My Lovely Corporate !

Today Blog, I would like to share about corporate culture at my workplace.

When you face to the big problem at your workplace, what will you do?

Unfortunately, it just was happen to me. I faced to the big problem with my clients. The issue is a bit long story, but it can summarize that all it was because of my mistake. At the time, I was ready to get a big complaint from both side of Boss and clients. However, my boss didn’t blame me much, she just tell me to be aware for next time and said that the problem occurred for us to solve. I could tell the truth that I want to cried and it make me felt shame about what I did!

When I thought about corporate culture lesson at class, I realized that corporate culture is the big issue in daily life. Normally, people stay at workplace more than family and home, so if we feel comfortable and happy to work, we can stay longer at that place like second home and have positive attitude toward our corporate. And I would like to say like that “I stay at warmth home now with my lovely co-workers and I will work and stay as long as I still value for my corporate.”

KARAOKE

Today blog, I would like to share my experience at workplace. As I mentioned previous blog, I work as senior customer services representative at services office rental with International clients. Just last week, I had chance to hang out with Japanese clients who will terminated their contract and move out from our office very soon. Therefore, he offered us a farewell party at Karaoke restaurant. Just before went to a party , I thought about movies that Dr. Jeremy shared us in class about culture of Japanese that they love to relax by singing karaoke and strange dancing style. At that time, I could not imagine how the party looks like? After a farewell party, I can summarized to you guy that my Japanese client is so lovely, even he could not sing Thai song and did not know the meaning but he still enjoyed the party and dance following his style! (so cute) which at that time I think over that it might be Japanese culture that they really like to spend their free time in the place that can make them relax. Therefore, karaoke places should be the best choice for them and now I also realize the reason why in Japan they have many karaoke places around city. In my opint of view, nowadays I think that many prople hang out at Karaoke become more and more popular in Thai culture as well. And at Karaoke place, all can have fun with the big group and no limit ages and genders.

My Name is Nichkhun, I Come From Thailand

You might wonder why this blog is talking about Mr. Nichkhun. Do you know him? But I’m sure you will! (If you are Asian) Since 2006, Mr. Nichkhun attended the Korean Wave festival in LA and he was scouted by JYP Entertainment’s casting team. Nowadays, Mr. Nichkhun becomes a Thai pop singer active in South Korea. He is a member of the boy band 2PM. if you still don’t know much about him, that’s fine , but I just want to tell you that 2PM band is very popular and famous in South Korea. Last week, 2PM band just received award of the best male group from MAMA (Mnet Asian Music Award). Therefore if you still don’t know him, but you will know that how popular he is!

Because he is Thais so it’s no doubt that Thais proud in him. He is a new presenter of TAT and many advertising here. With my point of view, as we knew how Korean wave influences many Asian countries, especially Thailand. As well as Mr. Nichkhun is a good representative of Thais to present our culture to other; even though it‘s a little thing, but now youth in South Korea knew how to say Sawassdee and Chan rak Khun (I love you). Moreover, they also want to come to travel in Thailand to visit the hometown of their superstar. I think that Thailand received many advantages from this boy, Mr.Nichkhun!

Hang Out Custom !

Last week, I just had chance to hang out with my lovely American clients. Then, I just had learnt about the different customs of hang out or dinner with community in different country. I’m quite not sure if my understanding is right? But just want to share! Has someone might or might never curious about it previous!

Do we notice that foreigners always make appointment with community before hang out or dinner? And the invitee needs to confirm in advance because they need to make a reservation at the place and inform other how many people will join? What time? Even, it’s just a party with close friends or other! And normally, they will be on time.

How about Thais? Normally, we do not to make any appointment in advance if it doesn’t exactly formal. We just call friends to hang out 1 day before or on that day by last minute. Even, Thais are in the party already, they still can invite other to join? And for the time, if Thais come late to the party, its normal occurs.

So, what do you think? Please share :)

Merry Christmas

Every year on December 25, Thais will celebrate on Christmas day with exchange gifts from friends to friends; hang out in the night time, decorate Christmas theme around country. Nevertheless, whoever knew exactly meaning of celebrating? I’m sure that less than half knew how important of this day, even me as well. I just found briefly history of Christmas day for our understanding.

“Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus. The important thing is that he was born, and his nominal birth date of December 25th seems as good as any to celebrate his birth and his message. It also a wonderful catalyst for enjoying the precious and simple pleasures of being, if only for a brief time, close together in the warm familiarity of friends and family, renewing relationships and sharing memories”.

By the way, even we are Thais who didn’t have any related with Christian religious, but we still joining and celebrate with no doubt. It is such a great customs to learn and share !

Finally, I would love to say "Merry Christmas To Everyone"

Learn Culture Lesson on Spanglish Movies

Last night, I watched one interested movie “Spanglish”. Actually, it was out to date but I just had chance to watch on Cable TV.

The plot summary is about “Married couple John and Deborah Clasky has their mundane lives forever changed when a fiery new housekeeper, Flor, and her intelligent daughter step into their home. Although Flor and John do not share a common language, Flor speaks only Spanish and John speaks only English, they soon find themselves romantically attracted to each other. This connection acts as a catalyst for both John and Flor to reevaluate their lives and motivates them to solve their respective family problems.”

I think it is a good idea to learn culture differences lesson on main characters. As we knew, each culture is different and complicated. The way to understand another from a different cultural background, it must give truly focus on spending time, open minded conversation. Live their life, feel their emotions, connect with and shared understanding.

Influences of Korean Culture in Thailand!

Since Korean Trend arrived to Thailand. It’s hard to deny that Korean fever is hot commodity in all kinds of entertainment whether is in music, or TV series. Nowadays, if we want to be in trend, we need to modify Korean look; such as hair styles, big eye contact lens and so on.

In my point of view, I think the Korean trend is very outstanding in Thailand because of fashion. In common, the trend will go pretty fast. Previous, the Eurasian trend was in before and people loved it and now Korean. Soon Japanese trend will come back again!

I’m not saying it’s not a good thing to be in trend and follow it. But one thing that will never change is our Thai culture and look. I’m proud to be Thai. I think the highlight about me is my smile. The kind of quality that all Thais’ possess, that’s why we’re called the land of smile.

Do Thais Learn Culture From Soap Operas?

Thai soap opera (Lakorn) is one of the most popular programs on television. It attracts huge audiences. Last long until nowadays; the prime time is committed to Thai soap operas on every channel. As we knew, most of Thai soap opera plots are similar in every series; for example, a hero must be extremely rich and a heroine must be extremely poor but beautiful which are so obviously different from usual but they will always happy in the end of series. Even though we knew it; but Thais are still addicted to Thai soap operas and learn to imitate some behavior from series as their culture. Like me, I also want to have beautiful face and shape like heroine, rich husband, perfect family, happy love life and etc….

It hard to escape that we were trained those belief and think from Thai soap opera, isn’t it? Who said that thin shape, white skin will make lady become beautiful? To success in love life, do we need to marry only with rich husband? In my point of view I do not want to say that Thais are losing touch with reality and find it difficult to think critically now, but it’s not immoral to dream to have a wonderful life but on the other hand we should always keep in mind that we are stay in the real world.

Corporate Culture of Flight Attendant Recruitment

Have you heard about corporate culture of recruiting fight attendant in some airline?

This is not my personal experience but my close friend shared it to me when she was one of final round recruiting of Japan and Emirates airline.

She was sitting in final round with 12 candidates, in that situation, candidates were asking questions related about hospitality cases and how to due with it! My friend is the one who presented herself very well to clarify the way to solve cases and shared a lot opinion. Unfortunately she didn’t get the job.
By the way, she still keeps walking in this field. Eventually, she got the job at Emirate airline as Flight attendant. The way she answered in final round of recruiting was exactly like Japan airline occurred.

When, she had chance to share opinion with colleagues in airline. Then, she just knew that occurred was corporate culture from each airlines. In JAL, you do not need to share opinion much; it will present that you are too aggressive. In contrast, emirates airline recruiting, candidates need to show how confident and genius you are!

It is not that easily to learn corporate culture when you are working! But it must the thing that you need to learn and adapt yourself to be like your corporate .Then, you can work happily wherever workplace you are!

Belief As Psychology

Belief = the psychological state in which an individual holds a proposition or premise to be true

Most Thai people are Buddhists and their beliefs are very important to them. Therefore it was hard to deny trusting in belief.

I've heard these things from old people (Our Generation), Have someone heard about….?

DO NOT Cutting nail in the night time, otherwise it will bring you bad luck! Like cutting your family ties, cutting your luck etc…

DO NOT Singing a song while have meal, otherwise you will get old man soul mate!

Also, if you are going out on an important trip to do some important business, DO NOT step out of the house using your right foot!

What else, there are so many!! Will someone believe and follow? Is it NON-SENSE?

Once day, I found the article related about Thai Belief on journal. I was surprised our generation psychological’ ideas in genius way. They created those beliefs just to cover against for their lineage and the belief stuff has reasons behind. It is quite pleasurable to learn about them.

Like cutting nail in the night time, you may injure because it is too dark!

Singing a song while have meal, food or rice may stick in a throat! And so on....

With my opinion, to be a little bit trust in belief is okay! It sort of adds a bit of fun to life and reminds us to be carefully in our step of life. If it’s too much, it might annoying our lifestyle.

Because We Are Thais !

Question:

1. If someone asks for your assistant to do something, Could you say NO?
2. If someone invites you to join party or have dinner together, Could you say NO?
3. If you get trouble with someone, Could you blame or walk away from that person right away?
4. If someone asks to borrow something from you, Could you say NO immediately?

Answer: If you could not reject or say NO right away, BE my guests “You Are Thais”

Even me, I also could not reject or say NO on those questions. I do not understand why Thais do not say NO if they disagree or do not want to do that thing. It just because of “Kreng Jai” (Considerate), on English dictionary cannot describe meaning of this word exactly, only considerate which cannot clarify well.

Nevertheless, Thais really fixes on “Kreng Jai” word, it might because of we were educated from our generation. It seems good because it could present how nice of Thais. On the other hand, Thais need to suffer and pressure to do what they exactly do not want to do or want to reject something but they cannot.

To complete this issue, I would like to share my view on word “Kreng jai” I always get trouble with this word because I never say no to someone who asks for my assistant. At my work place, I was requested to do everything without limit even buy stuff for housekeeping. Sometime, I felt bored and tired from work and study but I need to do! It is because I did not reject to do it at first!

Even though I knew that “Kreng Jai”word make me trouble sometimes, but the truth, I still could not change my behavior and I am sure that a lot Thais also could not change as well!

Culture Shock and Ways to Deal with it!

Have you ever heard about “Culture Shock”, when you go aboard or strange environment for some businesses; travelling, working or studying? And how you deal with it properly?

With my personal experience, when I went to Shanghai for business trip with my boss. Along the way to the meeting, I saw Chinese people talked with each other so loud. At first sight; I thought that they argued. On the other hand, it was normal conversation.

Culture shock refers to a personal’s reaction to living in a new environment. Some of the things that we are used to in own culture, may be very different: language, customs and traditions, holidays, values, behaviors and foods. It is common and even expected to feel confused and bothered when we enter another culture.

Anyhow, I also find some tips on how to deal with culture shock:

· Listen to what others are saying and try to understand what is going on around.
· Never hesitate to ask questions if you do not understand what is being said or the situation you are in.
· Observe how people behave in different situations, but do not make judgments based on your own cultural values.
· Keep an open mind: you are living in a different world!
· Read newspapers and magazines, watch movies - they provide good examples of culture.
· Show a sense of humor. Laughing at your own mistakes will ease your anxiety.

Farang (Foreign) Youths and Thai Youths

Since I was young, I thought about the differences between Foreign Youths and Thai Youths. I always wondered “Why Foreign Youths who are only 18 years old are different from us? (Thai Youths)” Foreign Youths are self-sufficient, they live without family control.

I got many answers from others who claimed that they knew the answer. Foreign families do not love each other as much as Thai families that why parents dare to liberate their children. The answer did not satisfy me, I disagreed. Because if we looked back at Thai families, youths who are 18 years old still could not do anything beneficial for their family, and are often a burden upon their parents.

At that time, I thought that it is my time to learn more about the real world. I applied to a Work and Travel Program in America for 3 months, when I was 19 years old. Finally, I got the answer when I lived alone without my family. I worked so hard, cooked food, etc…. No one woke me up in the morning, no breakfast prepared. Everything I had to do by myself. It was a very memorable time there. Eventually, I got the answer “how Foreign and Thai Youths differ!”

We are educated differently by our family based on each culture. Foreign Youths are educated to be ready for all circumstances that may occur. Thai youths are educated to respect seniority, eveything depend on their family and so on. There is nothing wrong with each way, only cultural differences. Where foreign youths seek to solve problems themselves, guided by parents, Thai youths get elders to solve the problems for them based on the elders experience.

Cultural Differences

With my current job, I work as Customer Services Representative at services office rental, International Company. By position, whatever I do, it must relate to clients whose come from many countries around the world. Actually, I’m quite familiar with this kind of job because I worked at hotel before. Even I always thought that hospitality job is my way, but I still get trouble sometimes.

Lastly, Indian client just moved in to our office. I really do not want to say something badly about my client. However, it might be okay if I did not present her name, so nobody knew whom.


Allow me to introduce her a bit; she is very beautiful lady as nature gift for Indian people. In contract, it opposed with her character and behavior. By the way, I knew how to please her well. It seems go smoothly without problem because whatever she wants I could provide immediately. Nevertheless, she still find the way to make us pressure as value client. When she speaks on phone, it seems like she has problem with her ear. Our office received a lot complaints from other clients, but she still never change. I just wonder why she did everything without consideration to other. As we are Thai; sometimes I thought it was just Indian culture but after many complaints from multi national clients, everyone says in every culture and for the moment of cross cultural world, it doesn't matter if you are Indian or where are you from but for getting together well you should share and care of others "You win, I win then We win"

My Profile :)

Name: Weeraya Sudsri
Nickname: Sine
Age: 27 years old
Culture: Modern Thai

Educational Background:

2008 – Present : Pursuing MCA Communication of Art, International Program
Bangkok University, Bangkok
2001 – 2005 : BA Humanities, English major and Hotel and
Tourism minor, Bangkok University, Bangkok

Work Background:

After I graduated BA since 2005, I started working in hospitality field. First, I worked at The Landmark Bangkok Hotel as Guest Relations Offices for 2 years. After that, I had a good chance to move to work at Royal Orchid Sheraton (5 stars hotel) for 1 and half year in the same position. When I decided to continue to study MCA, I had to resign from previous career as it was concerned with working time. In present, I work at Lampl Business Center Bangkok as Senior Customer Services Representative. Actually, my new career is ranking in hospitality field as well, but I can manage time to study MCA.

Expectations for the course:

People from different cultures encode and decode messages differently, increasing the chances of misunderstanding. Therefore, I really expect to gain new comprehension and valuable of intercultural communication and how it work! Furthermore, it will be a good time to participate in class to share opinion concerning intercultural communication with them.