Phuket International Women’s Club: make a difference and some friends

Research has shown that moving can be one of the most stressful times in people’s lives, up there with death and divorce. Newcomers to Phuket may find it difficult at first to settle in, and athletic activities are a great way to meet likeminded people. It’s easy to strike up a conversation while empathising that you both can’t keep up with the young Zumba instructor!

Even if you are a shy or reserved person, you have to remember that all people need friends and they might be just as shy as you. Shyness is often mistaken for rudeness, so don’t let mutual timidity prevent you from reaching out to someone else. Most of us don’t have family here so good friends are the next best thing.

Having had a bit of experience in moving around, I knew when arriving here there would be a women’s association of some sort that I could join to make the transition to life on the island easier, and so I joined the Phuket International Women’s Club. They have a number of activities that you can join in with as little or as much activity as you want. The first activity I joined was 
a Thai cooking class – what better way to get into life here? The food we made was amazing and I met a few friends straight away.

Besides golf, tennis, gardening, bridge, mahjong and crafts groups, the club also carries out numerous charity events and activities, raising scholarship money for some of the island’s under privileged children. Since inception the club has sponsored over 1,000 students who have gone on to careers in the medical field, tourism, secretarial and education. All membership fees and any money raised by the club go towards this laudable cause.

Ladies, if you’re feeling lonesome, why not sign up for the next Meet and Greet Coffee morning or monthly luncheon? We’d love to meet you.

Meet and Greet Coffee mornings are held every second Thursday of the month at Starbucks in Central Festival. Monthly luncheons are held every third Thursday of the month at various venues around the island. For more information please see our website: www.phuketiwc.com