Carving Out a Niche in Bangkok by Liz Grima March 27, 2010
Posted by admin in : Bangkok, Business, Entrepreneur, Interview, Uncategorized , add a comment
Tell us your background?
I am an Australian and arrived in Bangkok on July 4th 2001. I was working for FutureBrand in Melbourne as a Design Manager which was my profession for 12 years before arriving here. I met my husband Gordon in Bangkok. Gordon was born here so marrying him meant that this was going to be my home, lucky me! We have 2 gorgeous children Saiburi is 6 and Harriet is 2.
After getting married I decided to leave my job and join Gordon working in our own business, Bangkok Dolphins, in an administration/Marketing role in between having 2 children and opening a Mexican Restaurant, Charley Browns in Sukhumvit Soi 11. I still juggle my time between Bangkok Dolphins and Charley Browns.
What made you decide to come to Bangkok?
I had been working on a very big project in Melbourne for 3 years, re –branding one of Australia’s big banks. After the project finished I really felt that I needed some time off so I decided to go traveling. I arrived in Bangkok to meet up with an old associate here and got offered a job. I loved the vibrancy of the city and decided to take the 12 month contract. During those 12 months I met Gordon here and I am still here working now on my own businesses.
You have a few businesses in Thailand, can you tell us about some of them?
Bangkok Dolphins is my main business. It is a swim school for children aged between 4 months and approx 15 years. It was opened in 1997 and is sill a very busy part of my life. Luckily for me Dolphins General Manager Cherry Tesswodi has proved to be a very valuable support and has taken some of the day to day problems from me.
Charley Browns Mexican restaurant is in Sukhumvit Soi 11. It was originally in Lad Prao area before we purchased the business and moved it to Soi 11 in 2004. In December we under went a major overhaul and I have been working on creating more exciting menu items.
What are some business tips for starting a business in Thailand?
Be very sure you want to have your own business before starting. The romantic idea that working for yourself creates freedom and is easier is a myth. Ensure you have the right support to make your business work from either people or information. There are so many opportunities here in Thailand but be prepared to be frustrated as well as rewarded.
Through the Lens with Carolyn O’Neill March 27, 2010
Posted by admin in : Bangkok, Business, Networking, photography , add a commentWhat brought you to Bangko
k?
When I lived in Hong Kong as a trailing spouse, I traveled here many times, had many friends here and always fancied the idea of living in Bangkok. Three years later I found myself back in the States and at the end of my marriage, I decided this was the perfect opportunity to try something completely different. I knew it was a place where I could live comfortably without spending a fortune and I sensed there were many opportunities here for building my family portrait business and continuing my documentary projects. Plus, I’d be back in SE Asia, which I had missed very much!
As a newly single woman moving to a foreign country by myself, well I can tell you that it felt like I was about to climb Mt. Everest with flip flops on! I really was scared, but at the same time very excited about the potential that lay ahead. It was impossible to deny the excitement of building a new life for myself around this new-found passion of mine and the opportunity to do it in SE Asia – a place I loved. I’m still amazed and extremely grateful to be living here and doing work that I love everyday.
How did you get started as a photographer?
As a youngster growing up in California, there was always a camera of sorts in hand. Those little instamatics with the flash cube on top! In school we would make pinhole cameras out of shoe boxes and make contact prints. I even recall early on explaining to my mother the benefits of candid photos vs. posed ones – which I think she may have taken too literally now that I look back on those photographs!!
Somehow though, life took me down other roads and I found myself working behind a desk, married and about to start a family. When I stopped working so I could focus more on building my new family, I picked up my camera again and started playing around taking portraits of children and pets and doing my own darkroom printing. My own children never came, but during that time my love for photography, and portraiture in particular, was reignited and evolved quite naturally from there.
As a freelance photographer, what is key to developing your business?
Well-targeted advertising and good, consistent branding are obvious keys and worthy investments of time and money. A successful photography business also relies heavily on referrals. I’ve found clients won’t hesitate to refer me to their family and friends if they received excellent service and a high quality, creative product. There is nothing cookie cutter about my work or the way I approach my client relationships. Each one is special and I go out of my way to make sure my clients know I appreciate their business.
Equally important is to network and continually expand and build new relationships within the community as a whole. This spurs a natural synergy within the community that in turn leads to more opportunities and even some wonderful and unexpected surprises like the teaching and excursions side of my business. I never set out to do that, but by listening to what clients and friends were asking for, I realized there was a need for such a service – it’s been a very successful and rewarding part of my business!
For those of us who like to do photography, which camera would you recommend and why?
I always tell people to consider first and foremost how they will use it and how they will carry it. If you are looking for ease of portability, then you should stick to the pocket-size models which now produce amazing results considering their size and portability. If you are at all thinking you might like to pursue photography as a serious hobby then you should consider a digital SLR model that allows for interchangeable lenses, RAW file capabilities and more manual control.
I’m personally very much into Canon products, however, in the pocket camera category there is also the Lumix, Panasonic brand that looks very good for that genre. If I were to buy a pocket camera today, I would go for the Canon Powershot S90. If I were to buy a “pro-sumer” level digital SLR, I would look seriously at the Canon 7D with incredible HD video capabilities as well.
The other best advice I can offer is to read all the online reviews you can find! www.dpreview.com is a great place to compare brands on every type of camera.
Any tips for settling in and getting connected in the city?
The network of friends I made when I first arrived in Bangkok became an integral and important resource while I was trying to settle in and get my business going. I think everyone remembers when they were new in town and so it’s delightful to find people so helpful and full of good advice! I also found the opportunities to meet new friends here far exceed any other place I’ve ever lived. It constantly amazes me and it feels so effortless to meet people from all walks of life here. There’s an incredible amount of quality networking, socializing and volunteer opportunities out there. You can locate these associations online or in the ever-helpful “Bangkok Guide” book (the bible for people who have just moved here) quite easily.
Kittima Sethi on Inspiring Positive Parenting March 20, 2010
Posted by admin in : Association, Bangkok, Parenting , 2comments
Tell us about yourself
I was born in New Delhi, India and came to Thailand as an infant. I grew up in Bangkok and completed by high school from Ruam Rudee International School and went on to New Delhi for my Bachelor’s Degree, graduating from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University. I spent my childhood both in Bangkok and New Delhi.
I have always been actively involved in all activities in both my school and college, including magazines and yearbooks which eventually led me to work in the field of media.
I returned to Bangkok in 1991 and joined The Nation, where I worked for 10 years. I first started writing for The Nation Junior, a youth magazine and worked with Andrew Biggs, who was responsible for making it one of the most popular English-language magazine for students and young Thais. Most of my stories revolved around education and issues related to the youth. I became the Editor of the magazine in 1995 and also continued on to become the Editor of Nation Kids!, a weekly English-language tabloid for young kids and English Editor for the Nation Education page in The Nation. I continue to freelance for the The Nation and have also worked with television and radio.
I also worked at BEC-TERO Entertainment, a leading concert and events promoter as well as in a PR company. I continue to freelance for several English language publications, do translation in both Thai and English as I am fluent in both languages and copyedit books and articles. I currently run my own small PR firm where I assist clients in media relations and organize PR events and activities.
How did you become involved in the International Parent Network (IPN)
I have two boys, aged 10 ½ and 15 years and they both attend an international school here. I have been a very involved parent in my sons’ school and was responsible in setting up the Parents’ Group, where we organised various activities for the school community and also acted as a support group for parents within the school and as a liaison between the school staff and parents.
I believe that children perform better in school when their parents are involved in their education. Children do better academically and socially and they also feel valued and important when their parents take interest in their school and what they do. It sets a positive context for growth and achievement.
I think this has a very important impact on children when they see such positive and constructive interaction between parents and other members in their school community. Parents are also able to understand the programs implemented at their child’s school and work closely with teachers.
It also gives parents the opportunity to share information and voice any concerns or issues they may have. Being in the Parents’ Group gave me the opportunity to meet other parents and help them and their children settle into the school. It also allowed me to discuss issues parents had and to find a constructive way to resolve them.
The International Parenting Group was set up in late 2008. It was the brainchild of David and Terry Arnold, who have three sons and were also very involved parents at the same school that my sons attend. Having been involved in a parents group at school, we three wanted to take this to another level. We wanted to set up a network of like-minded parents who wanted to connect regularly on a more personal level to share experiences, advice and recommendations from what they as parents had learned over the years from raising their children. We felt there were many parents who would benefit from such a network. We wanted to offer various parenting support services through events, workshops, seminars. We want to inspire positive parenting - which is also our slogan.
Other countries such as the US, UK, Australia, to name a few, have parenting organizations that offer a plethora of support services to parents. There was none in Thailand, except for parent groups in various schools. We feel that being a part of a larger network of parents and childcare professionals can greatly benefit parents as we can get a larger perspective and outlook on different parenting issues. We wanted to set up a network where we could provide parents with a community platform where they could exchange parenting experiences, share solutions and ideas on positive parenting and receive advice and counsel from experienced professionals, support groups and other parents.
Sometimes we parents need to step out of our current or smaller circle of friends and families in order to meet new people, build new friendship and enjoy an evening with other parents, while gaining insights from the informative presentations and topics which are presented at each of IPN’s monthly events.
We provide parents with the opportunity to meet with child psychologists, counselors, pediatricians, authors of parenting and children’s books, school principals and other families from around the world to share with effective strategies on how to raise happy and healthy kids in this fast-paced world.
We are partnering with Plant A Tree Foundation Today where part of the proceeds from our annual membership will be given to PATT to grow a tree in the member’s name.
Our events are held on the last Tuesday of every month from 6.30pm-8.30pm at Bangkok Lotus Hotel Sukhumvit 33. We have had some very interesting and insightful speakers at our events and I have learned so many new things about parenting and other issues related to my children.
Some of the topics IPN have covered include: financial planning for your child’s education, Homework issues, Nutrition and children, cyber bullying and internet safety, challenges of sex education and adolescent, family fitness, finding your child’s passion, sibling rivalry and many more.
This month IPN’s event will be held on March 30th and the topic is on “International Schools: How to select the right educational curriculum for your children.” International Schools are a common choice for most expatriates and is also popular among Thai parents. However, selecting the right school for the child depends largely on the curriculum, which parents often find challenging to understand how it fits their child’s needs.
To answer these queries and facilitate parents in selecting the right schools for their child, IPN has invited representatives from three International Schools in Bangkok, each representing the three popular curriculums, for a discussion followed by a Q&A. We have Heads from three schools who will participate – ISB (American), Harrow International (British), and KIS International (IB).
Our events are open to both members and nonmembers and these details are available on line at www.ipnthailand.com. We are also developing our website to include more online services as well as forums for parents to discuss parenting issues and to find answers to queries they may have on parenting. We want to assist families and provide them with the right support.
We have received queries from Chiang Mai and Phuket to set up IPN and we are flattered that parents here realize the importance and necessity of such a group.
IPN is a young organisation and we welcome feedback parents may have to make IPN a strong network community. We are always looking for volunteers to join our committee and look forward to a growing participation from families and hope they get inspired about parenting.
We have a few exciting events that are scheduled for this year, with some speakers coming from overseas. These include topics on positive discipline, learning difficulties with children, talking with teens and vaccinations. We also plan to organize a seminar for parents and teenagers later in the year which we will update on our website. Most of our topics have been based on the feedback from parents and educators who attend our events.
Bonnie Zellerbach on Acting Up! March 1, 2010
Posted by admin in : Bangkok, Interview, Networking, Theatre , 1 comment so far
Tell us your background what brought you to Thailand?
I’m an American and I moved to Bangkok from New York in 1991. I was working in Client Sevices for Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising and was brought over to Bangkok to head up that department and to build the Strategic Planning arm of the agency. I met my husband here the year I arrived, and we were married in 1993. Jamie grew up in Bangkok (he’s a Canadian who moved here at the age of 3) and his marriage proposal was a two-for-one: marry me and live in Thailand. So this is our permanent home. I stopped working full time when our twin daughters were born in ‘97 but continue to take on marketing consultancy projects as time allows.
How did the Bangkok Community Theatre (BCT) get started?
I wasn’t here then, but I know that BCT was founded in 1972 when the two existing drama groups (each originating in Bangkok in the late 1950s) decided to pool their resources and form one organization. BCT is a voluntary, non-profit organization of many nationalities who work together to produce English language plays for the local community. We are an organization of people and we don’t have a clubhouse like so many social groups in Bangkok do; however, The British Club has served as our de facto home for most of the last 20 years. They very kindly host many of our club nights, and we often use their facilities for dinner theatre and children’s productions.
In fact, The British Club will be hosting BCT’s March production, the children’s participation play “Pinocchio” and I am the director and playwright. I adapted the classic fairytale in the same format as past participation plays we’ve done: cast of six adult performers (including a rather impish mime) interact with the children in a theatre-in-the round setting. It is really good fun!
What else can I tell you about BCT? On average we stage 4 productions a year with each show requiring volunteers from the community to perform on-stage and to help behind the scenes. People who aren’t comfortable being in the ’spotlight’ often find fun and challenging ways to contribute in terms of Props making, set designing and building, costume designing, prompting, make up, lighting & sound, ticket sales, fund raising… the list goes on. It takes a lot of people to put on a show.
What are some of the most memorable characters you played and what made it interesting?
Wow – so many memories to sift through. I’ve been a member of BCT for almost 20 years and over 40 productions…..Let’s see – I loved playing the chronically comic & ailing Adelaide in “Guys and Dolls.” At that time the twins were just two years old and when they told me I was going to have to wear a sequined bikini with Las Vegas style feathers for my first big dance number, I thought I would die with shame. I’ve never been slim and was still carrying baby fat as well. But fear is a great motivator! I lost tons of weight and still look back on that show with pride!
I also really loved playing the miserly, miserable Miss Hannigan in “Annie.” It was so much fun to be mean and cranky! And I made so many good friends out of the cast and crew of that production.
To be fair, I don’t have any show that I regret doing in any way; I loved each and every one of them. Some of my favourite memories are of shows where I was just in the ensemble – like when I was a dancing tree in “The Wizard of Oz” — because we had such a great team working on it. All in all, my fondest memories are of the shows I’ve done with my long-term friend and collaborator, Angela Daniel. Regardless of the roles I played onstage, we worked together on the production side of things as well and had a ball creating theatre magic.
Having lived in Thailand for a very long time what are some of your tips about settling in to Bangkok?
Get involved. Join groups. Don’t be afraid to show up alone. Bangkok is a wonderful city and has so much to offer! The Thai people will welcome you and the other Expats will, too. You just have to put yourself out there. There are country groups (like the American Women’s Club, ANZWG, etc), there are interest groups (like BCT, The National Museum Volunteers, The Neilson Hays Library, etc) and more. Join several and see which ones suit you best. They all need volunteers to keep their social and charitable projects going, and I think one of the best ways to get to know people and the city is to have a project on which you can work together. For me, Bangkok Community Theatre (http://www.bct-th.org/) has been a lifeline.