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Improvisation can be fun
Improvisation is often considered to be acting
spontaneously or with imagination. It also can be fun as members and guests
learned at the Pattaya City Expats Club meeting on Sunday, June 5, at the
Amari’s Tavern by the Sea restaurant. Lisa Safran from Improve Consultants,
a San Francisco based company, while visiting friends in Pattaya brought her
charming self and expertise to demonstrate how improvisation can be used to
promote communication, active listening, creativity, and building trust.
New to the microphone is
member Pat Koester, to run the Open Forum of the PCEC meeting. In the Open
Forum you may find solutions to the many questions that arise when living in
the ‘Land of Smiles’.
After the usual opening announcements, Master of
Ceremonies Richard Silverberg introduced Lisa, a former Pattaya expat.
Lisa’s presentation, “Improvising Life,” involved a fun and interactive
experience for everyone. After many years as a classroom teacher and many
more years as a performer, Lisa has combined these two areas of expertise
into engaging workshops that she presents around the globe. She also
recently authored the book, Reading and Writing Come Alive: Using
Improvisation to Build Literacy.
Lisa started by mentioning that she was on Krabi in 2004
when the Tsunami hit. Fortunately, she was not injured, but came to the
realization that there were things she wanted to do in her life, such as do
more with her music, write a play, and live overseas. She said that she has
since substantially achieved those goals. In 2005 she lived in Thailand,
teaching at a local international school where the children were from all
over the world. It was there that she started using improvisation to aid in
the learning process. By introducing some games she inspired the children to
get to know one another and to become involved.
Since then, she has gone on to form her own company,
Improvisation Consultants, which uses improvisation workshops for
corporations and organizations to help their employees get to know each
other better, which leads to better understanding and communication. Too
often in the business world, people may work close together, but are often
isolated in their little cubicle and really don’t interact that much. By
introducing some “games” that all join in doing and involve improvisation,
it builds better communication, understanding, and mutual appreciation.
Lisa Safran from Improve Consultants, a San Francisco based company,
demonstrates to Pattaya City Expats members and guests how improvisation can
be used to promote communication, active listening, creativity, and building
trust.
Without further ado, Linda invited everyone to join in
some games, not to be shy, and assured them they would find it a fun
experience. She started by asking everyone to get up and just walk around,
then she would call out a number and they should form groups of that number
and identify themselves using an adjective such as lovely Lisa. This process
was repeated with Lisa calling out a different number for new groups to form
and share what was their favorite thing about living in Pattaya. This was
followed by more interactive games involving various numbers of
participants. Lisa pointed out that these types of game are a good warm up
by meeting new people. These warm up exercises were followed by several more
such as pairing up and one person telling the other about their entire life
in 60 seconds then having the other person repeat it back to them in 30
seconds; a great way to improve communication and listening skills.
Another game was telling one word stories. This involved
a group telling a story; but each person could say only one word of the
story. So, one started with one word, the next person had to continue the
story by saying another word, and on to the next person and next, again with
each saying only one word to continue the story. Lisa concluded by thanking
everyone for participating and opened it up for questions. There were
several, but there were also some comments; one member said, “I don’t think
I have ever had this much fun at a meeting.”
Richard Silverberg then updated everyone on upcoming events and called on
Pat Koester to conduct the always informative and often humorous Open Forum
where everyone has an opportunity to ask and answer questions, recommend a
good restaurant or movie, or sometimes tell a joke.
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Mercy moves in Pattaya
Mercy Kids, dressed in pink
and smiling at the prospect of a new home.
Lyndy Moore Eggleton
Pattaya’s own NGO (charity), Mercy Center, this year
celebrates a decade of caring for the poor, abused, misused, abandoned and
orphaned people of Pattaya. To help celebrate, the Mercy offices are moving into
Pattaya City this June, marking a milestone as the administration building opens
in Duck Square, by Big C South, Soi 1 from Pattaya Tai.
A contractor works to finish the
tiles in the Mercy House girls bathroom.
Having got this far Mercy needs more professional help and a
helping hand from our readers by way of in-kind donations. In particular, an
intercom system (the office is on four floors… long way to shout), lockable
cabinets to house the increasing number of files of private & confidential
paperwork provided by the authorities for “at risk” children who come into Mercy
Care, and a work station for a new member of the volunteer team who needs an
up-to-date PC with all the accoutrements in order to maximize results in the
marketing and public relations corner.
It’s not just Thai children that benefit from the big hearts
of Dianne and Fred Doell, Mercy Center directors, and their hard working staff
and volunteers; Mercy Center folks open the door to those in need. So, it’s
great to know that their office has become more accessible (previously in Nong
Yai Soi 8). The Mercy Center Children’s Home is moving, too, and the Mercy
children will move out to enjoy the countryside and the purpose built house.
It’s a big job finishing the
grouting in the new Mercy House kitchen.
Mercy Center currently provides a home and loving care for
twenty high risk children with a new facility for a further thirty almost
completed. The Mercy/Pattaya Street Kids scholarship initiative provides funding
to enable over 220 students to attend school and the slum support project
provides basic foodstuffs and essentials for seventy families in Pattaya’s
poorest areas.
Mercy Center supporters have raised the funds to build the
house and now we’re asking you, our readers to help to make the Mercy House a
Mercy Home. A full list of “Needs” and “Wishes” is available by visiting Mercy
offices in Duck Square or by emailing: mercypr.lyndy @gmail.com
Meanwhile, if you’re not hoarding office equipment, here’s
another way you can help Mercy Center, by pledging cash or in kind, any of the
following “Needs” for their beautiful new kitchen. There are restaurants/bars
out there with “surplus to their needs”. Please make it work for those who truly
need. You’ll be glad you did!
Needs for the new Mercy Center
Children’s Home Kitchen
* Hobs (2)
* Large double oven
* Microwave oven
* Large double door refrigerator
* Stainless steel cooking pots + pans
* Large draining boards or trays
* Water cooler
* Storage cabinets for all cooking & serving items
* Storage cabinets for all dishes, glasses, cutlery, etc.
* Storage cabinets for all food supplies
* Assorted other crockery for salads/serving, etc.
To donate please call Dianne on 080 054 3287 and to find out
how you can help support any of the Mercy Center projects email: mercypattaya
@gmail.com & visit: www. mercypattaya.com
Mercy Center Offices, Moo 10-565/55, Duck Square, Soi 1, Pattaya Tai, (next
to Smile Dental)
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Brainforce exec outlines offerings at German-Thai chamber meeting
Elite
group with (from the left) German Consul Dr. Paul Strunk, club president
Rolf-Dieter Daniel, Monika and Eberhard Podleska, Vicky Strunk and Dr. Ramin
Yachkaschi.
Peter Weinkelter
Thailand’s top executive with Zurich-based Brainforce
International, speaking at the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce’s latest
meeting, showed how foreign businesses can set up new distribution channels,
dealerships, and service operations.
Sukhavichai Dhanasundara, country manager for the Swiss
consulting and employment service, said Brainforce doesn’t only offer
advice, like many consultants, nor simply supply staff. He told those
attending the May 20 “Stammtisch” session at the Moon River Pub, “(the
company) delivers clear results by fulfilling corporate needs.”
Brainforce, he said, assists firms in setting up
distribution channels and dealerships, sales and service operations,
planning, organizing, manning and operational setup and commissioning of
offshore facilities.
Sukhavichai found considerable interest among chamber members who posed
numerous questions. With the business-talk done, the chamber members
adjourned to enjoy the buffet. Following the meal, Moon River’s Power Jam
Band played for those assembled.
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