Pre-Trip Excitement!

I never wanted an ordinary university education. I have always wanted something more – an experiential learning that broadens my mind and nurtures me to be an innovative and diverse individual. It is in this modest community that I have found the university education that I seek. The USP education.

On this intercultural fieldtrip to Chiang Mai, I foresee many exciting opportunities to embrace the USP education and shape myself as a scholar. Chiang Mai, a capital with such a rich cultural foundation, I look forward to immersing myself in their way of life and connecting with the locals. Particularly, I am really thrilled to be visiting the monastery and meeting the indigenous long neck Karen for the first time! Besides learning more about our research topic, there are so many other things I am interested to know about them personally! For instance, what inspired the monks to take on this spiritual path and have globalisation changed certain practices and belief of the long neck Karen. We celebrate diversity today in our increasingly global community. In respecting and appreciating the beauty in our differences, I believe that these interactions will build in me to be more culturally aware and sensitive, placing me in a better stead to work and relate with people of diverse background in future.

Gaining a broader global outlook is definitely another key takeaway I hope to bag from this fieldtrip. With the numerous opportunities to mingle with locals from diverse cultural and socioeconomic background, I hope to understand how our life are intertwined with theirs, as well as with the rest of the world. For instance, in Singapore, we see how foreign culture has much influence on the youth’s ideology, behaviour, fashion etc. It is going to be interesting to discover how foreign culture has not influenced the Thai Youths and how it has, especially so in a land so culturally rich.

It is a dream of many university students to be a part of many exchange opportunities they can seize. An intercultural exchange to Chiang Mai just after one semester will certainly add a Thai flavour to my college education, especially beneficial for a student from the Nanyang Business School. As Singapore looks into strengthening economic relations and promoting greater business cooperation with Thailand in the coming years, it is highly plausible for us to be working with Thai partners in future. Gaining more insights of the Thai culture will allow me to better relate to them and resolve any differences in business focus and priorities, giving me a slight edge over the rest.

As a student majoring in accountancy and business, I often find myself taking on a more practical and economical perspective to a certain issue, neglecting other equally viable and valuable opinions. On this intercultural exchange, I have faith that my exposure to a radically different culture will inspire me to be more receptive and quick into taking account a social or cultural perspective in future. Furthermore, I will be working closely with fellow peers and professors, who come from various disciplines. I believe that in valuing and taking on their opinions will train me to keep an open mind and make a better judgement of situations in future. It will challenge me to view a situation more holistically and devise better win-win solutions to future problems – a much needed and crucial skill expected of a business student today.

I foresee many occasions for personal growth and self-improvement on this trip. Learning how to prepare and interpret financial statements or even estimate future cash flows of a firm are just technical skills a classroom setting has to offer. It is on a fieldtrip like this that will develop and enhance our soft skills – a skill set so essential and valued by many today. In conducting interviews, focus group discussions or even through simple interactions with the locals, I hope to hone my communication skills – conveying a complex idea in the most simplified and effective manner. Language may be a barrier between us but I feel that it should not pose to be a hurdle. In fact, it presents in itself a good opportunity for me to think out of the box, and be more creative in expressing my ideas and intentions. For instance, with the Thai phrases I have picked up and in using nonverbal communication (such as the showing of a video clip), we may just be able to learn as much about Thai youth’s view on a certain social behaviour.

On this fieldtrip, we should expect changes and unforeseen circumstances to crop up. Hence, I hope I can learn to be adaptable and be quick to think on my feet, resolving problems should they arise. Moreover, this research project requires collaboration with my USP peers I wish to learn to be a better team player through this collaboration. Furthermore, it presents a good chance for me to relook and identify my strengths and how I can better contribute to the team.

At USP, it is no surprise that individuals here are multitalented, with many interests and expertise. On this trip, I hope to leverage on this pool of expertise and knowledge to further pursue my interest in photography as well as explore various forms of photography. With so many photography enthusiasts going on this trip, I hope to gain insights and discover more photography tricks from my peers.

To strike a balance between work and play, there are also downtimes installed for us to unwind and have fun with our friends! It would be a good time for me to get to know others better and forge new and stronger friendships. The Thai massage, the endless we-fies we will be snapping at touristy spots and the authentic Thai food we will be savouring – Pad Thai, Green Curry… Yum…. I can’t wait to get there already!

Eagerly anticipating the arrival of that day (which is tomorrow, yay!), for it marks the beginning of an exciting USP experience, with a Thai twist.