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Asian U graduate represents Thailand at Youth Camp
Wit (second from left) meets
with new friends and has dinner hosted by the leader of the Autonomous
Region of Guangxi (at Ming Yuan Hotel-Nanning City).
One of last year’s Asian University graduates, Prawit
Tangkabutra (Wit) has just returned from the China-ASEAN Youth Camp 2006,
and the following is a brief account of some of his experiences. Wit was one
of eight Thais chosen to represent his country along with people from ten
other ASEAN countries.
 Visiting
Ninghua Youth Civilization Community and inspecting works done by youth
volunteers.
They left Bangkok on October 23, flying to Guangzhou, then travelled to
Nanning. On the 28th they flew to Fuzhou, and finally back to Bangkok on
October 30.
This is the fifteenth annual China-ASEAN Youth camp. The camp aims to
promote mutual understanding and friendship among young people, deepen
co-operation in the field of Youth Affairs in China and ASEAN countries so
as to infuse China-ASEAN activities with new energy.
Wit explains, “I will tell you about my new experience there:
New Knowledge from Cultural
Exchange
During the stay together of the ASEAN delegates and Chinese
volunteers in Guangzhou, Nanning, and Fuzhou City for 8 days, the different
cultures and traditions were shared by each delegate.
 Xichan
Temple, Fuzhou.
For instance, Thai delegates taught Chinese volunteers to say, ‘Hello’ or
‘Sawasdee’ in Thai, and showed how Thai people ‘Wai’ or salute other people.
Some basic Chinese words, such as ‘Ni Hao (Hello)’, ‘Chea Chea (thank you)’,
and ‘Jai Jian (good bye)’ were also taught by Chinese volunteers to ASEAN
delegates.
Moreover, the very interesting and different ways of saying some basic words
for greeting were taught by each ASEAN country. The interesting culture that
was always shared during every meal during the stay in China of ASEAN
countries was the different way they say the word, ‘Cheers’. Malaysia
delegates use the word, ‘Ya Xing’ as same as ‘Cheers’ in English. They would
normally say the word, ‘Ya’ for as long as possible together with the
holding of the glass of whisky as high as possible and then say, ‘Xing’
shortly. Quite similarly, the word, ‘Chai Yo’ is always used by Thai people.
Chinese traditional whisky drinking was also taught by Chinese delegates
during the stay in China of ASEAN delegates. Chinese people use the word,
‘Kan Pei’ in order to ask others to drink all of the whisky in the glass.
When they say, ‘Kan Pei’ that means everyone has to say, ‘Kan Pei’ back to
them, and then drink all of the whisky in the glass. After drinking,
everyone have to show their glass for making sure that they already drank
all of whisky.
Another interesting knowledge is about the symbol of Nanning City, ‘Ball’.
The Nanning ball represents the love between people. The throwing of the
ball and receiving the ball are meaningful. The one who throws the ball is
the one who wants to have love. Oppositely, the one who receives the ball is
the one who accepts the love. The interesting part of the Nanning ball is
about how to make it. All of the Nanning symbol balls are made by retired
women in Nanning society. The Nanning government also supports the making of
the balls in order to help retired people to earn some special income. Thus,
the ball has become the symbol of the city.
As a result, it was not only the learning and receiving other different
cultures by watching their culture performances, but this can also be
learned by living together.
Oh! I got a lot of friends there. All of them are from other ASEAN
countries. Now, we still keep in contact.”
Asian University is very proud of Prawit and his achievements. He was
awarded a first class honours BBA degree this year after four years of study
at Asian U preceded by a preparatory year in the Asian U Foundation
programme.
Wit with many new friends.
Star students learn about life outdoors
Students from Assumption College Sriracha have been
busy looking at the stars, camping outdoors and meeting elephants as
part of their studies. They are gaining this experience while learning
outdoors, as several camping activities have taken place near the
school.
 Students
take a walk in the woods as part of their Prathom 5 Scout Camp.
Prathom 5 students went to a nearby camp site to take part in the
three-day programme. Children took part in dancing and singing
activities, while others learned about the art of cooking outdoors.
Children from Prathom 2-6 went slightly farther a field when they
visited Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens just outside Pattaya for a special
Maths Camp.
Team-building games, problem-solving and other activities made for an
enjoyable two-day camp, and while in the gardens they also got a chance
to meet the attraction’s elephants.
Science students went as far as Kanchanaburi for their science camp. The
students were keen to practice their astronomy as part of their studies
and took telescopes to help with their star-gazing. The Mathayom 5 and 6
students also looked at the natural environment around them to help them
learn more about science.
Assumption College Sriracha educates many children from Pattaya. It runs
several English programmes for all of its 4,400 students. For more
details visit www.acs.ac.th
Studious students hard at
work during their Maths Camp at Nong Nooch.
Dance Studio graduates set to enter ballet course
Honored guests and students
pose for a photo during the annual 2006 certificates and cups ceremony.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
The Dance Studio held a presentation ceremony on November 12 for students
who have passed the exam to enter the ballet course at the Royal Academy of
Dance.
Prizes were also presented for the jazz dance course at the Dance Studio.
Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn and Suranit Ardrit, director of Chonburi
Education Region 3 presented the certificates and cups at the Town in Town
Hotel.
The ceremony, attended by a large number of parents, saw awards presented to
95 students. After the awards there was a dance performance.
Director of the Dance Studio Dutduan Ruengwettiwong said the school’s
courses are recognized around the world, and that studying dance can lead to
a career choice for youngsters in addition to being a personal
accomplishment.
Regent’s Student Guild
visits Pattaya Mercy Centre
Cattreya Sperbund
(Year 12 / IB)
On Saturday the 18th November a group of Regent’s students representing the
Secondary Student Guild visited the Pattaya Mercy Centre in Nong Yai. Fred
and Dianne Doell who are the founders of the Mercy Centre and parents to 21
orphaned children met us there on our arrival. They explained that the ages
of the children ranged from 11 months to 13 years of age. On the Saturday we
met only 20 of the orphans as their eldest girl was in hospital with blood
cancer. We had a lot of fun playing with the children, as we watched them
scream with laughter.
A group of Regent’s students
representing the Secondary Student Guild visited the Pattaya Mercy Centre in
Nong Yai.
A week before we had visited the Mercy Center, we had held a ‘World at Lunch
Day’ organized by the Student Guild. On that day each student had to do a
lucky dip to find out which world they were put into, first world, second
world, or third world. First world food consisted of burgers, fries and
coke, and those students were allowed to sit at tables. The second world
consisted of rice vegetables and fruits, the students were allowed to sit on
tables but cramped against one another. In the third world, students had to
eat rice and soup from plastic paper and also had to sit on the floor. This
exercise was to show the students of the Regent’s School recognize that
there are many in the world who die of starvation and inequality, and that
there are many who are less fortunate than us.
During the past two weeks after the ‘World at Lunch,’ the Student Guild has
been going around the school with donation buckets for those who wanted to
support those in need of food. The Guild raised over 10,000 baht, with a
little help from Epicure (the school’s catering service), and decided that
we should donate this money to the Mercy Centre as they always need milk for
their large and increasing numbers of new children. Being with the children
that day made us all realize that just a small effort into doing something
good can bring you great happiness, in seeing others smile.
Grimm Tales takes to Regent’s Stage
On Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th December, a cast of
over 35 students from the Senior school will perform nine Tales from the
world-famous collection by the Brothers Grimm, dramatized by the poet Carol
Ann Duffy and the successful UK theatre director and writer, Tim Supple. As
well as involving a large number of students, 6 directors have been
collaborating in order to bring to fruition the universe so vividly imagined
by the German writers whose appeal goes well beyond childhood readership.
Once again, the intention is to transform the Regent’s Globe theatre into an
even more magical theatrical arena than that conjured for last year’s hugely
successful Canterbury Tales, which subsequently toured to the Asian
University. The setting will give full scope to the startlingly real range
of emotions revealed in each play. The whole production is far from dull as
the overall title suggests, with all kinds of humour, particularly farce
being celebrated to the full in such tales as the Golden Goose, the Magic
Table and the Musicians of Bremen.
Grimm Tales is a hilarious, enchanting, shockingly cruel and wondrous blend
of folk-tale classics such as Snow White, Hansel and Gretel and
Rumpelstiltskin, with the inclusion of lesser-known yarns such as the
Musicians of Bremen. Each tale contrasts each other in mood and tempo,
whether that of the eerie Ashputtel or the helter-skelter action of the
chase sequence in the Golden Goose.
This year’s production features some new faces such as Katalaya Rozier as
the Queen in Snow White and Michael Tenisch as the Lion Prince in the Lady
and the Lion. Grimm Tales proves the adage that the most effective theatre
can often be produced by the simplest of means.
Tickets for the production cost 50 baht for students and 150 baht for adults
and can be reserved on drama-pty@ regents.ac.th or mobile 08 090143002. Do
not miss this excellent opportunity to see top-class theatre presented in
one of the most spectacular indoor arenas in Pattaya.
School No 5 expands
with opening of new building
Vimolrat Singnikorn
November 10 saw the official opening of a new school building for Pattaya
School No 5.
Sontaya Khunplome, former minister of tourism and sport presided over the
opening with guests who included deputy mayors Wattana Chantanawaranon and
Ronakit Ekasingh, former parliamentary representative for Chonburi Ittipol
Khunplome, Chonburi senator Sansak Ngampichet, deputy leader of Pattaya City
Council Adisorn Phonlookin, and students, former students and parents.
 The
city built a new school building for Pattaya School No 5.
Farooq Wongborisuthi, chairman of the school’s education board, spoke on the
growth of the school and its achievements. He said the school was a popular
and respected one, but that there were not enough places for all the
children who wanted to study there.
In consequence, the city last year allocated a budget of 8,670,000 baht to
construct a four-story, 12-room school building, which was completed in
March this year.
The school teaches between nursery to third-year secondary levels, and
currently has 1,538 students and 59 teachers. Mrs Aphorn Rachasingho is the
school headmistress.
84 youth teams take part in regional painting competition
Artistic children are
competing for the HRH Princess Soamsawalee Trophy.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh presided over the opening of the Eastern
Gypsum Board Painting Championship No 6 on November 18 at the Central
Festival shopping center, in which 84 youth teams competed for the Princess
Soamsawalee Trophy and scholarships together worth more than 50,000 baht.
Central Festival general manager Sarun Tuntijumnun welcomed all the
participants to the event, which was sponsored by Central Festival, Chonburi
Province, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Eastern Art and Cultural
Association, and Burapha University.
The competitors, all students from Pattaya City and the Eastern region, were
painting on gypsum board and working on a theme that celebrated His Majesty
the King’s 60 years on the throne. To encourage both creativity and a sense
of economy of scale, the competitors were limited to a gypsum board
measuring 2.4 x 1.2 meters on which to create their paintings.
The competition was open to students in the secondary class 1-3 and primary
class 4-6 levels. There were 84 youth teams each with three members taking
part. The contest took place over the period November 18-19, and the results
will be announced on Children’s Day, January 13.
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