ScandAsia October 2020

OCT 2020

INTERVIEW:

Helle Priess about DoerCircle

BUSINESS:

Norwegian Seafood exports strong

AGNETA’S WORLD:

Struer - where is that?

How to pick

a kindergarten,

preschool

or pre-prep school?

Realise your

ambitions in Asia.

Being the leading Nordic bank in Singapore we understand the unique challenges

you face when living and investing in Asia. As your partner, we will use our decades

of experience in the region to help you achieve your goals.

Contact us at singapore@seb.sg

Care for ambition

October 2020

14

Travelling to Thailand during

Covid times

ScandAsia

Stories

8 Finnair re-opening

more destinations

11 Ambassador in video

for Volvo

13 Philippines Embassy

meets Danish SMEs

17 SAS flying Copenhagen-

Shanghai again

One-stop solutions

for entrepreneurs

Helle Priess and her Doercircle

32

Struer - where is that?

36

8

11

46

Would Taiwan be an option?

Theme:

How to pick a kindergarten,

preschool or pre-prep school?

18

13

Crayfish Party 2020

48

17

4 ScandAsia • October 2020

Editorial

The fear..

Its in the middle of October in a few days. I have been

living in Thailand for the past 32 years. I am historically

interested and have always been following current

politics closely.

Today, it is time to write the monthly editorial for Scand-

Asia. All the news and features have been selected, all

the pages have been designed and approved. It is the last

piece to put in place before the magazine is “put to bed”

as we call it. What would be more natural than to write

about what happened in Thailand during the same month

many years ago when my first wife was still a highschool

student. Especially in the light of the recent student-led

demonstrations and the subjects, they have opened.

The reason that I have to abstain from this is probably

the saddest thing that has happened to the Thailand I

moved to live in and that became my country 32 years

ago. The fear.

“ … what kind of place are we living in when we cannot

simply voice our opinion? Life is diverse and so are opinions,”

her post read.

There are lots of things, I would like to write about this

October. I would like to share my story of when I was hiding

in the gutter in 1992 on Ratchadamnern Nok watching

Thai soldiers shoot other Thai people. I would like to

talk about how we believed it was all for the better as we

got the new constitution. My frustration when the rich

man corrupted the checks and balances mechanisms in

that constitution and we were deprived of the option to

remove him with the tools of democracy. My anger today

when my country has slipped so far back from its political

and economical leadership position in Asia, that I cannot

even publicly voice my opinion here in this editorial.

I hate my fear. Still I hold my breath.

“I’m tired of living in fear. Aren’t you?”

That was the question which the Thai-Swedish model

Maria Lynn Ehren, known professionally as Maria Poonlertlarp,

bravely wrote on her FaceBook page in the wake

of the blatant abduction and likely subsequent killing of

the exiled political activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit, who

went missing in Phnom Penh on June 4, 2020.

This fear was not here when I moved to Thailand. It has

been created, installed by some people against the rest

of the people.

Gregers Moller

Editor in Chief

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.

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.

Become a ScandAsia user/

get free digital ScandAsia magazine

or paid subscription via

www.scandasia.com!

Publisher :

Scandinavian Publishing Co., Ltd.

211 Soi Prasert Manukitch 29

Prasert Manukitch Road

Bangkok 10230, Thailand

Tel. +66 2 943 7166-8

Fax: +66 2 943 7169

E-mail: news@scandasia.com

Editor-in-Chief :

Gregers A.W. Møller

gregers@scandmedia.com

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Printing :

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Packaging Part., Ltd.


News brief

Finnair re-open

more destinations

New Danish

Ambassador

in Malaysia

The Royal Danish Embassy in

Malaysia welcomed on 21

September the new Ambassador

of Denmark, H.E. Ms. Kirsten Geelan.

“Today is her first day of work at

the Embassy after surviving a 2-week

quarantine upon her arrival here. We

wish her an enriching experience here

in Malaysia!” the Embassy said.

From 25 October, 2020,

Finnair will serve 45 domestic

and European destinations

with reduced weekly frequencies

on almost all routes. The airline’s

long-haul flights will focus on Tokyo,

Seoul, Hong Kong, Shanghai,

Nanjing and Bangkok, which are

also important cargo destinations.

On the Bangkok route, Finnair

flies passengers only on the BKK-

HEL leg. Finnair will also continue

cargo-only flights to Singapore

and New York.

Looking towards the summer

of 2021, Finnair plans to open

its new Busan route to South Korea

then. Finnair also intends to

start services to Tokyo Haneda

Airport during the summer. However,

flights to San Francisco in the

United States, Xi’an and Beijing

Daxing in China and Sapporo in

Japan will remain suspended.

In 2019, Finnair flew about

350 flights a day and had more

than 100 destinations in Europe,

Asia and North America. Finnair

is now scheduled to operate approximately

75 flights per day, and

it will continue to review its traffic

program based on estimated

demand.

“We continue to maintain

critical air connections for our

Europe-Asia transfer passengers

and for Finland,” says Ole Orvér,

Chief Commercial Officer, Finnair.

“The pandemic situation and

the related travel restrictions continue

to have a heavy impact on

demand for air travel, and thus it

is not feasible to operate all the

flights we in May planned for this

winter.”

The risk of cathing Covid inflight

seems to be very low.

“Looking at what has been

published on this topic in medical

publications, there is only one paper

that suggests a probable aircraft

transmission of SARS-CoV-2

in-flight,” says Finnair’s Medical

Director Kimmo Ketola.

“Naturally research continues

on this topic, but looking at

the evidence so far, the risk of

transmission in an aircraft seems

to be very low,” he says.

“Looking at the evidence so far, the risk of transmission in an aircraft seems

to be very low,” says Finnair’s Medical Director Kimmo Ketola.


Nobel Prize winners for 2020

News brief

The Norwegian Nobel Committee

decided to award the

famous Nobel Peace Prize

for 2020 to the World Food Programme

(WFP). The World Food

Programme is the world’s largest

humanitarian organization addressing

hunger and promoting food security.

In 2019, the WFP provided

assistance to close to 100 million

people in 88 countries who are

victims of acute food insecurity and

hunger.

Other prizes were:

Physics: The Royal Swedish

Academy of Sciences has decided

to award the Nobel Prize in Physics

2020 with one half to Roger Penrose

“for the discovery that black

hole formation is a robust prediction

of the general theory of relativity”

and and the other half jointly to

Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez

“for the discovery of a supermassive

compact object at the centre of our

galaxy”.

Chemistry: The Royal Swedish

Academy of Sciences gave this years

prize to Emmanuelle Charpentier

and Jennifer A. Doudna for having

discovered one of gene technology’s

sharpest tools: the CRISPR/

Cas9 genetic scissors. Using these,

researchers can change the DNA of

animals, plants and microorganisms

with extremely high precision.

Medicine: The Nobel Assembly

at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm,

Sweden awarded the 2020 Nobel

Prize in Physiology or Medicine

jointly to Harvey J. Alter, Michael

Houghton and Charles M. Rice “for

the discovery of Hepatitis C virus”.

Literature: The Swedish Academy,

Stockholm, Sweden, awarded

the Nobel Prize in Literature for

2020 to the American poet Louise

Glück “for her unmistakable poetic

voice that with austere beauty

makes individual existence universal”.

Louise Glück made her debut in

1968 with Firstborn, and was soon

acclaimed as one of the most prominent

poets in American contemporary

literature.

October 2020 • ScandAsia 9

News brief

H&M Monki opens two more stores

in the Philippines

Swedish fashion brand Monki

opened the doors to their very

first store in the Philippines in

SM Mega Fashion Hall on September

18 — which also happens to be

their very first store in Southeast

Asia. A week later, September 25,

they opened their second store in

SM Mall of Asia.

On its Facebook page, the

Swedish Embassy congratulated

H&M with the two openings.

In case you didn’t know, Monki

is H&M’s sister brand, and they’re

known for their cool-girl aesthetic

and picture-perfect stores. More

than just a place to shop for chic

new fashion pieces, Monki is also

popular for providing shoppers a

glamorous shopping experience —

their stores are usually decked out

in extravagant decor, shiny mirrors,

and more, making sure every corner

is an IG-worthy spot. The same can

be said for their first two branches

in the Phillippines.

Taiga Concept won Kauppalehti

Award in Finland

Tommi Lindbom, CEO, and Tapani

Laukkanen, Taiga’s co-founder

received the award.

The award is given in five different

locations to the best growth

company in each region. Tapani Laukkanen,

Taiga’s co-founder and Tommi

Lindbom, CEO, received the award.

Taiga Concept’s revenue in

2019 was 3,1 million euros (2018

€0,2M). The target revenue for the

year 2025 is 80 million euros.

“The workspaces are actively

being sold to Northern Europe,

which is the main market for us at

the moment. Sales in Asia are also

looking promising. In the next stage

we will concentrate on launching

sales in North America,” says Tommi

Lindbom.

Taiga Concept was founded in

2015 in Kuopio Finland based on the

idea to improve the working conditions

in open offices by reducing distractions

and boosting productivity.

The modular product portfolio consists

of minimalistic and functional

soundproof workspaces that can be

customized for any office.

The Finnish Chamber of Commerce

in Hong Kong congratulates

overseas corporate

member Taiga Concept on 30

September 2020. The Finnish brand

has won the Kauppalehti Award in

Finland due to it’s substantial growth.


Ambassador Fries appears

in video for Volvo Philippines

News brief

The Swedish Embassy released

on 6 October 2020 the latest

work of Ambassador H.E.

Harald Fries who joined Volvo Cars

Philippines’ Ride To Safety video. The

promotional VDO highlights their

newly renovated showroom with

the health and safety of their clients

in mind.

In the video, the ambassador

reveals that he has been a Volvo

owner for the past 25 years.

Please view the full “Ride To

Safety” video here:

https://youtu.be/VgBNshWEKpM

Enterprise Singapore and Innovation

Norway signed MOU

On 29 September 2020, Enterprise

Singapore and Innovation

Norway signed

a Memorandum of Understanding

(MOU) to strengthen innovation

collaboration between Singapore

and Norway in these priority sectors:

• The blue economy, including

maritime digitalisation and automation,

marine and offshore

technologies and applications,

and offshore renewables and

subsea;

• Sustainable urban solutions and

clean technologies, including hydrogen

value chain, decarbonisation,

energy efficiency and

transportation;

• Healthcare and biomedical sciences,

including digital health,

artificial intelligence (AI), hospital

IT and efficiency, telemedicine

and medtech solutions; and

• Agri- and food-tech and aquaculture,

including land-based

and floating enclosed recirculating

aquaculture system (RAS),

sustainable feed production,

resource-efficient urban agriculture,

and new food sources.


News brief

Two Nordic companies announce

ambitious targets

“At KONE, we have a key role

in making urbanization more

sustainable, and we believe that

sustainable business practices are a

requirement for long-term success,”

says Henrik Ehrnrooth, President and

CEO, KONE Corporation.

Below the Headquarters of Novo

Nordisk who have likewise set

ambitious goals for themselves.

Novo Nordisk announced

on 21 September 2020 an

ambitious target to ensure

that all its direct suppliers will by

2030 supply the company based on

100% renewable power. This commitment

is the next step in Novo

Nordisk’s ‘Circular for Zero’ environmental

strategy, which launched

in April 2019 and set an ultimate

ambition for the company to have

zero environmental impact.

A week later on 29 September,

KONE Corporation announced that

it has set science-based targets for

significant reductions in its greenhouse

gas (GHG) emissions by the

year 2030. KONE’s targets are the

most ambitious in the industry and

have been validated against the latest

climate science by the Science

Based Targets initiative (SBTi). In another

first for the industry, KONE

has pledged to have carbon neutral

operations by 2030.

For Novo Nordisk, the majority

of its total carbon emissions

originate in its supply chain, making

this commitment with suppliers on

renewable power integral to achieving

Novo Nordisk’s environmental

strategy. In achieving this target,

Novo Nordisk would therefore be

eliminating at least 300,000 tons of

greenhouse gases from its supply

chain. Novo Nordisk has already

committed to achieve zero CO2

emissions from the company’s own

global operations and transport by

2030 and, in 2020, achieved the target

of using 100% renewable power

across its global production.

KONE commits to a 50% cut

in the emissions from its own operations

(scope 1 and 2 emissions) by

2030, compared to a 2018 baseline.

This target is in line with limiting

global warming to 1.5°C, which is

currently the most ambitious criteria

for setting science-based targets. In

addition, KONE targets a 40% reduction

in the emissions related to

its products’ materials and lifetime

energy use (scope 3 emissions) over

the same target period, relative to

orders received.

For both companies, the environmental

challenges they have adopted

have put them on Corporate

Knights’ 2020 Global List of the 100

Most Sustainable Corporations in

the World.


News brief

Philippines Embassy

Copenhagen actively connects

Danish SMEs to Philippines

Networking meeting with the Danish Fish

Tech Cluster represented by Lars Siggaard

Andersen (by the door) and three midwater

trawling companies, Comet Trawl, Thyboron

Trawldoor and Hirtshals Yard.

Ambassador Leo Herrera-Lim

shared investment opportunities

to the Philippines during

a networking event with Danish

SMEs in Copenhagen on 15 September.

He met with vessel suppliers,

a biotechnology company and

commercial ventilation producers

during networking sessions facilitated

by Andersen Consult ApS.

The Ambassador highlighted

the Philippines’ growing appetite for

premium products that Denmark

could offer.

Ambassador Leo Herrera-Lim shares his insights with Danish SME’s on market

growth and investment opportunities to the Philippines.


Travelling to Thailand

with Covid-restrictions

The process can be different in other countries and the Thai

embassies there. Rules and requirements can also change,

so always consult the Royal Thai Embassy in your country

to get the proper and updated information.

Jonas Lindholm from

a trip last year to

Kanchanaburi – in

the carefree, pre-

Covid times.

By Jonas Lindholm

Business in Siam

Below information is based on my personal

experience from getting myself from Sweden

to Thailand August 2020.

1) Pre-conditions

First, understand that all commercial flights are banned

from landing in Thailand at present. If you search for flights

on the internet, you will find available flights in the near

future but those will be cancelled as long as the flight ban

remains. If you book your own flight you will end up with

a lot of hazzle to get your money back.

So, the only way to get on a flight is to get a “Certificate

of Entrance” issued by the Royal Thai Embassy in

the country where you are. In Sweden you can contact

the Thai embassy in Stockholm or the consular in Gothenburg.

You must have one of the below mentioned visa and

requirements to apply;

Business visa & Work permit

O-Visa (family visa)

Permanent resident status

Elite Visa


If you have any of above, you can apply for a “Certificate

of Entrance” CoE to Thailand and a seat on a

repatriation flight.

If you don’t, just forget it. You simply have to wait

until Thailand opens up their borders again.

2) How to apply

Contact the embassy, they are often very busy on the

phone and do not always reply through email, so the

best way is to visit the embassy and talk to them during

their business hours. They will check that you fulfill

the pre-conditions mentioned above and let you fill in a

declaration form.

Thereafter they will request more documentation

as I will describe further on. Keep a copy of the declaration

form, you will need it onwards.

3) Supplementary documents

In my case, having Business Visa & Work permit, the embassy

later requested more supporting documents such

as;

Employment contract

Company registration of the employer

4) Visa extension

In my case my Visa was close to expire so I had to apply

for a new Business Visa. This required more documents

such as;

Application form, can be downloaded from the

embassy’s homepage http://thaiembassy.se/en/visa/visaapplication-form/

Invitation letter from the employer

Copy of my work permit

Tax declarations and receipt

New taken photographs

Paid application fee to the embassy

My passport in original

Postage fee to return my passport

In my case I was in the south of Sweden, 700 km

away from the embassy but I did not have to visit the

embassy, even though it required some work to prepare

all documents.

The application form, Passport and photos had to

be posted in original to the embassy. All other documents

were emailed to the embassy.

5) Alternative State Quarantine

Hotel, ASQ

All people Thai or Non-Thai nationals are required to

first stay 14 days in strict quarantine when arriving to

Thailand and during the quarantine period pass two

negative Corona tests and daily temperature checks.

These 14 days are counted only as full days which means

you will stay 15 nights.

Thai nationals can stay in state quarantine while

Non-Thais have the only option to stay at on of the

roughly 40 licensed “Alternative State Quarantine hotels”,

ASQ.

You must book and pay for the ASQ yourself and

present a booking confirmation to the embassy.

This was one of the trickiest part of the process,

mainly because the embassy could not confirm the flight

date but anyhow required a booking confirmation. So, I

did a booking based on my own guessing and made sure

that the hotel accepted to change date or refund if they

didn’t have available room at the new date.

Most of the listed ASQs were fully occupied so that

took days of phone calls, emailing and LINE conversations

before I finally could make a booking. In my case price

was 35.000 baht for 2 weeks of quarantine including food,

airport transportation and corona tests. This is in the

lower price range, there are more exclusive alternatives

for 100.000 baht and more.

Later when my flight date was confirmed I asked the

ASQ to change my date but they didn’t have any rooms

available that date. So, I had to start searching again for

another available ASQ hotel. At this time, it was even

more occupied and started to get stressed that I now

had a flight but not a room for quarantine.

Below official Facebook page lists all available ASQ

hotels and notifies when newly licensed hotels are listed,

this helped me a lot. I decided to monitor this FB page for

basically 24h per day and as soon as a new hotel popped

up, I called them directly, so I was probably their first guest

booking with them.

https://www.facebook.com/Alternative-State-

Quarantine-105755234490444/

Send the ASQ booking confirmation to the

embassy

6) Insurance

Another requirement to get the Certificate of Entrance

is to have a Travel-/Health insurance that covers Covid-19

up to at least 100.000 US dollars.

This insurance shall be valid for at least the same

periods as your visa.

Depending on your situation there are different

alternatives;

– If you have an employment, ask your existing insurance

company to issue a confirmation letter saying that

you are insured under a policy that covers Covid-19 up

to 100.000 USD.

– If you need to buy a separate insurance you may

contact a Travel insurance broker in your home country.

In sweden I was in contact with https://www.gouda-rf.se

however they could not help me because I do not have

my registered residence in Sweden


– If you cannot get a Covid-19 insurance in your

home country your option is to get one from an insurance

broker in Thailand. In my case I found a suitable solution

with Luma health insurance represented by below

supportive broker.

The price was 15.000 THB for 12 months. Send the

insurance certificate to the Embassy.

7) Flight ticket

In my case I was booked on a repatriation flight with Thai

Airways departing from Kastrup Airport Copenhagen/

Denmark.

The repatriation flights are all one-way-tickets, you

cannot buy return ticket. The cost was 7.400DKK, roughly

10.000 SEK.

I received payment instructions from the embassy

for how to do the transfer to Thai Airways Denmark. A

few days after I received a confirmation of the payment

and the ticket was issued. R. Print the flight ticket

8) Covid-19 test & “Fit to fly

certificate”

There are two doctor’s certificate you need to prepare

yourself without the embassy’s support and involvement;

Fit to fly certificate

Covid-19 certificate

Both above certificates must be maximum 72 hours

old at departure. I was informed that those 72 hours are

counted from the time stamp when the Covid-19 sample

is taken (not time stamp for the lab test or when the

certificate is issued).

This became an issue for me because I was flying

out on a Sunday and the clinics normally don’t work on

weekends. And above that, the clinics in southern Sweden

could not guarantee answer within 24 hours. So, I found

out that there where two possible clinics I could use;

– Medicinska intyg, Stockholm https://www.medicinskaintyg.se

24 hours answering time after sample

– Airport doctor, Copenhagen airport https://www.

airportdoctor.dk 1 (one hour only) answering time after

sample

Of course, the Airport doctor was the most convenient

for me who was flying from Copenhagen, even

though expensive, 4.000 SEK for the two certificates

together.

9) Certificate of Entrance – CoE

When you have supplied the embassy with all documents

(except the doctor’s certificates), the embassy will issue

your Certificate of Entrance and send to you by e-mail.

Color print the CoE certificate

10) Documents to prepare before flight

• Color print all documents you have received by

e-mail

• Scan all documents you have in original

• I was recommended to have 3 sets of all documents

prepared before flight (in case they keep

documents both at check-in and arrival) but that

showed not to be needed. The only document they

kept was the CoE which the authorities kept at

arrival in Bangkok.

You shall have the following documents prepared as

above before check-in;

I. Flight ticket, 9.N

II. Certificate of entry CoE, 11.P

III. Insurance certificate, 8.M

IV. Doctor’s Covid-19 certificate, 10.O

V. Doctor’s Fit to Fly certificate, 10.N

VI. Declaration form, 4.E

VII. ASQ Booking, 7.L

At the check-in counter at the airport you need to

bring and present all the listed documents above, if not

complete, they will not let you onboard.

11) Conclusion

All together I spent roughly 30.000 SEK/110.000 THB

to get myself back to Thailand, and then I must spend 2

weeks here in strict quarantine. The two weeks before

flight, I spend lots of time on investigation, information

search, travels to Stockholm, phone calls, e-mails and

frustration. All documents I received had to be reviewed

in detail and I found many errors that had to be corrected

several times.

The quarantine stay here means I spend 23 hours

per day in my room. Luckily there is WiFi so Facebook

and Netflix is heavily used. Phone calls with friends is also

a common activity. I have at present done half-time so

starting to count down soon.

In my case I had business reasons to go back, if not,

and with the experience I have made today, I doubt, I had

done it.

12) Other useful links & tips

Make sure you have;

– a well working color printer available at home

– a Skype phone number or similar so you can make

cheap phone calls to Thailand – or a Thai assistant who

can support you with the ASQ booking or needed documents

from Thailand.

Links

Thai expats stranded overseas due to Covid-19

https://www.facebook.com/groups/27582199

0252759/

Official ASQ website

http://www.hsscovid.com/?fbclid=IwAR1zYO2M9b

BIDNI19B1zHxSzNE3ueSLhDH_ncPCFyFe9Bg YYDIQ-

SukUNU9w

Click as below for listed hotels in English

Author:

Jonas Lindholm, Business in Siam

Written in quarantine, Bangkok 2020-08-25


News brief

SAS re-opening route

Copenhagen - Shanghai

From 29 September, it will once

again be possible to fly direct

from Scandinavia to China

with SAS. There have been no direct

flights since 31 January, but SAS

has now obtained approval from the

Chinese authorities and is reopening

the route from Copenhagen to

Shanghai with a weekly frequency.

SAS will operate the Shanghai

route using the new Airbus 350.

This state-of-the-art aircraft will enable

SAS to offer a unique travel

experience. The aircraft has a much

lower fuel consumption and up to

30 percent lower CO2 emissions

than previous comparable aircraft.

The reopening of the route is

vital for trade. With the reopening

of the route, SAS is aiming to meet

demand for business travel and air

freight services between Scandinavia

and China.

At the end of October, SAS is

also planning to resume flights to

Beijing provided that SAS obtains

the necessary approval from the

authorities.

SAS is currently flying to 75

destinations and operates up to 380

flights a day. SAS is monitoring market

developments on a weekly basis

and is ready to step up its services

when travel restrictions are eased

and demand for travel increases

again. See SAS full traffic program

here.

SAS urges all customers to

keep themselves informed of current

advice and recommendations

from public authorities. As there is

still uncertainty regarding restrictions

and there are changes in travel

advice, SAS offers travellers the option

to change a planned journey/

ticket for a SAS Travel Voucher, up

to 16 days prior to departure, for all

international travel, until 15 January

2021.

SAS has introduced a range

of measures aimed at meeting new

demands in the work to prevent the

spread of coronavirus.



We all want

an institution close

to home or work

and a place where

your child is happy

to spend time.

That is very basic.

How to pick a kindergarten,

preschool or pre-prep school?

Below you can find inspiration for more criteria and questions

to ask - and prepare yourself for the questions the pre-school

might want to ask you!

When choosing a pre-school or kindergarten,

many things can be checked from

the website. Where is the institution

located? Ask Google maps how traffic

usually is at different times of the day. Is it based on a

religion or an educational philosophy?

If you have moved to Asia recently, it’s a good idea

to check if there is a Nordic association where you live.

They often have mothers groups that can give you useful

input for your choice.

Questions for your visit

When you have narrowed down your choice and you are

ready to visit the place. What should you look for? Here

are some ideas.

• Is it really international or just local with an international

name?

• Do they have a part-time or full-day program?

• What time do sessions start and finish?

• What sort of activities do the children do?

• Do the children have a scheduled rest during

the day?

• How many children do they have attending?

• How long have they been operating?

• Do they have outdoor and indoor areas for

children to play and learn?

• What resources and equipment do they have to

support children’s learning?

• Do they provide any additional help and support

to under 5s with special education needs?

• Is the facility safe and clean?

• Where is the first-aid kit and do they know how

to use it?

• Are there age-appropriate books and toys?

• Is there a safe outdoor play area with adequate

shade?

• Does the classroom provide a variety of activities

or “centers”?

• Is the atmosphere fun and inviting?

• Do the children seem happy?

• Do you yourself feel good here? Trust your gut!

Meeting the teacher is one of the most important aspects

of choosing a preschool. If he or she answers your

questions warmly and attentively, and you are happy with

the feeling the teacher gives you, then it’s safe to say you

found a good fit.

Teachers love knowing that you are ready to partner

with them in your child’s education, so ask as many

questions as you can.

Visit the Boss

Now, it is time to meet the director. Here’s a quick checklist

of things you’ll want to talk to the director about when

you visit.

• About the money, what are the payments and what

you get for each fee? Is there an enrolment fee? Is

there a separate application fee? What does the

tuition fee cover? Are field trips included? Is lunch

included? What does the uniforms cost? Make it

clear that now is the time to be honest. If there

are other costs that surface later, you will remove

your child.

• How do they punish bad behavior?


Is there an enrolment

fee? Is there a separate

application fee? What

does the tuition fee

cover? Are field trips

included? Is lunch

included? What does the

uniform cost?

• What are the safety procedures for dropping off

and picking up children?

• How will the kindergarten or preschool communicate

with you? (Newsletters, emails, apps,

conferences?)

• Are they licensed or in other ways meet safety

requirements and provides adequate staffing?

What the preschool may ask you

Most parents forget that the preschool may also have

questions. It is a 2-way street.

• Many pre-schools will not take in children that are

not toilet trained by the time they start. Kindergartens

might be more relaxed and of course nurseries

will be OK, but it is an issue the institution would

like to ask you about.

• Separation anxiety is another issue. Can your child

be left with others without their parents staying?

How well do you handle it, when your child starts

crying?

• How well does your child communicate verbally?

This is especially important if they’re not feeling

well and need to communicate the issue to the

responsible teacher.

• Finally, discipline is an important issue. The teacher

might want to know how you admonish your child

at home when he or she behaves badly.


The Key Elements

of Early Childhood Education

An Interview with Michael Allen,

the incoming Elementary School

Principal at ISB

‘‘All learners learn best

when they have a strong

sense of belonging and

are actively engaged. A strong early

childhood program, such as ISB’s

Reggio Emilia inspired program, is

essential as this is where children

and teachers work together to build

inclusive classroom communities,

and the foundation for learning is

firmly put into place. Exploratory

and facilitated play in a developmentally

appropriate environment

develops the child’s social emotional

skills, problem-solving skills, and selfconfidence,”

shared Michael Allen,

International School Bangkok (ISB)’s

new Elementary School Principal.

Allen has joined the ISB family

with his twins Billy and Ana-Sofia,

who are in Grade 7, as well as his wife,

Caty Romero, who is a math specialist

teaching in ISB’s middle school. The

2020-21 school year marks his 17th

year as a learning leader of large

elementary schools in international

school settings, following standards

and competencies based curriculum.

Prior to joining ISB, Allen was the

Elementary School Principal at

Shanghai American School (SAS)

in China as well as the International

School Nido de Aguilas in Santiago,

Chile and San Roberto International

School in Mexico. Prior to being a

Principal, he taught in elementary

schools in Canada, his home country,

as well as in schools in Mexico and

South Korea.

“I wholeheartedly embrace

ISB’s mission and beliefs, and was

drawn to ISB because of the shared

commitment that faculty, students

and parents have to the school vision

of enriching communities through

the intellectual, humanitarian and

creative thoughts and actions of our

learners.”

Allen also shares ISB’s focus

on the complete child, taking

into account physical, intellectual,

emotional and social growth for

each child. “A good school must

educate with ‘the end in mind,’

where educators and families work

together to facilitate learning so

that students develop the necessary

knowledge, abilities and skills in

order to reach their potential, be

reflective life-long learners, and

become ethical and caring global

citizens who embody wellness.”

When asked what advice he

has for parents as they choose a

school, Allen shared, “More than any

other factor, the skills and abilities

of each individual teacher has the

most direct impact on student

achievement and success. When

selecting a school for your child, it’s

important to ensure that the school

is deeply committed to hiring and

retaining the best teachers possible

as well as providing ongoing job

embedded professional learning for

teachers.”

The best schools foster a strong

culture of collaboration amongst the

faculty and parents, Allen adds, and

parents should look for evidence

that teams of teachers are high

functioning. The best schools have

the expectation that teachers

master high-quality instructional

strategies, focus on student learning,

teach towards desired learner

attributes and curricular outcomes,

and continually reflect on what is

best for the learner.

“In my short time at ISB, I’ve

been thoroughly impressed by the

teachers and am confident I choose

the best school for my children.”

Learn more about ISB: www.isb.ac.th.




Environmental Initiatives

with an Impact

International recognition for efforts to promote

child-led environmental change.

Inspirational young people

have brought concerns about

our damaged planet into the

mainstream. And youngsters are

leading calls for more sustainable

lifestyles, greener approaches to

business and government action

across the world. International

schools are challenging themselves

to tailor the education they offer to

prepare their students to tackle the

environmental problems we face.

“Educators must make all young

people aware about sustainability as

it’s now a significant part of the

culture students are growing up in.

Moreover, children are increasingly

interested in it,” said Paul Schofield,

the St Andrews International School

Bangkok Head of School. “If schools

don’t get this right, where will we be

in 15 or 20 years time?” he asks.

Young student leaders at St

Andrews, a Nord Anglia Education

school, fueled the initiative to

develop an action plan focusing

on the changes they would like to

see which would have the greatest

impact on sustainability in their

school and community. The 7 to

11-year-olds worked tirelessly

during after school club time to put

their plans into practice.


For example, after learning

about the environmental effects of

animal agriculture, children met with

the school’s catering company to

discuss lowering meat consumption.

The students explained their

reasoning to fellow pupils, teachers

and parents during assemblies

and events. All children provided

feedback on the new menu and St

Andrews became the first school in

Thailand to implement Meat Free

Mondays.

The children were also fully

involved in the launch of the country’s

first school-based zero-waste shop.

Members of the community can now

buy snacks, toiletries and household

cleaning products in refillable and

reusable containers eliminating the

need for single-use plastics. The

students submitted designs for the

layout of the shop, helped choose the

shop’s name (‘Little Steps to Zero

Waste’), and created an instructional

video for parents showing how to

purchase items.

The children encouraged other

students to take part in Precious

Plastic, which is an ongoing project

that supports a local NGO campaign

to collect plastic bottle tops for

recycling. To engage and maximise

participation, a competition

between the St Andrews Houses

was introduced and promotion and

collection sites were located around

the school. The project organisers

even brought their recycling

machine into school for a special set

of lessons.

The work of the students

and the support of the school

community was recognised at the

2020 International School Awards

ceremony hosted by ISC Research in

London this January. St Andrews won

the coveted International School of

the Year Award for supporting the

far-reaching, community-engaging,

environmentally-focused initiatives.

Congratulations to these students

who, as future leaders, promote

responsible, environmentallyconscious

choices to help drive

the transition to a sustainable

society.


Moving and Music

for Early Years

and Primary Students

By Dean Chaudhry, Leader of Learning and Curriculum, Foundation Stage

and Rachel Stead, Leader of Learning, Music - Bangkok PatanaSchool

Children naturally love music.

Whether it’s soft and

soothing or a lively tune,

children feel it both physically and

emotionally. Throughout the early

years, children are learning to do

new things with their bodies; learning

that movement can communicate

messages and represent actions.

From quite an early age, young

children are able to perform and

recognise pantomimed actions

such as ironing, stirring, swimming

or playing the piano. They begin to

learn about the world by acting

on objects and people, and they

“think with their bodies” well before

they think with words. This is why

body movement is not only fun for

children but also a good opportunity

for them to solve problems.

As they progress, it is important

for children to be exposed to

the diversity of cultures and styles

that music has to offer. At Bangkok

Patana School, students in Primary

have a wide range of diverse instruments

which gives them opportuni-


ties to explore their curiosities, try

different types of music and broaden

their world view. Children experience

a diverse and inclusive range

of music, in line with school values.

They are exposed to music from

around the world through the Primary

School Music department’s

latest feature; Musician of the Month.

From snapping their fingers to Latin

rhythms by Cuban singer Celia Cruz,

to swaying to the cello strings of

Yo-Yo Ma, students are learning of

the diversity of the world around

them.

The concept of “windows,

mirrors and sliding doors” (an idea

put forward by Rudine Sims Bishop

at The Ohio State University)

is a famous idea in literature but

is applied to our Primary School

music programme as well. A piece

of music can give a child the ability

to look through a window and

see another world. A sliding door

actually allows them to leave their

world and experience that world

in real life; one such example would

be when students play the samba

drums. The mirror enables students

to see themselves, that is why it is so

important to have a diverse range of

musicians for the children to learn

about so they can see themselves in

the artists and feel included.

A WORLD OF

OPPORTUNITY

Atomic Theory is fundamental for

science literacy. We are the only

international school in the world where

young Primary School children are

learning and exploring these concepts

at such a young age, adding science

literacy to their fundamental

knowledge.

Atomic Theory

for Year 1

www.patana.ac.th

admissions@patana.ac.th

Tel: +66 (2) 2785 2200

Bangkok Patana School is a not for profit IB World School accredited

October 2020 • ScandAsia

by CIS

27

Shrewsbury

where successful learning grows naturally!

Shrewsbury Stars, the weekly

playgroup for children aged

1-4 years at Shrewsbury International

School Bangkok Riverside

returns in October, with a fantastic

new outside learning space for children

to play in and explore.

The Early Years garden is the

latest addition to Shrewsbury’s purpose-built,

safe and dedicated environment

for Shrewsbury’s youngest

learners (age 3-5 years). The

outdoor learning space is now four

times larger than the indoor classroom

space, and has been specifically

designed to extend opportunities

for child-led exploration, active

learning and forest school teaching;

another recent innovation to the

school’s cutting edge curriculum and

where Shrewsbury is already the

leader in Thailand.

Access to outdoor learning and

nature has always been a key feature

of Shrewsbury’s EY provision, embodied

in a physical design where

classrooms open directly onto outdoor

learning spaces, and the learning

activities that take place continuously

and seamlessly between them.

In recent years, however, the team

of EY experts at Riverside has researched,

developed and improved

its practice in this area, resulting in

even more opportunities for chil-

SHR Star Playgroup 2020 Ads - ScandAsia. Size: 192 x 135 mm

dren to access the natural environment,

and the increased use of natural

materials (inside and outside) for

open-ended play.

The weekly playgroup is an

ideal opportunity for families to experience

this philosophy in action, to

make new friends, and for children

to use their creativity and imaginations,

and to build their confidence,

communication and social skills; all

great preparation for the start of

life at school.

To find out more about

Shrewsbury Stars and Early Years

at Shrewsbury visit https://www.

shrewsbury.ac.th/riverside/ourschool/early-years

Now Accepting

applications for

August 2021 start.

Experience Shrewsbury’s

Active Learning Approach

Join us every Wednesday*

from 1.30 – 3.00pm in our

brand new outdoor learning

environment @ Riverside.

CREATE

A chance for children and

parents to make new friends

and spend quality time

together.

Meet our Early Years

specialists and find out

more about Early Years at

Shrewsbury.

EXPLORE

For more information please email

marketing@shrewsbury.ac.th or

call 02 675 1888

Shrewsbury International School Bangkok Riverside.

1922 Charoen Krung Road, Bangkok.

300 Baht

Normal

Price

Free Taster

Sessions

7 th & 14 th

October

COLLABORATE

REGISTER

HERE


SHR Star Playgroup A5.indd 3 11/09/2020 13:30:45

Developing Physical Literacy

at British International School,

Phuket

In August 2017, British International

School, Phuket (BISP) introduced

Physical Education to

the Early Years curriculum, giving

Nursery and Reception students

the opportunity to engage in specialist

PE lessons in addition to their

play-based learning. As there is no

set PE curriculum for Early Years PE

in the UK, BISP developed its own

programme based on the guiding

principles of the Early Years Foundation

Stage framework.

Since its introduction, classroom

teachers have noticed improvements

in student behaviour

and concentration, and Key Stage 1

PE teachers have observed better

movement skills and confidence in

students when they move into the

Primary School.

Playing a key role in the development

and delivery of Early Years

PE has been PE teacher of 23 years,

Ms Maggie Walby. In this Q&A, Ms

Maggie discusses one important

concept underpinning Early Years

PE at BISP – Physical Literacy.

What is Physical Literacy?

Physical Literacy can be described

as the motivation, confidence, physical

competence, knowledge and understanding

to value and take responsibility

for engagement in physical

activities for life. Put simply, Physical

Literacy developed in children sets

them up for an active life.

How is BISP ensuring students

become physically literate?

Our students are fortunate to begin

this journey in Nursery and Reception,

where they receive two

30-minute PE lessons in addition to

their weekly swimming lessons. It is

during these years that the children

start to build a movement vocabulary

of running, jumping, crawling,

rolling, catching, as well as fundamental

water-based skills. All these

movement skills are largely developed

through play-based activities.

Over time, children start to form a

knowledge base – the knowledge of

when and how to move in order to

engage in physical activities in the

playground, at home and in sport.

What does a typical PE lesson for

a Reception student look like?

A typical lesson always starts with a

big, warm welcome by the PE teacher.

In the main part of the lesson,

students are given the opportunity

to explore various ways to catch,

jump, move and take risks, all in an

environment that is safe, colourful

and fun so they want to take part.

We use balloons, bubbles, sparkly

materials, mats, hurdles, and many

other forms of equipment.

We allow the children to work

alongside us as activity leaders and

this is something they really enjoy

when it’s their turn. Children love

the opportunity to share their ideas

and to praise each other.

How can Physical Literacy benefit

society?

Without Physical Literacy, individuals

are less likely to stay active for

life. That means children who don’t

master controlled movements from

a young age and don’t develop the

self-confidence to move their bodies

are more likely to become sedentary

adults. There are many health

risks associated with a sedentary

(inactive) lifestyle. Of course, it’s

never too late to start a physical

literacy journey.

Research shows that continued

support for a child at play can help

improve a child’s confidence, reduce

anxiety and stress, and improve attention

and attainment in school.

Physical Literacy can help foster a

love of sport and physical activity

from a young age and can help in

reducing childhood obesity and inactivity

in an ever-increasing world

of technology and screen time.

For more information please

contact info@bisphuket.ac.th or

visit the school’s website: www.bisphuket.ac.th.


Top international school

strengthens literacy approach

for learners in kindergarten

and primary school

a concept in their mother tongue,

but just not yet in English. Once

they’ve understood the concept

in their mother tongue, the transfer

to English is simplified as the

underlying cognitive skills are

transferable.

The Canadian International

School (CIS) in Singapore

prides itself on making sure

all their students are equipped with

the skills and knowledge to thrive

and succeed in a future where the

challenges remain complex and

unknown. With this in mind, the

school recently revised their English

literacy approach for kindergarten

and primary school students. Literacy

coordinator Emilija Stojanovski

explains the reasons behind the

exciting initiative, its unique features

and key benefits for CIS students.

Why did CIS decide to modify

their English literacy approach?

Many students are joining CIS with

little or no knowledge of English.

This is a trend taking place in international

schools across the world.

We therefore wanted to make sure

we applied a literacy approach that

catered to the needs of all our students,

not just those who spoke

English fluently.

What is the objective of CIS’

English literacy approach?

To provide all kindergarten and primary

school students with a solid


English literacy foundation in reading,

writing, speaking and listening.

What are some of the unique

features of the approach?

• Dedicated literacy blocks for each

grade level giving students a structured

time to work on their literacy

skills every day.

• Guided reading in small groups

of four to six students. First we

assess students to determine

their reading level, strengths and

growth areas. Then we use the

information to divide them into

small, flexible groups tailored to

their growth needs.

• Writing workshop where students

focus on developing skills,

not just a single piece of work.

First a teacher will give a short

lesson focused on developing a

particular skill and then ask their

students to try and implement it

in their writing.

• Encouraging students whose first

language is not English, to use

their home language(s) in the

classroom as a foundation for

developing their English literacy

skills. These students may have

sufficient literacy skills to process

What literacy activities are

students engaged in at the

moment?

Our youngest students are learning

about letters and sounds through

meaningful contexts and play. Today

they learnt how to recognise the

shapes that make up all the capital

letters (such as big and little lines),

and then by using a model, experiment

with the shapes to create the

letters.

In the primary school grades,

students are learning comprehension

strategies such as a Stop-Think-

Paraphrase approach to help them

monitor their understanding of a

text while reading. The technique is

structured and gives teachers insight

into an individual student’s strategic

processing.

How have students benefited

from the approach?

We’ve seen big improvements

across all key literacy skills. For example,

after just two months of

introducing the approach, guided

reading Measure of Academic Progress

assessments showed an improvement

across all grade levels

while the growth in grade 1 was in

the 97 percentile!

To find out more about CIS

and their English literacy approach

visit www.cis.edu.sg or contact their

Admissions Team on +65 6734

8088.

WORLD

CHANGING

— one

MUDPIE

at a time.

Our students are learning math

and science concepts as they

pour, measure and explore

volume while playing in the

mud kitchen or sandpit.

Preparing your child for

a changing world.

Discover more about our programmes at

one of our monthly virtual coffee chats.

RSVP at www.cis.edu.sg

As an IB World School, CIS offers the PYP, MYP and IB DP. Canadian International School Pte. Ltd. CPE Registration No: 199002243H. Period of Registration: 8 June 2019 - 7 June 2023


One-Stop solution

for entrepreneurs

Danish Helle Priess has established a new platform

for self-employed in Singapore: DoersCircle

for entrepreneurs, freelancers and start-uppers

By Joakim Persson

When first I came accross the DoersCircle

I thought ‘What took this so long?’ Your

first assumption may be that it’s a community

platform for creative people but

it turns out to be something much grander, than just that.

Danish Helle Priess is the brainchild behind this highly

relevant concept.

‘Doers’ refers to any individuals, even those working

for corporations, because the trend is that fewer and

fewer people will be traditional employees going forward.

‘Circle’ refers to the concept of 360-degree services -

services across verticals that are based on recognising

and serving the individual – at an affordable price.

Understanding how the idea behind this concept

was born requires going back to Danish entrepreneur

Helle Priess’ own experiences and frustration ten years

ago, especially relating to insurance and her shift from

working in the corporate world to becoming selfemployed.

This also gives the opportunity to learn more

about Helle, a keen example of a Doer, and her longlasting

career in Asia.

A Doer by heart

As a child, and seemingly out of nowhere, Helle gained

huge interest in China, wanting to learn all about the

country. At that time, the large country in East Asia was

still somewhat exotic back in Denmark.

“I forced my mother to bring me to the library

to read books about China. When I graduated from

high school, I left for China to study at the University in

Beijing, where I also–as the only non-Chinese– was playing

badminton with the Chinese national team.” Helle

remembers.

Further studies followed at Copenhagen University,

but Helle did not miss the chance to join summer university

courses in China. Armed with a state scholarship she

continued her studies there, including Chinese language

and economy studies – after which she did not return to

Denmark.

Instead she was recruited, while still studying, to

work for the Danish founders of Bestseller Fashion

Group China, in building up a hugely successful business.


We see an enormous

global shift in the

way we live our lives.

However, the world

around us hasn’t yet

caught up. That creates

some very significant

imbalances. And that’s

exactly why we’ve

created Doerscircle.

We want to challenge

the status quo and

reshape the world for

Independent Doers.


“These guys really gave me a chance and a huge opportunity

to learn and develop. I was kind of just thrown

in and needed to find out how to get things done. I was

given enormous responsibility very fast and still refer to

my Bestseller period as one of the periods of time where

I’ve learned the most, the fastest, about doing business.

Also, I learned how much it means to give talent a chance;

to believe in people and to develop them” she says.

From fashion to pork stomachs

Helle however left Bestseller before she turned 25. “In my

last year I kind of worked around the clock. Not because I

was asked to, but because it was growing fast and I really

enjoyed it and had fun. At some point, however, I thought:

‘Maybe I should also try something else; get some other

experiences?’”

Building up Danish Crown’s subsidiary, Emborg,

from scratch in China became her next challenge. The

business concept was based on the fact that what was

seen as waste in Denmark was among the most expensive

things you could buy in the supermarket in China.

“It didn’t make sense to me that what everyone

wanted to buy in this part of the world was being

thrown away in another part; even paying to get rid of it.

I travelled around China figuring things out, and built this

business from zero to a successful one within the first

year already. From there we expanded the business quite

significantly to other relevant areas”

“The products were not that sexy; coming from

selling fashion–with catwalks and fashion shows–to selling

pork stomachs, ears and tails. But it’s an interesting

story, about taking a non-contributing part of a business

and moving it up to a significant top- and bottom line

contributor.”

Five times more expensive

When Helle decided to leave the corporate world in

2008, she had by then learned tons that would come to

good use when seeking entrepreneurial adventures but

she was in for an unpleasant surprise.

The Dane asked the insurance company, with whom

she had a longstanding relationship, for her policies to be

moved to her own name but was met with a firm ‘no’ as

answer. The insurer told her it was because now she was

on her own. Welcome to the club of the self-employed...

Helle could not believe what she was hearing because,

besides being healthy and sound, she was being

loyal in offering for them to keep her as customer.

Eventually, they came up with an insurance offer for

her – it was five times more expensive than while she had

been under corporate coverage, and with less favourable

terms and conditions to boot!

“Among other things, I learned that as an individual

I couldn’t get income protection and critical illness insurance

from any provider at that point of time. Also, I

couldn’t get the same coverage levels as I was used to

under the corporate policy.”

Eventually Helle saw no other choice than to swallow

her incomprehension and dissatisfaction and accept

her previous insurance company’s new “discounted offer”,

as it was the best option she could in fact find on

the market.

“The frustrating bit was that it wasn’t confined to

insurance; it was the same when I spoke to the bank to

renew my credit card. ‘Do you have any pay slips?’ they

requested.”

Until today insurance coverage remains so much

more expensive for an individual than for corporates.

48 percent self-employed

The insurance and banking incidents really annoyed Helle

and stayed in her mind for years – until she a few years

back couldn’t open any news site or news paper without

reading about the gig- and freelance economy that was

exploding. The concept of digital nomads was also growing

very fast.

“So I started looking into the figures and the most

conservative one I came across said that a third of the

global workforce was already self-employed. In 2019, according

to World Bank, it was 48 percent on global level.

48 percent!” exclaims Helle.

“That was really an eye-opener. And even though

the group is naturally differentiated I found that: ‘Something’s

completely wrong. There’s disconnect and an

unhealthy imbalance.’”

“Looking at how everything is structured, where the

world to a very great extent is still designed by and for

corporates, and based on corporate employees’ needs,

it doesn’t make sense. I’ll even argue that the solutions

that are offered corporate employees today in most

cases are not individually targeted. I think it’s the whole

way that solutions are structured we need to look at.

We’ve already become very independent. We’ve already

started living and structuring our lives differently. Our

needs and demands have changed and will continue to

do so. This is not a trend. This is a shift in the way we

live and this requires changes. We simply need to look

at the individual, and this new way of living and working,

in a different way; and we need to empower the

Independent Doers”

“In many places you still need to fit into a traditional

box that is no longer the reality. It simply doesn’t represent

the way that we live and structure our lives today.”


360-degree support system

Enter Doerscircle.

“We have started out with self-employed people

– Independent Doers – because this is the most underserved

group of people. However, it is really about the

individual on a higher level.

Doerscircle is on the path of being a 360-degree

support system. The aim is to empower Independent

Doers to focus on what they do best, enjoy the most and

where they add the greatest value – instead of spending

valuable time and energy on things that they’re not the

best at, where they might not have the insight and which

does not add any value up front.

“The solutions on our platform are targeted to the

needs of self-employed people – Independent Doers. We

are all about securing all the solutions under one roof

that you need to run your business and to some extend

your life, making these solutions targeted to your specific

needs, and at the best possible price points that you can

get as an individual.”

Doerscircle is live, and while yet at an early stage,

it already has members worldwide. The start-up is

rapidly expanding and already stretching its services to

cover Southeast Asia. The majority of its local services

have been established in Singapore so far. Doerscircle

functions as a one-stop-shop. Members get access to

everything from incorporation and corporate secretary

services, to employment pass applications and renewals,

office space through the Doerscircle Office Pass, marketing

and PR services, favourable fitness memberships,

a range of insurance solutions and much more. All at

favourable and Doer-friendly price points. And there’s

more to come.

Solutions

In mid September Doerscircle also announced their new

landmark collaboration with AON, a leading global professional

services player and one of the biggest insurance

brokers of the world.

A press release from Aon states that they, through

a strategic partnership Doerscircle, will develop and

source commercial, risk, and health insurance solutions

that address the needs of smaller SMEs and independent

workers.

“We have seen an enormous interest in what we

do. And we see that Covid-19, though on an unfortunate

background, is just making it even more important and

relevant. The pandemic has further accelerated the development

and the shift towards remote work and more

flexible careers. However, and unfortunately, structures

and support is still not in place at the level that it should

be. This is what we’re here to challenge and change.” ends

Helle.


Agneta’s

World

Struer

where is that?


Struer is probably the last city

that comes to your mind when

thinking about Denmark? You

probably think of the beautiful

capital Copenhagen on

Sjaelland. Or maybe Aarhus.

I

had never heard about Struer before my brother

married a woman from this town. Now, I have to tell

you what a nice place this is.

Struer is the main town in the western part of

Limfjorden, the waterway that almost separates Jutland

from its northern top. It has a population of approximately

10300 people.

This little city owes its growth to the railroad, which

arrived back in year 1865 with Jutland’s first railroad line

from Århus over Viborg to Skive and Struer. It still plays

an important role as a transition point for Danish railway

system.

The city offers a huge variety of architecture. Taking

a walk, you will find the typical red brick houses, similar to

the ones you often find in England and many old Patrician

villas, as well as ultra modern houses.

There is a harbor located in an active industrial area.

Good navigational conditions the year around, large tanks

and silos capacities. The harbor has, among other things, 2

ship brokers, weighbridge and cargo survey etc.

Struer also has Limfjorden’s largest marina with

many different activities during the summer months.

Struer might be most known for the company

Bang & Olufsen which has its headquarter in Struer. This

company was founded in 1925 by Peter Bang and Sven

Olufsen. The company is known worldwide for its high

end, luxury designs and manufactures audio products,

television sets and telephones.

“Only One Touch”, an important technological success,

came in 1939 when B&O introduced the first radio

with “Quick Touch” operation which made it possible to

select a station by pressing only one button. “Only One

Touch” has become a typical B&O’s product.

Their products are all fitted with hidden codes for

identifying stolen goods and deterring burglars. In Denmark

alone, B&O’s products/systems are stolen from

more than 6000 households yearly.

More than a 1000 people in Struer are employed by

the company. Many houses are for sale, as there is a lack

of working possibilities apart from B&O.


This little city owes its

growth to the railroad,

which arrived back

in year 1865 with

Jutland’s first railroad

line from Århus over

Viborg to Skive and

Struer. It still plays

an important role as

a transition point for

Danish railway system.

A well known landmark in Struer is the old Water

Tower located at Tårngarde. It was erected in 1962 and

built in a torch style.

Only 3 kilometres north from Struer you will find

the little island Venø. This island is only 7.5 kilometres long

and has a width of 1.5 kilometres. In 2015 around 204

people lived on the island. A huge mansion belongs to

one of the richest men in Denmark, Mr. Christan Kjaerr,

once married to the widow of the legendary Simon Spies,

who owned one of the biggest travel agencies in Europe.

From Struer it’s also worth to take a trip to Vesterhavet

“the West Sea” as the Danes, Swedes and Norwegians

call this sea. In Sweden it’s in fact Kattegatt &

Skagerack, in Denmark, the North Sea west of Jutland and

in Norway, The North Sea and North Atlantic.

It has mile-long, endless beaches and some rough

cliffs. You have to be aware of the huge waves, it is not

recommended to go for a swim by yourself, but it is a

popular place for surfers.


An anecdote tells about Babette’s Gæstebud (Babette’s

Feast). Babette was a kitchen Chef in a Parisian

restaurant and escaped during the war over The West

Sea to Denmark and got an employment as a maid, in a

small sea village in Jutland by Martina and Philippa, daughters

of a stern and somewhat feared protestant minister.

They realised quickly that this woman was an excellent

chef. One day Babette had the luck to win, at that time,

a huge amount of money from a lucky draw, which she

used for organising a big feast for the Danes.

This story was first published in 1930s by Isak Dinesen,

the pseudonym of Karen Blixen, who had established

her reputation as an author. She needed to increase her

income in the 1950s and did so by publishing stories in

American magazines. A number of her stories were featured

in “Ladies Home Journal” including the “Babette’s

Feast”. A friend had advised her to write food stories as

the Americans were known for loving food, so she crafted

a story about a very special feast.

Dinesen or Karen Blixen, came to understand and

appreciate how women take care of each other and their

loved ones after her father lost his life by suicide. As an

adult Dinesen operated a coffee farm in East Africa.

In “Babette’s Feast, Dinesen seems to draw on her

childhood and adult experiences to give the story depth

and authenticity. The Babette’s story has also been filmed

several times. But around the world, Dinesen /Karen

Blixen is probably most or best known for “Out of Africa”.

During this summer and the beginning of fall, that I

have spent in Denmark, I have discovered many things I

had no idea about before.

I can warmly recommend a vacation in this diverse

country.


The Norwegian Seafood

exports not affected much

The export value of Norwegian seafood remains above

last year’s record highs, according to the report launched

on 5 October 2020.

So far for 2020, seafood exports have totalled

NOK 76.7 billion, which corresponds to a value

increase of 1 per cent, or NOK 623 million, compared

to the same period last year.

“We are managing to stay ahead of last year in export

value,” says CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council,

Renate Larsen.

“This is due to the strong start to the year, a weak

Norwegian kroner, higher export volumes and processing

of individual products. So far in 2020, herring, mackerel

and products made from these species account for the

largest increase in value, while there has been a fall in the

export value of salmon, clipfish of cod and shrimp.”

Minister of Fisheries and Seafood Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen

(H) says:

“The record high export values seen in the first nine

months of the year is incredibly impressive. Again, the

industry shows that it has many legs to stand on. Norway

is known for being a safe provider of healthy and safe

seafood, and this has been important during this period

marked by many other uncertainties.”

Negative developments

Although the value of Norwegian seafood exports for

the first nine months of the year is higher than in the

same period last year, quarterly statistics show a negative

development:

• First-quarter: NOK 28,5 billion (+11 per cent)

• Second-quarter: NOK 24,6 billion (-3 per cent)

• Third-quarter: NOK 23,6 billion (-5 per cent)

In September, seafood exports amounted to NOK 8.6

billion, which corresponds to a decrease in the export

value of 2 per cent, or almost NOK 150 million, measured

against the same period last year.

“After a relatively large decline in export value in

August, we see that the value in September is closer to

2019 figures. The species that have increased in value

the most are salmon, trout, salted fish and king crab. On

the other hand, we are still seeing a decline in demand

for most other products. For clipfish, this has also led to

a lower export value in September this year, compared

with the same period last year”, says Renate Larsen, CEO

of the Norwegian Seafood Council.


New possibilities

Minister of Fisheries and Seafood, Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen,

says that it is gratifying that exports of salmon have

shown an increase in September and that the export

volume so far this year is on a par with last year.

“One of the reasons is that consumers did not stop

eating salmon when the restaurants closed but moved

the consumption of salmon home to the kitchen. Corona

thus creates not only challenges but also new opportunities

for Norwegian seafood. The industry must learn from

and utilize this in the future”

The salmon market is turning

Norway exported 800,000 tonnes of salmon to a value

of NOK 51.8 billion in the first nine months of the year.

• Export volume was at the same level as last year.

• Export value fell by NOK 363 million, or 1 per cent,

compared with the same period last year.

• The average price for fresh whole salmon so far

this year is NOK 59.82 per kg, down 0.9 per cent

from the same period in 2019.

Poland, France and Denmark have been the largest recipients

of Norwegian salmon.

Paul T. Aandahl, Seafood Analyst with the Norwegian

Seafood Council says “The Covid-19 pandemic has led to

a shift in exports to markets that further process a large

proportion of salmon for resale, mainly to retailers in

other markets. Poland has been the largest market here,

increasing its share of export volume to 16 per cent of

all fresh whole salmon exports to just under 18 per cent

this year.”

Good September for salmon

After a reduction in exports in July and August, the figures

for September have shown renewed growth in the

export value of salmon:

• 111,800 tonnes of salmon worth NOK 6.1 billion

were exported.

• There is an increase in the volume of 3 per cent.

• The value increased by NOK 105 million, or 2 per

cent, compared with September last year.

• The average price for fresh whole salmon was

NOK 49.54, down 1 per cent from the same time

last year.

So far this year, the amount of exported fresh and frozen

fillets has increased by 18 per cent. This means that

about 20 per cent of the exported salmon is processed

in Norway. The corresponding share at the same time last

year was 17 per cent.

Paul T. Aandahl, Seafood Analyst with the Norwegian

Seafood Council says “The reduction in the holiday

season is a result of reduced demand, especially in the

restaurant sector in Europe. Now we are back at about

the same level we were before the holidays.”

Value increase for trout

• Norway exported 53,000 tonnes of trout worth

NOK 2.9 billion during the first nine months of

the year.

• Export volumes increased by 31 per cent.

• Export values increased by NOK 280 million, or 11

per cent, compared with the same period last year.

• Ukraine, the USA and Belarus have been the largest

markets for Norwegian trout.


Like the first three quarters, the figures for September

also show an increase in the value of trout:

• 7,500 tonnes of trout worth NOK 370 million

were exported.

• Trout export volumes increased by 41 per cent.

• Export value increased by NOK 67 million, or 22

per cent, compared with September last year.

Fresh cod hard hit

• Norway exported 41,800 tonnes of fresh cod

worth NOK 1.9 billion in the first nine months of

the year.

• There is a decrease in volume of 6 per cent.

• The value fell by NOK 44 million, or 2 per cent,

compared with the same period last year.

• Denmark, the Netherlands and Poland have been

the largest recipients of fresh cod from Norway.

Ingrid Kristine Pettersen, Seafood Analyst of the Norwegian

Seafood Council says “After a good start to the year

with both price and volume growth compared with the

same period last year, fresh cod has been hit hard by the

corona crisis. The reason is first and foremost that restaurants

and fresh food counters were closed down. During

the summer, however, export volumes have picked up,

and although prices are still below last year, they have

increased since the price base in May.”

The export figures for September show a fall in

value for fresh cod:

• 1,800 tonnes of fresh cod worth NOK 82 million

were exported.



compared with September last year.

Value-added for frozen cod

• Norway exported 53,100 tonnes of frozen cod


the year.

• Export volume remains at the same level as last

year.



• China, the United Kingdom and Lithuania have been

the largest recipients of frozen cod from Norway.

There is growth for both frozen whole and frozen fillets

of cod so far this year, which is due to the fact that prices

are on average above last year.

Increased demand for frozen fillets

Ingrid Kristine Pettersen, Seafood Analyst with the Norwegian

Seafood Council says “We still see a change in the

picture for export value so far in 2020. While the prices

of frozen fillets are still above the same period last year,

the price of frozen whole cod has fallen significantly in

the period. One explanation for the fact that frozen fillets

have achieved higher prices is due to increased demand

for this type of product in the grocery trade during the

corona crisis.”


In September, there is a decline in both the value

and volume of frozen cod:

• 3,400 tonnes of frozen cod worth NOK 140 million

were exported.

• This represents a decrease in the volume of 11

per cent.

• The export value fell by NOK 26 million, or 15 per


Challenging for clipfish

• Norway exported 55,800 tonnes of clipfish worth

NOK 2.9 billion in the first nine months of the year.

• This is a reduction in the volume of 14 per cent.

• The export value fell by NOK 343 million, or 11


• Portugal, the Dominican Republic and Brazil have

been the largest markets for Norwegian clipfish.

Falling demand as a result of the corona crisis has hit

exports of clipfish hard, which has been reflected in

both falling volumes and prices so far this year. This has

particularly affected clipfish of cod, where exports have

fallen by 23 per cent so far this year, compared with the

same period last year.

The Brazilian export market has

halved

“Portugal and Brazil dominate the clipfish market, where

the latter in particular has been hit hard by both the

corona crisis and a weak local currency. Good demand in

the Caribbean throughout the corona period has meant

that exports of saithe clipfish have improved somewhat”,

says Ingrid Kristine Pettersen, Seafood Analyst with the

Norwegian Seafood Council.

In the autumn, Brazil traditionally takes a larger share

of exports, especially of saithe clipfish, but in August and

September, exports there were almost halved, compared

with last year. This applies to both clipfish of cod and saithe.

Increased demand for saithe

“The number of infected and dead as a result of the pandemic

is returning in Brazil. Restaurants have reopened,

which is important for the demand for cod clipfish. The

Seafood Council registers an increased demand for

saithe, most likely as a cheaper replacement for cod and

as a result of increased demand from the hotel and restaurant

sector. The challenge is that exports are limited

by availability as a result of increased exports to, among

others, the Dominican Republic, says Øystein Valanes, the

Norwegian Seafood Council’s fisheries envoy to Brazil.

In September, the export value of Norwegian clipfish

fell, compared with the same month last year:

• 8,200 tonnes of clipfish worth NOK 429 million

were exported.

• This is a reduction of 16 per cent in volume.


compared with September last year.

Lower prices for salted fish

• Norway exported 19,700 tonnes of salted fish


the year.



cent, compared with the same period last year.

• Portugal, Spain and Italy have been our most important

markets for Norwegian salted fish.

“Salted codfish have also been hard hit by falling demand

due to the Coronavirus, especially from Portugal. In recent

months, we have seen volume growth to Portugal,

Spain and Italy, but prices are significantly lower than at

the same time last year”, says Seafood Analyst Ingrid

Kristine Pettersen with the Norwegian Seafood Council.

September was a good month for salted fish

exports:

• 1,600 tonnes of salted fish worth NOK 79.5 million

were exported.




A good year for herring

• Norway exported 202,000 tonnes of herring


the year.



• The value increased by NOK 586 million, or 31


• Poland, Lithuania and the Netherlands have been

the most important direct export markets for

Norwegian herring.

Jan Eirik Johnsen, Business Development Manager,

Insight and Pelagic, with the Norwegian Seafood Council,

says: “The Covid-19 pandemic has led to increased

demand for cheaper seafood products with a long shelf

life, and this has boosted the consumption of herring in

many markets. With quotas and catches on a par with

2019, this has resulted in an increased price for all herring

products,

There has been a clear shift in exports to fillet

products.

Jan Eirik Johnsen added “At the end of the third

quarter of 2019, the export of fillet accounted for 36 per

cent of the volume, while for the same period in 2020,

the share was 44 per cent”,

In September, the good development for herring

continues:

• 18,200 tonnes of herring worth NOK 333 million

were exported.

• This represents an increase in the volume of 10

per cent.


per cent, compared with September 2019.

Increased value for mackerel

• Norway exported 135,800 tonnes of mackerel


the year.


• The value increased by NOK 521 million, or 28


• China, South Korea and Japan have been the largest

markets for Norwegian mackerel.

Jan Eirik Johnsen says “Despite an increase in bilateral

quotas of 31 per cent, the price of mackerel has not fallen.

The increased demand for cheaper seafood products

with a long shelf life in connection with the Covid-19 pandemic

has also led to increased demand for mackerel.”

Asia is the most important market for Norwegian

mackerel. So far this year, 77,000 tonnes have been exported

to Asia, which is an increase of 2 per cent compared

to the same period in 2019.

Strong growth in African markets

NSC’s Business Development Manager, Insight and

Pelagic, Jan Eirik Johnsen said “Mackerel exports to Africa

have increased so far this year by more than 350 per cent,

from 3,900 tonnes in 2019 to almost 18,000 tonnes in

2020, which is mainly due to increased landings of trawled

mackerel from foreign boats during the earlier part of

this year,”

In September, there was a reduction in both volume

and value for mackerel exports, compared with the same

month last year:

• 5,700 tonnes of mackerel worth NOK 94 million

were exported.

• There is a reduction in the export volume of 44

per cent.


The value fell by NOK 89 million, or 49 per cent, compared

with September last year.

Reduction for king crab

• Norway exported 1,400 tonnes of king crab worth

NOK 463 million in the first nine months of the

year.

• This represents a reduction in the volume of 12

per cent.


cent, compared with the same period last year.

• South Korea, the Netherlands and Japan have been

the largest recipients of Norwegian king crab.

“Lower demand as a result of the corona crisis has led

to a significant reduction in exports of, especially frozen

king crab in our most important markets in Europe and

Japan. Increased demand in the autumn has, however, led

to both higher catches and exports in August and September”,

says Josefine Voraa, Manager for Shellfish with

the Norwegian Seafood Council,.

September resulted in an increase in both volume

and value for king crab exports, compared to the same

period in 2019:

• 250 tonnes of king crab worth NOK 78 million

were exported.

• Exports have increased in volume by 49 per cent.

Export value increased by NOK 19 million, or 31

per cent, compared with September 2019.

Challenges for prawn exports

• 8,700 tonnes of prawn worth NOK 667 million

were exported in the first nine months of the year.

• Prawn, export volume decreased by 29 per cent.

• The export value fell by NOK 154 million, or 19


• Sweden, the Netherlands and Finland have been

the largest markets for Norwegian prawn.

“The loss of the restaurant segment as a result of the pandemic

has also affected prawn exports. Since April, volumes

have been significant during last year. At the same

time, there has been a positive development in export

volumes in recent months, and especially to Sweden, says

Josefine Voraa, Manager for Shellfish with the Norwegian

Seafood Council.

Growth in Sweden

Exports of frozen peeled prawn in large packages to

Sweden experienced significant growth in September

with an increase of as much as 49 per cent.

“This is seen in connection with the contraction

of the Swedish restaurant market, which experienced a

sharp decline during the corona outbreak this spring”,

says Sigmund Bjørgo the Norwegian Seafood Council’s

fisheries envoy to Sweden.

• In September, there was a decrease in both volume

and value for prawn exports, compared with 2019:

• In September, 1,600 tonnes of prawn worth NOK

98 million were exported.

• This is a reduction in the volume of 50 per cent.




Would Taiwan

be an option?

Taiwan is a great place for expats, yet there are particular

aspects of life in Taiwan for expats to consider before moving

there. Using expat insight, this article explores the pros and cons

of moving to Taiwan in order to help aspiring expats make a

decision about where to relocate once normality resumes.

By Amie Thurlow

Despite COVID-19 restrictions disrupting

many expat’s plans for moving abroad plans,

now is a great time to take a step back and

reconsider your options. Have you considered

Taiwan? Awarded 3rd place for quality of life (out

of 64 countries), 6th place for personal finance and 8th

place for work/life balance, it’s clear why Taiwan was

voted as the overall top expat destination in InterNations’

most recent Expat Insider report.

Here, we take a look at the “pros” and the - few -

“cons” of making this attractive move.

Pros

A safe country

First and foremost, Taiwan is considered to be a very safe

country to live and is consistently acknowledged as a safe

country in a variety of global safety indexes, including

SafeAround’s Index in which Taiwan took 24th position

out of 160 countries and the Global Peace Index which

awarded Taiwan with 26th place out of 163 countries.

Taiwan also achieved 17th place for safety and security

out of 64 destinations in InterNations own report.

As well as being recognised as a safe country in surveys

and reports, expats also hold Taiwan in high regard

when it comes to personal safety. Alex Trup, CMO & Cofounder

at Rolo, and expat who has lived in Taipei, Taiwan

for more than a decade says “Taiwan is one of the safest

places you will ever find”. He adds that “you can leave

your wallet and phone on a table in a coffee shop and

expect it to still be there in an hour or so (or otherwise

have been handed in to staff).”

Welcoming community

Taiwan is also home to a truly welcoming community. The

locals are seen as honest, kind, friendly and welcoming,

which should make settling in as a new arrival a lot easier.

“The Taiwanese are super friendly, and are always willing

to help out foreigners, even if they speak little or no English.”

Alex explained. “If you’re trying to find a location on

a map, it is very common for them to walk you to that

place – not simply point in the vague direction.”

Taiwanese people are also known for their caring,

accepting nature, especially when it comes to respecting

older generations and valuing family members. As well as

caring for the people around them, the Taiwanese also

care and respect the environment. In fact, “people on

the island are very environmentally aware, and there are

many initiatives to recycle, minimize waste and reduce

single-use plastics” says Katherine Fan, who lived in Taiwan

for nine years and works as the Senior Travel Features

Reporter at The Points Guy.

Incredible cuisine

Another benefit of moving to Taiwan is the incredible cuisine.

Home to a beautiful blend of gastronomical delights,

Taiwan boasts some truly tasty authentic dishes. Experiencing

the local food first-hand Katherine shares that

“the food is simply phenomenal, healthy, delicious, cheap,

and rich in cultural opportunity from around the world.”

The cultural diversity of the country is definitely

reflected in the food, and as an expat, you’re sure to find

food from all corners of the globe as well as traditional

Taiwanese cuisine. From popular local staples such as beef

noodles to international inspirations like soup dumplings

(originated from Changjiang) – there’s truly something

for every food-lover in Taiwan.


Beautiful surroundings

Another reason why Taiwan is seen as an expat haven is

due to the country’s stunning landscapes. With majestic

mountain ranges, towering cliffs, serene beaches and

tropical forests, it’s easy to see why locals are so proud

of their beautifully diverse country, and why expats fall in

love with Taiwan’s stunning scenery. Taiwan’s urban areas

also breathe a unique beauty, with vibrant night markets,

colourful temples and sky-piercing towers.

Leonard Ang, an interior designer and writer for

Interior Charm, has also experienced life in Taiwan and

adds that “Taiwan has one of the highest densities of tall

mountains in the world which makes this place a sure

spot for hikers and nature lovers alike.” He shares that

the country “has a lot of hidden and preserved treasures,

tall and great temples, amazing historical sites and natural

wonders like that of the famous Yehliu Geopark and

Shifen Waterfall.”

Put simply, “the outdoors is incredibly beautiful and

has a lot to offer” says Katherine. “From trekking the Taroko

Gorge and scuba diving, to exploring rice fields, river

tracing and hiking, there are so many amazing ecological

wonders for outdoorsy, active people here.”

Cons

Language barrier

If you’re coming from an English-speaking country and

you’re not familiar with the local language (Mandarin

Chinese) you may find it difficult to adjust at first because

English is not widely spoken. That said, Taipei, the capital,

is home to a considerably higher number of Englishspeakers

than elsewhere in the country. Leonard adds

that “you can get around a little easier in Taipei and in the

North of the country in general, as opposed to the South,

where English speakers are much harder to come across.”

Alex also shares his experience with tackling the

language barrier and offers advice to other expats moving

there. He says that “if you don’t speak/read Chinese,

it can sometimes prove difficult to find what you want

as lots of restaurants and shops may only have Chinese

character signs”.

You may also find that there’s a language barrier

when accessing the public health services which is why

many expats not yet familiar with the language tend to

opt for private healthcare. In private hospitals and facilities

for example, you’ll find English-speaking doctors and

your medical bills will usually be translated into English. To

ensure you’re able to access private healthcare services

easily, without incurring out of pocket fees, you may want

to look into a global health package or a similar insurance

policy designed for expats.

When moving to any country with a language different

to your own, it’s best to get to grips with the local

lingo as soon as possible – even if it’s just a few basic

phrases and sentences at first. The better you are at

understanding and communicating in the local language,

the easier you’ll adapt, integrate and settle into your new

home.

Lack of diverse job opportunities

While Taiwan is home to an abundance of industries,

including microprocessing, electronics, communications,

technology development and industrial processing, it can

be difficult for expats to find a career in these sectors.

Alex adds that “it’s hard to find a good, well-paid job as an

expat if you are not an English teacher. If you are foreign,

most Taiwanese will assume you are an English teacher

and American, as that tends to be what most foreigners

are here.”

In order to secure a good job in Taiwan, you’ll need

to be skilled in the industry you wish to join, have experience

and a strong educational background. Being able to

speak in Mandarin will also help your chances of securing

a good job – even if it’s only a loose understanding of

the language.

Unpredictable weather

With warm winters and hot summers, the weather in

Taiwan can be truly glorious, but it is also known for being

unpredictable due to Taiwan’s subtropical climate. Summer

sees a lot of rainfall, typhoons and thunderstorms.

“Rainfall is fairly unpredictable,” says Leonard. He adds

that “you could have two weeks of uninterrupted drizzle

or two weeks of unanticipated bright sunshine. However,

you can generally rely on the fact that the hotter it is, the

wetter it will be.”

High temperatures average around 29.5°C (85°F) in

the summer months and drop to around 16°C (61°F) in

the winter months so it never gets too cold, but it can be

very hot. Adding to this, Katherine warns that the climate

in Taiwan “is pretty hot and incredibly humid, which is difficult

for many Westerners to adjust to.”

Air quality and congestion

Another downside to living in Taiwan is the quality of air

and high pollution levels, which is mostly caused by the

burning of fossil fuels. Taipei, among other major cities, is

known for having high pollution levels. The vast number

of scooters, which is a popular method of transport also

contributes to the country’s poor air quality.

Congestion is another issue “which can be daunting

for expats and people who come from smaller towns”

says Katherine, due to the sheer number of scooters

whizzing around bustling cities.

While Taiwan is a truly incredible country to call

home, it does come with its issues. With limited job opportunities,

unpredictable weather, a potential language

barrier, and high pollution levels, there are some downsides

to living in Taiwan.

That said, are the pros strong enough to outweigh

the cons? As a safe country, home to a welcoming community,

an incredible gastronomical scene, and beautiful

landscapes, it’s ultimately up to you, the expat, to make

the decision whether you decide to take the plunge and

move to Taiwan.


Crayfish Party 2020

most terrific party in living memory


By Flemming Kruhoeffer

It was a bang of a party! It was the Crayfish Party

of the Scandinavian Society Siam at its best!

None less than 175 guests had bought tickets

for the traditional Swedish autumn-celebration

adopted decades ago by the Scandinavian

Society Siam as a yearly tradition and

celebrated this year on September 26th at The Landmark

Hotel in Sukhumvit Road. Here, the Ballroom was filled to

the brim with party-hungry participants, wanting to shake

off the lockdown-doldrum sentiment, that has ravaged

the community since March, when the Covid-19 closed

the entire country for months.

Welcome drinks were served by crayfish-clad bar

personel in the foyer, which was decorated with icesculptures

(this year without tilting calamities). They

provided the perfect backdrop for the usual photoopportunities

for the smartly dressed ladies and in many

cases also their accompanying gentlemen.

The doors to the Ballroom opened, revealing table

after table with plentiful bowls of delicious crayfish,

superbly accompanied by canapés, salmon, cheese and

other culinary specialties, all to be washed down with

barrels of topclass beer, fine wine and of course “Aquavit”

- “Water of Life” as the Scandinavians prefer to nickname

their snaps - free-flowing and feeling like riverrafting in

the wilderness of the Northern Scandinavian Peninsula.

Well satiated it was time to test the balance on the

dancefloor, and with The Boss Bands inciting rhythms and

hammering melodic Rock’n’Roll, not an inch of the floor

was left untouched.

The Lucky Draw drew new turnover record, as the

many lovely prices piled up, but the party guests seemed

to lose interest quickly, as dancing now took the top of

the agenda for another session with the phenomenal

dance band.

Dancing and chatting the night away until time for

Midnight Soup, the now tired guest were heading home

after a night to remember for the many, while a few

missed a detail or two of the final stage of one of the

most successful Crayfish Partys in living memory.

Enjoy the photos here and find tons more here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=scan

dinaviansocietysiam&set=a.10157203717220286




ScandAsia October 2020

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