The Weekly Albertan

City Life Photo

Written by Jenn Silver

Friday, 20 November 2009 04:23

Group Photo! I didn't take the photo, so it isn't the best quality. But here it is!

 

TIT This Is Thailand

Written by Jenn Silver

Friday, 20 November 2009 03:59

I am sitting at my desk in City Life. Today is deadline day and also my last day here. The lights have been turned out, most people have gone home. The only people left is my editor and I, working away on last minute photo assignments and layouts. Working at City Life has been one of the greatest experiences for me career wise. I have learned how to work in a foreign country, communicate with people in broken Thai, I have broadened my photo skills as well as my graphic design and layout skills. I have met so many great people and two really great friends who I will keep forever. This entire week i have contributed to the magazine greatly. Also, as of today my photos will appear on the website as feature photos of the week. In the past 10 days, I have photographed 12 separate assignments. They will all be published in the magazine and online. The one thing that has been hard for me to get used is to the way things move in Thailand. No one goes by the clock and everything is so laid back. I'm used to the busy deadline oriented style. Also, I am used to being briefed on the assignments I need to do. Obviously to get good work, I need direction from an editor. During my entire practicum I was simply sent out with out any notice to various events, hotels, stores etc to take photos with no direction. I am someone who needs direction, especially for work. Fortunately, according to my editors, I did a great job. Tomorrow morning at 6 am I am off to Bangkok. Then on Monday, I fly home. Sawadee Ka for now Thailand. With Love, Jennifer

 

Dim Sum for Everyone

Written by Jenn Silver

Wednesday, 18 November 2009 00:59

One of the perks of being a journalist is the free stuff. Especially the free food!! Other than my Betsey Johnson bag, I have only gotten free food so far, so I really have no other perks to choose from. Anyways, you may remember the first assignment I posted. I went with Aey and Dao to the Bake & Bite to take photos for the city buzz section of City Life. Well I got asked to do another photo assignment for city buzz, so Dao and I went to a dim sum restaurant called Hoja in Kad Suan Kaew mall (pronounced Cod Swan Cow). I have never eaten dim sum because I don't eat pork. But I have gone with friends in different cities all over Asia and Canada for dim sum. Much like Canadians like to go for a greasy piece of pizza after getting sloshed at the bar, Asians like to go for late night noodles or dim sum. So Dao and I got to review a very popular dim sum restaurant in Chiang Mai. According to Dao, Hoja has the best Dim Sum in all of Chiang Mai and maybe even Thailand. Now I can't prove that claim, but I got to sample some other Chinese dishes and I have to say it was by far the best Chinese food I have ever had, hands down. You need to understand the 'Chinese' food we eat in Calgary and Canada is not authentic Chinese, because in Canada the Chinese actually tastes good. I have eaten real authentic Chinese food in Asia and it's nothing like you think it is. They don't know what ginger beef is. In Asia, all the chicken and meat is pure fat and comes with skin and bones and all the dishes are loaded with msg and fat, it's a taste bud turn off. Anyways, so Hoja has my seal of taste bud approval and here are some photos to prove it. Ps- Hoja the only restaurant in Chiang Mai that makes their dim sum fresh, not from frozen. So if you are ever here, check it out!

 

Daniel the Turk

Written by Jenn Silver

Wednesday, 18 November 2009 00:20

This is Daniel. He is the subject for my photo illustrations for Hakan's feature story. Hakan is Danish and is the other intern at City Life. Hakan's feature is about how Daniel was raised in Thailand since he was 6 years old. Daniel speaks fluent Thai, practices Buddhism and martial arts. He is more Thai then many people in Thailand. However, most locals still look down upon him and call him farang (derogatory term for foreigner). Daniel has always tried to fit into Thai culture, after all he grew up here, he is basically Thai. Hakan writes about Daniels struggle to be accepted and I illustrated Daniel and Thai culture in contrast.

 

What aims, shoots and fires but isn't a gun?

Written by Jenn Silver

Tuesday, 17 November 2009 23:35

This is my friend. Her name is Chinadut Anuwong. But no one in Thailand goes by their full Thai name. So we call her Dao. I call her little Dao or Nong Dao in Thai. However, this is incorrect since Nong is what you call someone younger then you, out of respect. Dao is 24 years old and I am the youngest person in the office. So there for I am Nong Jen (they like to call me Jenny or Pooki).

 

Reality

Written by Jenn Silver

Tuesday, 17 November 2009 22:10

I honestly don't know where to begin. So much has happened here. To me, for me and by me. I feel like the protagonist in a Haruki Murakami novel. Seeing and learning things and information that drops in and out of reality. I have met a girl named Noriko. She fits perfectly into my Haruki Murakami experience. Sometimes I don't even think she is real. Work has been awesome, I mean that word literally. There have been ups and downs to my work experience. Like everything in Thailand, time is not of the essence. Things move very fast and then drop down so slow they could be going backwards. I am not used to the pace of Thailand. No one follows dates, time, deadlines. I have forgot what day of the month it is. And the next time I blink I will be finished my internship. I have been working on some big projects for the magazine, all that will be published online and in print. I have been to a couple hotel events, I have shot a couple important people and photographed a couple restaurants for review. The reason I cam to Thailand was because I essentially want to work and live here one day. Even though I have been to Thailand four times and have spent over three months here, I have never lived or worked here I wanted to try it on for size. Working at City Life at the moment doesn't feel like my final destination in my chosen profession. I feel as though my internship is a gateway into a hallway with many doors. Lately, I have been discovering my niche in journalism. I have been learning what I am good at, what I am bad at. What I can't do and what I love to do. As for writing, I want to write about things that involve health, awareness and social issues that effect humanity. Through Noriko, I have met Ellen. Ellen is an American expatriate who has lived in Chiang Mai for eight years. She is a health and healing practioner. Noriko, Ellen and I got into a three hour discussion over tea at the herbal sauna. I feel we have connected on a deep level and they are two very important people that I was meant to meet in Asia. Ellen has a newsletter for her business and is looking to expand it into an online magazine and maybe one day a hard copy magazine. She said all she needs is a writer with passion. Hello, Ellen, nice to make your acquaintance. My experience in Thailand has been so much more that just an internship. I am developing all my technical and professional skills as well as I feel I am evolving and growing mentally. I feel like I am moving forward and on the right path to where I need to be in life. Essentally, this is the general point of our internships, right? We are supposed to learn, to grow, to experience the real life working force and try it on for size. So far, it fits great. I just need to get the detail. In time. -Jenn.

 

Yummy!

Written by Jenn Silver

Monday, 16 November 2009 02:23

Dear fellow blog readers, At the moment I am having some extremely inconvenient computer problems. And my last 2 blogs that I had written are on there. I cant access my computer until further notice. However, here is a photo to tease your pallette. This is some fried fish in the little market across from my work. In Thailand, when you ask for fish, you get the full meal deal. I have been eating an array of food here, everything from Thai to Italian. Great Indian food at my favourite restaurant in Chiang Mai called Le Spice. Also, I have tested some vegetarian food out. My favourite so far has been Som Tam (mi si tua lisong) which is spicy Thai papaya salad, mi si tua lisong means with out peanuts. Anyways, hang tight for some exciting blog posts about my spa indulgence day, my awesome Friday at work and out on the town and some really cool friends I have met. There may be some partying involved. Ill post soon. Jenn.

 

To make you jealous.

Written by Jenn Silver

Wednesday, 11 November 2009 23:54

This is me on my lunch break in the courtyard of my office. How is the weather in Calgary??

 

FARANG no more.

Written by Jenn Silver

Wednesday, 11 November 2009 21:44

FARANG definiton - The generic Thai word for specifying a white person or white foreigner. Normally non offensive. Can be used in a mocking manner. Although continued use after knowledge of your name is considered rude. After the events of last night, I feel as if I am fitting in more and more into Thai culture and society. Each time I have visited Chiang Mai I have left with a new perspective. I went from slumming it as a backpacker, to staying in a nice hotel with my family and now I feel as if I fit in more with the community of 'farang' who live in Thailand, or better known as expats. Last night I went out with Pim who is the Director, owner and Managing Editor of City Life. Hakan the other intern, James who is an editor, Tumn who is a trainee and Dao an editorial assistant came with us. We went to a wine lounge called 'Darling' and we were classy with our drinks. Once again following the rules for Thai mannerisms I drank what everyone else had and drank what was ordered for me. I forgot how much Thai's like to drink when socializing. We drank red wine, white wine, champagne (yes, classy I know), beer, and then finished it off with sambuca night caps. Actually I was ordered about 3 night caps. During our visit I got a chance to bond with everyone and mostly with Pim. We discussed matters of great importance and secrecy of which I can't even share. Just kidding. But we did talk politics, philosophy, religion and of course journalism. Pim and I really got along, she views the world in the same way that I do. Also she studied in Israel and has great respect for my religion. Pim also asked me about my goals in journalism and my skills. And thanks to my education at SAIT I know have projects in advertising, writing, layout and design. She was quite impressed with my program. Kudos SAIT. Another thing that was notable at work today was that all the staff got together in the main area and drew names for secret santa. It was quite amusing, but a bit of an irony.

 

Everything is not as it seems in Thailand

Written by Jenn Silver

Tuesday, 10 November 2009 21:09

Even long before I came to the land of smiles (Thailand) I knew that there is what you see and think happens in Thailand, and then there is the truth. Thai girls make friends with foreign men and then make up stories to suck money from them, even though they seem honorable. Prostitution is illegal, but yet takes place in places along major roads where the police are outside, but they are patrolling traffic instead. Anyways, during my three previous travels in Thailand I did not get mixed up too much in this grey area of credibility. Cab drivers would try to rip me off and take me to jewelry stores, and I once watched my mother get mislead by a con artist. Today I was subject to a minor embarrasment related to what someone says and what they mean. I got invited out for dinner by one of the advertising and PR girls named Aey. She is very nice and my first 'friend' at City Life. I was under the impression that we were just g oing for dinner and drinks with some of her clients and it had nothing to do with work. This is where I should have known not to assume. Although the people in Thailand are very polite and friendly, some times there is a catch to their actions. Anyways, she picked me up from my hotel at 6:30 (I finish work at 6 p.m.) so I dropped off all my gear and got ready for dinner. We arrived at the Chiang Mai Grand View Hotel and went to the top floor where three very smartly dressed Thai's were sitting and enjoying wine. They introduced themselves to me. Pi Pirapong was one of the top managers of the hotel, the other was a lady was head of PR and hotel management and the last was the Managing Editor from Chiang Mai news. Uh oh. These aren't friends! These are clients! I was instantly uncomfortable but I know Thai's and they were very nice people, we walked up to the top floor to view the whole city it was gorgeous. Everything was awesome until Aey came up to me and said that it was time to take some nice photos for PR of the hotel. WAIT A MINUTE!! I was told I didn't need my camera, i was told that this was just dinner with her friends. Oh god. I knew there was a catch, I should have brought my camera. Even though I'm not at work, I am still working apparently. I apologized and explained that there must have been a miscommunication. Aey took it graciously, but it looks to me like she had promised Pi Pirapong some great portraits by me. I felt really bad, but I should have known. So i told them I would do some nice set up shots on the weekend (wait a minute, aren't I just an intern?? haha. oh well, when in Rome.) We all returned to the table and I was nervous about embarrassing myself anymore. So I did my best to be respectful and avoid any embarrassments regarding Thai mannerisms. I know not to serve myself, not to finish everything on my plate, to eat what is given to me and to not refuse any more. This is hard to do when I don't eat any meat other then chicken and fish and I am deathly allergic to peanuts. I told myself to suck it up and hopefully I wouldn't go into anaphalactic shock. Thankfully, the dishes that arrived were chicken karaage and some sort of shrimp patty. But then more dishes started to arrive. The third being a pork sausage and of course it was served to me. Don't tell anyone, but when no one was looking I threw it off the balcony and left a small piece to give the illusion that I was full. We all started chatting and everyone was interested in me. As the night went on and the wine went down, so did my nerves. Cheers to Thailand, and all its misconceptions. It keeps life interesting.

 

I'm Just an Intern

Written by Jenn Silver

Monday, 09 November 2009 02:54

When you picture and intern you imagine a nervous person who gets to stamp envelopes and fetch coffee for all the busy people. Well us interns prove those images wrong. Even though I am in Thailand, a place where you never know what to expect, I started my internship sprinting. Today was my first day at Chiang Mai City Life magazine. After setting up my desk and meeting every one in every department (which I later forgot about 90% of their names), I sat down to what I hoped would be an eventful day. It started off slow. My editor Boontawee aka He was busy at work and had too little time to give me anything to do. I edited old photos for a while to look busy. Then BAM! I had three assignments to do. First thing, I got to edit and retouch some studio photos that would be published in the magazine. I was thinking "I hope this isn't all I get to do, I want the fun, action stuff." I got what I wished for. I was sent out with two of the editorial reporters to a little shop called the Bake & Bite. This coffee shop reminded me of farm life in Canada. Odd? The pictures posted in this entry are from that shoot. The reporters interviewed the owner who could change between fluent English and Thai like a light switch. I got to take the photos. I was sent with no criteria or any information about what I was supposed to shoot. Thankfully, I got it right. Afterwards, I socialized with the two girls, whose names I can't even pronounce never mind type, we enjoyed our tea time special and they invited me out for karaoke on the weekend. Big suprise, Thai's love Karaoke and I liked it when I was 8, maybe? Finally, my last assignment I will be working on tomorrow. He and I will be shooting the cover image for the December issue of City Life. Wait a minute, I am shooting the cover? But I though I was just an intern!

 

Feels Like Home

Written by Jenn Silver

Sunday, 08 November 2009 03:23

After a grueling 20 hours of travel time into Bangkok and then debating between partying or sleeping before returning to the airport, sleep won. I left Calgary at 11 a.m. on Friday, November 6, 2009 and arrived at my final destination at 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 8, 2009 (which is 10 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2009 in Calgary) Everything in Thailand is just the way that I left it, with the exception of a few more 711's and Starbucks and taxis trying to charge me more for a ride. It is just the way I remember it, the way I like it. This is my fourth trip to Thailand, but this time is different. I stepped off the plane in jeans with a suitcase, far from the scraggly backpacker I used to be. This time I mean business. To get myself situated in Chiang Mai, I immediately set out for some good Pad Thai on the street and then payed a visit to the nearest Tesco for some groceries. In Canada, we have our Safeway's and Sobey's with a wide variety of food selections. In Thailand, a grocery store is merely an over-sized 711 with more packaged calories and packaged monosodiumglutamate then any Canadian can imagine. I lucked out, however, this Tesco had a small produce section. Unfortunately for me, I don't read Thai and out of all the fresh produce I only recognized three fruits and a grand total of no vegetables. Not wanting to risk any taste bud shock on my first day while I was trying to recover from jet lag, I picked up some fruit that looked similar to apples and oranges. The pure basics. Of course I can't go wrong with eating produce in a tropical country. Currently, I am forcing myself to stay awake long enough to visit my favourite market in all the world. The Chiang Mai Night Bazaar. I am also waiting to meet another intern at Chiang Mai City Life, the magazine I am interning at. He lives in the hotel I am staying at and wants to meet me so we can walk to work in the morning. This is a relief since I don't know where I am going or even how to get into the building. Tomorrow is a new day and a new job for me. Let the good times roll.