Mustard being slathered on hot dog made with Northern Thai sausage at Big Bite Bangkok

What a great week!

I hope the rest of the year goes as strongly as 2012 started.

Much of the week was spent planning past Saturday’s Big Bite Bangkok, but I did get to spend time with my mentor Marc Gold from the 100 Friends Project.

Marc is a professional at creating smiles

Marc had just returned from helping some terribly desperate communities in the Philippines and went with me to visit a few families we’re supporting in Bangkok. In particular, I wanted to follow up with the woman who had called me after she ran out of food last week.

Together, we spent a few hours chatting with women in two families about their difficulties in Bangkok, managing money, and caring for sick relatives. When our time was up we quietly left, leaving both women with $100 each.

I was glad to have the opportunity to share my work with Marc and we spent a few hours afterwards discussing how to further encourage the women in the families we visited and ways to collaborate in the future. Hanging out with Marc is always encouraging because he has a great deal of helpful input to share from his experience directly helping people and small charities all over Asia.

Starting the year our supporting women with the help of Marc Gold of 100 Friends

Switching to my fundraising hat, we tapped into the city’s foodie community to raise money to continue helping these families more this year.

Sunday launched Big Bite Bangkok with the help about 200 people attendees and 9 vendors with great food. We raised about $850 for our project, which is a great start to the year. We’ll share more pictures and details on the Eating Thai Food Blog later this week if you want to see more food pictures.

Thanks everyone for following and supporting our strong start to 2012!

-Dwight

 Photo credit for the food photos from volunteer photographer Jennica Botonis.

There are more people out there like Charlotte who are doing and giving what they can to help people. I asked some of them to help explain what exactly “sanuk” is and how they had been involved with In Search of Sanuk. Enjoy reading their great answers.

Chris

“Sanuk is fun; in terms of what we do, sanuk is having a good time while helping out.“

[Involvement] The first thing I did with ISOS was help put together the ‘Taste of Sri Lanka’ refugee fundraiser event nearly a year ago.  From there, I began volunteering at Sanuk My Saturday (in Pinklao).  I was really enjoying it, and Dwight needed more help with the program, so I agreed to become the program coordinator.

[Sanuk is...] Sanuk is fun; in terms of what we do, sanuk is having a good time while helping out.  We want you to come to our events and enjoy yourself.  Volunteering should be fun, a break from your daily (perhaps tedious) day jobs.  We want you to look forward to coming back.

[Top Memory] This is a tough one…there are so many!  Mine is not so much one memory, but two little girls.  Tam and Om, two of the regular Pinklao kids, have a special place in my heart.  They make my Saturdays awesome, and remind me each time of why I’m involved.

Prae

“I believe in making a positive difference in the community that I live in.”

[Involvement] I believe in making a positive difference in the community that I live in. The number of nonprofits is growing in Bangkok but the number of people supporting them is dwindling. With ISOS, there are always opportunities to volunteer but fewer hands to help. I was very happy to be one of the volunteers at Sanuk My Saturday a month ago.

[Sanuk is...] to have a good time, to enjoy myself from the pleasure and joy of doing something good and fun.

[Top Memory] It was the giggles and smiles from the chidren. Some of them sneaked behind me and gave me a big sneak hug!

Becky

“They say they will never forget us all for as long as they live. How often do you get to impact people’s lives like that?”

[Involvement] I am involved with ISOS because a group that I organize has been featured on the web site. I organize groups of people to visit refugee families at the Immigration Detention Center. For each person that visits we can get one refugee out of their room for an hour. Children are roomed with one of the parents, so the other doesn’t get to see them unless they each have a visitor. One of the families has 7 members, 2 men & 5 women, so if we want this family to be able to have a visit, we need 7 volunteers to come sign them out. One of the daughters had a birthday recently, her 13th and what she wanted for her birthday was to get to see her father and brother! WOW, how many 13 year olds do you know who would be asking for that for their birthday? The things we take for granted! ISOS has been instrumental in bringing in a steady stream of willing & enthusiastic volunteers to help with these visits.

[Sanuk is...] I actually have no idea what it really means, but I know it’s Thai. To me it means enjoying life to the fullest in a meaningful way that makes you & others feel good about yourselves. For each of us it will be something different, which is why we each have to “search for our Sanuk!”

[Top Memory] My favorite ISOS memory is the day we had enough visitors to bring out the family of 7 for the first time. The women had not seen their son/brother for 2 1/2 years, because he’d been in detention for that long & the rest of the family was newly arrested. They were all crying & hugging each other. I was overwhelmed by how a simple act of 7 people taking a few hours out of their day could impact a family’s life. Also the letters I get that thank the volunteers for helping them keep the faith in humanity & the knowledge that they’ve not been forgotten. They say they will never forget us all for as long as they live. How often do you get to impact people’s lives like that?

Marc

“Sometimes I funnel funds or contacts to support the work of In Search of Sanuk.”

[Involvement] I am a fellow traveling micro-philanthropist and mentor to Dwight Turner. Sometimes I funnel funds or contacts to support the work of Sanuk.

[Sanuk is...] fun in Thai. So Dwight is having fun while helping others.

[Top Memory] The videos showing In Search of Sanuk in action.

Ryan

“… Dwight and other friends took me to the beach for the very first time in my life.”

[Involvement] The art show and party was the first time I was involved in ISOS. The event was trying to raise money and awareness for urban refugees in Thailand. I was a refugee myself at the time, which made me a beneficiary of the event, so getting involved and helping out seemed to be very logical thing for me to do. Later on, I became a much closer friend with Dwight and started volunteering as much as I could in ISOS’s activities. Eventually, Dwight made me coordinator of some the programs such as Sanuk my Saturday and participating in the planning of some the fundraisers we’ve done in the past.

[Sanuk is...] the Thai word for happiness or something worthwhile to do. The way I think of ISOS is that it’s not just about helping others, it’s also about how you can live differently. To me when I’m helping someone, their happiness is a reward that cannot be replaced by material things. I think “Sanuk” is a life style that each member of the community should embrace and it will have a transforming effect to the world we live in.

[Top Memory] The time when Dwight and other friends took me to the beach for the very first time in my life. Even though it wasn’t officially an ISOS event, but it was the very idea and group of people of ISOS. Even today, Dwight is still saying that my laugh from that trip was the most rewarding thing he received from me.

Om

“Sanuk is the joy that goes beyond our skin encapsulated ego.”

[Involvement] I’m currently a supporter in spirit from overseas (USA), trying my best to input an additional point of view.

[Sanuk is...] the joys that go beyond our skin encapsulated ego. Happiness only real when shared–a quote from the movie Into the Wild.

[Top Memory] Hmm…I haven’t had any direct experiences with ISOS yet (hopefully soon). Anyway, my favorite parts are probably when I hear about how curious and enthusiastic the kids or the communities were about learning or other creative activities, or how much fun they had despite their regular hard days.

Cody

“Volunteering, giving money to charity, and doing good for others doesn’t have to mean complete sacrifice and loss.”

[Involvement] I built In Search Of Sanuk’s website, have helped organize parties and mixers for charity, donated some money through my small business Thrilling Heroics Consulting to ISOS, and gone on volunteer trips with Dwight to Chonburi and Sangklaburi.

[Sanuk is...] fun, and to me, Dwight’s passion and exuberance are a symbol that you can do good things for others and have a blast at the same time. Volunteering, giving money to charity, and doing good for others doesn’t have to mean complete sacrifice and loss. Dwight is making it easy for all kinds of people to help give in small ways in Thailand, and he shows us that when you’re giving to someone else and sharing in the experience, it can put a big smile on your face.

[Top Memory] I think two of the most incredible and rewarding experiences I’ve had were taking a boatload of the kids from Chonburi Children’s Center on their annual trip to the beach and horse-playing with them all day, and visiting Baan Dada, a home for orphaned kids—many of them refugees—and just being influenced by those kids: making music together, playing football, learning from them.

Lola

“It was a magical affair. Plenty of volunteers, lots of creative energy flowing and smiles all around.”

[Involvement] I’m involved In Search Of Sanuk through the Saturday tutoring programs at Yommarat and Pinklao. I’m also helping to raise funds to sustain and expand ISOS.

[Sanuk is...] Fun? Living life as fully as you possibly can. Bearing witness to God’s grace and goodness.

[Top Memory] My favorite ISOS memory was the first “Big Fish” book day held at Pinkloa in January 2010. It was a magical affair. Plenty of volunteers, lots of creative energy flowing and smiles all around.

Paul

“…sharing love with children and people in disadvantaged situations is really meaningful…”

[Involvement] I am a friend of Dwight and enjoy catching up on how he helps people help other people, especially the children in the slums on Saturdays. I have also attended some of his cool fundraising social events.

[Sanuk is...] sharing love with children and people in disadvantaged situations is really meaningful; and it’s really fun when we partner up with others who share this compassion for fellow human beings to help them in a more powerful way than we can by ourselves.

[Top Memory] Dwight organized a team last fall to visit and play with the 35 orphans in Chonburi Center, and to take them out for a beach outing. They especially loved the buffet bbq dinner afterwards! Me too!

Jodi

“Sanuk is the look on a detainee’s face when they are reunited with a family member they haven’t seen in a long time.“

[Involvement] I became involved with ISOS when I arrived in Bangkok after almost 2 years of travel, and wanted to give something back to the communities I’ve been visiting. Friends in Bangkok pointed me toward Dwight and his many worthwhile projects. Having worked on asylum cases on a pro bono basis when I was a lawyer, I wanted to get involved with his
visits to IDC. I’ve been going to the Immigration Detention Centre to bring food, supplies and smiles to those who are there. I’ve also tried to mobilise the Twitter travel community passing through Bangkok to spend a morning in IDC. It’s important to give the regular backpacker a taste of what life is like for the many people who cannot leave the country.

[Sanuk is...] Sanuk is the look on a detainee’s face when they are reunited with a family member they haven’t seen in a long time. And for me, sanuk is being able to take something so decadent – travel for the sake of travel – and use my time for something worthwhile.

[Top Memory] Definitely seeing one of the detainees with a young baby be reunited with the baby for a brief moment – he was allowed to hold his child for a few moments, and the undeniable joy on his face was palpable and wonderful to see.

Morgan

“I have only been involved with ISOS for a short time, but it has been such a fun experience so far.”

[Involvement] I have only been involved with ISOS for a short time, but it has been such a fun experience so far. Meeting the kids in the program and practicing English and playing games with them has been a blast. The program is such a great way to reach the youth of Bangkok and support learning and of course FUN! I look forward to becoming an active member and participating in ISOS every week!

[Sanuk is...] the Thai word for FUN. ISOS means getting kids involved in learning by having FUN! Promoting learning through games and other fun activities is a great way to keep the kids interested and passionate about English!

[Top Memory] Although I have only recently joined ISOS, my favorite memory has been meeting all the kids and volunteers and playing fun games! Its a real bonding experience and they call it Sanuk for a reason!!

Tri

“It’s fun!”

[Involvement] Twitter.

[Sanuk is...] a type of billiard game (or pool in the US) … It’s fun!

[Top Memory] The attempt at interviewing the mute homeless guy would be it, especially when we both don’t write Thai that well and he couldn’t read Thai which makes writing Thai well pretty pointless.

Stewart

“I do remember sharing a Pepsi with Dwight in the middle of Klong Toey Slum.”

[Involvement] I am a friend of Dwight’s and a pastor in Bangkok. One of the things I’ve run into in Bangkok is that there are a significant number of people who would like to volunteer their time and expertise, but it can be hard to do. There are language and reliability barriers. Dwight is working to overcome the barriers and make it easier to do good. We have a common vision in that sense and so I’ve tried to provide my own contacts, support and referrals to ISOS.

[Sanuk is...] good clean fun. As a pastor I think another way to define it is abundant life, which is why Jesus said he came. Could you say Jesus came that we might have more sanuk? Maybe.

[Top Memory] I do remember sharing a Pepsi with Dwight in the middle of Klong Toey Slum when I introduced him to Urban Neighbors Of Hope and the Klong Toey Community Center.

Gavin

“I think it best translates as freedom.“

[Involvement] I’ve volunteered to take photos of ISOS events with the aim of providing some images to help raise awareness of the project. I feel that it’s a really worthwhile endeavour but, as is always the case with such projects, making people aware of the work that’s being done is crucial and I hope that I can offer a little assistance with that.

[Sanuk is...] In the context of In Search of Sanuk, I think it best translates as “Freedom”. ISOS offers the opportunity for people to explore things beyond their usual frames of reference. It’s about facilitating and enabling people to offer assistance where it is most needed and it provides a friendly and nurturing environment for those who benefit from ISOS work.

[Top memory] My first outing with ISOS where volunteers arrived at a school to be greeted with great enthusiasm by the children who had been awaiting their arrival. It was quite moving and testament to the positive impact that volunteers can have on a community.

Mark

“Sanuk is putting a smile on other people’s faces by having a smile on your own face…”

[Involvement] I am involved in a lot of random and often spontaneous events associated with ISOS. Chasing energized kids, splashing elderly ladies with flower water during the Songkran Festival, helping out with little jobs, and sampling the latest Sri Lankan food, have all been part of my role with ISOS.

[Sanuk is...] Sanuk is putting a smile on other people’s faces by having a smile on your own face, and often the smile on your own face is derived from others.

[Top Memory] There are many, but randomly showing up at the 2009 Christmas celebration at the school in Pinklao takes the cake. Upon arriving, Dwight and I were asked to perform an impromtu song infront of at least 200 happy kids, Little Thai kids dressed like Santa with green afro wigs and huge smiles is a priceless and uplifting sight. Following was a delightful feast of sen yai latnaa (rice noodles smothered in pork gravy). A fantastic way to celebrate Christmas and an awesome memory!

Thanks everyone for participating. I enjoyed reading these so much that I will include some of what people said on the website permanently. If you have something to add, please make a comment.

-Dwight

#10 – Painting

Confession: I didn’t paint anything.

All of the art was done by refugees living in Bangkok. This was the first big In Search of Sanuk project of 2009 and gave us a big running start for the year. We raised almost 60,000 baht for the Bangkok Refugee Center and had travel photographer Gavin Gough there to document it. For a look back see his photo blog: Picture from my mind” Art Exhibition in aid of the Bangkok Refugee Centre

Hindsight: We didn’t know at the time how much of a difference we were making. Unfortunately, a lot of 2009 was a rough year for refugees here as arrests have increased and services decreased.

#9 – Writing

Confession: This was very hit and miss.

The lesson here is perseverance–something I’m still learning.  I’m lucky to have a had a great encouragement in the way of an awesome community of bloggers Cody Mckibben has introduced me to. Everyone has been really welcoming and willing to share advice. I don’t take that for granted. Not everyone will invite you into their community when your ideas are unconventional.

Hindsight: One milestone was getting a chance to write an article for Cnngo. However, blogging is hard work and it took me a while to find my voice. The biggest challenge is balancing all you’re doing, with keeping people who care about your cause informed and involved.

#8 – Dating Miss Universe

Confession: This doesn’t actually happen until December 28th.

You thought I would quit after meeting Michelle Yeoh earlier this year? Nope. This time I’ve won an auction for a date with Natalie Glebova, Miss Universe 2005. Proceeds from the auction, of course, are going to build a medical clinic in Mae Sot near the Burma border. It’s a tough job I have, but I can’t complain!

Foresight: This really exemplifies what kind of random episodes which spring up when you’re willing to extend yourself for worthy causes. Whatever happens on this date, it’s already been successful. Through all the communicating with the organizers, I have already gotten a commitment from them to donate medicine to get all the kids at our teaching project checked up. Sorry Natalie, but that made me jump up and down a little more than the dinner plans.

#7 – Traveling

Confession: I now am in the habit of going somewhere and looking for ways to help. You don’t have to travel to do that.

When I first met my mentor, Marc Gold, the idea of traveling to do good was still novel to me. This year I have met and joined quite a few traveling philanthropists. I hope this is a sign that there is a growing trend of people realizing how rewarding it can be to spend your holiday helping others. Some memories that stick out are the slum kids in Denpasar, a restaurant employing street kids in Vientienne, teaching in the Thai countryside, visits to orphanages in Bali and on the border of Burma.

Hindsight: You can go looking for trouble, but you may not be prepared for what you find.

#6 Drinking

Confession: I wish I had been told earlier that you can sure sculpt a nice event, but it’s better to build a strong community.

Through both the Bangkok Tweetup and a larger party we organized this year called LUSH, we have really pioneered the idea of cause focused events in Bangkok. Some people come out for a great cause. Some people come out for a great party. Most people come for the community that enjoys both. In any case, we don’t discriminate. In addition to funneling money to our Sanuk My Saturday project and numerous other groups, we’re well known in the city for breaking bar records and having to send our sad faced supporters home after cleaning out all the spirits.

Hindsight: This was a great idea because we casually exposed people to our project that we couldn’t otherwise drag to come volunteer with us. Yes, you can reach people with something besides gala dinners in the grand ballroom.

#5 Basketball

Confession: No unwanted stress ever came from the little people. It’s the big ones I have trouble dealing with.

Some where along the road in these shenanigans a friend offered tickets to see the Harlem Globetrotters. The Globetrotters hadn’t been to Bangkok since the sixties and I saw them perform in Atlanta when I was about twelve. So I got to feel kinda like a dad when I showed up at the arena with kids from our teaching project in tow. We had a section of the arena reserved for us (the other group they did this for was the US embassy) and all the volunteers who also tagging along.

Hindsight: This would not have been possible without all the people who attended the Bangkok Tweetup, drank and gave. The tickets were free, but we had to cover transportation, snacks and dinner for all the kids.

#4 Tweeting

Confession: Any meal is a happy meal. I can do gourmet too.

Cnngo caught up with me eating on the street earlier this year to tell the city who hasn’t caught on to twitter what you already knew— that I’m addicted to the internet and volunteering. Take a look at the article: Bangkok’s fun-seeking, volunteering, tweeting American

Hindsight: A more accurate headline would have been Bangkok’s handsome, single, fun seeking internet addict volunteers to be attacked by kids whenever he leaves the house.

#3 Thrilling The World

Confession: I’m not to blame for this one!

I had just finished the Twestival global event, when In Search of Sanuk supporter Lola Rainey said we had to learn the moves to Thriller. In true zombie form, I admittedly dragged my feet at first. Lola, however, took the reigns and round up a great group of dancers to not only participate in breaking the world record for largest simultaneous dance, but also perform in front of hundreds (zombies keep their cool even when the wrong music is played haha), raising over $1,000 for the Bangkok Refugee Center. A touching moment in this adventure was when another friend, Shimona Kee performed Michael Jackson’s Heal the World in front of a huge audience at Bangkok’s Central World.

Hindsight: Surround yourself with change makers and don’t pout too much if they put you to work.

#2 Booty Shaking

Confession: I thought my butt would be more famous by now.

The reason this one is ranked so high is because of the sheer spontaneity of it. I led a group of volunteers from visiting an elderly home to relax in the park. It was there that we stumbled over one man’s magic hips and captured what we still secretly hope will make us youtube stars one day (only 3,000 views so far). So it didn’t make my butt famous, but it is the one moment that has generated more laughter than any other this year.

Hindsight: Should have found the man in that video and invited him to some of our parties.

#1 Begging

Confession: I couldn’t have done any of this without you.

In 2009 I beg, borrowed, and generally pestered people I’m close to. This really runs the gamut from convincing Cody to get involved, to asking Shimona to sing in front of hundreds, to getting an entire section of the arena reserved for our kids and volunteers. Forget the amount of money we raised. We have really challenged people’s thinking about what it means to give back and surprised some needy groups with funding that wouldn’t have otherwise reached them. People are beginning to believe they have something to contribute. That’s powerful. For that I thank everyone following along and on the ground here participating.

Hindsight: If you can’t convince your friends, who then?

Myth #1: “You can’t help everyone.”

Friend, mentor, and inspiring humanitarian Marc Gold once asked, “If the ship is sinking and you can swim, who would you save?”

Naturally, I answered, “I would save whoever I could.”

“Then do that.” He said solemnly.

Think about that. Would Marc ever perpetuate this myth?

Look closely and you’ll see that what Marc was doing was giving me a brief lesson in setting goals to scale. Help who you can first. He by no means meant to imply we should acquiesce to hunger, poverty or other forms of the world’s ailments. This is clear enough if you’ve seen his work.

But how many times have you heard this? Is it the truth? How would conversations sound if we replaced “You can’t help everyone.” with “Did you try your hardest?” or “What could we have done differently to be more effective?

Lets not fall for this line. The world in in chaos–lets join together and collaborate, we can stop for tea and talk philosophy later.

-Dwight Turner

Editor, In Search of Sanuk

The Story: Almost two decades ago Marc Gold discovered how much good he could do with very little money in poor places. He then set out on a mission to do just that after receiving donations from 100 of his closest friends. (This is just a teaser, please see his site for the whole story.) Now he’s built a large network of people worldwide who share a part in his story.

Marc Gold Doing What He Loves

Target: The poorest of the poor. The hardest to reach. One reason we’re such a fan of Marc’s one-man-method is because he really targets the poorest of the poor. Often these are places or people larger NGOs and government programs have yet to reach. People in war torn areas, landfills, and post tsunami villages are a few examples. See the site.

Goal: Marc has a personal goal of raising $1 Million US and distributing it to the poor and needy.

ISOS’s Charity Mixer for 100 Friends

Projects: Wide ranging and varied depending on the need. Everything from cleft palette surgeries to start up business loans to blankets for orphans.

Final Word: Check out the site below. ISOS considers Marc a big brother, a mentor, and outstanding example of self activism. Additionally, ISOS held The Dazzling Friends Charity Mixer in November 2008 to bring awareness and raise funds for Marc’s cause. Keep it up Marc!

Website: 100 Friends.org