Nov 2019 Community
Halloween horrors haunted the Danish Seamen’s Church Singapore
TOURISM
Vinggruppen finds new investor - ready to send thousands of Nordic tourists to top destinations in Asia
LIFESTYLE
Danish Chef Morten Nielsen is back in Patong, Phuket
Theme: Senior Living Focus: Phuket Lifestyle
2019
From Nov. 24. - Dec.24. Stable Lodge’s CHRISTMAS LUNCH Scandinavian buffet w/warm & cold cuts BHT. 795.-Net.
Traditional X-mas dinner from 7pm. Pickled Salmon,Roasted Duck /Pork and Rice Pudding BHT. 1200.- Net. Children 1/2 price Ticket Available for sale at the reception.
Stable Lodge’s Famous CHRISTMAS LUNCH BHT. 895.-Net. Please book your table, limited space.
New Year’s Eve A La carte Menu with Live Music
Norwegian project to make oce waste valuable ScandAsia Stories November 2019
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Theme: Senior Living
Norwegian project is being 8 Norwegian project to make launched to promote the ocean waste valuable usage of plastic waste as a 10 Halloween haunted the source of energy for energy intensive Danish Seamen’s Church industries, reducing ocean waste and Singapore improving energy efficiency. The 12 Chinese Food Night in project will be carried out in five 14 Finland countries, the other four being China, Danish Ambassador India, Myanmar, and Thailand. Its pilot toend Singapore’s phase is expectedcontributes to start at the Christmas Wonderland of this year. Grete Lochen, the Norwegian ambassador to Vietnam, said at the launch in Vietnam, that since plastic 8 wastes are made from fossil fuel it can create more energy than coal, 16 Vietnam is the world’s fourth largest country in terms of dischargi and recycling the waste would into the ocean, with its annual contribution being around 700,00 reduce the amount of plastic dumped in the ocean and the emission of are typically discharged into the project can receive greenhouse gases. 13 environment. assistance with co-p Vietnam is the world’s four th In Vietnam, the project will be could reduce their co largest country in terms of discharging Danish Honorary Consulate 10 by using waste and carried out in co-ordination with the plastic wastes into opens the ocean, with its in Cambodia plastic while being Ministry of Natural Resources and annual contribution being around Environment’s Việt Nam Environment efficient. 700,000 tonnes Administration and various other This technique do A Waste Management agencies, international and local residues that need Department official said there was thus also saving w organisations and private businesses. limited segregation of plastic waste, Factories taking par t in this costs. and low-value and recyclable wastes
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Education & Parenting
Lotte Dietrich about the Phuket medical scene
37 Focus: Phuket Lifestyle
40 11 Mona Weber creates “Hungry in Shanghai”
4 ScandAsia • November 2019
Where are you from, third culture kid?
Editorial
Dear Reader,
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his issue of ScandAsia focuses on “Senior Living” for Nordic people who enjoy living their senior years in the tropical climate of South East Asia despite being punished by their home countries for doing so. I am talking pension cuts, service cuts and healthcare cuts.
that instead of importing health care professionals from Asia, it might be easier and cheaper to move the elderly to e.g. the Philippines or Thailand. Wages in the service industry related to elderly care are lower here than in Sweden and the two countries are already popular among the elderly Swedes.
Thailand remains a popular choice for these retirees, although the very visible success of the ruling class in maintaining an unequal society does not go well with the egalitarian minded Nordic people. The alternatives, Malaysia and The Philippines, have not really caught on, and Vietnam and Cambodia are still mosly for the adventurous few. Also, none of these competitors can be said to offer more appealing society models.
The proposal was to offer retired Swedes people help with relocating and then paying for the services they might require which would then be handled by local personnel. Unfortunately for the seniors living in Sweden, the decision makers - ten or twenty years younger than the retirees (who would have enjoyed this!) - felt uncomfortable with the solution and satisfied their own uneasiness by dropping the proposal instead of carrying out what could have been a win-win solution.
The winner would be the country, that would understand that senior foreign citizens want to see themselves as more than just a suitcase full of money. It would cost nothing but make a world of difference - if a host country were to welcome the resourceful foreign retirees who wish to get involved in for example environmental projects as a volunteer or teach in local schools instead of enforcing workpermit regulations. A true win-win solution. Here is another win-win dream: A few years ago, a proposal was brought up in the Swedish town Nora. It had become a challenge to recruit the necessar y manpower to ser vices the increasing number of elderly people. A study group on the best future solution to elderly health care needs suggested
ScandAsia is a printed magazine and online media covering the people and businesses of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland living and working in China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
Who should subscribe:
ScandAsia subscribers are typically Nordic expats and companies from the Nordic countries living in and active in Asia. Another group of subscribers are Nordic people living in the Nordic countries who subscribe to ScandAsia for personal or business reasons. We also have many Asian subscribers, who for a wide range of reasons are following the activities of the Nordic expats and companies via a subscription to ScandAsia.
6 6ScandAsia ScandAsia • November • November 2019 2019
Gregers Moller Editor in Chief
The ScandAsia magazine is produced every month and distributed to all print version subscribers via postal services and to all eMagazine subscribers via email. Subscribing to the eMagazine is FREE - simply sign up on the ScandAsia.com website.
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November 2019 • ScandAsia 7
News brief
Susanne Rumohr Hækkerup new Chairman of Danes Worldwide
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Susanne Rumohr Hækkerup says about Danes Worldwide: ”To me, Danes Worldwide is the essence of many good things about Denmark and we Danes: We organize and we engage ourselves. We cooperate to create good results together. We reach out to the world around us and travel out into it. I am curious to heear our members opinions about what to them gives our organisation value, how Danes Worldwide may contribute to them and their families.”
usanne Rumohr Hækker up has succeeded Michael Metz Mørch as Chairman of Danes Worldwides. Mr. Mørch has been Chair man for eight year s. Ms. Hækkerup was elected member of the Board of Danes Worldwide in 2018. Susanne Rumohr Hækkerup is Managing Director for Asia House in Copenhagen and a.o. former Danish ambassador to Mexico, Cuba, The Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
Norwegian project to make ocean waste valuable
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Norwegian project is being launched to promote the usage of plastic waste as a source of energy for energy intensive industries, reducing ocean waste and improving energy efficiency. The project will be carried out in five countries, the other four being China, India, Myanmar, and Thailand. Its pilot phase is expected to start at the end of this year. Grete Lochen, the Norwegian ambassador to Vietnam, said at the launch in Vietnam, that since plastic wastes are made from fossil fuel it can create more energy than coal, and recycling the waste would reduce the amount of plastic dumped in the ocean and the emission of greenhouse gases. Vietnam is the world’s fourth largest country in terms of discharging plastic wastes into the ocean, with its annual contribution being around 700,000 tonnes A Waste Management Department official said there was limited segregation of plastic waste, and low-value and recyclable wastes are
8 ScandAsia • November 2019
Vietnam is the world’s fourth largest country in terms of discharging plastic wastes into the ocean, with its annual contribution being around 700,000 tonnes. typically discharged into the environment. In Vietnam, the project will be carried out in co-ordination with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam Environment Administration and various other agencies, international and local organisations and private businesses. Factories taking part in this proj-
ect can receive training in and assistance with co-processing, which could reduce their coal consumption by using waste and non-recyclable plastic while being more energy efficient. This technique does not produce residues that need to be disposed, thus also saving waste processing costs.
admissions@patana.ac.th Tel: +66 (0) 2785 2200 www.patana.ac.th Bangkok Patana is a not for profit, IB World School accredited by CIS November 2019 • ScandAsia
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News brief
Haunted Church in Singapore By Sigrid Friis Neergaard
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he Danish Seamen’s Church on Mount Faber was haunted on this dark and (not so) stormy night of Halloween. Guests had to navigate through spiderweb, smoke and evil spirits to get inside, where the dark was only spoiled by candles leading the way to the altar. Here, barely recognisable, stood the chaplain, Sussie Nygaard Foged, dressed in her cassock. Her hair as black as ink, and her eyes dark. Her confirmands were dressed in black, and one of them had a knife sticking out from his head. The tradition of celebrating Halloween has spread to many parts of the world, so of course the cultural melting pot that is Singapore is not one to miss out on a good excuse to celebrate something. Sussie Nygard Foged had therefore invited brave children to a special, scary Halloween service.
10 ScandAsia • November 2019
Blood and brain
The church assistant, Rebecca Holm, also dressed in black rang the bell 100 times to signal the beginning of the special Halloween late-night Christ service.
Here, the chaplain spooked the visitors with the tale of Jack who cheated death twice when The Reaper came knocking on his door. And she told the story about Christopherus, the giant who carried the whole world on his shoulder when he was bringing a child, whom he discovered was Jesus, to the other side of the river. Sussie Nygaard Foged then reminded everyone, that the church is a safe place on Halloween as the cross protects people against evil. After the service, everyone was invited to indulge in blood red soup with sausage roll fingers and brain popcorn. For the brave, there were touch and feel boxes where guests with strong hearts could stick their hand in and try to guess what they were touching. Beetroot, pickles, broken eggs, sticky dough and other harmless things gross to touch in the unknown, set the adrenaline and blood pumping. Leaving the church and entering the dark night at the top of the mountain, one could only hope that the protective powers of the cross would remain with us the rest of the night.
News brief
Shanghai Daily portrays Finnish ‘Hungry in Shanghai’
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ona Weber, a Finnish business entrepreneur, interior designer and the founder of several brands and companies, who in 2018 moved to Shanghai, was on 27 October 2019 portrayed by Shanghai Daily. In an Q&A column, Mona Weber, tells about her newly launched dining guide called “Hungry in Shanghai.” “The restaurant scene in Shanghai is very inspiring but can be also a little overwhelming and challenging. I saw there was a need for a stylish guide that would fit into today’s social media-focused world, one that would help people discover not only great food but also the mesmerising and beautiful interiors of the different restaurants, bars and cafes they have here in the city. The guide also helps readers uncover some of the hidden gems that aren’t so easy to find.” “I selected 40 different restaurants, cafes and bars from Shanghai, including some of the popular classics and a few undiscovered treasures to be featured in the newest addition to the “Hungry In” series,” she explains. Read full interview here: https://archive.shine.cn/sunday/ home-and-design/A-Finn-Hungry-in-Shanghai/shdaily.shtml
November 2019 • ScandAsia 11
News brief
Chinese Food Night in Finland a delicious friendship celebration
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ultural bonding through delicacies was the motive of the event, “Chinese Food Night in Finland”, that took place at the Main Post Office Restaurant in Helsinki, Finland, on Monday 14 October 2019. Organized by the Chinese embassy in Finland on the initiative of China Cuisine Association and with the par ticipation of Finnish Chef Association. The Chinese Food Night in Finland is the first stop in a planned series of activities called “Chinese Catering Delegation into Nordic” initiated by the China Cuisine Association. From Finland, the delegation will travel to Sweden, Norway and Denmark. In Helsinki, the event gathered more than 30 top chefs from China and Finland enjoying and exchanging their profound and unique culinary cultures. The chefs from the two countries
12 ScandAsia • November 2019
presented their talents and learned from each other creating fine delicacies, sharing their experience while deepening cultural understanding and friendship of people from the east to the west. Chen Li, the Chinese ambassador
to Finland was among the high profile guests attending the event. “Chinese cuisine is an important par t of the Chinese culture. I am very happy to see that Chinese food is getting more and more popular in Finland and I hope we will find more Finnish restaurants in China and more Finnish food on our tables,” the Ambassador said. Jaana Husu-Kallio, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Forestry and Agriculture of Finland, shared his hope: “Finland and China both have a quite proud food culture tradition, tonight we share food from each other and show respect to each other’s cultural tradition, enhancing mutual understanding. Food and love are impor tant. I hope everyone can feel the friendship and love through food,” she said. Liu Qiang, of the China Cuisine Association said about the exchange experience: “This event is a kind of cooperation, We have learned a lot from Finnish chefs about cooking ingredients, method and more. We introduced Chinese representative dishes here also. Hoping to make Chinese food more international.”
News brief
Danish Honorary Consulate opens in Cambodia
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enmar k opened its fir st Honor ar y Consulate in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 1 November 2019. The Honorary Consul is Mr. Kjeld M. Olsen, a long time Danish businessman and resident of Cambodia. The post is unpaid and the consul is not employed or posted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but appointed in his own capacity – officially by Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. The Consulate is located in the Nissan building on 320 Russian Blvd., which is also the office of Kjeld M. OLsen's Car4you Co., Ltd. At the consulate, Danes may apply for emergency passports, extend the validity of passpor ts, childcare passpor ts (children under 12), ordering a driving license (exclusively
for citizens with an address in Denmark), international driving license and translation of driving license. Kjeld M. Olsen has a long career with more than 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur in
the car industry, and throughout his career Kjeld Olsen has worked in a number of different countries in the region. Today he lives in Phnom Penh, where he owns the companies Car4you and Danfilcarz. In the spring of 2017, Kjeld Olsen was one of the main forces behind the foundation “NordCham”, the Nordic branch of EuroCham, which aims to promote Nordic companies in Cambodia. The consulate is open for telephone inquiries Monday-Friday 8-10am, but open for personal inquiry only by appointment. Phone / Fax No: +855 9922 6603 Email: phnompenh@umgate.dk
Nordic tourism is safe: Ving Gruppen gets new owners
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illionaire Petter Stordalen’s Strawberry Group will team up with Altor Fund V and TDR Capital to take over the assets of Thomas Cook Northern Europe, or Vinggruppen, as it is usually called, according to a statement by the group on Wednesday 30 October 2019. Vinggruppen is the Nordic operations of Thomas Cook Group Plc that went into bankruptcy a little over a month ago. It comprises several brands of which Ving and Spies are the most well-known. The group sends ever y year hundreds of thousand of tourists from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland to Asia. Most popular destinations are Thailand, Indonesia, Phillippines, Japan, China, Malaysia, The Maldives, Singapore, Sri Lanka
and Vietnam. Thomas Cook’s collapse on Sept 23 led to 9,000 job losses in the UK and left 150,000 people stranded overseas, with the holiday plans of thousands more ruined. The company, which described itself as Britain’s
largest independent travel agent, was founded four decades ago and had sales of more than US$1.3 billion last year, directly employing 1,900 people.
November 2019 • ScandAsia 13
News brief
Danish ambassador adds Nordic touch to Singapore’s Christmas Wonderland event H.E Dorte Bech Vizard, Ambassador of Denmark to Singapore, has been giving creative direction to the Poinsettia Wishes floral display that adds iconic Nordic landmarks to the annual Christmas Wonderland at Garden by the Bay from 29th November- 26th December 2019. By Zazithorn Ruengchinda
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f you visit the Poinsettia Wishes floral display, see if you can spot the distinct architecture of the Bølgen building in Denmark, Santa Claus Village in Finland, Hallgrimskirkja church in Iceland, Vennesla libraryand culture house in Norway and Triangeln train station in Sweden, ingeniously interwoven into each scene – from Santa’s post office to the reindeer station. Amidst a landscape of poinsettias and winter blooms in shades of red, blue, yellow and white, a charming choir of Nordic gnomes called Nisser adds to the festive cheer. This year’s carnival will feature its first Christmas parade and a new ar t installation made with tens of thousands of colourful bulbs so you’ll have one more photo backdrop to play with other than the Italian light sculptures that have been the
14 ScandAsia • November 2019
event’s centrepiece since it started. Not enough lights, you say? You can also catch a special light and sound Christmas show in the Supertree Grove. As for the humble Christmas parade, consisting of just three floats, will make its rounds on the event’s car nival fair ground on Fr idays, Saturdays, and Sundays, as well as
Christmas and Boxing Day. Expect to see Santa riding his sleigh, Santarinas, cheeky penguins, and snowmen in the parade. The plan also consists of nearly 20 rides and games, and the Christmas Village will feature new vendors — names of which will be announced at a later time, according to organizer Blue Sky Events. Expect a long queue of selfie hopefuls at the event’s new “Walk of Peace,” a 50-meter tunnel structure made with 60,000 light bulbs. The Mistletoe Alley installation will be vamped out with more lights. New additions to this year’s event also includes a “Santa’s Workshop” corner, where visitors can surround themselves with elves, hard at work wrapping presents and fulfilling the wishes on their list. There will also be theatre performances by international acts such as New York-based illusionist Vitaly Beckman, Australian circus performers Trash Test Dummies, and a London theatre production called Snow Play. This year’s Yuletide live music sessions and Christmas carolling are cour tesy of acts including Singaporean songstress Inch Chua and the Hwa Chong Institution Choir Tickets star ting at S$6 are available online now. Venue: Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive
News brief
Nordcham Philippines awards night
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ordCham Philippines held its annual Nordic Awards Night 2019 at the Fairmont Makati Ballroom on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at 6-10 PM. The Awards are given to Nordic-affiliated companies in the Philippines who exemplify Nordic values and commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goals. This year, the winners in each category were: 1. Corporate Sustainability Company of the Year co-presented by Trends And Concepts Winner: H&M Philippines. Finalists: Ericsson, Grundfos, Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc., Novo Nordisk 2. Innovation Company of the Year co-presented by Salarium Winner: Aidea. Finalists: Connovate, Ericsson, Integrated MicroElectronics Inc., Ocean Sun
3. Growth Company of the Year copresented by BDO Unibank Winner: KMC Solutions. Finalists: Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc., NNIT Philippines, Inc. 4. Outstanding Employer of the Year co-presented by Regus & Spaces Winner: Doehle Shipmanagement Philippines Corporation. Finalists: H&M Philippines, NNIT
Philippines, Inc., Nokia Technology Center Philippines Careers, OSM Maritime Group 5. Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) of the Year co-presented by KMC Savills, Inc. Winner: Onlinefactoryasia. Finalists: Aidea, Connovate
November 2019 • ScandAsia 15
16 ScandAsia • November 2019
Senior Living
Senior Living in Asia Living in South East Asia as a senior Scandinavian can be a pleasant and worryfree experience if you take good care of your health and plan a bit ahead. By Gregers Moller
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very year, more retired citizens f r o m D e n m a r k , S we d e n , Norway and Finland move to typically Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia but recently also Vietnam and Cambodia to live their senior years here. The wave started in the 1990’s and culminated some years ago, but even today there are every year hundreds who join the senior pioneers. The pioneer Nordic retirees must be near or above 90 years of age - if they are still here. Sur pr isingly, only one two Scandinavian real estate company has been established in Thailand to serve this market. Scandinavian Village was established in 2003 with suppor t from the Board of Investment. At the time it was predicted, that the need for this kind of serviced housing solutions for the retired Scandinavians would soon outgrow the capacity of Scandinavian Village. But it remains the only one structured to take care of the Nordic retirees. Another is a Swedish group is centered around the Laem Mae Phim area but is not focused on the pensioners the same way. All of the other countries in Asia have yet to come up with an offer like this. A valid point made at that time was, that the senior citizens who
moved here were the independent kind, the ones who mostly created their own solutions and seldom went for the organized solutions. They were individual travelers - had never bought a packaged group tour in their life. They had saved up prior to their retirement - they didn’t rely solely on the public pension system. At the time when they moved to Asia, they had found their own way through the myriad of ways that you can buy a house or otherwise establish a home. When these kind of pensioners are no longer able to live unassisted, they tend again to find individual solutions to their situation and not look for collective solutions. Some
move back to their home country where the elderly care system take them in. It is certainly a poorer life quality, but it is a final solution. The lucky ones have loved ones, who continue to take care of them in their home here in Asia - carrying them out of bed in the morning, tugging them in at night, changing their diapers when needed.
Housing solutions
Children back in the Nordic countries sometimes contact their embassy to ask for a list of possible old people’s homes. They know that their father - or sometimes mother - living in the country in question prefers to
November 2019 • ScandAsia 17
Senior Living
stay here and live a dignified old age life under protected and assisted conditions. Each of the embassies have of course a list of such homes that they had heard of which are local in the sense that they are established by Thai people for mostly Thai elderly people. But whether this list is updated or if there are newer facilities established is anyone’s guess.
Medical care
Before we get to the stage, where we need an assisted living solution, we all prefer to stay healthy as long as possible in the homes, we already have established. Here we are far better off in terms of solutions. Several hospitals in the main senior destinations have established Aging Clinic focused entirely on the needs of the seniors. Thailand has become a medical hub for the region and way beyond, attracting also patients for health checkups from many countries in the middle east. Health doesn’t have to be linked to a hospital and medical treatment. 18 ScandAsia • November 2019
The lucky ones have loved ones, who continue to take care of them.
To remain a healthy senior, there are many options available. Exercise indoor and outdoor is facilitated by the wonderful tropical climate. Meditation and mental health training is found at many vacation retreats. The wonderful Asia kitchen that was among the temptations which motivated many of the seniors to come here in the first place, is also
part of keeping a healthy lifestyle. But regular health checks remain crucial in early detection of defects and conditions that usually comes with getting older - like increased blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, cataract, dementia. And with early detection comes the higher possibility of curing the disease - or slowing down the condition.
Dignified departure
The predictable end of our lives, that we all try to avoid think too much about, is the subject we have in the past also written about often. It is a consular affairs business when foreigners die abroad and it is one of the situations, that keep the Nordic embassies busy throughout the year. A good advice is to stop talking about writing up a will but actually doing it. Again, your embassies will be happy to guide you to reputable law firms that can assist with that at a reasonable cost - in particular if you consider the messy situation that this will spare your loved ones from.
November 2019 • ScandAsia 19
Senior Living
The Best is yet to come: Staying Healthy during Retirement Contrary to what may be popular belief, retirement does not signal the decline in a vibrant and productive life, only to be replaced by wheelchairs and nursing homes. In fact, all it takes is a willingness to commit to strengthening your body and mind to make retirement the best chapter of life. Of course, there are some health concerns and inevitable physical changes that become more common with aging, but adopting healthier habits and taking preventative measures such as managing one’s stress, eating healthy, and getting plenty of exercise can go a long way toward helping retirees feel physically better, more emotionally fulfilled and enjoy a higher life quality. As you embark on this new journey, the healthcare professionals at Bumrungrad International Hospital’s New Life Healthy Aging Clinic have put together the following tips that can help you stay active, healthy, and happy during retirement. • Get moving. The health benefits of a regular exercise regimen simply cannot be overstated, and the impact of exercise can be beneficial not only for your physical health, but for mental health as well. Establish a goal to spend at least 20 minutes doing aerobic activity each day, and at least twice a week, add a moderate strength 22 ScandAsia • November 2019
training regimen to help build and strengthen your muscles. Simple activities such as taking a brisk walk around your neighborhood, going for a swim, joining a community center’s aerobic exercise class, signing up for dance lessons, joining a hiking or bicycling group, just to name a few, can all add up to a fun and effective way to accomplish your target for daily recommended exercises without having to spend hours in the gym. • Eat well, drink less alcohol. Along with regular exercise, eating a diet that is rich in the nutrients your body needs, and low on the toxins it doesn’t need,
Senior Living can go a long way toward maintaining your best health at every age and stage of life. Adopting good nutrition habits does not only have a beneficial impact on the waist line and weight control; eating healthy has been proven to have a positive effect on mental health, emotional well-being and motivation as well. In this regard, it is also important to note that the consumption of alcohol should stay within a moderate level or less, and requires careful monitor to ensure it remains within a healthy ranges.The dangers that come with overconsumption of these substances can prove to be quite serious, and they far outweigh whatever fun could be had in the moment, so always keep in mind the value of a strong and healthy mind and body in the pursuit of long-term happiness. In short, a healthy diet should include: • A variety of foods across all food groups • Lean protein • Vegetables • Fruits • Water to stay properly hydrated (1.5 to 2 liters daily) • Vitamin and mineral supplements as recommended by your doctor. • Learn a new skill, pursue a new hobby. Moving from a career into a life of retirement does not mean that we stop developing our cognitive function or give up on the idea of learning new things altogether. In fact, the retirement phase of life is one of the most important times for strengthening the brain and one’s cognitive function by learning new skills in order to boost brain performance, maintain mental sharpness and reduce the risk of memory loss. • Pay attention to your doctor. Being a good patient involves taking responsibility for, and being a central figure in your own healthcare. If you are involved and informed about what your health risks could be, and you take an active role in preventative health measures rather than simply reacting to illness, the chances of your time in retirement being spent in hospitals and clinics can be greatly reduced. Instead, be vigilant about sticking to a schedule of regular check-ups, and listen to your doctor’s advice and recommendations about what to do (or what not do) in order to strengthen your health. At Bumrungrad, the New Life Healthy Aging Clinic offers a number of health screening packages that are designed to address the health risks and needs of older adults. The packages include: • Holistic male 55-69 • Holistic female 55-69 • Holistic male 70+ • Holistic female 70+
seven hours of sleep is just one more way you can make sure that your body and mind have the resources they need to ward off the health risks that can become more common as we age. • Stay engaged. Without the daily routine and built-in social connection of going to work every day, it can be hard to maintain a healthy social connection and therefore fall into isolation. This isolation can then lead to issues such as depression and substance abuse. Make sure that you’re involved in your community by joining groups or organizations that you’re interested in, and make it a point to stay connected to your friends and family.
Making your retirement years happy and healthy is fairly easy to achieve, all it takes is approaching this chapter of life with more positivity and willingness to commit a little more time and effort to your physical and mental wellbeing. Spend more time taking part in activities that benefit your health, and enjoy the golden years; the power is in your hands. The New Life Healthy Aging Clinic at Bumrungrad International is the right place for older adults who are looking for a holistic approach to healthcare, ranging from primary health and preventive care to more complicated medical cases. The center features a multidisciplinary team led by an experienced geriatrician and supported by a clinical nurse specialist, clinical pharmacist, nutritionist, and physical therapist. Make your appointment at the clinic today, and get started on a healthy journey through retirement.
• Sleep well. It’s hard to overstate the restorative benefits of a getting a restful night’s sleep every night. Making sure that you are getting your daily recommended November 2019 • ScandAsia 23
Senior Living
Lotte Dietrich – at the heart of Phuket’s health care services By Joakim Persson
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otte Dietrich from Denmark is a familiar face for Scandinavian regulars seeking medical care or being medical tourism patients at one of Phuket’s private hospitals – especially so given that she has been around since the time of the 2004 tsunami. Lotte had arrived to Phuket prior to the tsunami and was offered a job with the hospital as Scandinavian coordinator and marketing person at Bangkok Hospital Siriroj (Phuket International Hospital).. It had realised the need for such a person to help patients in emergency situations.Therefore, Lotte has been with the hospital for over 13 years, and is today in charge of communication and marketing (also her educational background), while the hospital also still employs a coordinator looking after Scandinavia. “Over the years my personal role has evolved from being patient contact-focused to be more on the management side, and I have a team of coordinators that are working and handling our enquiries. So we 24 ScandAsia • November 2019
actually have nine coordinators doing the correspondence with patients seven days a week,” explains Lotte. “I had a year off, came to Thailand, found a job and stayed,” is the simple explanation how her longlasting career in Phuket paradise once started.
Phuket changes
Reflecting on the development she says: “Thailand has really changed over the past 15 years, including a lot of improvements within health care; massive improvement in the ser vices and the quality but also in the volume of patients coming in. And Phuket has also changed a lot, having evolved from a major tourist destination into becoming a world-class tourist destination in the past decade. Now we welcome 11 million tourists yearly, so it’s a busy island.” As for the Scandinavian countries and in relation to medical tourism this has changed as well: “Over the years we have definitely seen a shift
in the Scandinavian market; we still have a lot of families that come here on holiday, where normally three generations travel together. However, because Phuket has become so busy we tend to see Scandinavians going to Khao Lak, Krabi and Koh Lanta. They go a bit fur ther away from international hospital services. Therefore we also have ambulance services in Khao Lak and also have partners for that in Krabi and Koh Lanta. If people need care they can be transferred to this hospital.” “We have also seen a dip in the number of Scandinavian tourists in the last few years in Phuket.This year it’s ten per cent down from last year,” comments Lotte as we talk in July. Travellers to those other destinations will use local clinics for minor things, accidents or illnesses, but for more serious injuries insurance companies or embassies recommend that they go to an international hospital with international standards, she explains. “When patients are transferred to us we work with SOS Interna-
Senior Living
November 2019 • ScandAsia 25
tional, Falck Global Assistance etc. in providing care and regarding repatriation to Scandinavia.” “In terms of medical insurance the Scandinavian market is still very important for us and we have very good cooperation with all the partners to ensure that everything goes smooth when a patient is admitted and we also have communication between the insurance company doctors and our doctors here.” Unsur pr isingly to expats in Thailand, motorbike accidents are among the most common reasons for medical care need. “Unfortunately there are lots of inexperienced drivers of motorbikes here in Phuket. We have a trauma centre and because we are situated right by a major road we receive a lot of such cases. Most such accidents are minor but because people are wearing only flip flops, shorts and t-shirts abrasive wounds are very common. And we also see serious wounds or head trauma on a regular basis.” Other than that the hospital also treats mosquito-borne illnesses, but
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this mostly concerns expats as accommodation where tourists stay are protected against mosquitoes.
Medical tourism
The main focus is otherwise of course on medical tourism, where Bangkok Hospital Siriroj works with about 50 agencies from all over the world. These are places and areas where people are interested in travelling abroad for medical care. “Our main markets are Australia and New Zealand and we also have Scandinavians and other Europeans coming here for surgery. Right now our growing markets are China and Russia. We also can be found easily online, so a lot of our patients contact us via email or social media and make an enquiry and then will book surgery directly with us.” In terms of competitiveness Lotte highlights: “Thai doctors have a very high level of education and the qualifications they need to meet are on par with international standards. So the quality patients can expect is the same as say to Singapore, the US or any place in Europe.”
The destination is also favourable: “We find that patients much rather prefer Phuket than Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore for their medical treatment because of the advantage that they can recuperate at a hotel by the beach. Hence, Phuket has a huge advantage with regards to attracting overseas medical travellers.” “As for cost, our overhead is a lot lower here so our patients expect to save about 50 per cent on surgeries but of course they have their flight and hotel expenses too. So many people end up having a holiday in Phuket for the same price as a surgery would cost back home.” And for dental care needs people from for instance Scandinavia can save the cost of the flight to Thailand or more. However, since the hotels can be quite expensive during high season the hospital has noticed that for medical tourism its high season is actually the opposite: most patients during the “green season” from May to October. Also, currently the very strong
Thai currency is not favourable: “It has become more expensive for foreigners to have their surgery here and this has impacted our patient number in the last year, especially because our main market Australia, with a weak Aus dollar at the moment.” “We do low seasons campaigns to try to get people to book, and we have been implementing a lot of cost-saving measures to ensure we are competitive on the prices here in Phuket,” she adds. Lotte also travels to meet with representatives, mainly in Australia, New Zeeland. “We have contracts with referral agencies in these countries to make sure that their standard is up to what we expect from them and also to ensure that we have a good working relationship. One of the main things is the pre-screening, so we put a lot of effort into training to ensure that people are fit for surgery before they even fly in to Phuket.”
She adds that as a hospital they are ver y interested in the Asean market too. “We are seeing a surge in patients coming from neighbouring countries for all kinds of elective treatments, which is not just beauty treatments.Thailand is one of the most advanced countries within healthcare in the region.”
Plastic Surgery Institute
The hospital’s Phuket Plastic Surgery Institute is the biggest on the island. “We have 11 plastic surgeons that can do a variety of aesthetic plastic surgeries. About 60 per cent are breast augmentations or breast implants, and then 40 per cent are other procedures like breast lift, liposuction, tummy tuck, facelift and rhinoplasty.” “For medical tourism we communicate with patients quite extensively and do pre-screening before they even book their flight. We want them to fill out a medical questionnaire so we know if there are any contra indications for having surgery.
And we also ask for photos so that the doctor can review and provide initial surgical recommendations. We want people to know what to expect before-hand so they arrive with realistic expectations about the outcome. We also use this information for price estimate and we also need to inform people how long they need to stay in Phuket after their surgery for proper follow-up.” One group of people spends money on looking younger, while 85 percent of the customers over all are female. “But we are seeing a trend that more and more people are having surgery, both men and women, and they often start having facelift surgery in their fifties. In fact if people wait for too long or they have a lot of damage to the skin from the sun it is very limited what the doctor can do, so it’s better to start younger.”
November 2019 • ScandAsia 27
Phuket’s heritage and cuisine inspires old and new favourites While Phuket’s tourism is having challenges in 2019 to draw enough visitors, this island destination nevertheless has a formidable smorgasbord of attractions, including new waterparks, shopping centres dining destinations and five-star stays that is more comprehensive than ever before – especially within the high-end segment. Join in as ScandAsia leaps into Phuket’s latest luxury with a tasteful and refined selection including some the most prominent new upscale choices!
Photos and text: Joakim Persson
28 ScandAsia • November 2019
Phuket Lifestyle
Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket Where better to start than at this classic hotel, which showcases the best of gracious traditional Thai hospitality. The upscale, laid-back beach resort celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2018, and launched its refurbished newlook guest rooms coinciding with that. Located in the heart of the integrated resort Laguna Phuket – itself full of and abundance of facilities – the Dusit Thani property showcases its unique neo-colonial architecture accented by a modern Thai style. The signature Thai restaurant, Ruen Thai, is worth a visit while those of use spending full time in Asia can never get tired of top class Italian cuisine too! Situated in the resort’s beachside garden La Trattoria constitutes a white European style summer house with an outdoor veranda. Sitting down there for sunset and a glass of Villa Cornaro Prosecco paired with antipasto is a blissful way to kick off ‘An Italian Evening’ buffet. It is on offer every Saturday with a free flow wine package option, which included La Piuma Orvieto (par t of a value-oriented collection of cer tified wines) and Silenzi among the choices. Continue with seafood on ice, pizza slices, and among the mains find Sea bass with herb bread crumbs in lemon sauce, Salmon filets with fresh tomato, asparagus, capers and parsley, Pepperonata, and Beef lasagna etc. Thankfully you have four hours so that there can be a break before it’s time for desserts...
November 2019 • ScandAsia 29
Phuket Lifestyle Café Del Mar Phuket Head further south along Phuket’s west coast road and you’ll arrive to Kamala Beach (a beach and valley community very popular for long stay especially among Swedes). It has just undergone a remarkable upgrade in its northernmost area, where the beach and road is separated by a section of pine trees, however now partly replaced by new hotels and luxury residences. And, stretching from the road until the beach boundary the world-renowned Café Del Mar has its Phuket venue, offering all-day lounging and dining, also extending late into the night with DJ entertainment most days of the week. Expect a big crowd at parties, and also international guest artists, during winter high season. CDM Phuket offers a big sushi platters selection; choices of pizzas categorized as Red (Marinara, Margherita, Napoli etc.) or White (for example Salsiccia E Friarelli with Mozzarella Fior Di Latte, Italian sausage, Friarelli, parmesan, extra virgin oil or Lombardi with Mozzarella, rocket salad,
30 ScandAsia • November 2019
parma ham and parmesan); Australian tenderloin and of course sandwiches and burgers as well as a selection of Royal Thai cuisine. A lengthy drink list include innovative and refreshing signature cocktails such as ‘Tom Yam Beach’, ‘Pink is the Question’ and ‘Summer Breeze’, a selection of rosé and other wines and of course sparkling wine including Champagne. Sun beds come with a minimum spend on food and drinks. If you speak Finnish several in the management do so too! Next up, we highlight two new five-star hotels in Patong (the beach resort that has turned into a smaller city) and which have something truly inspiring in common in that their overall concept, design and architecture are nods to Phuket’s history – past and present.
Phuket Lifestyle
Mövenpick Myth Hotel Patong Phuket One must give praise to the owners of what has been accomplished here – a hotel which is a cultural destination in its own right! In the evening, built as a historic Phuket mansion, the lobby building fronting the street stands proudly illuminated like a Phuket Old Town classic building. And behind it three inter-connected whitewashed buildings with the same architecture, including arcs and balconies reveal themselves in equal glory. Inside the amazingly designed oval lobby–also in keeping with the style known as ‘Sino-Portuguese’–stands a big life-size statue of Phuket explorer Fernao Mendes Pinto, who arrived to Siam in year 1545. Because the hotel is dedicated to the island’s rich history as a tin mining and trading province, which led to a unique local mix of Chinese and Portuguese cultures.
For food as heritage try the mouth-watering SinoPortuguese petiscos – perfect also to enjoy with drinks in the bar serving a discerning selection of cocktails, with generous happy hours between 7 – 11 pm! The rooms and suites are beautifully designed, in celebration of former King Rama V’s legacy and the SinoPortuguese history; including framed doors, wall panels and vintage-style mirrors. The whole inner courtyard is a formidable blue-tiled swimming pool including a swim-up Azure Pool Bar and with direct pool access from the ground floor rooms. There is also a spa offering treatments based on Chinese healing methodologies, in rooms where the glass windows are made of the kind colourful mosaic the region’s heritage is known for. November 2019 • ScandAsia 31
Phuket Lifestyle Hotel Indigo Phuket Patong A short walk and we come to the next hotel. This one is definitely cooler than Patong itself, and is equally completely inspired by the surroundings, as the concept of the upscale Hotel Indigo brand means that no two hotels are identical, but instead focuses on embracing the unique character of the neighbourhood. In Patong this is defined to be tropical forest, nightlife and fishing village (still today sea gypsies on the island work as fishermen). This hotel is a great example of how nods to local history and the use of creative designers who interpret the connections with the local setting and themes can result in something fabulous! The design achievement in this hotel’s every feature and space is truly amazing, and to mention one element that appears and reflects Phuket’s history as a trading post, back then known to the western world as ‘Junk Ceylon’s,
32 ScandAsia • November 2019
is the junk sail ships. It is pictured and interpreted in the room’s design including amazing silk-screen printing on glass walls and as bed headboard. And there are brown wood features with black bolts. In the corridors Muay Thai kick boxers are depicted as mural paintings and the floor includes Peranakan tiles here and there. As for tech, the rooms are also equipped with a superb sound system including sub woofer, and with excellent sound-proofing so you can play loud! The Oasis Pool room category is especially recommended as it comes with direct access to a lap pool with garden shared by 9 rooms only. The main restaurant, Butcher’s Garden, is also heavily influence by yesteryear’s ships. Don’t miss the opportunity to select your own wine and meat when dining there! The Crabcake burger including a glass of wine was a bargain. There are also plenty of signature dishes and local specialties to enjoy.
Phuket Lifestyle
Rosewood Phuket The coverage ends with a true escape that is not only hidden away from Patong but also from the world, and yet also accessible for dining for outside guests actually – for those who can find it that its… the entrance to this ultraluxury resort (the brand’s first in Southeast Asia upon opening) is discreet to say the least, with no property visible from the road. Few actually know of the entire vast headland that stretches out just south of Patong beach. Out there is where Rosewood Phuket blends in with the natural surroundings and has 600 meters of one of the last remaining secluded beaches on the island practically to itself! Rosewood truly embraces the surroundings with its ‘A Sense of Place’ philosophy. As described the resort truly offers a “contemporary, environmentally sensitive architectural style” (from the lobby, for instance, one can only see lush greenery and the Andaman Sea) and the pool pavilions and villas are all immersed within a vast verdant
landscape along Emerald Bay. The restaurant Ta Khai that sits beachside at one end and that is designed as a rustic Thai village has a separate road entrance as well, where a married chef couple cooks authentic southern Thai cuisine in the form of simple and traditional dishes. Also a Sunday Brunch eatery, Italian bistro Red Sauce offers an outdoor terrace overlooking the pool and the sea. Tantalizing dishes using imported delicacies and locally sourced, naturally grown ingredients form the menu, including, for instance, antipasti such as Burrata with heirloom tomatoes, taggiasca olives and pesto alla genovese and Veal Milanese or Grilled lamb chops as mains. Prior to or post dinner world-class cocktails, including an absorbing selection of gin brands and never-triedbefore concoctions, is a must experience in the open-air Mai lounge or on lounge beds poolside.The perfect ending to this absolutely splendid Phuket selection you now have served on a plate! November 2019 • ScandAsia 33
Phuket Lifestyle
Legendary Cafe Del Mar managed by Finns on Phuket Text & Photos: Joakim Persson
Cafe Del Mar Phuket (CDM) is the famous beach club and music compilation series from Ibiza in Spain that is now also available in Asia, with the first outing launched on Phuket’s Kamala Beach. Its management consists in several Finnish people, who have a long background in the island’s nightlife scene.
M
any Phuket visitor s will have heard of ‘Seduction’, a nightclub that was very successful during many years. The Finnish team behind it have now turned their focus to CDM, based at one of the Scandinavian’s favourite destinations: Kamala Beach. CDM Phuket is well-placed there, not only in terms of its shady beachside setting and with several new five-star hotels that have opened next door, but also
34 ScandAsia • November 2019
thanks to the fact that when all the former enter tainment on nearby Surin beach was forced to close down the attention instead turned to Kamala beach. With a strong focus on being a day club Mr Kimmo Moilanen says that he is very happy with his work as Operations Manager, having previously worked late into the nights in Patong. CDM Phuket opens at 11 am and stays open until midnight during
green season and until 2 am in high season. So guests can spend a whole day here, which many do, while some come for the sunset and stay for the evening to party. “We have different clients coming for dinner and for the parties, a bit more dressed up for the evening, while some others stay the whole day,” Kimmo explains on an early, sunny afternoon. “We tr y to bring something here that the island of Bali is famous
Phuket Lifestyle for, the beautiful sunsets and great beach clubs. Before, people focused on nightlife, the late hours, in Phuket. But what we want to do is to bring the par ty more into daytime and just the overall full day experience with food, drinks, entertainment and good music.” “In the early days in Ibiza they star ted focusing on the amazing sunsets they have there, combined with the music and the drinks and the food; and that’s the same we try to replicate here. It’s just bigger scale in that we can offer more, with also dinner and offering the evening parties.” And the audience capacity of the Phuket establishment will not disappoint anyone, enabling really big parties that can build up the vibe to maximum. “Our biggest event last high season was the ‘Russian New Years Eve’ event with 2,500 people. For such large par ties we cover the swimming pool and turn it into a dance floor, with a stage at the end of the pool.” The venue currently also has
Like in Ibiza, we focus on the amazing sunsets, combined with music, drinks and food.
November 2019 • ScandAsia 35
Phuket Lifestyle
We do have Scandinavian guests and it’s always nice to have Nordic people here; they are good customers to have.
an indoor-outdoor section for the evening events, and with another indoor space to open later on. Music-wise they are not afraid to try out something different. “We had the legends Ear th Wind and Fire performing as a ten-people live band. We try to do something that attracts the people that maybe would otherwise not come here. So we do not stick too much to the Ibiza sound.” And yes, the cer tain Cafe Del Mar soundtrack also plays a par t, while also adapting. “Yes, we do still have par t of that combined with trends that fit in Phuket. We have adapted a bit after the first season to the trends that fit Phuket. Also, we are a huge place with different customers. So we do some Latino music and the weekend pool parties we go a lot more commercial than that; we have broadened it up to different kinds of music while certainly not playing 36 ScandAsia • November 2019
EDM. We try to attract also people from Patong,” explains Kimmo. In that regard CDM Phuket offers a free shuttle between Kamala beach and Patong. To enjoy their sun beds guests pay a minimum of spending on food and drinks, with a price var ying depending on what day and the
season. Food includes a wide selection of Thai, wester n including Mediterranean cuisine, and sushi, paired with popular drinks like rosé wine, champagne and cocktails. Their Sunday Brunch is now also gaining momentum in popularity on the island, which is extended into pool parties in the late afternoon. Aside Thais and expats, Russians are their biggest group of visitors, followed by French and Australians, other Asians and Europeans. While there are usually many Swedes in par ticular on long stay especially in Kamala, the Nordic market is not a special focus for CDM Phuket. “We do not focus on it, but we do have Scandinavians guests and it’s always nice to have Nordic people here; they are good customers to have. Some Finnish people already know that we have Finnish management too, and visit us as guests.”
Phuket Lifestyle
Patong’s past and present inspire chef Morten Nielsen Danish chef Morten Nielsen is back in Thailand, after his most recent stint with Dusit Thani Guam Resort in remote Micronesia. But Morten has now been for a bit over a year on the much more accessible island of Phuket, as Executive Chef for Hotel Indigo Phuket Patong, There, he is part of introducing five-star dining, as an essential ingredient in this amazing design hotel, situated in Patong proper! Text & Photos: Joakim Persson
M
or ten is known for his involvement in the fusion food movement and love for Thai cuisine, including a prestigious previous role with Thailand hotel chain Dusit’s Benjarong Royal Thai cuisine restaurants. “I’ve been taught classic techniques and classic French cuisine. But during my whole career I’ve been a bit of European and a bit of Asian – I used to work in fusion restaurants so I like the mix of everything. And that was beneficial when I started here; that I not only cook French, Italian or Spanish but a little bit of different
things. It’s been a fun time and a fun opening.” He is now on a new adventure with InterContinental Group, where he has been hands-on since preopening stage in conceptualizing the new hotel’s F&B outlets. “There are so far only four Indigo hotels in Southeast Asia, the first one opened in Bali, followed by Bangkok, Singapore and Phuket. It’s a luxury lifestyle brand; small scale but very much design-focused so there’s a thought-process on everything. We have three major influences on everything that is in this hotel, taken
from Patong’s neighbourhood: forest, fishing village and nightlife,” explains Morten. Seafarers came to this jungle island for the first time over 500 years ago and before tourism fishing dominated as livelihood.Then charter tourism grew and Patong develop into nightlife-driven beach resor t with a reputation as a nest of sin. “From the three influences, and focusing on steaks in our Butcher’s Garden, for example I found some beautiful tattooed steak knives, which reflects Patong’s nightlife.” The all-day dining Butcher’s November 2019 • ScandAsia 37
Phuket Lifestyle
Garden includes and innovative butcher room that the Dane compares to a “walk-in closet room”. “We have a dry-age cabinet and a deli fridge. Some of the pieces we cut to order and you can choose your meat so you see what you get. I have for instance ten pieces of rib eye and you can choose which ribeye you want.” The idea with this is to offer full transparency and interaction. Guests can also choose their own wine bottle. “People want to see what they
get, that it’s done correctly and freshly made. And they want to see where their food comes from. I put up a couple of posters so that when they ask for a rib-eye, I can explain a bit where it comes from. And it’s very much experience-driven with our open kitchen; you are welcome to have a look and see for yourself that it’s a real flame from charcoal giving the meat its flavor. People love to have this kind experience when they go out dining, and it’s something fun for kids as well to see how we do things.”
He also points out that the restaurant is not focusing only on steaks but on everything; wine, other cuisine and casual service. Facing the road the hotel also offers Pots, Pints & Tikis - a casual street-front tiki bar, serving authentic craft beer, unique cocktails and small bites with both indoor and alfresco dining options. From the hotel one can access its bar section through a hidden door in the wall. “My focus right now is to give more knowledge and to teach our guests, about what they are actually eating. I think it’s important that people know what it is they’re eating, where it comes from so they know it’s actually sustainable, and from Thailand. Pretty much everything in this restaurant is sustainable because Indigo is about the neighbourhood and supporting it, nurturing it. The community is about all of us. I think that’s fun and what makes Hotel Indigo Phuket Patong a great place too because it’s not only about us, but about our neighbours, including the restaurants next door.”
/new chapter/
As for Patong Morten agrees that the hotel is definitely something 38 ScandAsia • November 2019
Phuket Lifestyle
new; the whole concept and level of quality and design that the Indigo hotel represents. And it is part of the makeover Patong is undergoing. “There is a huge clean-up to make Patong a more interesting place for families and more people to come to. We at Indigo and couple of our competitors have raised the bar for people coming to Patong in terms of choices. Now you can stay in a nice hotel, without going into the crazy life of Bangla road.” “These hotels bring a new life into Patong, but of course change
People want to see what they get and that it is done correctly.
does not happen overnight so people need to realise that there are some good, new things happening in Patong now, and that there are those genuinely contributing to changing the perception of why one should visit this destination.” Within five year s from now Mor ten thinks its reputation will have transformed thanks to the new hotels and offerings for visitors. Having been there for a little over a year there he can see himself staying for a longer while at this hotel, though there will certainly be many other offers for a chef of his experience. “There are lots of opportunities and it’s about finding the right match. Here we can now start reaping the harvest of what we’ve done during the pre-opening and opening stages; we can see if the concept works or not. In the beginning people gets to know you and then they start coming again, which means that people like what you are doing. And having passed ten months we’re not in the opening face anymore; now we’re running a hotel and the impact of our efforts should be visible.” November 2019 • ScandAsia 39
Education & Parenting
Where are you from, third culture kid? By Anita Barot
H
elping your third culture kid answer the question of where they come from with a smile can be quite a challenge. Many children struggle with their status of being a third culture kid but there are ways in which parents can support them. InterNations member Anita has some advice for you. Bangkok is a cosmopolitan city where the culture of children is often in contrast to their race, ethnicity, or country of origin. Children may appear to be from a certain country of origin by their features, but they have often lived away from that home country for a majority of their childhood. These children are called “Third Culture Kids” (TCK). Their experiences tell us a different story about what is home to them. A child may have been born in Germany, but be able to speak Chinese, German, English, and Thai. This child may have gone to school in four different countries. When he goes back to Germany, he may feel odd and be unable to relate to his peers. For example, he may refer to specific multicultural experiences that his friends cannot relate to. When he comes back to his host country, he is much more comfortable because his experience is shared by others like him.
What makes a TCK?
A third culture kid is defined as a person who has spent a significant par t of his or her developmental About Anita Barot Anita Barot is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist now practicing in Bangkok and Singapore. She has more than 10 years of experience counseling children, adults, couples, and families to help them communicate better, resolve conflict, and overcome challenges in their personal and professional lives. To learn more, email info@ lotustherapy.com. 40 ScandAsia • November 2019
years outside the parent’s culture. The TCK frequently builds relationships to all the cultures while not having full ownership in any. TCKs’ lives are characterized with high mobility and traveling between different worlds (according Pollack, Growing up Among Worlds, 1999). While being a TCK has challenges, there are many things parents can do to help children and adolescents find success in their emerging cultural identity. TCKs have not developed their basic value system, sense of identity, and establishment of core relationships with family and friends in their home culture so they often look to their host country to figure out how to behave in different contexts. TCK kids have to comprehend the rules in each country in order to better adapt to each new background. As a result, it takes longer for them to develop their personal identity because they have to deal with more changes and then have to synthesize the information from the past with their current life.
Help your child adjust to being a TCK
While it is exciting for individuals to live abroad and see new things, it’s also a huge loss for them as they have had to say so many “good-byes”. Some of the things kids have said regarding the TCK experience are: “I don’t know what home is. It’s confusing. I hope someone does not ask where I am from because I don’t know what to say.” “Out of the blue, I feel a sense of sadness and I can’t explain why.” “I am not sure where I am going to be next year. I am not sure how much to invest because I will be leaving”. What can you as parents do to help your child deal with transition and change as you make another move to a new country? A few suggestions based on years of experience with counselling follow:
Provide empathy
Empathy means trying to understand what it is like to
Education & Parenting
It takes longer for TCKs to develop their personal identity because they have to deal with more changes and synthesize their past with their current life.
be in someone else’s shoes. Empathy is not just saying the words but really conveying your understanding by asking questions, listening, and being there through the child’s pain. For example, if your child misses his old friends and does not want to move to a new country. He might even be angry, acting out, and mad about moving. The non-empathetic response would be: “You will make new friends like you always do. Do not worry about it. You will be at a better school with nicer facilities. We have to move because of my job. I thought you understood that.” A more empathetic approach is: “I know that it is hard to miss your friends and I get it. I am sorry we have to
leave and we will do our best to come back and keep in touch with your friends. What kind of activities do you want to do with your friends before you leave? I know that they are very important.” It is important to acknowledge their feelings as real so they feel like they can talk to you when they are sad, and that your children feel validated for their experience.
Help synthesize their experiences from the past
You can talk about their different experiences in each country. Since a child has experienced change, what helps is that you are talking about his/her experiences and that you are emotionally supporting them through the changes. What hurts a TCK child the most is that they can feel alone and misunderstood by so many people. They have had a life that is unrecognizable to many who live in their home country or their host country. If parents can show a child that they are genuinely interested in the child’s feelings, it will convey love, trust, and affection. Many times the parents do not want to know because they are experiencing their own grief and guilt for what has happened in the past. The truth is that the more you are open to talking about their experiences, the better it is for you, your child, and your relationship with one another.
Be clear about your future plans
We tend to be protective of our kids because we do not want to hurt them so we postpone the news of moving so they are not hurt or anxious. If you do not tell your child, they cannot trust you and are more anxious about what is going to happen. It is important to be honest and share what is happening so they can feel a sense of control. When a child has some notice about the fact that they are leaving, they can process their feelings of loss November 2019 • ScandAsia 41
Education & Parenting
and can have time to mourn what has been left behind. Sometimes your child is “fine” and does not feel any sadness at the moment. That is okay too as long as you continue to check-in and notice other signs of how they are processing their feelings. It is impor tant for your child to have a chance to say “good-bye” in whatever way they can. As parents, you can ask the following questions: • How would you like to say good-bye? • How do you want to mark this transition? • Do you want to draw a picture? • Do you want to take pictures and make an album? • Do you want to do individual activities with specific friends? • Do you want to do a party? • What ritual do we do the night before we leave?
Model appropriate behavior
How can I model to my child about how to deal with change? You have to model by immersing yourself in your new culture. You can make friends and appreciate new things in your environment. It is not easy for the accompanying spouse who has had to give up one’s career to say good-bye to their friends and family, and start fresh. Children might pick up on these feelings from their parent and act out. It is important for parents to show their kids how to talk about personal experiences and have a better outlook on possibilities. It is natural to experience anger, frustration, and loss when you move. How can we move from the anger to a place of enjoyment and fulfillment? That happens when you acknowledge the loss, identify your needs, and discover ways to fulfill your needs. For your kids, it will help if 42 ScandAsia • November 2019
you plan play dates and help them find people in the community that they feel a connection to. It does not in any way substitute the friends they had, but it helps them channel their feelings of loneliness and longing by developing new connections.
The upsides of being a TCK
Finally, you should stress that being a TCK is a gift because he or she has a chance to learn valuable lessons that cannot be taught. For example, travelers tend to get frustrated when they visit countries and find that they are not able to shop during the middle of the day. According to David C. Pollack, “TCKs understand that this custom not only helps people survive better if the climate is hot, but it’s a time when parents greet the children as they return from school and spend time together as a family. Many TCKs learn to value relationships above conveniences as they have lived in such places and it is a gift they carry with them wherever they may go”( Third Culture Kids: Growing up Among Worlds, 1999). They are highly adaptable and learn things quickly due to high mobility and many cross cultural transitions. TCKs think outside the box and are able to understand people from diverse backgrounds. In order for a child to thrive and take advantage of their international experiences, they need to be taken into consideration and be cared for as they deal with the confusion, anxiety, and grief. Third culture kids have the same needs as any child to be loved, valued, and to experience being a part of a loving community. As parents, you have the ability to help your child navigate through this difficult, challenging, and amazing experience by being open to the full range of emotions that can come up for your child as you start your next journey.
November 2019 • ScandAsia 43