Brutal and Beautiful

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Brutal and Beautiful

Southeast Asia, Myanmar, Bokpyien

Mid-life crisis? Maybe? What is a mid-life crisis like in 2016? When I grew-up, it was easy – You divorced, and you got a Porsche 911. 

It seemed so very easy. 

Now? Today? In 2016? Donald Trump, as US presidential candidate? Brexit? Syria?

Alone in Southeast Asia.

Alone in Myanmar.

No, not so easy anymore.

50 years old. Entrepreneur in nine countries since 1999. That is now 17 years ago, my friends. It does not matter what education you have after 17 years as an entrepreneur. No one wants to take the risk of hiring you.

Too radical. Too old.

Too experienced.

Having lived in Southeast Asia, having lived in Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar for the past ten years, I must however say that this is my new home. No matter how brutal, dirty, noisy it is. You will always find very, very happy people here.

A friend of mine asked me one evening, when we were walking through a town with 85,000 inhabitants, and a total of five cars (!), in Indonesia; “Do you think these people know how lucky they are?” The obvious answer –“No – They have no clue!”

I have walked thousands of miles in remote areas for the past ten years, all over Southeast Asia. Everywhere, if you come with a smile, people will great you with pure happiness, from the bottom of their hearts. Today, for example, I was out walking and an 80 years old man stopped me, and we had a brief chat. When parting he slapped me on my butt (!) and said; “Have a great day my friend!”

I remember other memorable encounter in Baybay, Philippines. You know small villages are just some houses strung along one main street, this was one of those. When I came to the end of the street, some fifty odd kids stood there and hand-slapped me, and they were all very, very happy.

Most of the time, except for Singapore of course, everyone I have met, on the streets wherever I have walked, have greeted you with a smile, with a hand shake, with a nod of happiness. 

No one is unhappy here. 

Poor? Yes! 

But unhappy?

No!

It seems like the more rich a country gets, the more unhappy, the people becomes.

No, what we have to do, is to regain happiness. We need to get back to basics. No! You do not need that new fancy car, you do not need that fancy new house. No, you do not need to eat a SGD 400 dinner!

It is crazy!

Totally crazy.

It is all about balance. It is all about Maslow.

Naturally you need food to survive. 75% of all people in the world grow their own food. Then you need a roof over your head. Does not have to be big. I thought the people in the Philippines how to build a great 15 m² house out of dead coconut trees, for less than USD 500!

Then of course we have education.

I have now been here in Myanmar for almost two months, and I have already taught in eight “schools”.

During my time here, I have developed a very simple curriculum, which could probably be used for more than half of the population of the world:

•  Learn English
•  Cook good food
•  Learn your history
•  Conserve your forest
•  Clean up the mess
•  Learn effective agriculture

Simple! Effective.

Easy to teach - Easy to learn.

Most, (no all!), people here in Myanmar does not even have the educational level that I had when in eighth grade in Sweden! Most adults here have never gone to school. Fortunately now, kids do get at least basic education. As a matter a fact the best English speaker I know here in Myanmar is a 10 year old guy. He speaks better English than most Swedes.

It must be horrible in Europe right now. I am so happy to be an immigrant in Southeast Asia, and not an African in Sweden. Conflict, problems, arguments, begging, crime, racism.  No, nothing of a kind over here. Every shop has their money in a plastic tub, that is it. Crime does not exist over here.

It is all about balance.

Trust me, I know, we do not need all those things we have been collecting over the years, or striving to get. No, we do not need it. The only thing you need is to eat great food, to wash your clothes, and to shower properly. 

Everyday. 

And of course you need to be happy! 

Mid-life crisis?

No, I do not think so. Just waking up to the reality of life, and enjoying every moment.

I have seen many more rich people unhappy, than I have seen poor people very happy!

What is important?

What is important in your life?

Per

Initial observations

Thursday, June 02, 2016

 

Initial Observations

 

I have now spent over a week in Myiek and this is clearly not going to be an easy venture. Doing business here is going to be though – very though. And, so far we are only talking about basic living conditions. 

How is it going to be to deal with business in one of the most corrupt countries in the world?

Aidan and I have joked many times about how “medieval” things seem over here.

Well, let me tell you. This is for sure 100% true. 

Reading (again) Frank McLynn’s “The Burma Campaign – Disaster to Triumph, 1942-45” is not exactly helping me to lift my spirits, but it is however making me better understand how bad things actually are in this part world, in this year of 2016. And in the end. It is a very, very, motivating and inspiring book.

There are very few books I can truly recommend – this is one of the few ones.

You all know me by now. 

I have lived in Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand and India. Not the most developed countries in the world. Myanmar, however, is a totally different ball-game. I did live for 5 months in Leyte, the most devastated island of the Philippines after the Yolanda hurricane. There you can talk about disaster; here it is just utter misery. 

Reflecting over this, I do want to take my time to express my deepest appreciation for the team we managed to assemble so far. To you Tar, what you accomplished in Cambodia over two years was truly exceptional (not your fault money ran out). Tero you went native and build a home in the jungle, truly amazing, and something I admire a lot. Aidan, you still have to deliver, but I love you too much (haha!). Sean will always deliver, I have no doubt. 

The team we have is extraordinary! Second to none!

I think we just need some more professional marketing around our efforts. 479 PowerPoint slides are obviously not enough! Sean, I set you up with Mandi, what happened? Obviously it is difficult for me to manage this situation from a town without internet communication access.

As though as life is over here, there are some very good things to report. Only in the Philippines have I felt as home as I feel here. People are very, and I mean very, happy to see a tall Swede walking down the street in a black hat. I am welcomed with open arms where ever I turn a corner. Aidan will remember the picture he took of me with the family a block away from MPC. 

Well, we are now truly – A new family.

This was not meant to be such a dramatic saga, but I could not help myself. I just wanted to share developments with you all, with you, my very best friends. I did spend another ten hours composing a letter to my Mom. I highly recommend you to take some serious time off what we believe, is important, and to compose and send, a Thank You letter you your own Mom.

It feels great.

As this was never meant to be the casual letter it become – but a proper report from the Special Frontier Discovery Detachment – Team 5, you will find the more important operational details in upcoming Special Reports.

Have Fun,

Per