kr.

Specielle priser til dig, der som dansker er bosat i udlandet og skal hjem på ferie. Fri kilometer, fuld forsikring og ingen selvrisiko og mere end 5000 biler at vælge imellem.

0,-

Ring på tlf. +45 89 33 11 33 eller book online på europcar.dk

Vi tilbyder også leje af GPS, barnestole og meget mere.

ScanAsia_ April 2016.indd 1

17/03/16 12.09

International School of Bergen

I

nternational School of Bergen (ISB) is situated on the west coast of Norway and offers an English language learning environment to students between the ages of 3 and 16.

Our mission is to provide an internationally accredited education serving the business and Bergen communities.

The educational programme of ISB has been developed to help prepare its students for a successful future. The school is accredited by the

Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in addition to being authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization to offer their Primary Years and Middle Years programmes.

Our students and staff All teacher s hold univer sity degrees and appropriate teaching qualifications. Classes are small. With students and staff representing

ENGELSKSPRÅKLIG PRIVATSKOLE FOR BARN OG UNGDOM MELLOM 3 OG 16 ÅR • • • • • •

Få elever i hver klasse Trygt læringsmiljø med god individuell oppfølging God kontakt med foreldre Internasjonalt godkjente og utfordrende læreplaner Utmerkede resultater i internasjonale og norske nasjonalprøver Sentral beliggenhet med bybanestopp rett utenfor døren For mer informasjon: www.isob.no eller post@isob.no

34 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2016

more than thirty different nationalities, we pride ourselves in having a welcoming and including community.

ISB was founded in 1975, giving us 40 years of experience as an educational institution.

International School of Bergen Vilhelm Bjerknesvei 15, 5081 Bergen, Norway Phone: +4755306330 Website: www.isob.no || E-mail: post@isob.no

Bromsgrove International School Thailand provides an outstanding boarding and day school education for students aged 2-18 years

B

eing affiliated with Bromsgrove School, UK enables us to draw on over 460 years of experience in education. We aim to bring the best aspects of that history focusing on the development of each student by providing them with a traditional ‘British’ education in an international setting.

Academically selective, BIST follows an enhanced form of the English National Curriculum, which enjoys an excellent reputation throughout the world. The emphasis is on how to learn, rather than just memorising factual knowledge, and a great deal of impor tance is placed on the students’ ability to work independently and to develop their own critical thinking.

At BIST our children always come first. The school offers a friendly, intimate and student-

centred learning environment where each child is placed at the ver y centre of the learning process and will receive a broad and balanced education from our highly qualified teachers.

The most important investment you will make in your life will be in your child’s education. It has the potential to pay dividends long after they leave the school gates. Research, and then invest wisely. Beware though, investment is not simply financial. You will need to commit equal amounts of patience, trust, aspiration and love to get the best returns. If you are searching for a boarding and day school in Bangkok that will honour that type of commitment, welcome to BIST. For more information, Contact 02 989 4873 Or visit http://www.bromsgrove.ac.th/

April 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 35

Agneta’s World Photographer: Daniel Herron

a visit to Titanium

I

f you have been living for a while in Bangkok, you most probably know the bar Titanium located on Sukhumvit, Soi 22?

As I’m not really a frequent visitor to clubs, I wasn’t familiar with Titanium. I might have been there once, years ago, but didn’t remember much (not due to too much Vodka)….

This bar opened 9 years ago and believe it or not, they have the same live band playing since then. It’s a 100% girl band named UNICORN GIRL BAND, all Thai girls. They play every night starting at 10.00 pm midnight except Sundays. If you like rock n’ roll, this band will be your choice.

I had a little chat with the manager, who is very proud about the club and his large crew of 5o men/women. The club is so well known and popular, that it doesn’t need any advertising, but 36 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2016

does have its own Facebook & webpage.

I asked who the guests are, foreigners or locals? “Most foreigners and tourists.”

Except having a famous live band, this club also has its own Ice Bar on the second floor. If you need to chill for a while, just enter the small bar with a bar desk made of ice and have a Vodka shot, promising it gets you warm. Here you can choose between at least 50 different Vodkas from all over the world. The most popular is their homemade Vodka with different flavors. I and photographer Daniel tasted a Vodka Litchi and it was delicious.

The Ice Bar keeps a temperature of -10 degrees.This was the very first Ice bar to open up in Bangkok. Today you’ll find several, but most of them have a temperature of -5 degrees.

I had to ask which Vodka is the most popular and I did expect to hear ABSOLUT VODKA, but I was wrong, it’s Finlandia.

Every night, well Monday until Thursday, my favorite band, “BIG BOY BAND”, plays from midnight until 1.30 am, Saturday from 9.30 pm to 10.30 pm and on Sunday nights the whole evenings. Don’t miss them, they are BIG. This is a bar worth visiting. The hostesses, if I might call the female staff so, are all dressed in Vietnamese outfits. I asked if they also are from Vietnam but no, they are all Thai.

Betty

I

f you cross the soi from Titanium, you will find yourself at one of Bangkok’s favourite restaurants Bangkok Betty, located in the Holiday Inn ground floor level. This is, for sure, a very special place. I had an interesting talk with the marketing manager Mr. Selim, whose mom is Swiss and dad from Tunisia. He told me the whole story behind Bangkok Betty. The hotel and Bangkok Betty belong to well-known, FICO Company and is one of many clubs/restaurants that belong to The Group Fenix Iron Fairies. Many of you have probably been to Hotel Le Fenix at Sukhumvit, soi 11.

Bangkok Betty got its name from the Second World War when the iconic bombing planes were called Betty. The decoration consists of

bombs and the typical Betty plane drawing. The concept is American as well as the food.

It is the only place in Bangkok serving a thick pizza deep dish that takes 15 minutes to prepare.

Selim told me, that he and his girlfriend had shared one, but were not able to eat it all. Made for big hunger…

Soon Bangkok Betty will star t a Monthly Deep Pizza contest. You pay an entree ticket and you eat as much pizza as you can.The prize for the winner, will be a T-shirt with the text “I survived the Bangkok Betty pizza contest” and your name on” The Wall of the Fame”, so very American.

Last but not least, the contestants receive a package of Alka-Seltzer, which probably will be most needed after such a pizza meal.

Bon Bon

I

was recommended to visit Bon Bon in Thong Loh soi 13, on a Thursday night when it’s Ladies night out.

Here they don’t offer free flow for the ladies as most bars, clubs and restaurants do.

Here you sit down, you get paper and pencil and

an art teacher teaches you how to draw e.g. a man in a cage. Does it sound interesting? I thought so and went to see it myself.

Wow, why have I missed out on ThongLoh soi 13? I went there alone on a Thursday night, wasn’t late, shor t after 8 p.m. Here I found, like

Bangkok Betty opened four years ago and they also offer a mixture of DJ’s and live bands. If you want to organize your private party, you can do. The guests are mostly foreigners, tourists and Holiday inn visitors.

To the same group, FICO Corporation, the Iron Fairies, Fatz Gutz, Clouds, Fat’r Gutz, Bon Bon and Maggie Choo belong, all very popular clubs.

Must admit, I don’t know any of them, but that will change…

End of March Iron Fairies nr 2, called Dragonfly, is opening up in Central Festival, East Village, Lao Prao and a new Fat Gut’z has already had a soft opening there.

a square with several nice restaurants, pubs etc. Went into Bon Bon and met a familiar face, Johan Persimon Davidsson, the Swede behind the scenes! Johan is known to many of us in Bangkok. He has been and is, involved in a lot of business and now Group General Manager for all the places belonging to The Fenix and Iron Fairies Group. At Bon Bon, many women had gathered together with pencil and pad in their hands, working hard on drawing a young man and his violin, sitting in a cage. Does it sound weird?

Ever y Thursday, some guy will be sitting posing for a few hours in the cage and the ladies have to draw.The lady, with the best drawing, wins a bottle of Chandon. Believe me; all ladies were much occupied with drawing and chatting. The model, in the cage, was a professional musician from Bulgaria and he took on this work for a few hours that night. I didn’t think he could play violin, but I was wrong, he was very good at it. What a crazy idea, but it worked and I will be returning to this place.

There is also an oyster bar and the bar Clouds, with its interesting decoration and much more to experience. More will follow.

April 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 37

มุมภาษาไทย l mum pha:să: thai l Thai Language Corner

The Most Useful

Thai Phrases ? yes

What?

Hello

Sorry

By Klavs Johansen (thai@snakthai.dk)

L

ast month, we looked at the 10 most frequent words in the Thai language, while at the same time cautioning that a word by word approach may not be the best way to learn a language. Instead, focusing on complete phrases, and variations of these, will result in better understanding and a higher degree of fluency.

At least that is my experience. Moreover, the mostly used words may not be the most useful words either, the former can be quantified while selection of the latter is open to individual judgement.

So, I thought, why not this time look at the 20 or so most useful phrases in Thai? Consequently, I have made my own list of useful phrases, off the top of my head rather than based on statistics. Your list may be different, or you may miss impor tant phrases. I welcome questions, proposals and discussions in the Thai Language Corner group on Facebook.

In selecting the phrases, I have tried to keep questions to a minimum as they tend to require that you understand the answer and I have also limited emergency phrases to one – help! In case of emergency, the beginner and intermediate learner are better off getting in touch with the Tourist Police or English speaking health professionals anyway. With these reservations, here is my proposal for the most useful Thai phrases, some of them, as you will see, consisting merely of a single word: สวัสดี / sàwàt di: / ~ hello, hi! ไปไหน / pai năi / ~ hi (where are you going?)! กินข้าวหรือยัง / kin khâ:o rŭe: yang / ~ hi (have you eaten?)!

The last two phrases are normally used with 38 ScandAsia.Thailand • April 2016

people you already know, the last phrase in particular so, and this phrase also comes in a more formal version, which is ทานข้าวหรือยัง / tha:n khâ:o rŭe: yang /.

Thai language has no words corresponding directly to English ‘yes’ and ‘no’, however the following will normally be understood the way you want to: ใช่ / châi / ~ yes, and ไม่ / mâi / ~ no.

To request, accept and refuse is also important in any language, and you can use: เอา / ao / ~ I would like, I want (to get something), and ไม่เอา / mâi ao / ~ no thanks!

To thank and apologize is probably used somewhat more in Scandinavian culture than in Thai, ขอบคุณ / khòr:p khun / ~ thank you,

ขอบคุณมากนะ / khòr:p khun mâ:k ná› / ~

many thanks!

ขอโทษ / khŏr: thôr:t / ~ excuse me, sorry, while the following phrase is famously Thai: ไม่เป็นไร / mâi pen rai / ~ never mind, you are welcome.

It may be useful to reduce expectations by saying พูดไทยได้นิดหน่อยเท่านั้น / phû:t thai dâi nít nòri thâo nán / ~ (I) only speak a little Thai,

and having something repeated for a second chance:

พูดอีกทีได้ไหม / phû:t ì:k thi:, dâi mái / ~

could you repeat that?

อะไรนะ / àrai ná› / ~ what? what did you say? what is that?

The latter question can also be used when pointing at something, however don’t overdo it

as it will probably sound as annoying in Thai as it does in English.

In some situations, the question

ห้องน้ำ�อยู่ที่ไหน / hôrng ná:m yù: thî: năi / ~

where is the rest room? will seem the most useful in the world, and, with a little luck, the answer may be reduced to a finger pointing in the right direction.

It is also nice to be able to get the bill and leave: เช็คบิลล์ / chék bin / ~ (may I have) the bill, please?

Lastly, as promised, we have ช่วยด้วย / chûai dûai / ~ help!

All of these short phrases can – and often will be – followed by a polite particle depending on the gender of the speaker. The words are: ค่ะ / khâ / for female speaker. Note the falling tone. It will change to high tone, คะ / khá› /, when following a question, so we get: สวัสดีค่ะ / sàwàt di: khâ: / ~ hello (female speaker) and ไปไหนคะ / pai năi khá› / ~ hi, where are you going? (female speaker).

For male speakers, it’s a little easier, always use ครับ / khráp / with a high tone, as in อะไรนะครับ / àrai ná› khráp / ~ (sorry) what (did you say)?

Finally, returning to my initial remarks, Tourist Police in Thai is called ตำ�รวจท่องเที่ยว / tamrùat thôr:ng thîao / and to get to English speaking health professionals, you will receive the best advice from your travel or health insurance provider! Be sure to have their number and, hopefully, you will never need it.

Stay safe and see you at the Thai Language Corner on Facebook as well as same place next month!

Vapor Restaurant and Bar provides a charming and modern, yet rustic, ambience for diners with a choice of atmospheres in which to enjoy a blend of Thai, American and French cuisine, or a range of signature drinks blended from the freshest home grown herbs and fruit.

Located in the middle of a stunning lake, the cooling breezes provide comfort in the main open-sided restaurant or on the outdoor Vista Terrace, where diners enjoy a more intimate experience day or night.The banquet room provides air-conditioned comfort and is also available for private hire.

With decades of experience, the Vapor team can easily arrange catering at the restaurant or in private residences within or outside of Nichada Thani.

Vapor’s signature drinks include the “Bangkok Symphony”; a perfect balance of Thai herbs, and the “Lake Rhapsody” which uses organic and home grown Butterfly pea flowers, in harmony with other ingredients, to create a welcome and cooling respite from a hot day. The fare is no less exciting, with Thai, American, French and Chinese influences making their mark across the broad menu. The popular and authentic Massaman Curry is expertly prepared with top quality Thai beef shank, slowly simmered for 3 hours.

Vapor lies within the gated community of Nichada Thani, (known as the expatriate Town of Thailand,). This cosmopolitan, vibrant and exclusive neighborhood of over 1,300 homes encompasses 2 international schools and a whole host of retail outlets and services within a lush, high-end and secure environment, which has continually developed over the years to respond to the ever changing demands of the international community which it serves. Since opening in May 2015, word has spread about this convivial little gem in Nonthaburi and diners from surrounding neighborhoods are on the increase.

April 2016 • ScandAsia.Thailand 39

A good move

delivers

smile.

the biggest

When you see their smiles, you’ll know you’ve made a good move. Trust Allied Pickfords to make your home moving simpler, seamless and stress-free for the entire family. Relax, we carry the load.

Call us now at +66 2 361 3961 www.alliedpickfordsthailand.com