June/July 2020
SILC NEWS
A publication by the Samutprakarn International Ladies’ Club
Farewell for the summer
Caring for our community
We love SILC...
IN THIS ISSUE 3. FAREWELL FOR THE SUMMER!
4. WE LOVE SILC...
9. GETTING TO KNOW….
13. SILC SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY
16. 5 TIPS TO CONQUER FEAR
19. HAPPY BIRTHDAY
A WORD FROM OUR CHAIR Hello ladies, How are you all doing? We know now is the time to concentrate on your family, staying healthy, homeschooling your kids, making sure there is job stability, re-planning your summer. In view of all of this SILC, like a good friend, understands you need time to recoup and recharge. So we will see you in August - this is not goodbye, but see you later. We are hopeful that a new committee will be voted in during or after the summer, most probably by online votes. Whatever happens, even if we have to reign in all our activities a little, we will still continue our work in the community by: ❏ ❏
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Continuing the English language program in the two preschools on a weekly basis if we have sufficient volunteer teachers. Continuing with the Craft program once per month in the two preschools. If there is no co-ordinator then the volunteers will take it in turns amongst themselves to come up with a fun craft project. Continuing with the Healthy Eating program in Mahawong and Prakkasamai by supporting it financially until March 2022 Continue supporting financially the Oil Run until at least December 2020 Encouraging SILC members to volunteer in community projects
Our general membership activities may have to be on the back burner for a bit, but don’t worry, SILC will adapt to whatever the new normal is. Enjoy reading this months newsletter! Take care and best wishes,
Tracey
WE LOVE SILC... I love my time with SILC because whilst meeting a community of ladies from absolutely every continent I also got the opportunity to get more entrenched with the Thai culture, get to meet many Thais, specially little children! My favorite SILC moments are definitely dancing. Dancing with children at the preschools with Thai pop songs or dancing Indian music during our SILC Diwali celebrations. To all the new ladies out there, join SILC! Many smiles and laughter are guaranteed to happen for you‌ Laura I joined SILC as soon as we arrived in Bangkok in 2012 and what a life-line it proved to be - I made friends instantly with a fabulous group of international ladies and shared some amazing times with amazing people. From luscious lunches, glamorous evenings, crazy craft club, classic coffees, marvellous mahjong and incredible trips to memorable places, it would be very difficult to choose just one favourite though it might have to be our sky bar party to raise funds for the Queen Sirikit Centre back in 2015. Our fun evening raised enough money for 120 women from one of Bangkok's poorest neighbourhoods to go for breast cancer screening. It was most humbling to see how our partying could potentially be a life changer, even to just one woman and her family, and was an experience I will never forget‌ Jane
Since the time I joined SILC it was like I have been always part of this group of ladies. The club have helped me to find amazing ladies and friends to not only contribute towards society by teaching kids, but exploring Bangkok through Activity group. It has helped me to enjoy my stay in Bangkok with the coffee mornings, day tours and some fun learning activities that will be memories for life time. This is such a great international ladies social community, where everyone can use and improve own skills and help people at the same time you are taking care of your family‌ Manpreet
For the past few years, I have been a member of SILC. It has been a blast meeting with ladies from all walks of life and different backgrounds. Chit-chatting over coffee, engaging in charity work and activities like cultural walks, arts & crafts and mahjong have all been delightful. It has also been especially fun coming together in smaller project groups working towards a common goal. Each lady gets the opportunity to showcase her own special talent. I can't quite say that I am talented, but I do enjoy contributing from time to time. There's always something to do, and it's always rewarding. Above all, I am grateful to SILC for providing a platform for me to establish friendships - special friendships that will always remind me of my time here in Bangkok...Trina
Without SILC I would never have been able to connect with people and make such great friends. Last year, I became part of the committee and ran the monthly craft program. It was pure joy to see the excitement from the little ones when we arrived with the crafts and the shear pride of them showcasing their work. I unfortunately have had to give up the position when I went back to work. I miss the coffee mornings, weekly activities, helping the community, and off course the kids crafts. That’s what I love about SILC- it's about bringing people together and being a part of a wonderful community of ladies‌ Melanie
Thank you SILC for all the gatherings, the learnings, the fun, the friends and the exposure you give me..you are my sunshine throughout my days in Bangkok...Safy
I enjoy doing arts and crafts with these kids at the preschools supported by SILC. And they are absolutely thrilled to have us there! There is no better way to spend my free time......Shirley.
SILC is a great place to meet friends! And that is what I really love about it. I have been able to enjoy different types of activities with a range of people from all over the world, and yet with many common interests. I enjoy the craft circle, the gatherings to celebrate special occasions and the tours around Bangkok (I have gone to places that wouldn’t have gone alone, specially when you are new to the country)...Cindy
I have been in Bangkok now for almost 30 years, SILC is a group that changes with the times. I went to the Italian restaurant evening almost 2 years ago and every single person, man women and even baby talked to me and made me welcome. I also get to share an article at SILC e-newsletter about Breast cancer awareness.
Thank you SILC for the fun, friendly and memorable coffee morning and lunches. For bringing together like-minded people. There is always something for everyone! Cheers!‌Donna
SILC has been an essential part of my life for the past 3 years years. I joined SILC in 2017 and was immediately mesmerized with the vibrant and dynamic group of ladies here . They welcomed me with such warmth and love and there was no looking back. Having experienced it myself, I can say with confidence that SILC’s tagline is so apt -’where Friendships begin’. In these past 3 years, SILC has helped me grow as a person and gave me opportunity to meet such amazing ladies from around the globe and make some truly wonderful friends . From social coffee meets, learning workshops, walking tours, charity events to weekly Mahjong, everything has been incredible and enriching . Thank you SILC!... Aakriti
I will always remember the hilarious fun times we have had playing Mahjong with the SILC ladies. It’s truly one of the activities I have enjoyed the most. SILC has been a great platform to meet and hit it off with a wide range of wonderful ladies, that I otherwise wouldn’t have crossed paths with, in this enormous city… Mapesa
GETTING TO KNOW ... Vera Canters is from the Netherlands. She moved to Bangkok with her husband and 3 of her 4 daughters, almost 12 years ago. She lives in On Nut with her husband and 1 of her daughters (the others are now living back in the Netherlands). She keeps very busy. As well as designing clothes and accessories, offering art and crochet lessons and painting pet portraits (see her facebook page ‘Colorful Coconuts’) Vera also designed our fabulous tea towels which we sell to raise funds for the community projects. Her husband of 30 years, Marcel, owns a company that supplies medical equipment for beauty treatments- he is a great source of advice on the most updated clinics or hospital, if you need a cosmetic session! ●
SILC and me… I joined SILC in 2014 after hearing good recommendations and being invited by other Dutch friends. With ‘arts’ as a professional background, the activities I enjoy the most are Craft Club and the craft with the preschools.
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I really miss... Like most of us expats, I miss my family back home and my girls.
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I never thought I would ... live in any other place besides the Netherlands. My husband’s business is better here than back home. 12 years ago we came to Thailand for a holiday and liked it so much that we decided to move. And now business is growing and doing well so we’ve got no plans to move again any time soon.
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Best Thai bargain… I like to explore arts supplies on the little Thai shops in my neighborhood and markets
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Favorite Thai dish… Khao Soi Gai which is chicken curry soup with crispy noodles on top.
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Favorite restaurant… El Mercado
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Fun night out with kids… Back in time my girls loved the cheese fondue at MK.
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My ‘must visit’ recommendation ... The Erewan museum in Samut Prakan- you can see the place from far away as it’s a huge three-headed elephant- and I would recommend Green Land of BKK for tours of Bangkok by bicycle. I also enjoy riding a motorbike around Chiang Mai
LIMITED EDITION TEA TOWELS DESIGNED BY VERA CANTERS
Two designs - ‘People of Thailand’ and ‘Places of Thailand’ - 200 thb each.
To buy your set of these unique and limited editions simply email: silctreasurer@gmail.com
GETTING TO KNOW ... Hi everyone, My name is Hanneke Langschmidt and I’m 50 years old married to Wilco and mother of 2 boys of 18 and 15 years old. Our family is now living 5 years in Bangkok and we love it here! The moment I got here in Bangkok, I became a member of SILC... best decision ever! You meet a lot of other women and SILC has a great variety of activities that you can join.
I wanted to join the Community Projects team and from the moment that I became a member I started the English Program with 2 other Dutch ladies. Now it’s a big group of devoted ladies who teach English to a 5 and 6 years children at a daycare and a preschool, both in Samutprakan. We start every year after Songkran with a new group of students. After one year they will receive a Well Done English program certificate! Our aim is to get the children confident and familiar with the English Language and some English habits. Are you interested and want to come and see how and where we teach? You are so welcome to come and have a look! Hope to see you soon! Cheers, Hanneke Langschmidt
SILC SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY
Close to Prakkasamai there is a desperately poor community that have built themselves temporary makeshift shelters which they now call home. There is a mix of migrant workers from Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. Many of the children living there go to Prakkasamai. The current situation has affected them greatly so with a donation from SILC of 14,000thb to buy rice and other basic food necessities, plus personal donations of food and some support from Covid Aid Thailand, Tracey has been three times in the last month ensuring that all families living there (of which there are around 100 families) have food to eat.
The committed ladies, that are keeping the oil run program ongoing, showed this month again to deliver the so needed dry food and oil to the elderly and disabled community at Klong Toei Slums. Volunteers contact: silccommunity@gmail.com
5 TIPS TO CONQUER FEAR By: Aminta Ochoa Since the end of May we received excellent news regarding the declining amount of people with Covid-19 and the re-opening of many businesses and recreational places. By now, we know that we are coming back to a “new normal” and, as in previous publications, I would like to talk about how we all face things in unique ways, which is perfectly normal. For example, some people went out just after the news; others are still fearful since there is not yet a vaccine. Many times in our lives we have fear and this guides many decisions we make. I want to share with you some tips that have helped me to conquer fear in other situations: 1. Acknowledge the fear: Fear is an ancient feeling that serves to protect you, so it is important not to ignore or hide it behind something else. Many times we had previous experiences that fed our specific fears and it made us act in ways that generate the best results. Embrace fear as instruction and let it inform your actions, but not control them. Right now you can acknowledge that you have some fear of going out and that this is ok because it is just a guiding light for you to still be alert, so moving forward analyze the places that you might want to visit, which are the security measures they have put in place and what you could do to keep safe to make a wise, well-thought decision. “When you try to ignore fear, it grows. When you face it, it shrinks.”
2. Collect proper information: The major fear we have is regarding the unknown. Nowadays we have all the information at our fingertips, however we need to be vigilant of fake news. Take your time to get the correct information and base your decisions on this rather than on speculations or what a friend told to another friend.
3. Focus on the positive: Imagine a good outcome as many athletes visualize their victory many times before the actual competition. Allow your mind to feel and experience a peaceful situation of being outside. Your mind doesn’t distinguish between what is real and what you imagine. To the mind, a picture is like an authentic experience. As you focus on this, your mind will believe that it is possible, and build the confidence and drive to move forward. “Faith and fear both demand you believe in something you cannot see. You choose.” – Bob Proctor 4. Focus on your love ones as your motivation: As parents we are a role model even when we think that they are not watching us. If you have no kids or they are older already, think about your partner and how together can thrive. You can also look for motivation in friends, relatives or people you admire that has already conquer your fear.
5. Friends: Remember that social distance doesn’t means that you are alone. It is always good to get along with people that will support you and motivate to grow. Do also remember that the most important thing is to keep moving, no matter how slow or small are the steps you are taking each day. So try to go out first to the nearest park for a couple of minutes and slowly move to something bigger. These are just a few popular tips, however fear can be different in each of us and it is important to ask for help if you’re feeling overwhelmed, depress or stress. Mental health is really important and it is fine to have many emotions, remember to be kind to yourself everyday! By: Aminta Ochoa
Cynthia Hu Deepa Patel
Neha Rawat Patricia Van Loggenberg
Herma Netjes-Vos Sally Dicken Kinna Mills Lonnie Kelsey
Zane Johansson Zunaira Basit
Maggie Xie Nalan Topdagi
Els Wilms Emma Hemstrรถm Karin Worthington Katja Goorman-Hartman Sheetal Sharma
AIMS AND POLICIES Organisation of the Club SILC creates an opportunity for women of all nationalities living in Samutprakarn and Bangkok to meet and participate in a variety of activities. We invite members to join monthly events and interest groups. Members pay an annual fee of 1,000 Baht. Privacy The membership list is for the sole use of SILC members in a social setting and may not be used for commercial purposes. E-Newsletter The e-newsletter is published ten times a year with articles and information on club activities. Contributions are welcome and can be sent to the newsletter editor. Committee Meetings These are held normally the second Monday in the month and are open to all members. Please inform the SILC Chair or SILC Secretary if you wish to attend.
Committee Contacts Chair
silcchair@gmail.com
Secretary
silcsecretary@gmail.com
Treasury
silctreasurer@gmail.com
Membership
silcthai@gmail.com
Community Projects
silc.community@gmail.com
E-newsletter & Ads
silcmagazine@gmail.com
Activities
silc.activities@gmail.com
Website
silc.websites@gmail.com
ADVERTISE HERE! SILC News goes every month to over 180 SILC members throughout Bangkok and is available to the general public via our facebook page. Advertisements for non-profit community events are welcome and free of charge. Personal advertisements for SILC members are free of charge. Email reminders for SILC and non-profit community events will be sent out free of charge; other events must be advertised in our magazine.
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DISCOUNTS
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1500 Baht 800 Baht 400 Baht
Member - 25%
Website
3000 Baht per year
Only one discount may be applied.
Annual contract (10 ads/year) - 10%
Advertising requests and payment must be received prior to the published deadline. To advertise in the Newsletter, please contact: silcmagazine@gmail.com To advertise on the SILC Website, please contact: silc.websites@gmail.com To arrange payment, please contact: silctreasurer@gmail.com
SILC News Copy Deadline for August/September e-Newsletter: 15th July If you have any activities, events, book reviews, recommendations for holidays or items for our bulletin board please forward them to the Newsletter Editor: silcmagazine@gmail.com