Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand August / September 2015 - Art & Education Issue | Page 6

Editor's letter

I

n a speech to the 2009 graduating
class of Moscow’s New Economic
School, President Barack Obama
neatly underscored the importance
of an education integrated with the
arts: “The future belongs to young
people with an education and the
imagination to create.”
We know that education is crucial.
At Wanderlust, we believe there is
much to gain from the visual arts,
music, and performing art. We
also believe that we must learn life
lessons, including how to calm our
minds and how to take care of our
bodies. The August / September
2015 issue of Wanderlust therefore
explores education and the arts
from different angles and from the
perspective of learning during both
youth and adulthood—as we should
never stop learning, exploring, and
broadening our horizons.
On the cover is Amy Diener, an
artist and a teacher at the American
School of Bangkok. The two blue
hearts on her cheeks represent a
style of painting that she developed,
called “heart portraiture.” In the
interview with Amy, find out what she
thinks about living in Bangkok, what
inspires her art, and what advice she
has for expat women in Thailand.
6 WANDERLUST

We have added an Education
department this issue, and it is here
to stay. We know it is difficult to
choose an international school and
that expat parents faced with making
the decision for the first time can find
it especially overwhelming. We hope
the information, tips, and insight
in our article on choosing schools
can make it a little easier. Jessica
Teal’s story, “Education and the Arts,”
features interviews with two inspiring
expats and educators in Bangkok;
it’s an intriguing article that will
open your eyes to just a few of the
ways the arts lead to well-rounded
development.
Covered extensively in the
Education section is language
learning. British expat Sarah
Dean writes about her personal
journey learning Thai and gives us
a language-learning lesson in the
“Shopping Lingo” article. And, in
“Bursting the Expat Bubble,” pick up
cultural and language tips from an
expat polyglot in Bangkok who has
founded an online learning platform.
The bottom line? When in Thailand,
learn Thai.
The Health and Wellness
department focuses on yoga and
meditation. The ability to calm our
minds and focus are both integral
to learning. Don’t miss the personal
essay about one woman’s struggle
to find her balance, and how she
is finally making strides through
practicing yoga.
In the Food and Travel & Lifestyle
sections, find tips on where to go,
where to eat, and what to read to enjoy
art for its entertainment value. Check
out the beautiful feature on Savelberg,
a high-end restaurant that delivers art
in the form of food. And if you ever
thought that Thailand doesn’t have
an art community, we will prove you
wrong with “Phuket Art Cafes” and
“The Bangkok Art Scene” articles.
Most importantly, enjoy the read!
Shannon

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