ISE Songkran Assembly

Lizards, Newts & Monsters

Degussa-Thai Aerosil joins in Bilingual Inter/Cross Cultural Program

Naklua rice harvest festival encourages community spirit

Asian U undergraduates visit local manufacturers

ISE Songkran Assembly

Students at the International School Eastern Seaboard (ISE) celebrated the Thai New Year holiday with their annual school-wide Songkran Assembly. The gathering took place in the school’s auditorium and was packed with excited students. Traditional Thai dance and cultural folk stories were performed on stage by students of all grades from pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12.

ISE grade 2 student Yerin splashes water on Ms. Karen Sengel as a sign of respect towards teachers as part of their annual Songkran Assembly.

The performances were followed by a Songkran ceremony in which students splashed small amounts of water onto their respected teachers. In the end, everyone enjoyed the performances and had great fun while learning about Thai culture.

ISE students come from a variety of backgrounds from all over the world, and for some, this was their first Songkran.

On Friday, April 29, the ISE Band will be performing at the Royal Garden Shopping Mall beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the ISE community would like to extend an invitation to all, to attend.

Lizards, Newts & Monsters

Ian Frame

I recently encountered a lizard basking on my Jomtien condo footpath in the early morning sun. This red necked guy could easily have played the lead role in the movie Jurassic Park. Do you remember the movie sequel, where some wealthy tourists were picnicking on a tropical island, and their little girl wandered off to the edge of the jungle? Well, I suspect that this fellow was just about to summon his mates, but when he saw my camera he changed his mind, and performed a few model poses instead. I caught sight of his younger brother a few days later, and on seeing me he expanded his chin pouch like a balloon.

I caught sight of his younger brother a few days later, and on seeing me he expanded his chin pouch like a balloon.

I have always been fascinated by lizards. A couple of years ago I even bought a cute cloth stuffed lizard in Phuket airport. My first lizard type experiences were actually with water dwelling newts that resembled mini Loch Ness Monsters. Although they may look like lizards, newts are actually a type of salamander. Salamanders have a smooth, moist skin which distinguishes them from lizards, which have a dry scaly skin. My research for this article has revealed that the world famous Nessie could neither be a lizard, nor a newt, since the depths of Loch Ness are considered too cold, at a constant 5.5 deg. C., to support reptile life.

Lizards constitute the largest living group of reptiles, with more than 3,000 species in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Lizards are cold-blooded and begin the day with a body temperature that is too low for much activity; hence they are often seen basking in the morning sun to increase their body temperature.

Thailand has its fair share of lizards. While living here I have spotted many, including small shiny skinned skinks, geckos (jing-jocks and tokays), and large monitor lizards. The forked tongued monitor lizards are good swimmers, and they can also run quite fast - a useful trait when trying to avoid the cooking pot, or outmanoeuvre somebody who is intent on removing your skin to make a handbag or boots.

Lizards constitute the largest living group of reptiles, with more than 3,000 species in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.

The lower jaw of monitor lizards unhinge, enabling them to swallow large prey whole. Probably the most famous species of monitor lizard is the Komodo Dragon which lives on several islands in Indonesia. This lizard is a fierce predator and scavenger, and is thought to have caused human fatalities.

I used to work in the dessert with Bedouin Arabs, and they considered lizards to be very tasty. They would expend considerable effort under the blazing sun to dig out large fat tailed fellows from their holes. I understand that some Thais also include lizards on their dinner menus.

The most common lizard in Thailand is probably the house jing-jock. I believe that some Thais consider these to be lucky, and they certainly serve a useful purpose in reducing mosquito numbers. You may even have discovered their white hard-shelled eggs in unused corners around the house.

I find jing-joks to be very entertaining as they dart across walls, windows, and ceilings every night trying to nab insects. However, jing-joks appear to be completely unable to gauge the size of their prey relative to themselves. Many times I have watched them attempt to swallow huge moths many times their own size.

The jing-joks, like their insect prey, appear to defy gravity as they run across ceilings - a skill possible because of suction disks on their toes. The tail of the jing-jok is fragile, and it often breaks off as he tries to escape predators, but it will regenerate again. The gecko family are the only lizards which make a noise other than hissing. These noises can, however, be very annoying if they occur in your bedroom when you are trying to fall asleep.

The tokay lizard is a bit more versatile in the singing department, and is able to make three types of loud calls.

Most lizards eat insects but a few are herbivores. The large monitor lizards have a more varied diet and will eat eggs, birds, small animals and carrion. I am uncertain what the Loch Ness Monster eats, but there are unsubstantiated reports that it is haggis, porridge and tourists.

Degussa-Thai Aerosil joins in Bilingual Inter/Cross Cultural Program

A foreign manager speaking survival Thai, or Thai managers and subordinates speaking English do not guarantee effective communication. Mitigating factors in such interchanges are different behavior, attitudes and values of people from different cultures.

Realizing that effective intercultural management can make the difference between success and failure for an international project, Dr. Martin Reisinger, the managing director of Degussa–Thai Aerosil, initiated a four-day team building workshop and training, with a special focus on intercultural understanding and management.

The group gathers for a photo on graduation day.

All staff and management levels attended this workshop, including the MD himself.

The first part of the training was dedicated to intercultural issues, with the aim of developing awareness and skills to enable participants to work effectively with people from different cultures, including how to predict and interpret different business attitudes and behavior towards fundamental and often misinterpreted concept of time and deadlines.

Four days of intensive coaching, brain storming and presentations.

People in the course learned about key cultural concepts, such as attitudes to time, authority and information, and how they can help predict and interpret different attitudes and behaviour.

The day started off with discussions on serious intercultural issues at work with examination of possible solutions. The fun part included a little activity on Easter Egg Hunt and its original meaning, as well as Songkran’s “Rod Nam Dam Hua” custom.

The second part of the program was called “Communications - Understanding Our Internal and External Customers”. This aimed at encouraging the participants to improve their presentation skills and understanding of sales, and to give them insight into human needs and how to think positively in every circumstance in life, especially in business.

Psychology for a better relationship was also part of the training, while brainstorming tools were introduced to help in expressing oneself in a very effective and organized way.

The benefit of the seminar is applicable for both business career and personal lives.

Though it was constant brainwork for the trainees, at the end of the program, not only did the participants leave with great results and benefit from the training, but they also gained better relationships and understanding of each other, cross culturally and Inter-culturally.

In addition to all the mentioned benefits, the participants were guided throughout the training on how to develop tactics and strategies for effective use of English in international communications.

Some comments at the end of the session reflected the positive effects: “This seminar was indeed very interesting, extremely educational, thoroughly exhausting and yet at the same time absolutely enjoyable. We also practiced a lot of English, both written and spoken throughout the program,” said one participant.

Intensively coaching the participants was Sue Kukarja, a former GTZ consultant and training manager. Sue, a fluent bi-linguist, has over 25 years of experience in teaching and training in communication at the Civil Aviation Training Institute, in the hotel industry, international schools, and the Thai-German Institute. Last year alone she conducted such training in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, India and Germany with Walter Kretschmar of TGI who also made his guest appearance at this training with his personal contributions of valuable experiences.

To find out more about these Inter/Cross Cultural Management and/or Sales & Communication training programs which are provided in English for top and middle management level, in Thai language for staff with limited language skills, or bilingually for a true Inter/Cross Cultural workshop experience, email [email protected]

Naklua rice harvest festival encourages community spirit

Ariyawat Nuamsawat

Residents of Naklua district held their annual rice-harvest festival at Larn Poh market on Wednesday. Many tourists and residents attended the event.

Contestants of all ages took part in the slingshot competitions.

The festival has taken place in Chonburi for many generations. It aims at apologizing to Mother Earth and Mother of Rice in order to bring good luck and prosperity to agriculturists. It also helps establish good relations in the community.

In the past, the festival was usually held at the old Naklua cemetery, then it changed venues several times until, finally, it has been set at the bodhi tree court in Naklua Public Park.

During the rice-harvest ceremony, ‘actors” depict the images of three worlds - Heaven, Earth, and the Underworld.

The festival this year, as with previous years, encompassed many activities, including slingshot competitions, a marine boxing contest and a wood column climbing race. Many contestants participated in the races.

At 7 p.m. the rice-harvest ceremony started with a parade, depicting the images of three worlds - Heaven, Earth, and the Underworld. At the close, participants gathered to have dinner together, reflecting the unity of the community.

Asian U undergraduates visit local manufacturers

Groups of business students from the Asian University recently visited two local factories. One group went to York Industrial Thailand (YIT), in Laem Chabang, and the other to Arvin Meritor, near Rayong. YIT manufactures air conditioners and Arvin Meritor manufactures vehicle emission systems, mainly exhaust systems, for automobiles.

After the YIT visit.

The visits were arranged to give the students the opportunity to see, first hand, how information systems and IT are managed in companies. They were also made aware of how important all the systems are and how they must be linked together to maximise their benefits.

Presentation at Arvin Meritor

At YIT, the students were welcomed by the general manger, the IT, HR and operation managers. After being given a brief overview of the operation at Laem Chabang by the general manager, the students were given a more detailed presentation on the IT system network and platform currently used within York. They were then taken on a factory tour, seeing the air conditioners being put together, tested and finally packed for shipping all over the world.

Presentation at YIT

At Arvin Meritor, the students were also welcomed warmly by the MD and IT personnel. Here too they were given a presentation on the company world-wide, followed by a more detailed presentation by the IT personnel on the IT system network and its current use within the company. The IT staff explained how the information systems from the different departments and levels in the company are brought together and utilised.

The undergraduates who went on the visits were second year BBA and BA students, studying Management Information Systems, at Asian University, Chonburi.

After the Arvin Meritor visit.

News | Business | Features | Columns | Mail Bag | Sports | Auto Mania
Our Children | Travel | Our Community | Dining Out & Entertainment
Social Scene | Classifieds | Community Happenings | Books Music Movies
Clubs in Pattaya | Sports Round-Up

E-mail: [email protected]
Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
62/284-286 Thepprasit Road, (Between Soi 6 & 8) Moo 12, Pattaya City
T. Nongprue, A. Banglamung,
Chonburi 20150 Thailand
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596

Copyright © 2004 Pattaya Mail. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.