Pre-Trip Reflections

At this day and age, having a university degree is not enough to differentiate yourself from the rest. Thus, beyond technical skills, I seek to develop myself holistically. I hope to be a well-rounded individual who is prepared to meet the demands of the ever-dynamic and ever-changing 21^st century. Being part of the NTU USP has given me the opportunity to develop myself in ways an Accountancy and Business degree fails to offer. From its multi-disciplinary program, to its community of diverse and talented individuals, and of course, the intercultural study trip to Chiang Mai, NTU USP offers a conducive learning environment that I am humbled and privileged to be a part of.

With just one day before the NTU USP freshmen depart for Chiang Mai, I can’t help but feel excited and nervous about the upcoming study trip. I am looking forward to a holistic and enriching learning journey – one filled with personal and academic growth. Yet, I am also slightly nervous at the challenges we might face.

NTU USP aims to expose its scholars to “multi-disciplinary experiential learning through independent inquiry and immersive intercultural experiences”. This study trip to Chiang Mai is the perfect learning opportunity to do just that. The intercultural exchange would allow me to gain deep and invaluable insight on the culture of Chiang Mai. This goes far beyond the knowledge I would get from researching about Chiang Mai on Google, or listening to the tales of others who have travelled there. As Rudyard Kipling would have put it, “The first condition of understanding a foreign country is to smell it.” Indeed, being able to fully immerse myself into Chiang Mai’s culture is the best way to experience what Chiang Mai has to offer. The food, the sights, the smell, the places – I want to take it all in!

As a student from NBS aspiring to work in a multinational corporation in the future, I believe the intercultural exchange is an invaluable experience that would be useful for the workplace in the future. Given the opportunity to interact with the locals from different cultural, geographic, religious and socioeconomic background, I foresee that TOPS would instil a global mindset in me and enhance my cultural literacy and global awareness on social issues. I would be able to understand how different cultures and backgrounds might influence the locals’ perspectives. Hence, I would be more aware and sensitive when dealing with a diverse group of people from different cultures and backgrounds.

To me, what’s interesting about Accountancy and Business degree is that it is a mix of both science and humanities. While heavy on the quantitative training, it never fails to consider the humanities aspect. As my father loves to say, “Numbers always tell a story”. Making business decisions is never limited to the numbers and profitability alone. One must not forget the humanities aspects too. Ethical and sustainability concerns immediately come to mind. Differences in culture also affects business decisions. For example, one might ask, how would different cultures react differently to a product? How would different cultures change the strategies and approaches one would take to penetrate a market? Thus, this trip provides an opportunity for me to appreciate cultural differences and I believe this would help me make better business decisions in the future.

Moreover, through this study trip, I am able to interact with my fellow peers who hail from different fields of study. It is always interesting to work with a diverse group of individuals. The intellectual debates and insightful comments offered by my group often give me new ideas and allows me to approach an issue with fresh perspective. Working with them is often intellectually stimulating as we leverage upon each others’ strengths and bounce off ideas. This broadens my mind and challenges me to think beyond what I learnt from my chosen field of study.

The research intensive nature of this fieldtrip is a new experience for me. If not for USP, I would not have had a chance to take on a role of a researcher, especially not as a student in NBS. Through TOPS, I learnt how to craft and ask appropriate questions. While drafting up a list of interview questions, I am constantly reminded of a few things: one, what type of questions would draw out answers (e.g. We should not ask “why” questions in focus group discussions, but ask about factors and influences); two, what type of questions are non-leading questions; and three, what we should avoid saying to remain culturally sensitive. This process coupled with on-the-ground interviews, I believe, would hone my communication and critical thinking skills. The language barrier may pose to be a challenge. However, I would prefer to see it as a training to communicate more effectively.

My group is doing research on youth culture and female empowerment in Thailand. It will be interesting to contrast women status in Thailand with that of Singapore. As a female living in Singapore, I definitely feel that women are well-regarded and well-respected here. What about Thailand? If I were a female youth in there, would I feel the same? Are there ways to empower young Thai women? Would religious beliefs have any impact on female empowerment? These are the questions I hope to find answers to, not just for research purposes, but also for my own understanding and appreciation of the culture in Thailand.

On a personal level, I hope to gain greater self-awareness. I would like to discover more about myself – my character, my strengths, my weaknesses, my likes and my dislikes. I also wish to venture beyond my comfort zone. To me, this is what USP is about. This belief is encapsulated and reflected through its multi-disciplinary program which encourages scholars to learn beyond their chosen field of study. I hope to reflect this attitude in my everyday life, starting with the trip to Chiang Mai. I wish to keep an open mind and not limit myself from developing holistically. Be it trying local food that might not appeal to my taste buds at first sight, or taking the initiative to step up and lead, I would like to challenge myself to try new things. I also hope to pick up a new set of skill, perhaps learning to speak conversational Thai or picking up photography and videography skills. Lastly, I hope to forge closer bonds with my peers and interact with people beyond my usual group of friends.

To a great adventure ahead! 🙂