Last night I enjoyed dinner with a group of Rotarians in Bangkok during my last of six visits to Rotary Peace Centers in the USA, UK, Sweden, Australia, Japan and here in Thailand. These fellow Rotary members assist Rotary Peace Fellows who study at the Chula University which is hosting one of these Rotary Peace Centers.
The Rotary Peace Center is one of a variety of research & teaching centers this renowned institution has. The Chulalongkorn (or Chula in short) University organizes many international events in a city which has developed as a hub of foreign residents who work and live in the South East Asia region.
Next to interviewing the current fellows, the Rotary Peace Center staff and the local host Rotary members, I also attended a few classes given by a former general of the army in Nepal who led the committee for demobilazation of rebel soldiers after the 10 year civil war in Nepal (1995-2005).
All the fellows are practitioners in the field of peace and conflict resolution and most of them have already 10-20 years of work experience from peace keeping, policing, mediation and relief work.
A few photos of the "old & new": above the meditation center of the university where I witnessed on Sunday a ceremony; below the traditional "tuk-tuk" and a modern "pink" taxi. On my way home tomorrow after six weeks "on the road". Long haul, but productive. Looking forward to see Mary again (back from a trip to Panama with friends), Hilary (back from a two week volunteer stint in Guatemala) and Mark (back from skiing and better be studying by the time I see him....).
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