A welcoming speech by Khunying Chamnongsri Rutnin Hanchanlash, an honourary guest to the competition

Khunying Chamnongsri Rutnin Hanchanlash, Thailand's noted author and poetess, delivered the keynote speech at the grand prizes ceremony for the 3rd IMPAC Dublin Literary Award held at Conrad Bangkok Hotel on February 12. In attendance were more than 150 distinguished guests including the winners of the English language essay contests, educators, academics, students with their parents, authors and other keen promoters of creative writing.

"The organisers of this evening's function have invited me, as a bilingual Thai writer, to encourage young people to write, and to write in English as well as in their mother tongue.
I must confess that after all these years, I still feel a pleasant twinge of surprise every time someone describes me as a "writer". I don't quite know how to became a "writer". Like everyone of us in this room, I simply wrote ever since I learned to write, just as I simply spoke ever since I learnt to speak.
At school, when small children start writing, they put words on paper to describe what they see, what they feel, what they want to express. Of course, they also draw for the same reasons. Just about everyone start writing by scrawling sentences like "I have two dogs." "The sky is blue". "Mom and Dad love me". Then, the sentences became more complex as feelings grow more subtle, ideas more complex and expression skill more developed.
All that is 'writing'. All that is the initial steps to becoming a writer. Like speech, it grows from the human need for communication, expression, and bonding. There is the natural writer and the natural artist within all of us, like seeds lying there in the soil. Whether we let them shrivel and dry up, or cultivate and bring them to flower is another matter.
Writing is a challenge. As Rita Dove, poet laureate of the United States, once said that "We are always trying to describe the indescribable...Nothing can render a moment exactly as it happened..." as it happens in our hearts, in our minds as well as outside.
I am sure that today's winners have experienced the challenge of searching for words and ways to form sentences that would best express what your want to express. And also to coax the readers into involvement, making them feel what you feel, see what you see.
The challenge is even greater when the language you are writing is not your mother tongue. But in life, challenges are always there to be met, and overcome.
As we are only two days away from Valentine's Day, let me tell you of my love affair with the English language. It began dismally enough on a very cold and drizzly February day in London in 1952 in my very first week in England.
I was 12 years old with very, very few words of English. Like many romances, it began on a somewhat sour note, unlike many romances it has lasted over half a century and likely to last until the end of my life.
On that cold, drizzle morning, a very tall Englishman known as Mr Silver took care of my cousin and I for the day. We were standing near Westminster Abbey when Mr Silver told us something. We didn't understand. He said it again...again we didn't understand. Not knowing what to do, we giggled the way Thai giggle when not knowing what to do. Mr Silver looked puzzled and saddened. We learnt later that he was telling us the announcement of King George VI's death. The English language has thrown me its challenge that fateful day. Do or die I would master it one day.
I must tell you here and now that I have never mastered it, not to this very day. Perhaps if I have really mastered it, I may not have remained so much in love with it. The challenge would have been gone, wouldn't it? As it is I have great fun grappling with it, mainly in writing.
It is not so much the reading but the writing that keeps the relationship constantly sparkling - proving Margaret Atwood, the Canadian novelist and poet utterly right when she said... "When you begin to write, you're in love with the language, with the act of creation, with yourself partly..."
With writing, you reach inward and touch a precious part of your heart and mind. How can you help loving with the language that carries that inner message to the world? Yes, I am never more in love with the English language than when I am writing, especially writing poetry.
Let's go on with the story, I was then sent to live and learn English in the home of 3 book-loving women for six months. Television was a thing of the future. Each evening, one of them would spend an hour or two reading poetry and stories to me. With this daily dose, I grew familiar the tone, the rhythm, the melody of the language long before I could really understand it.
Then off I went to a little boarding school of 75 girls where all the students were English - except for one who was half-American. On Sunday afternoons, the headmaster would read to the whole school in his deep, expressive and utterly handsome voice. Adventures, romance, mysteries came alive in that large room where we all sat, helplessly charmed.
Mine was a tiny private school hidden from the world by dreaming forests occasionally punctuated by lonely moors. Perfect spawning ground for writers it proved to be because at least two of my classmates became writers.
There, the English romantic poets - Keats, Shelly, Byron, Coleridge - captured my heart with their rich, melancholic, rebellious lyricism. Eighteenth Century essayists, Josept Addison and Richard Steel, fascinated me with their precise, witty, sharp-tongued prose. These long dead poets and essayists were my earliest guru in the art of writing.
These under the whispering canopy of forest leaves, Loneliness, too, was my teacher, my guru. I once wrote about loneliness - about the three faces of it.

Loneliness is sometimes grey, mute and pale with claws outstretched to clutch the heart and strangle the breath...

This face of Loneliness paralyses, but then writing led me to another, a more benign one

It sometimes sings song of a canary a caged crystal melody that stares out at an unseeing crowd

Then there is Loneliness' third face, the one can be said to be a fertilizer for creativity. This is what it looks like

And there are times when I have seen it gleam like a dew-fed flower quiet, pure and calm looking out of darkness at the screaming sun

It is when you learn to make Loneliness turn on its soft and calm face that you begin to notice little things around you with senses that are fresh and fully alive. You begin to see beauty in leaves that hungry insects have bitten into lovely designs, to feel the liquid softness of a solitary raindrop, to notice the gentle curve of shadow on stone - which, incidentally, became the tale of The Sunray and the Grey Stone.
Readers have asked how I came up with the idea of the fat noises scaring silence. I didn't "come up with the idea" but simply used the English language to relay the sounds of night in the garden of my childhood home the way I heard and felt them when I was alone with a quiet listening heart.
It was Margaret Atwood again who said that "as you go on, the writing - if you follow it - will take you places you never intended to go and show you things you would never otherwise have seen."
I, too, have found that writing is marvellous tool for thought, exploration, development and self discovery. You begin with a sentence, a paragraph, a chapter. From there you let it lead you like an adventurous explorer following river that takes him to so many discoveries - outward and inward.
My romance with the English language continued after I returned from England at 18. After three months of extreme boredom working in a family company, the rescue angel came in the form of an American with a wicked sense of humour and fiery temper. He was Darrel Berrigan, the editor of a morning daily called the Bangkok World - the arch rival of Bangkok Post at the time. After his tragic death the paper was bought by the Bangkok Post. Berrigan asked me to join the paper as a cub reporter and columnist. Here my love affair with the English language took an unexpected turn. What, when, where, why, how and deadline, deadline and deadline became an all-important factor. Berry as we called him giving me a sweaty hugs for good articles and yelling hell when I inadvertently demote generals to colonels. Three years in journalism added a whole new dimension to my relationship to the English language. Addison and Steel, Keats and Shelly retreated somewhat - Peter Arnett came to the fore. He was actually my senior colleague at the Bangkok World.
Love affair with a language is a wonderful shining thing. There is no heart-break, no jealousy, or competition: only an emotional, and indeed, spiritual reward that only a writer who is true to him or herself can savour.
My life long romance with the English language runs parallel with another - the Thai language. The common denomination is Writing.
I would like to end by again congratulating the winners, no so much for winning as for having written - with your heart - for having set forth on the journey of understanding and discovery."

T

Kanyawee Chakreyavanich
Age: 15
Year 10 Shrewbury International School

My name is Ink and I am 15 years old. I am international energetic, ordinary teenager girl who is now studying at Shrewbury International School. Before writing this, I had to think hard about how to explain Thai grace and compassion. It’s rather difficult to explain, although my nationality is Thai, as Thai grace and compassion is unique and intricate. When people visit our country, they often tell us that our country is absolutely peaceful and glorious. They would like to come back again one day because of Thailand’s warm sincerity and authentic respect to every foreigner who comes to visit.
Thailand is actually well-known for elegance and sympathy. I am also proud to know that Thai people are world famous for our hospitality and our smiles which are unlike any country; as we always smile for a variety of reasons such as to say hello, goodbye, apologise, thank you or even to cover up when we’re embarrassed. As far as I can remember, when I and my friends were younger, we were taught to be well-mannered and considerate of other people, not only how to behave at school and our community, but also at home. Moreover, we actually had to do our part in order to keep the family together and happy. Although, sometimes we are tired to do what our parents tell us to do, it is our duty to realise that our chores around the house should be done without any question and we should concentrate on our duties. The most graceful act that Thai people can do with their dearest parents and adults is to prostrate at the feet of their parents on both Mothers and Fathers Day. We are supposed to “Wai” (The Wai is when you grasp two hands together and bring them towards your chin with your head bent slightly forward) our parents in both greeting and for saying thanks for what they have done for us for their whole lives. However, not only on Mothers and Fathers Day should we show our respect, but we should be forever grateful to our parents and should always show them the utmost respect at all times. Another person that we esteem the most, apart from our parents, is The King. This is probably one of the most important and famous aspects of Thai grace. Everyday the national anthem is played twice a day and also before every firms at the cinema when you go to watch movies. Everyone is expected to stand whilst it is playing. Talking about grace, I am extremely pleased with Thai people, as they are world famous for their purity of respect for our religion, such as to Buddha and monks. Every time we go to the temples and visit the monks, we always give them frank veneration by not wearing shorts or tank tops and removing our shoes before entering the temples. It is as well considered very improper for any women to touch the monk. I truly believe that Thai people are one of the politest people in the world and always will be. Comparing to Western civilisation, we deem that it is completely rude to point your feet at anyone or anything. Although, it is pretty hard for Westerners to follow us, without realising it, they do in some circumstances unlike us. The thing I try to do when foreign people came to visit our country is I always show a warm welcome and value them. Furthermore, another specific graceful Thai characteristic is that we count that stepping over anyone is quite ungracious, instead of doing that we generally walk around them. One more graceful Thai uniqueness is Thai yoga therapy “Traditional Thai massage”. Thai yoga is quite popular and every foreigner who prepares to visit our country knows about it as it is an extraordinary method of aligning the energies of the body and originates from the time of Buddha. The truth that stunned me is the way Thai massage works. Thai yoga massage is actually works by stimulating, opening and balancing the flow of energy through the “sen” (the body’s energy lines) lines to assist the body in its natural tendency towards self-healing. This Thai grace is a technique that involves a unique combination of gentle rocking and stretching, using a range of motion and acupressure techniques is applied through clothing without oil. As far as I can remember, my family also loves doing Thai massage. I always heard from my parents that it was really helpful and after doing it you can feel your mind much more relaxed than at the beginning. You may not believe it but Thai people not only have the most rejuvenated habits, they also care about others predicaments in any situation. This essentially creates Thai’s honest compassion that even the most genius won’t expect from Thai people. We can see many of them but I think the most obvious one that really shows the world the way Thai people care about other difficulties is the Tsunami impact.
Although it has already been a year and a half, foreigners always see that Thai people still feel anxious about that indescribable impact. The losses were tragic, and yet, there is still hope and they still smile even though the survivors’stories are beyond belief. This makes Thai people want to make hole for survivors that we are able to reach out to each other, find the strength to move on and adapted to the change. I was totally in shock when I heard about the Tsunami impact so were others. At first I thought Thai people would give up when we found out how awful the situation was such, as severely impacted were the adjacent coastal areas causing widespread devastation of many communities and also destruction of many coastal communities and tourist resorts. But we found out that it is never too late to believe in our hopes.
The whole world knew about how Thai compassion really is, as they could see how hard we tried to help. We volunteer and even rescue the villagers in the impact areas who not only lost loved ones and homes, but almost all of their fishing boats and means of income. However, the thing I am absolutely proud of is that our King offers his hands to help in this dreadful impact by donating clothes, food and money in order to help those people. He always is our highest hope and always will be.
The Thai government has also helped with this impact. They are grateful for helping orphans who lost their family, rebuilding the schools that were wiped out by the waves, building schools for the sea gypsy, a new village, and even a new nursery school. This actually shows the way Thais’ compassion is. However, sooner or later Thai grace and compassion can be change with time because of the contact with western civilisation. Although most of us stick to our own grace and compassion, some are influenced by what they see on television and from tourists. Nevertheless, we, Thai people always remind ourselves that each of us is meant to have character all our own, to be what no other can exactly be, and do what no other can exactly do just like our eternal grace and compassion.

Sireelak Pathum
Age: 18
Matthayom 6, Yothinburana School

After I finished my housework in the late evening, I was sitting in front of the computer, trying hard to recall my impressions on Thai unique characteristics of grace and compassion. You might wonder what I was doing. Well, I decided to write an essay titled “A Tale of Thai Grace and Compassion” because of two personal reasons: feeling grateful and the passion to fulfill one of my dreams.
Weeks ago I read an announcement at school eagerly; it was about the very essay – an essay contest! This would be my great chance to be a writer – an amateur one, though. I really liked the topic, so I sent an email to a lady whom I could ask her for more information. Even after I got her prompt reply, I still hadn’t had any practical ideas. With loads of homework, some assignments, and a few activities coming incessantly into my busy schedule, I found it kind of hard to write a story, especially when my head was completely blank. Whenever I want to write something, I always realize that my work will be satisfying only when my imaginations flow. Therefore, it is no use to force myself to write when I don’t feel like it. Anyway, I was triggered by the lady I sent an email to on the second last day of submission period. She informed me via email that she was waiting for my essay and wondering if I had any questions. Oh, how nice she was! Consequently, I determined that I would try my best to come up with an essay, for my own sake and for hers.
Now, you are getting into my story. Searching deeply into the past, I saw how foolish I was. But, take it as a good teacher; it is worthy to learn your mistakes. I used to look at things from my narrow childish views. Never have I minced my words during the early years of my life. I preferred to be frank as I thought it was best to be honest. However, I have learned that sometimes it is better not to say all the things when it might offend people and try to think carefully before speaking since I am often honestly unaware that it may not sound good in some points of view. And yet these days I am still coping with this bad habit.
When I was much younger, my father usually scolded me because I was constantly all thumbs and it was also because of other reasons. So, by this reason, I asked my mother why she married such a hot-tempered man. The answer I got was that he was straightforward, careful, thoughtful, and kind (kind? oh, really?) indeed. She said he was a good boss – always protecting his subordinates when they were blamed unjustly and very generous to them. Moreover, he always have pity on the inferior ones, for example, he always pay tips to waiters or any workers who do their duties diligently in order to boost up their spirits. Another thing is that he is very polite to others, especially the elder. Now I totally agree that she married the right man. Mentioning my mother, I hardly see her angry. My father and I always say that she repays when she owes somebody, but she will never get back at anyone. My aunt is an admirable example of sacrificing. She quitted school at twelve to help my grandmother raise her brothers and sisters and run the housework. During her teenage, there were many men who would like to ask for her hand in marriage; however, she didn’t accept any because she knew she had to take care of her whole family. Until today, she has been taking care of our food supply all the time my father is overseas. I have improved tremendously (in my opinion) after I got into a deeper level of Dhamma. Previously I usually debated with my mother about whether karma exists or not. I always said to her that people have different characteristics and status only because of luck or chances, that it is a matter of probability. At the same time she would say there must be some reasons which make people various i.e. the results of our actions in the past. She said that this should be the reason why this guy is healthy, while another one is flag and frail. I never agreed with her until one day I spotted a best-seller book in a bookstore. It was about karma. The book explains very rationally that I was touched by the content. From then on I genuinely intend to do good deeds more purposefully because whether there are results of karma or not, I am happy after I do something decent. It also made me look at things in more benevolent ways. After reading that book, I offer alms food to a monk at school every time I can afford to. The monk was kind; I could tell from his look and his peaceful smile. There were times when I was a little late; that were when I met the other monk who was more solemn. But, lately I have met him many time, I found that he didn’t that solemn. Now he smiles every time he sees me. You can’t judge people with your first impression, really. This is also true with my friends who seem to go to school just to chat and play. When there were activities, they were incredibly helpful. Some of them are very good at wood work and engines, while the others are talented in music. One of the things that make me proud is that my parents and my aunt complimented that my brother and I are content with what we have – we rarely accept what our relatives offer us if we feel that they are too much or too expensive. Another compliment I am flattered is from one of my foreign teacher. He told me that he does not like teacher outside Thailand because students are not very nice, unlike Thai students. Besides, my teachers said to me that I am very industrious, searching for knowledge all the time. Last but not least, I believe that every single citizen has the same thought as me – that our beloved king is the best person who could represent Thai values. His Majesty the King has great morals, manners, and ideas. He has patience that will never run out in sacrificing his convenience and time chasing away the sufferings of his people. Where in this world you could search for such a noble king like him? Well, these are all the things I would like to share. Though they are just some little examples, I hope my story can present some unique characteristics of Thai folk, more or less.

Jinjutha Na Srito
Age: 17
Chiang Mai International School

The cobblestones tickled my feet as my red sandals carried me down the Ratchadamnoen roads of Chiang Mai. Multiple rows of vendors dotted the roads, the hill tribe women carrying little babies sold hand-sewn bracelets, while artists set up their displays of intriguing watercolor paintings. The setting light of the sun reflected the multiple colors off the temple’s roof, which silhouetted this picture perfect place. Having never traveled anywhere outside of my home country, many of my worried friends and family had told me to be careful while traveling in Asia. “You never know what type of people you’ll run into,” my mother had told me. “You can’t even walk the streets of Canada without being unaware, let alone, another country!” my dad had warned. Sighing to myself, I kept walking until I came to a halt in front of an art display. I strolled closer to it and studied some of the artists’ paintings, examining the lines and shades he had used. I decided this would be the perfect souvenir for when I got home to Canada. “It’s beautiful…” I mumbled to myself, not knowing the artist had heard me.
“Chop mai krup?” came a small voice. I glanced up, startled to find a little Thai man, no younger than 60 staring at me. A wide smile plastered his lined face, which showed old age, yet his eyes hinted at signs of youth and pure innocence.
“Suay mak mak,” I smiled at him while wording some of my limited Thai. “Khun ma jak prated America lor krup?”
I had no idea what he was saying so I shook my head at him, motioning I couldn’t understand. “Mai Kaow jai,” I said sadly.
“Umm…where you from?” he stuttered, determined to get his message across. “Oh!! I’m from Canada!” I said, a smile slipped onto my face. “Canada! Canada suay mai?” “Suay, but Thailand suay mak mak!” I exclaimed. The old man chuckled, the line of experience etched into his face. I smiled to myself and looked back at some of his paintings, one of them captured my heart and from the moment I had laid eyes on it, I hadn’t been able to get it out of my mind. It was an image of “Wat Jedi Luang” at sundown where the disappearing rays were settling on the pagoda’s tops. The fields in front of the pagoda were packed with Thai men and women, dressed in traditional outfits. I picked up the painting and handed it to him, “How much ka?” I asked “Zero baht krup,” He replied, “Present for ma’am.” “Oh no no no!” I quickly said, “I want to buy it!” The old man shook his head and smiled kindly. He then took the painting from my hands and turned it on the back where he wrote,
‘Welcome to Thailand’ He put it back into my hands, “Welcome to Chiang Mai krup, ma’am Canada,” he then turned his back on me and went back to setting up his stall. Confused by this unusual gesture of kindness, I wandered from his stall, deeply satisfied and decided to get back to my guesthouse and get some sleep. As I was ambling across what I thought was a clear street, a pair of blinding white eyes met mine as its loud horns gave a piercing scream, deafening my ears. I felt the wind being knocked out of me as the curved bit of metal punched my stomach. I was sent flying backwards onto the hard cement, as the motorcycle screeched to a stop. A pair of strong hands lifted me as I opened my eyes to meet those of an angel’s with dark skin and a kind smile. “Ma’am…are you alright?” Surprised at the fact that a Thai could speak such perfect English, my eyes wandered to where the voice was coming from. The man wore a tab around his sun-kissed neck, which read “Chatchai Lukchard: Intern” and above it was another logo, reading ‘Tourism Authority of Thailand’. No wonder he spoke such good English! “What…happened?” “I am EXTREMELY sorry miss…” My eyes took me around the crowds, which immediately started to form around me. I saw the painter who had just given me the Wat, his worrying eyes told me something was terribly wrong. He caught my gaze and though he looked worried, he gave me a warm yet scared smile.
The driver, whose hands were now clasped together in a wai talked furiously. “Miss, I am so sorry, but I didn’t see you when I came past, I will pay for the damage I promise, does it hurt anywhere miss? Where do you feel pain?” He stuttered, his lips shaking. “I’m alright…I think…I feel alright,” I said truthfully. “I shall call the ambulance, please again, I’, extremely sorry,” he apologized as he reached for his cellphone. The painter who had given me the Wat moved closer to me when he saw that I was alright, “You okay chai mai krup? Mai ben rai, deaw nurse car ja ma leaw,” he said. I didn’t understand this, but could tell they were the words of concern and support. Without warning, a Thai rushed towards me, a weird object in her hands. “Kin na ka,” she said. “Ben nam ma praow, ja chuay mai hai chum nai,” Confused, I looked at the object in her hands, only to realize it was a coconut! “The woman said to drink the coconut juice, it might help with bruising…” the man peeped from behind his phone. Even though the pain in my leg throbbed continuously, I couldn’t help but laugh at this comment while I took hold of the coconut. Here I was, in the middle of the streets after being hit by a raging motorcycle with a crowd forming around me when out of nowhere, a stranger approaches with a coconut! “What is it miss? Are you alright?” asked the concerned driver. “Yes I’m alright, I’m just amused,” “Amused? Why would you be amused?” he looked at me nervously, “Does your head feel alright?” Again I laughed at his genuine words. “Only in Thailand would happen,” I said… “Only Thailand.”