Worramon check in here...
Yesterday we were picked up by RC Bloomington at the Depot around 2 pm. I was not able to finish my packing until after lunch. It was quite a busy day for all GSE team.
My host is Mr. John Swaney and his wife, Debbie. They have a son, J.C. he's about the same age as my brothers. John was working in Chiang Mai about a year and a half and the Philipines some times among all many other places where he was. Now he's General Manager of Golden Valley Country Club in Golden Valley. He used to work for many hotel chains that he seems to know everybody in this country!
When we were back at home, after I have unpacked my stuffs, we went out for the Mediterranean restaurant in the town nearby. It's their favorite restaurant. John went to pick up his mother in Burnsville to have dinner with us too. Despite her age, she was not that old-looking, still walking by herself, without any walkers or any walking sticks and was also a really nice, charming and active lady. This restaurant was very unique. They have a show of belly-dancing too! Oh, yeah. I got a photo to show, definitely.
Then we went back home and watched a movie that Debbie rented from the movie store - "Deja-vu" until 11 pm.
Today morning, we went to the Northwest hub and Sofitel Minneapolis Hotel and had lunch there and then went on to St. Paul Hotel. It was quite a vocational day for me. We have done a lot!
Northwest hub tour was very good. I felt so lucky to have a chance to visit the Northwest Control Tower!
We had a very clear and detailed tour guided by the Mrs. Roxanne, manager of the Flight Attendants section and I even had a chance to get on the plane with the flight attendants and see the flight attendant's sleeping cabins, see how does it look like when the flight attendants comes down to take a rest, and also had a chance to observe the pilots and all flight attendants working to prepare the flight to Honolulu!
In the evening, I have pot luck dinner at Sutthigarn's host's house. She is the president of RC Bloomington. We had Thai food catered from Sawasdee. It's a Thai restaurant here.
That's all for now.
Today is the second day of Rotary 5350 's District Conference. It is organized at The Depot Downtown Minneapolis during the 28th to 29th of April, 2007.
The district Conference here seemed to be quite different from what we have in Thailand. For us, most of the RC will present about what they have done in the past rotary year. But for the US, they are looked like the Annual Seminar of all Rotarians and the invited guests (e.g. spouses, minor donors, major donors, DG [of course, he has to be there], DGN, DGE, DGE next two years, DGE next three years, GSE, YE, PDG, IPDG, ADG, PP, IPP, CP, GE, DT, ADT, DS, etc. -- no DDT!! :> )
There are several guest speakers including Prof.John Jacob Gardiner, Ph.D., the RI President Representative who is the faculty in the College of Education at Seattle University. He received his B.A. from the University of Florida in with majors in mathematics, philosophy, and political science. As a Kellogg Foundation Fellow, he completed work toward a Ph.D. in educational leadership at the University of Florida as well.
Today we do the more-than-full version for the GSE team from Thailand. Everyone in the team seemed to put more energy and information in to each of our presentation. Ms.Sutthikarn has performed Thai Classical Dance after our presentation.
After the Conference, our new host families come to pick us up to the new RC area. We visit the IVY Hotel and Condominium which is under construction, and it is very interesting. After that, my host--President Elected Don Stiles: Bloomongton Noon Rotary, Honorary Life Member of Federation of Alberta Naturalists--brings me home.
In the evening, we have a fund-raising charity party in the community area. One way to raise the fund is Silent Auction. The listed items will be shown or known before auction time. The one who want to bid for the item have to offer the price he think that is higher than other auctioneers. Personally, I think Silent Auction is much better than the ordinary auction in terms of raising more money.
Have a good day.
Artit Pinpak
Worramon checking in here...
Today we slept in until 10 am and almost the same time we were getting up, Moe, the GSE chair was calling us from her room saying she would come to our room to say Hi but we were still in our pyjamas, so we told her to come in sometimes before 11 am. Moe was laughing.
Then we all went to the Metrodome. It was not too far away to walk from our hotel. We walked across the "light rail" Metro Transit trains' rails. We learned later that these trains could bring us to airport and the Mall of America.
GSE American team members were there too. It was so nice to meet them again. Judy was the first one who came but she could be with us only till 3 pm since she'd have her bank's meeting by then.
The game was quite monotony, yet still interesting. However, I'd say that it was not as exciting as what I have experienced with the Angels in Los Angeles with my brothers and sister last year.
Then Stephanie was the second and Becky was coming third and Tara was coming last. No Joe, he's still in China. We hope he'd make it here in time.
After the game finished, we all went to the Mall of America by the light rail. The GSE American team bought us the roundtrip tickets. That was so nice of them to take very good care of us. It was 6-hour tickets. That means we should be back before 10.15 pm.
At the MOA, we all went in to the Marshalls again, Artit and me, we got a new luggage each and also at the DSW, the shoe warehouse stores, I got another new pairs of shoes.
We went back to the hotel at about 10.30 pm and met DG. Rod Shilkrot sitting in front of elevators, relaxing after his District's gala dinner for PHF contributors' thank you party. He also introduced us to every Rotarians who walked passing by. That was so fun.
That's all for now. Tomorrow we'll have to get up a bit early.
Worramon check in here...
We're now in the Courtyard by Marriott the Depot. At lunch, Artit and I went to have Thai food at the Sawatdee because the other 3 girls did not arrive yet. Tim was there and helped us with the directions but he had lunch already, so we went to try out the food without him.
This evening, we are about to be at the meeting with the Rotarators.
That's all for now.
Worramon Check in here...
In the morning, we went to the Feed My Starving Children organization. It's an organization that will ship fortified rice (food) to some countries where children are starving. They have some permanent volunteers working there and some temporary volunteers come to help with the packing from times to times.
Before starts to pack, Ann, the permanent volunteer, has showed us a video about the organisation and their philosophy. It was really a cry-making video.
We helped packing the food by spread out to 2 stations, each person is assigned to do just 1 thing, just like in a factory. We rotated to different jobs once in a while, so that everyone could try doing everything. One will hold the plastic bag, one will put in chicken powder and veggies powder, one will put in rice and soya bean powder.
Then, the bag will be moved onwards to the weighting station, one of us will weigh the package. Each pack of rice should weigh from 380-400 grams. (One pack is enough for up to 6 people.) And then, the package will move on to be sealed.
It was so much fun and very enjoyable. We were talking along when packing.
Then, we went out for lunch at a local restaurant. Goong had tried their famous malt mix drink. I had tried their #1 best-selling dish - The chicken pot pie. I can't remember the restaurant's name.
That's all for now.
Worramon checking in here..
This might be my first time adding some pics to my blogs. But I'll try keeping previous blogs updated with some pics later.
Today we had a presentation for RC of St. Louis Park and I also have a chance to present the souvenirs from Thailand to DG. Rod Shilkrot who is also a member of this club. We'll meet him again at the District Conference at the Depot.
Hi, It's Patty (Nok) : - )
Carter, son of my 2nd family host name me Patty because you how hard to pronounce my name, Pattamanan (even for Thai people). I had such a great time with the lovely couple - David and Marry Ann Thompson who live in Glenwood, and so did the Kranzs' (Mark, Gwen, Carter (10) and Morgan (7) who live in Sauk Centre. They are all very kind and nice to me. I am so thankful to you all. : - )
Back to St. Louis Park, I stay with Jim and Pam Brimeyer. Jim loves Golf so much and has a golf cap colletion - you had to see his smile when Khun Worramon (Fulda) give him a red Baiyoke cap. And, Pam's so nice, she drove us to Mall of America and spent 5 hours with us (Fulda, Arty and me). : - ) ... Wow, and I guess that's not enough for each us even we're broked already.
Yesterday, Jim and Pam took me to the SPAM Mesuem (Lunchoen meat) in Austin and then to the town called Lake City to met their daughter's family. (Angie and Bryan, Scaller (13) and Cole (8)). The kids are so funny and get along with their grandparent very well.
We had Pizza in the restaurant nearby before went back to St. Louis Park. And I had
great time with them.
Enjoy the pictures!!! : - )))
Worramon checking in here...
I'm so grateful to Mark and Ginny Sathe and Jim and Pam Brimeyer. They were just so kind and caring. I really have no other words to describe their kindness and generosity. I could only thank them thousand times and just wish they'd be in Bangkok very soon for that I could have a chance to return their kindness.
Yesterday, Pam brought Nok (she is known here as "Patty,") Artit (Or so called here "Arty") and me to the Mall of America! Gosh! It was so huge! There were 4 malls at 4 corners and some other shops in between in one place. They also have amusement parks inside, just like a small size of Disneyland.
We started our tour at the LEGO-land and were walking through each stories. No, we didn't really go inside any malls. We couldn't cover that part. Just walked through some shops.
My favourite place there was the Marshalls. I knew it before and was looking for it. So happy that they have this in the MOA. All of us got so many stuffs from there. It was kinda outlets where you could find all brand-name stuffs but with reasonable discounted price. Don't ask me what I have got.
I'm just totally broke!
Yes. I spent almost all my money that I really had to borrow some cash from Patty to pay for my stuffs. Gosh! I couldn't really leave anything behind. Just need to borrow this quotation from Bob (in Sauk Center when we were criticizing about last year South Korean's GSE team purchasing power) "I'll regret, if I don't buy it" :-)
Then, in the evening we had dinner at the Solbrecks' house. Can you believe this? They had THAI food! My goodness, they also have RICE COOKER! WOW! I'm so impressed. I really enjoyed the food.
On Saturday, we had no schedules, Thanks Lord Buddha. I slept in till late like almost 10 am. Then Mark and Ginny brought me to lunch at the Golden Valley Golf Club where Mark has his membership. (Oh yeah, he's a real serious golf player just like Jim Brimeyer)
Then, we went to the Walker Art Museum in downtown Minneapolis with an appointment with Mam and Mrs. Solbreck, her host.
The museum was so interesting. They have divided all exhibits in many rooms and each room will be for each artists or styles of arts. Mostly abstract and various kinds of medium used. Ginny and me, we agreed on one thing that eventhough we didn't really understand "arts" or the thinking of those artists but it was interesting and good, though.
After the museum visit, we went out for a walk in the park nearby. I thought I saw someone looked pretty much like Artit from far away because I saw that person wearing yellow T-shirt just like what Artit would have everydays.
There were a greenhouse planting some kinds of warm climate flowers and trees. I got some nice photos of those flowers as well.
There! The spoon and the cherry! The weird and amazing sculpture we saw in the American GSE team's presentation. We found it eventually!
Then guess what, we have really met Artit there! It was really him that I saw! It was so unbelievable. Minneapolis isn't a small town but how coincidental is this!
Artit, Mam and me, we took lots of weird actions photos with it. We should have those photos to show you somehow later.
Then, we went back home for a small break before we went on for dinner. Mam and her host went on to dinner and a concert after the museum visit.
I just felt that I'm so flattered. Mark and Ginny, as usual, they were just too kind to bring me to the Japanese restaurant, the food of my choice. They didn't really have to but they just did!
We went to Kikugawa at the Riverfront by Father Hennepin Park or somewhere nearby. The food was so genuinely Japanese and we were so full that we needed a walk after the dinner. We walked up along the Mississippi river and walked back to our car. (There was a dish that I knew, I swear, it was supposed to be called "Hiyashiwakame" but they called it here "Kaiso-salad" I knew it's not the same but I really had no ideas how come.)
Tomorrow I'm leaving Mark and Ginny to the new club of Crystal New Hope Robbinsdale. I'm going to miss Mark and Ginny, I know. It was one of the very nice weekends I had in my life. I really enjoyed every single minutes here.
That's all for now.
Artit, at your service
Yesterday, I have a very beautiful vocational visit at one of the District Court in St.Louis Park. I spent the whole moring there. It is seemed to be more busy than usual for the court trial. My host Mr.John Thwing, the President of St. Louis Park Sunrise RC, kindly took me to the District Court to meet Procecuting Attorney. I have seen a lot of cases in trial. Some of them are misdemeandor, some are gross misdemeandor, DWI, etc.
After a quick grasp of Submarine sandwish (Submarine guy!! It is not just a sandwish. It is SUBMARINE!! You cannot find that in Thailand) We headed for Universoty of Minnessota Law School. After an-hour discussion with the Dean-- Prof. Fred L. Morrison, some potential collaboration seemed to be initiated. Then, I was thrown (invited, actually) in to the interesting and enjoyable Criminal Law class of Prof.Stephen Cribari for another hour. Such a decent and remarkable hour. In all, I do have a mavelous vocational visit yeaterday.
Steak is served again for the dinner at my host family's dwelling.
P.S.1 At first, I tought that morning presentation will kill me. but you know?, actually it is great. It give time for us to explore other interesting places e.g. the Mall of America. In front of the scene actually, not behind the scene. ;-)
P.S.2 You should read "Mainstreet" written by Sinclair Lewis, the Noble Prize in Lituratue winner for several times (please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinclair_Lewis). That's nice.
Worramon checking in here...
Today morning we just have done our first presentation in the early morning. Well, I have to say that's it's quite new for me and for all of us since we don't have any Rotary meeting in the morning in Thailand and seems our brain still slept! However, we were quite OK in term of time management and presentation outcome. We had 25 minutes, so we did only the presentation about Thailand.
I got back home after the meeting ended to get changed and we are going to the Mall of America this morning!
Today evening, they will have a party at the Solbrecks. They are Kasuna's host families.
I guess that's all for now.
