1 Nov 2007

Yehhh!!! Finally, I’ve got to be able to use ‘PIN’ card or ‘CHIP’ card or whatever, to buy food at school…. After 2 months that I can’t!! I have to WAIT 6 weeks to get my bank account done and WAIT another 1 week for the card … well, an additional week is because I was during my Italy trip … anyway, I have to WAIT.

This reflects the ‘CHILLED’ culture of Dutch, I perceive… (For Thai, I am sure that you know what ‘chilled’ mean. For those who don’t know it means to be very clam and relaxed … very relaxed!!!) anyway, it is too chilled for me!!!

Another thing that has to be mentioned is that I just know today that I have ‘FAN’ for my blog. So, I will try to update it more frequently.

9 Nov 2007

วันนี้ขอเขียนเป็นภาษาไทย เพราะไม่อยากให้พวกคนจีน คนดัชท์ที่โรงเรียนรู้เรื่อง (555 เลวร้ายจังเลยเรา)

เรื่องของเรื่อง ก็คือ ในที่สุด เราก็ได้คอนเฟิร์มตั๋วเครื่องบินกลับไทยในวันที่ ๑๙ ธันวาคม แล้ว เย้!!!!!!!! (ก็ต้องขาดเรียนไป ๓ วัน ... ไม่เป็นไร แลกได้ 5555) ... [วันที่ ๑๙ พ.ย. ...ขอสรรเสริญพระเจ้าสูงสุด ... พระบิดา ผู้พระทัยดี ... พระนางมารีอา แม่ผู้ใจดีของลูก ... พระช่วยอีกแล้ว .. ขอเลื่อนขึ้นมาเป็ฯวันที่ ๑๘ ก็ใจดีให้อีก ดีจังๆๆ]

สวดขอพระมา อาทิตย์นึง พระก็ให้ ... ดีจังเลย ... เราก็ตั้งใจจะสวดไปเรื่อยๆ จนถึงวันที่จะบิน ... ตั้งแต่วันนี้ก็คงเปลี่ยนเป็นสวดขอบคุณล่ะ ... J

12 Nov 2007

This day is the first day of exam. After not taking written exam for 3 years, I got hand (palm) – ach after finishing the exam (in fact, since the last 30 mins.).

I used to write a lot in the exam and I could think and write faster than this. But 3 years of not doing it makes my physical forget the skill. And my muscle (palm) doesn’t get used to it.

Well, I hope the exam tomorrow will be better and also hope that I could regain my skill and familiarity on Thursday.

However, I am definitely certain that all would be the same as before in Block 2 exam.

18 Nov 2007

This Sunday, I tried to go to English Mass. Searching in the internet, I found that there is a English Mass at St. Liduinastraat, passing Schiedam Centrum. So, I went!! In the internet, it said that it was supposed to be a Chapel of elder health catering or something.

When I arrived the Troelstralaan Metro Station, it took me a while to find the direction and to find the place. Eventually, I assumed the place and got in … and I was right … Yehhhh!!! Finally, I can attend English Mass [I can understand ha ha ha]

Unfortunately, I asked the reception, she was really nice in fact, but she said that “Oh! The information is outdated, it used to have English Mass here last year, but this year it moved to Zuid Schiedam” … Oh!!! Poor Oak again!! … “Well, where is the place in Zuid Schiedam it moved and how could I go there?” I asked. … But she just kindly said “Sorry! I don’t know, I really don’t know” >> What!?!? Again!?!? .. It must be a typical Dutch answer, I presume!!! *o*

And I had no time to go back to Blaak, attending the usual Mass I had … so I took the opportunity to discover the place and I saw a couple of Wind Mills … OK, then. At least I got something.

20 Nov 2007

Today, I joined Consultancy Cycle 2007, the event set by  EUREOS and others. The event today was with Archstone Consulting company; the company I would say very unique from my point of view [in Thai I would say เป็นบริษัท ‘แนว’ มากๆ].

The event today started by introducing the company profile by one of the company’s partner. Here, I thought that the company is very distinct; what he emphasized is that the firm is trying to be ‘trusted’ advisor consulting business, which he claimed as a ‘old’ fashion professional of consultancy. What I have learned was that the consulting business is about defining solution, implementing solution and operating a certain function; however, Archstone, now, focuses on only defining and implementing solution. The solution the firm provided would be mostly based on pragmatic strategies. The firm’s strategy also focuses on market-driven; the firm do as market expect/want – it grows as market/clients want it to grow. The last, but not least, I have got the distinction between capacity and capability; in other words, they are limit and potential…. to me, they are like two side of the same coin, but still, the distinction is really important.

The afternoon section is workshop. The firm gave us a case and let us give recommendation, although they said it could use a week to do it, we had to do it within 2 hours!!!!! Anyway, the case was really interesting. What I have learned is that, firstly, we have to find the ‘illogical’ issue; something that don’t look make-sense, for example, if our competitors are making profit, but we don’t, then, something go wrong!!! Secondly, about the importance of SF&OP, it makes differences to profitability. And last one is about the power of brand identity.

Lastly, the firm’s official also gave us feedback and, I would call, recommendation about consultancy process that it has to be clear point, clear strategy, clear figure. The importance is the fact base behind our summary [recommendation] and the fact the what the clients buy from consultancy is confidence … as a consultant, we have to told them what is right, what is wrong and what are the consequences.

After the workshop, they were so generous calling to the sale and marketing manager of the firm in the case asking him telling us about the inside about the case… that was really nice!!!

Then, the final activity was social drink!!! By walking and talking around, what I have realized was to be a professional advisor; the choice is the client’s. Another thing is that the US ways are really different to EU ways; the EU educational system is more specific, the EU interviewing process [of consulting firm] emphasizes more on social-people skill; they assumed that the applicants have most of the professional capability and the last thing is EU is more relaxed than US.

Well, for the bottom line, the event was so great!!! I hope I was selected to join the event with BCG and AT Kearney. God Bless Me!!!

Oh! Almost forgot! What was excited was their device also. They have some kind of device, it looks like a triangle with the telephone at the middle. It is specifically for tele-conference… that’s looked so hi-tech for me.

23 Nov 2007

We had a party for the occasion of finishing the exam of Block 1; A Drunk Party!!! [No food, just alcohol!!!… ha ha ha]. Another objective was to know each other much more. Anyway, the whole point was to have FUN, wasn’t it???

We went to bar near Blaak, called Dutch Martime Pub; the place is decorated like inside a wooden ship. From Thai perspective, I could be called ‘Boutique’ Pub because it is quite small and has unique style. I noticed that pubs, in Netherlands [I had passed by some of them], do not open the music so loud and people are busy talking to each other. In Thailand, even though we would like to chit chat, however, the pubs would open music so loud, and we actually shouted to each other, and people are busy dancing and singing … ha ha ha … This gave another atmosphere to me.

All in all, we had a great time tonight. [while gentlemen were busy talking, my ladies were taking photo … Women!!! They are the same all over the word]. My friends are very generous in everything. Most Dutch are much more friendly after a couple of beer, I think … ha ha ha. Well, we took lots of photo, laughing a lot, and of cause having lots of beer [I had 4 glasses]. The last glass I took, I would like to try ‘PALMS’; Hans told me that it is Belgium beer and for special occasion. It was a special occasion indeed.

Well, Thanx to Amanda, Simon, and others who set the event. That is very generous.

I went home at half past midnight, just when they decided to change the place. I think it might be ‘RIVA bar’, Simon suggested in the mail. I wished I could go but I am ‘good boy’ who have to go to bad on time … ha ha ha. [Noooo, I didn’t want to miss the metro, actually]

Anyway, I wished they have a great fun.