after 4 years of living in Thailand, I often get asked what do I feel I learned and/or accomplished in Thailand. I don't have any kind of comprehensive answer and just starting to gather my thoughts...
Original Vision
Peace in Thailand - a vision for sourcing global transformation from Thailand in July 2004. This was my compass for 4 years.
Community
- Dance Chalat
Corporate
- chased a vision for mobile computing and the iPhone came to life (now whether this is my accomplishment or not is not the issue - it occurred!]]
- Intel-based Apple products
- Mac OS X Leopard - automated backups to external via Time Machine
Personal
- learned to speak Thai!
- gave up software piracy. purchased my first WinXP license!
- gave up music piracy. collected 100+ iTune singles of the week to complement my existing collection of CDs purchased in my younger years!
- played a game to relate to everyday Thai people by living on 100 baht/day
- how to support a couple, maintain a healthy lifestyle of living, and be a grassroots leader on 25,000 baht/month (US$12000 annum)
- professional accomplishments (see resume)
- Thailand Cheatsheet
- clear context for long-distance relationship with Mayumi
- reduced alcohol consumption by X %
- eliminated recreational drug use
- learn to live independently for 1 year (oats sowed - yeay!)
- this wiki as a means to share my life dynamically in real-time. distinguish this from my existing blog
- LiveJournal sharing my journey to Thailand
Transform into tangible statements
- my own commitment to integrity
- learning to manage my back issue much like the blind man "manages" blindness
- environmental stance and awareness. recyclable stacks. say no to plastic bags & straws. use own bags for groceries. no to AC when possible.
- developmental stance and awareness
- ILP #7
- prepared to be a dad
- mutli-contextual grassroots digital toolkit(s)
- built a professional network (# of business cards)
- digital teamwork
- transformational relationship with Morn - friendship, stand for communication
- reduced cost of living in Thonburi and downtown Bangkok
- have peace with writing off XX baht as an investment in my personal training & development as a leader