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Bridger
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Posts posted by Bridger
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If you are insinuating that the club in Phuket receives special treatment for whatever reasons, please let me know why.
Phuket is the only club outside BKK where I have never played. Nor have I contacted anyone at the club in relation to the Pattaya raid or your post above.
Nevertheless, without knowing exactly why you asked the question, I would like to say this: If you comply with Thai law and regulations ( which are hardly any different and perhaps less onerous than European ones) AND you explain to the locals and the authorities what bridge is all about, then there are no worries;
ACES BRIDGE & CHESS CLUB (Koh Samui)
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An APPEAL for RATIONAL THINKING in the bridge world .Although I am English, I volunteered a decade ago to teach bridge to children in French schools. 11 to 15 year olds. France went on to win most of the medals at the last European youth championships in Istanbul. In Polish schools, bridge has for many years been given almost equal status as mathematics. Unsurprisingly, Poland recently won the Bermuda Bowl. Equally remarkable is the fact that Bali was awarded the bridge World Championships in 2013 - just twenty years on from when Indonesia started encouraging bridge in educational establishments.Could such miracles happen round the corner here in Thailand? That was the question I asked myself when I saw that the Asean Youth Teams Bridge Championships were to be held in Bangkok last April. My answer today is still "YES". But we must all tread very carefully.With the invaluable help of the Thai Bridge Federation I formed a club incorporating a bridge school. For adults and children alike. On delightful Koh Samui in fact. I am not afraid to reveal the location because I am proud of our bridge project and have the support of the local Thai authorities. Comply with their regulations and there are no problems.Thai children are not only enthusiatic about the game, but are generally very disciplined. They also seem to get more encouragement from their parents than many in Europe. If bridge does indeed become an Olympic sport, Thailand has the potential to challenge one day for the medals. The stakes are that high. And this is make or break time. Ill-informed bloggers should therefore think twice before fanning the flames of an already delicate situation.The CULTURE DIVIDE - two examples: When an 11 year old thai boy had (very quickly) mastered the art of bidding and finessing, with the support of our members and the parents he was then allowed to come and watch during club tournaments. Even playing the dummy's cards. He was thus able to learn English and all about European culture in an enjoyable way. To name but two of the innumerable educational benefits. Now imagine what might happen if that youngster had seen members get out their purses to pay their annual subs and table fees. And he saw them put all that money on the table for collection by the treasurer.It happens in many European clubs. Inevitably it will happen without thinking at a european run club in Thailand in front of a young thai barmaid serving drinks for the first time. Unlikely that anyone will think to explain to her why there is more money on all the tables than she will earn in a month! So the potential for misundertandings is huge. Especially when the facts can get distorted and exagerrated as thais innocently report the goings on to their friends all over Thailand via Facebook. With photos! Perhaps one has a military father. The authorities would have to act.Paradoxically, despite the public relations disaster this past fortnight, I like to think that the publicity means a school bridge project in Thailand would receive priority consideration. Goodwill and commonsense on both sides is obviously needed. But there are two other prerequisites as I see it:Firstly, the hysterical and unjustified "authority bashing" by ignorant people who hide behind anonymity must stop immediately.Secondly, any unthinking foreigner who might have done something stupid - whether by act or omission - should put up their hands and admit their mistakes. Showing humility instead of criticising our hosts could go a long way to helping the bridge players in Pattaya. Do not forget this is their country and we are their guests.A starting point might be a public apology from those who allege double standards. Did you not read an article in the Bangkok Post reporting that a house in the Capital was raided following a tip off? If I remember rightly, Thai police went in and arrested........8 card playing Thai policemen.Finally I would like to make a heartfelt plea for experienced bridge players to come in droves to this wonderful country to play yourselves - and to encourage and help more thais to play. Collectively we could conceivably overcome this setback quickly. Please try to understand their culture and help their Federation educate the population on the beauty of bridge.On behalf of fun-loving, bridge playing thai children who are too young to make this appeal, "UP TO YOU".ACES Bridge and Chess Club
Confusion and Anger at Pattaya Bridge Club Raid
in Pattaya News
Posted
A big thank you to onemorechang for the complement. In fact I am tryng to douse the flames rather than stoke the fire. Here is why:
Whether the remark about Phuket was insinuating or not, the innuendos of such questions are enough to cause parents to take their children out of bridge school. Sadly that happened here in Samui.
When, like me, you have been slaving away attending thai classes 4 days a week to be able to teach bridge to these youngsters, it is heartbreaking. A lot of work and much time and expense potentially wasted: After 59 years of playing bridge it is hard.
Even worse was the fact that I had just received the agreement in prinicple of a prominent local school to introduce a bridge programme in schools,
Need I say more.
Probably not, but I will: If bridge lovers worldwide climb on board, believe me when I say that Thailand can one day challenge for the Olympic medals.
ACES (Koh Samui)