Last snaps before heading back to the states for a visit

Wednesday, I got to go get photos taken with some of the new grads in our team as they graduated from KMUTT.  It was so good to get to meet their families and share in their pride and excitement.

Jib, the team's "social director."

I meet with each of the new grads every day for at least five minutes to let them practice their business English and to let me stay caught up on what is happening in their lives and careers.  Here, I am meeting with Nui.

Kong, is fast becoming one of my very favorite people.  He just joined us this year, too, and he is just a great guy.  I am proud of him!

Prasert.  I call him "Supersert."  That smile is ALWAYS there and he keeps the team atmosphere so bright.  I am so very glad he is in our team.

The team put together a lunch at my favorite restaurant today, so I could have one last Thai meal before going back stateside.  Oh, what a meal it was!  This is tomyumgoong, hot and sour soup with shrimp.  One of Thailand's signature dishes and it is delicious!

Fried baby crabs.

Bpla prik tai dum...  Fish with black pepper, probably my favorite dish of all.

The TRAC Dedicated team engrossed in their meal.

Chut and Hope, digging in.

A well fed team!

My favorite Thai dessert.  Taro "pearls" with warm coconut cream.  Oh my.

Ti's Wedding

Today was the wedding party for Jantima (Ti), one of the young ladies have worked with since I first visited the Bangkok office in 2006. Usually, the wedding itself is a fairly private affair, with a big celebration party held later... maybe later the same day, maybe a few days after the wedding, or perhaps months afterward.

Here, Mark Bailey, the Vice President over Support and over the Bangkok Offshoring effort, offers a blessing over Ti and her husband Gold.  Normally, the bride and groom ask two or three people they respect to offer words of advice and a blessing.  Because Mark was going to be here on a visit, Ti asked if he would honor them.  He was pleased to do so.

  Many of the weddings I have attended include a traditional Chinese dinner consisting of multiple courses.  Here, we are served roast suckling pig.

The menu.  Yes, each was a separate course.  We could not come close to eating it all!

The happy couple, smiling for the camera.

                                               

  

Cutting the cake with a sword, another tradition.

Vera (my boss) give her blessing.

A beautiful setting.

This is not even half of the room.  It looked like about 350 people.

One of my favorite people in the world, Thanan (nicknamed Bomb.)   Bomb started with DST about the same time as I arrived to stay in 2008.  He is one of our shining stars and one of the associates I work with in the leadership development groups I lead at work.

Mark, the vice President, may have met his successor!   I love this photo of present and future leadership.

Speaking of leaders, my friend Momo, one of our Thai managers, poses with Paul Andrews from the Development Group in the US and Mark Bailey.

My buddy Bomb, with his lady friend Daraomo and me. 

My friend Steve Lee.  Steve has been a mentor since I first came to Bangkok for that three month stay in 2006.  A selfless, tireless worker, and a great friend.