One Coach in Bangkok

For Love, Not for Money.

2010-09-07T04:40:00.007+07:00

If this pile of Bahts was in Euro, I wouldn't have come back but stayed on a loooong holiday in Thailand at least for one year (after poping in to IBS to be in the kick-off).

Money, however, is not THE issue if someone will take this brilliant advantage and challenge of experiencing professionally more in three months than most of the people in Education experience during their worklife.

I highly recommend this kind of long exchange to all of my colleagues - and students as well!

I cannot even articulate all of it right now, after 10 days from arrival back to my work here in Finland - but as soon as I'm able to, I'll probably write some kind of reflective "The End" to this blog - hopefully this story with the relationships included will be a never ending one though.

Photo: Thanit B. by LOMO camera.

Mixed feelings, again: SO good to be back home with friends, IBS students and colleagues, but missing people over there in Bangkok. And that warm (read: HOT) weather too!

With love, Ajarn Outi.

Welcome Newbies - Goodbye this Oldie!

2010-09-02T09:28:00.005+07:00

This certain event for overseas students' orientation made it clear that I'm Not The One to be in for the fall semester. It was kind of a rite & ritual for me to get out (but not to get rid of) from BUIC while the others were eagerly joining in. I nearly fell in tears, several times during the day.

First, the students had some Thai-culture related ice-breaking activities at Rangsit Campus - and, I have to tell you, that everything was organized once again SO well. There were some Finnish students as well, from Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences and Vaasa University, but NONE from our organization - which made a dull gray shadow on my day too. I know, that those serious responsibility and insurance issues affected. Anyway, I was prepared to welcome our students to Bangkok University during this week as well as I could do. In the end, I did have a few words with one guy from Mikkeli. And more with the students from Sweden in Swedish. They asked me to stay here ;)

Learning how to dance traditional Thai-folkdance was one of the activities.

How to make a Lotus flower even more attractive was one of the cultural challenges....

I did it myself too.

A.Jiab, my true support throughout this summer coached me how to...

And in the end of the orientation day to Thai culture we visited one of the most famous Floating Markets with its elephants.

Floating market and floating vendor.... So much to show and tell, not enough words for it right now.
Ask me for more detailed information, please. This day was a moving one among the others. For the rest of my life.

Thank you BUIC colleagues!

Dr-Nok, Jeri, Jiab, Tor, Dr. Siriwan, and all you over there! I love you <3 You made my summer!

Ko Chang... The Final Countdown!

2010-09-02T07:43:00.011+07:00

The last week of my stay in Thailand was planned to be a perfect holiday with my son - as it was in the end but not like I had planned in advance. We both suffered from bronchitis and a horrifying cough, and my son had additionally some symptoms of diarrhea, so, the public transportation would not have been the most comfortable idea. We took a taxi, and not whatever taxi, to Trat but one of the familiar taxi drivers, and the one who was so overwhelmingly grateful for our English lessons on the tour. The cost of 3000 baht was nothing compared to the comfortability and the local knowledge of everything.

Hae had been a succesful businessman in his previous life...and his life story was a touching one, but, he had made everything himself to cope with disasters which ruined everything. And now a days he is living in peace with himself and the surrounding world after becoming a buddhist monk a few years ago, still running his own business somehow, without being bitter. There is something to learn for us, Farangs. A lot! And, I do not recommend to become a buddhistic monk if you happen to face some failures in your life. Different story then.

Well, the Island of Elephants, Ko Chang is one of the biggest islands in Thailand - next to Kambodza. Pure nature, Nature park area, and not so touristic way of anything, yet. And, I have to add that it was purely the choice of my son.

OK, we had really good and sincere talk like mom-son on our way to Ko Chang for five hours, and when we arrived to deluxe villa on White Beach with its brilliant next-to-the-sea swimming pools....

...my adventurous son announced that it was NOT exactly what HE was looking for, and asked our chauffor to take him to those backpackers' sites. I had an utterly relaxing week all by myself. The only contact to the outer world was some New Zelandian kids to whom I told some true stories about Santa Claus who happens to live in Finland. And, after those certain story telling moments I was known as a Finn, who really knows everything about Santa Claus and his family :)

By experience, of course. And one of the most warming comments ever was from 6 years old girl: "Thank you, Madame, for this really important INFORMATION - I will appreciate it for ever!" OMG, what did I tell her....?

I was really lucky to have six days of sun over there as it was a monsoon time and normally not too sunny. And, I think I was lucky to get this kind of pic of a tremendous thunderstorm just before all the electricity on the whole island went off. For two days. This time I was not afraid of anything but just closed my eyes and slept, tight.

I enjoyed my swimming and sleeping period, as I knew that my only son was having THE holiday of his entire life - just 12 kilometers away from me, on the backpackers' beach, reporting every now and then that he's alive. No need to worry really. And, I had my time to enjoy all by myself, muy pero muy tranquilo. I really needed it too, to recover and to be ready for my IBS challenges back home.

So, here they are, same guys as week ago. Hae came to bring us back home. Heading back to Bangkok, my home city for this summer. Bitter-sweet feelings already at that point... just a few more days to come.

It was not easy to be THE Mom of an Outgoing Party Animal in Bangkok

2010-09-02T06:33:00.004+07:00

I had a plan. I had a glorious plan to have some quality time - finally - with my son in Bangkok. We haven´t been too much together since I started my bread-and-butter work at SAMK by accident in fall 2002. Now he is 21 years young and verbally talented person, who seems to cope where ever, with mom, or preferably without. Meanwhile waiting him at the BKK airport I was lucky to meet these traditional thai-dancers.

Anyway, one of the most exciting moments during my stay in Bangkok was to wait him to arrive at the airport. He was concerned about how to find not-so-tall mom with dark hair in the crowds.. I was not concerned at all, as he is some 30 centimeters taller than anybody else there.

Finally he met someone a bit girlish who is high above him... at the Bangkok Art and Culture Center, BACC, my real favorite attraction by all means.

Anyway, I was delighted to be a hostess and mom in same person, BUT if he had been there for the whole period of my exchange, I'd have turned to a Real Panda Mom with really black underlines...

Under The Same Sky - Diamonds of BU at Rangsit Campus

2010-08-22T21:40:00.008+07:00

My blogging has suffered from lack of time after final exams (and my son the party animal to visit Bangkok), but now as I'm back to Finland (and freeeezzzing) I'm trying to put the rest of my experiences in words attaching some pics to accomplish this blog.

I had an opportunity to combine my visit to the marvelous Rangsit Campus out of the city to an art exhibition opening - in a very good company. What else could one wish or desire? That's why I'm talking about diamonds at Rangsit Campus.

This is a very concrete example of the diamonds...an architectural result of the decision to use Design Management as important part of communication: to make it clear that Bangkok University pays attention to overall development of the university, making some unforgettable landmarks by its architecture too. So, there are two of these Diamonds facing the highway passing by.

My brilliant hostesses, Dr. Siriwan, Dr. Su and Sirima, at Rangsit Campus IN one of its intensively coloured lifts.

Under The Same Sky exhibition opening was something nearly spiritual for me.
Tuksina Pipitkul and Susan Collins, colleagues in Fine Arts from totally different cultures had prepared a collaborative exhibition which showed us all that our sky is....but the view points and installations and the results might be seen different ways, both from their view and not even to mention us, viewers. Healing! Relaxing! Invigorating!

Southeast Asian Ceramics Museum at Rangsit Campus is amazing with its treasures!
This museum made me really silent: it houses more than 2000 ancient ceramics donated by Mr. Surat Osathanugrah, the founder of Bangkok University. The museum aims to instill an appreciation for Thai cultural heritage - and it's free for anyone to see those treasures! The only minus is the location at Rangsit... Probably it will take its place to be an important center for ceramics research and training on all aspects of historical ceramics in future - I really hope so, as for me it was a religious kind of touch to this kind of arts.

Thank you Dr. Sirivan and Dr. Su & Sirima for a wonderful day!

Fresh Air on the Island Ko Samet

2010-07-25T19:57:00.090+07:00

Ko Samet for four nights and days was an appropriate choice by all means, although the first night was nearly claustrophobic: I was given a tiny room with a fake window, without garden view as booked - actually with no view at all as there was a sordid mirror facing my need to have a view! My own face was not the most wanted view for me but the only choice.

This was because of public holidays and overbooking. The staff behaved all too arrogantly when I complained about the room in a civilized way, and told me that I was an amateur tourist being difficult without any reason, because I would be given another room the next day.

This was the one supposed to be also for the first night...No sun, but at least a sunflower!

The room I finally got had windows three of them on three walls making a total of 9 windows, haha
- quite an opposite..

Well, they did not have any sense of customer service, and did not improve their attitude during the whole stay. No smiles, no eye-contact with me. Poor them.

Anyway, the resort itself was just what I needed and desired.

The Mermaid on the left is NOT me.

It is all about a legend based on poetry: "Sunthorn Phu (1786–1855) is probably one of the most respected poets among the Thai people. In the writing Phra Aphai Mani, a mermaid is saving Prince Aphai Mani from the sea and takes him to Koh Samet.

A statue that illustrates this drama is placed on the rocks between Ao Hin Khok and Hat Sai Kaew ", tells the tourist info.

It is also believed that once upon a time, Ko Samet was the home of pirates, and that until these days there is still lost treasures buried somewhere on the island. I did not find any.

Koh Samet in the Rayong province, is one of the 96 national parks found in Thailand. The nature is considered to be so unique that the authorities, The Royal Forestry Department, has decided that this island should be designated as a national park. Tourism and hotels are allowed on Samet, with some geographical restrictions.

I took lodgings at Saikaew Beach which is considered to be the most beautiful one on the island. Amazingly white sand made even the cloudy and rainy days picturesque. Unfortunately it was raining most of my stay, but swimming in the sea is enjoyable even in rain.

And they had some pretty touristic ways of amusing people hanging out, but I did not feel to be one of those superficially regaled ones. Still tried to document some of it- but nearly forgetting my name - was it something O-related??

Some new experiences to mention was a pitch-black evening, all alone, with no electricity, being terrified by a furious thunderstorm, listening to spooky and monotonous but very loud cry of horned frogs, dozens of black flies biting my ankles - all this at the same time. Fortunately mobile phones have been invented! My friend from Finland had to call and calm me down as my SMSs were loaded with agony - I've been struck by a thunderbolt in my teens. Thanks for caring!

This certain frog is not involved in the crime of making me mad by the cry of horned frogs...but (s)he was a friendly one bodyguard-like-a-frog on my door for the first night.

Seafood, fresh air and mesmerizing beach made me happy and relaxed.

Ko Samet is said to be easy to reach from Bangkok, and so it was en route to Ko Samet. Homeward-bound was easy as well, until I realized that the minibus would not stop on it's way to Khao San Road , the paradise for backpackers - I just saw the city campus of BU, and the district where I live, to be left behind. In the end, the taxi drive backwards to my residence took nearly as long time as the journey from Ban Phe to Bangkok. Rainy day, you know.

Saturday Trip to Koh Kret

2010-07-20T13:14:00.001+07:00

Dr. Siriwan invited me and an exchange artist Susan Collins to Koh Kret trip on Saturday. Koh Kret is an island in the Chao Phraya river. The island has made a name for itself by producing earthenware pots in a variety of styles, and for the fact that most of the islanders are of Mon origin, a minority group from Myanmar.

The speciality to purchase on the island is pottery of all kind for household use or as decorative items.

If you feel like having a snack on the island, you can choose for example from deep-fried flowers to fried mini eggs.

After a slow walk on the island we took a river cruise around Koh Kret. The river boat called at some Thai dessert houses, which gave a good impression of dessert art in Thailand.

The day ended to a marvellous lunch (not including those amazing desserts) with good company. Special thanks to Dr. Siwiwan who made a special day for us by arranging everything in the best possible way - the day was enjoyable comfortability with new expierences!

Some slices of Cultural Life at BU

2010-07-18T12:00:00.006+07:00

BU's slogan is *Bangkok University - Creative University*. And from the perspective of arranging cultural events it really is. To be creative throughout everyday education is not an easy matter as the fabrics of society and the institutional approach to education do not change in a trice.

As we well know in our brand-new Innovative Business Services programme at SAMK, the only way to make the general impression and the workings renew, is to start from the scratch, with truly reformist attitude and commitment even though there are lots of question marks and uncertainty factors. Support from the management is an essential facilitator. Nobody can do it all by oneself, not the mundane pioneers nor the managers only - it needs amazingly much empowered willpower combined with openminded co-operation. And I guess that some of the traditional patterns are useful too ;)

Recently I have attended two really greatly organized cultural events, and some more is to come. At City Campus Gallery there was an exhibition opening week ago. Brand New 2010 introduces exhibitions by Dusadee Huntracul presenting his interesting collages, and Mute Mute, an experimental group to promote creativity and to support artists' survival in this business oriented world. Art360 Project administered by SAMK has pretty much the same objectives but more formal organization.

In the first photo: The two great Art Lovers of BU, President Dr. Mathana and Creative Manager of BU, Petch Osathanugrah, the present owner of BU, an artist himself.

This week I had an opportunity to be in the opening ceremonies of the 1st Bangkok International Student Film Festival at Bangkok Art and Culture Center BACC. Aalto University School of Art and Design had their films screened during the six-day festival. I experienced a funny surprise while watching one of their films: suddenly there was an acquaintance of mine acting on the screen! A former boyfriend of my friend from Tampere! What a small world we are living in...

The opening ceremony was extremely professionally organized - by BU Students and their supervisors. The students get brilliant work experience through both these public events and those ceremonious internal events. So do they get at SAMK too, but the scale is totally different here. As well is the support from sponsors, or more like from co-operative partners, too.

Bangkok Art and Culture Center is situated next to the MBK Shopping Center and is really easy to reach. You can easily spend hours at BACC checking out all those small galleries and boutiques.

I highly recommend!

Working at BUIC - continued

2010-07-09T13:33:00.001+07:00

There has been some alterations in the organizational culture since my colleagues have been at BUIC, obviously due to the change of generation: the present owner, son of the founder of BU is an artist himself. The practical changes can be seen for example in dress code: there is no more jacket suit & tights regulation for female (nor male) teachers. The general guideline is to dress so that it's polite ;) I am mostly wearing a light dress, can you imagine!? Black'n White though as you can see in the picture below.

There are smoking areas around the campus nowadays, but I do not smoke myself during working days. Most of the students wear school uniforms but it is up to the teacher if (s)he requires students dress up like that in class. Academic week used to start on Tuesday and end on Saturday - this summer session is the very first to be conducted in western way, starting on Monday and being off on Saturday and Sunday.

Right now I'm busy with designing the final exams, and, coaching the groups with their final presentations. The colleagues have been surprised to notice that my students pop in to my office and use the possibility for on-demand coaching. As well they ask questions in class, which also amazes some of my local colleagues. The set of 3 x 45 minutes lectures daily should have a break of 10 minutes in between, but I never have it as the kids are queuing to me with their questions. I am utterly (this expression is especially for all my IBS colleagues) pleased and content with this success.

Let's see how it goes next week as the final presentations are to come. I hope I'll have lots of reasons to be delighted with the students and their performance.

After seven weeks I'll be back in IBSness!

Internet connections work - no worries anymore!

2010-07-05T09:27:00.006+07:00

Every now and then I get surprised of my addiction to Internet. This week's homesickness attack was highly derived from inoperative online connections at home. Right now I feel childish of it, but that's the way it goes as one is so used to get connected anytime and wherever. Anyway, now the connection works well, and awareness of it is enough - no need to get connected round the clock anymore ;)

On Saturday I had a pampering day from tip to toes: I went to the hairdresser's and foot masage.

Monsieur Toom at one of the MBK's hair salons seemd to be pretty comfortable and confident with my thin and soft hair. As my friends back home know, I am really selective and particular with hairdressers but he managed to please me with a reasonable result.

MBK offers the clients a possibility to have a fish spa which I did not want to experience though it is claimed to be very healthy, refreshing and relaxing. Maybe some other time then. Instead I had a traditional foot massage, really relaxing one too.

All this pampering took nearly six hours, and I was so relaxed after this all (including a tasty late lunch) that had to take BTS Skytrain to home and sleep tight. So, I have come through the homesickness and I am again feeling happy and priviledged to be here!

Feeling homesick? Yes...

2010-07-01T21:07:00.012+07:00

Before this I thought that I'd be the last person to be feeling homesick. But now I am, seriously.
I've been figuring out the reasons for that, and the conclusion is

1. The Internet connection at my local home is NOT working properly, so I cannot get connected to my closest people in Finland in the evenings, and I have a feeling of being isolated from my origins. So, my beautiful Mac is nearly useless without the possibility of concrete social networking through Internet.

2. I have been commenting on one thesis of my Finnish student (in English) and it is about experiencing culture shock during exchange period in Asia - so, it's a current issue.

3. My local pillows are uncomfortable and I do not sleep well. Have to fix it soon and purchase more suitable ones.

4. I've set pretty high objectives to my success in teaching & coaching on two courses - and the culture is so different that I cannot do my best.

5. It's so humid and hot outside - and so chilly in the office.

6. I do not get a faintest idea of Thai language... Sawat and some other very common phrases are the only ones to cope with. And I've succeeded only once to pronounce and articulate my home address in Thai to a taxi driver so that he got it... depressing :(

My Thai colleagues and students, who happen to read this: I emphasize that this is totally my problem, not yours, as I should be able to accommodate to your culture instead of trying to change yours.

And, all the readers of my blog should keep in their minds that this is kind of documentation combined with experience based commenting on the issues and phenomenon occurring, and not the Truth - only my way of paying attention to something and experiencing moments my way. And, actually, this at its best can be an interactive way to process my exchange period every time when someone comments on these observations and feelings of mine.

Keep on-line, every now and then. Be my guest! Be interactive! Reciprocity is the most beautiful word of my entire life.

PS. I've received two postcards from Finland and it makes me feel a VIP :) Snail Mail rules! Look at the stamp - only Finns can have such a stamp, I guess.

No Exams, No Teachers....in IBS

2010-07-01T14:36:00.007+07:00

I have been working with SAMK Innovative Business Services Degree Programme (IBS) since last autumn in Finland as a bread-and-butter (from the bottom of my heart!), and the on-demand coaching in co-operation with an awesome team of seven pretty much like-minded colleagues, has proved to be my type of educational approach. It is demanding and challenging for both coachees and coaches - lots of work and profound learning experiences without traditional exams.

I love my work at BUIC too, but the exam procedures are not my favourite ones.

To examine two times - Midterm and Final - during the Summer Session is obligatory here at BUIC, and the weight is 60% of grading. All too much, I think. Most of the students read hardly a few hours for the exam, to memorize essentials skin deep barely until the exam. And, after exam you'll just have to admit in class that most of the students don't recall or seem to know even the basic stuff anymore. It's the same all around the world, I guess. That's why I think that exams are very seldom - if ever - worthwhile. It is time-consuming to design dozens of open-ended multiple choice questions, as well as checking the papers. And, unfortunately it is not all that rewarding. This kind of exams don't give a faintest evidence of profound comprehension and ability to apply the learned. But so it goes in working life too often, unfortunately - formalities and formal qualifications are valued above adequacy and aptitude for work and team.

Right at the moment I am relieved that I have done the exam checking of total 120 papers. The relief may last only a few days as I'll have to prepare the final exams to be submitted to the BUIC Faculty office during next week.

So, after getting all these exam duties done before I'll leave Bangkok, I swear that there will be zero exams in my life in near future, probably never :)

Working at BUIC - an overview

2010-06-25T12:49:00.007+07:00

Students are the same everywhere. Are they? Of course there are some similarities as we are talking about Generation Y: they're craving attention in the forms of feedback and guidance after they feel comfortable enough to deal with a new teacher. "Generation Y is willing to trade high pay for fewer billable hours, flexible schedules and a better work/life balance" means in their student days that everything should be enterteining and easy and half-readymade by teacher, and they're living in accordance with their personal schedules, not with the official school timetable. In a way it's the same in Finland too, but Finnish student culture is a bit more punctual.

Added to this, the polychronic concept of time typical for Asian people, we punctual Finnish ones are in serious troubles - easily feeling offended because people do not respect your time and presence the way we are used to. Well, I have tried to change my attitude to cope with this - and pretty well succeeded so far.

Anyway, sometimes it is really frustrating to notice that there is only one or a few students present in the beginning of lecture. Then the others come and go as they wish, and sometimes even the whole group happens to be in class. I do not use such methods as locking the doors because it doesn't suit my democratic and on-demand coaching ideology.

In general, I enjoy my work here at BUIC really much - the students are lovely, and talkative. This experience is a good opportunity for me to learn several things about intercultural communication in practice!

to be continued...

It's hard to be on a holiday-like break - and it's great to be home!

2010-06-24T01:25:00.005+07:00

I am more tired than before the Midterm Break - too much fresh air, too much sleeping in Hua Hin. Okey, that's a joke - I was just going to get bored in Hua Hin but otherwise I'm refreshed.

Now I'm back at work and it's Midsummer Eve in Finland. Here there is not a faintest idea for that kind of festivities which is only positive thing: I've never ever been a big fan of Finnish Midsummer traditions of boozing heavily somewhere in remote wilderness by a lake or at some overcrowded festival.

Hua Hin is a small tourist resort town, and after my 5 days' stay I can say: "been there, seen that" but no need to go back there. Somebody told me that Hua Hin is kind of a miniature of Pattaya. Anyway, it was an adequate choice for my relaxing and resting purposes. Night Market offered some aromatic and aesthetic experiences, more visual ones for me, though. For example these roasted bugs and worms are all too much for my not so madventurous taste. The more traditional ones instead make me enjoy Thailand by eating.

Hua Hin does not offer too much cultural experiences. I was lucky to stay there during the Hua Hin Jazzfestival, even though it was nothing compared to Pori Jazz (which is on the other hand too commercial and too overcrowded nowadays) by the list of performing artists - they're not worldwide famous but it did not impede the mood because jazz IS jazz.

A short visit to Chopstick Mountain and a monastery there, and approaching the hill from the beach seeing a 20 m high Buddha statue, facing seaward, standing amongst some rocks at the foot of the hill were the highlights. That was the very certain day not having the camera with me.

I decided to take a train back to Bangkok. A 2nd class AC ticket was over twice the bus fare. Hua Hin Railway Station is acclaimed as Thailand's most beautiful train station, and I had plenty of time to scrutinize it as the special express train of mine was over two hours late. The train journey took over 4 hours, and the Not So Very Special Express Train consisted of two cars and was more like a tram. I was the only Farang and people, not even the staff, did not speak English. Anyway, there was pretty cool in the car and I finally had a safe journey.

It was just wonderful to come home! And have a cold shower before hugging the pillows.

Hua Hin is fresh and tiny compared to BKK

2010-06-19T22:02:00.002+07:00

I took an "Air Conditioned" bus from the Southern Bus Station. Everything just happened: somebody sold me a ticket and somebody else took me to right bus at 8.45 as the deaparture was scheduled to be at 8.30. Air conditioning in this certain bus was not an issue, but the blue curtains were far more efficient against the sunshine. Anyway, it cost only 150 baht's and took a bit more than 3 hrs. Reasonable by all means.

In Hua Hin a friendly taxi driver offered to drive me to the hotel from the bus stop - well, thanks a lot! The hotel was just round the corner and the taxi driver did not switch his taxi meter on, neither did I ask for the cost... so I had to pay 100 baht's for two minutes ride! Stupid me!
I booked hotel Citin Loft on-line in advance, and fortunately it really reminds a lot of the descpriptions and photos on their web sites. Here are my own shots.

A cloudy day, so, I just walked around in Hua Hin, had late lunch and finally tested swimming pool above - which happens to be on the top of this hotel. Right now I'll pop in to Hua Hin Jazz Festival for a while.
Meet you here soon!

Midterm Exam activities mean that I'm free for a few days

2010-06-18T01:29:00.002+07:00

I´m going to take this opportunity of not being necessarily present in the office by having a mini-vacation in Hua Hin. Further information with documentary pics will be delivered through this channel.

BTW, I've noticed that I miss my IBS (Innovative Business Something ;) ) students a lot! I am going to organize one afternoon in the beginning of September to have kind of a Back to IBSness afternoon at my home.

Keep in touch - I might have something to report on...

Shopping is a demanding activity - I am not good at shopping!

2010-06-13T02:32:00.005+07:00

Today I spent hours and hours trying to be a decent shopper. It is something that just isn't natural way of spending time for me. The biggest obstacle today was that there is SO much everything - items to purchase and crowds of co-shoppers - that I got tired in less than an hour. My eyes are literally aching because of all those colourful lay-outs of shops and boutiques one after another.

I had a plan to buy some necessities like a mouse rag and a towel, but I forgot everything planned as soon as I entered the MBK Shopping Center. The result is that I've no mouse rag nor towel, but I'm a proud owner of a Magic Mouse for my pretty new MacBook Pro. In addition to that cute and handy mouse I bought some books: one of them is "ACHAN - A year of teaching in Thailand" by Elayne Clift, who is writing about her year teaching at a university in Chiang Mai sharing her pleasures and pitfalls of living in a new culture. I recognize some of her feelings even now.

According to the book in the center it takes only 5 weeks to become a Buddha - how come?? Did not buy that one, yet.

What it comes to my intentions to buy couple of new dresses to wear at work, it was an utterly frustrating intention: all the reasonably priced ones were either too tiny for me or I was too robust to fit in them - I happen to be a solid Finnish womantype streight from the woods, strong enough to fight with a bear, haha, and the local dresses are not designed for my type of women.

This has been SO tiresome weekend with all these shopping activities that tomorrow I'll certainly have a lazy day by the swimming pool.

Feeling lonely?

2010-06-12T00:27:00.006+07:00

No, not at all. Missing only a few things.. or merely like some of the closest people over there. And every now and then some of my colleagues to share these experiences. But otherwise, I am so oriented to this summer session at BU that I process these issues even when I'm sleeping. Intensive period to come, and I'm happy for the fact that this is the first time for eight years when I can concentrate in one and certain job for a while- with my heart and soul.

Today I had an intensive shopping center visit to The Emporium. I did not feel at home at all! Anyway, some sterile - but impressive - visual experiments I had - in addition to buing my favourite perfume...

Tomorrow I'll continue my shopping experiments in BKK, in order to find some dresses to wear at work. So, hard work to come even tomorrow.

PS. No redwine for 16 days...OMG!

Grand Opening Ceremony for the Freshmen impressed me!

2010-06-11T14:39:00.010+07:00

I had an opportunity to attend the Freshmen's Grand Opening Ceremony near Rangsit Campus as a VIP guest (another morning for demanding gymnastic exercises to dress up the black dress...). Unfortunately I forgot the camera at home. Anyway, it probably wouldn't have been appropriate to snap photos while sitting on the stage with all the vice precidents of BU.

Buddhistic ceremonies were touching, as everything else too, though I did not understand the words - but as we are here in a high context culture, everything else means more that just words. Anyway, it was quite an experience as its whole, but especially the moment when the Freshmen came to me (and other supervisors) and we bound a white ribbon on their wrists wishing them good luck in their studies and life. After the ceremony I had a fancy lunch time with Dr. Siriwan and The President Dr. Mathana and the other executives of BU.

Once again I have a feeling that I'm lucky and priviledged to be here.

(Photo: Dr. Siriwan)

Bye the way, the traditional Thai greeting, "waii", is a very beautiful one: I demand that we'll start greeting like that at SAMK too, to bring some aesthetics and at least some formal respect for each other in our everyday life!

Now it'll be time for shopping: Designing 120 multiple choice questions with 4 reasonable answering alternatives for each (= 480 choices!) for midterm exams was such a heavy duty that I really have earned some pampering...
I'll be back in this blogging business during the weekend in case internet connections allow me to.

The Swelter of the First Working Week at BUIC

2010-06-05T22:15:00.009+07:00

It is Saturday (again!) and fortunately I'm not jet-lagged anymore. I have managed to work in the heat of Bangkok for one working week now. A wise way of standing with everyday life is probably to hasten slowly and to play it cool. To keep cool is a mission impossible outside when the temperature is around +40 C, that's what I really experienced yesterday when I joined in the Freshmen's Ice-breaking group activity day at Siam Park City Amusement Park. My face turned to bright red, which actually goes pretty well with BUIC's grey poloshirt...

Everything was big at the park, as you can see in the pictures: even the carousel was a double-decker! Seven teams of 30 students each had several team activities in the heat but they did it really well and with newbies' enthusiasm.

My working week included conducting two courses two times per week, meeting colleagues and trying to get sense of the local grading system. Attending the opening ceremony of the Freshmen was an experience too! Before the opening ceremony I had a real pleasure to meet the President of BU, a charming lady Dr. Mathana Santiwat. I have never before walked in a cavalcade in step with colleagues up on the stage accompanied with energizing music - it was hilarious! Another story was to get dressed up for that formal occasion: the zipper on the back of my black dress forced me to breathtaking gymnastic exercises.

Contrary to the information I got from my colleagues about dress code, times have changed: overall dress code is more informal than it used to be even two years ago, and no tights needed! Anyway, I always check from the BU colleagues what would be appropriate to dress.

Some slight problems has occurred as well in addition to getting along pretty well. My PC is totally confused with changing networks and Mac refuses to get connected to wireless after the first and so far the only successful attempt. Another annoying phenomenon is that students tend to come to classes according to their own concept of time, as Kimmo had warned me in advance, and it is to say: hopelessly late or never.

Otherwise everything is just fine! Tomorrow I'm going to explore the used-to-be riotish action area.

Let's keep connected, and, even interconnected!

Lovely Ms Jiab, more formally A. Somjai, is the one who makes everything happen! My great support at work - dozens of warm thanks to her!

First impressions of Bangkok

2010-05-30T14:35:00.009+07:00

The flights to and further from Amsterdam were a success by all means. Actually it was a surprisingly painless way to reach the destination Bangkok. Entry formalities were flexible, just some ten minutes of queuing.

My contact person at BU, Ms Jiab met me at the airport to drive me to the Waterford Park Condominium. Two-bedroom apartment is the same as Kimmo and Marina have had - so I felt at home here at once. I am very satisfied with all the practical arrangements - even the Internet access was available straight away.

Combined living room, dining room and kitchenette.

The master bedroom with king-size bed - guest room is smaller.

A view from my balkony to the backyard with swimming pool.

General atmosphere in Bangkok is stable and peaceful. If I didn't know anything about last week's riots, I couldn't even imagine there has been such hostile actions going on. I haven't visited the area which was partly ruined by arsonists setting several buildings in the fire. Anyway, there's no curfew anymore and life has normalized - also according to The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, or rather according to the Finnish Embassy in Bangkok - they've even moved in their office back to the center.

Adjusting to new climate and environment has not been totally painless as I've been suffering from splitting headache, similar to the headache that I tend to suffer from in Finland just before thunderstorms - painkillers don't help. Today I read one article about possible effects of jet-lag, and they wrote that the symptoms of jet-lag are worse when travelling eastbound than to the west - I was surprised and kind of relieved too.

I have met a whole bunch of BU colleagues. All of them are extremely helpful and friendly - I find it pleasant to start my summer job tomorrow at Bangkok University International College (BUIC) as everything has been organized exemplarily well so far.

Turn in for Bangkok tones and modes every now and then - I'll do my best to mediate some of the ambience!

ps. Food is HOT & SPICY!

Time to go..if and if.

2010-05-18T01:27:00.000+07:00

Right now I'm a bit confused as there seems to be some potential obstacles on my way to Bangkok: some volcanic clouds scattering around Amsterdam and hot riot actions going on in Bangkok.

Anyway, I have been waiting eagerly for this great opportunity for personal and professional growth, and my mind is bright and Bangkok University oriented, so I'm sure that these not-so-minor barriers are just to make me more eager to reach my destination.

Keep in touch!