Day 4: Parallels

Chiang Mai University was set in Chiang Mai, near notable places like Maya Mall and Nimmanhaemin Road. We went for the lecture on Chiang Mai and globalisation. The lecturer was well-informed, and my group jumped at the opportunity to interview her after the lecture. Just as I was about to ask for examples where the government used social media for a positive cause, the interview was unfortunately cut short as there were others waiting in line. However, we had valuable information contrary to Professor Chirada’s sweeping generalisation. Not all Thai students displayed a lack of interest in political and social issues; there was obviously the political science students who are engaged in such matters.

After lunch, we detoured back to Chiang Mai University, to the faculty of political science and international studies. There was a flurry of students hurrying through the corridors to lessons. Amidst this, Fye was composed and busy ensuring that the participants for both the focus groups were present. The participants were all political science students, who were either Fye’s batchmates or juniors.

It was suddenly decided by my group that it would not do for our added questions to only appear in the focus group discussion, but that we required statistics to back up our assertion. We had added the questions in the English version of our survey after the interview with Professor Chirada. The first question aimed to evaluate whether youth were keen to voice opinions about social and political issues if given the benefit of anonymity; whereas the second was aimed at drawing a correlation between passion for expressing views about political and social issues, and having studied abroad for an extended period of time.

As such, we had to trouble Fye to take time to translate our questions into Thai on the spot. This was because Edward, Sally, and Joseph were to roam about the campus for survey respondents; whereas Natalia, Janice and I were in charge of the focus group discussion. In the end, they managed to collect 20 Thai survey responses within the short span of time. This meant that we responses for our two recently added questions, and I was thankful for their efficiency.

It was a pleasure to talk to the CMU political science students. They were opinionated, vocal and expressive. Though it was a tiring discussion of nearly two hours, I was invigorated with an indescribable energy. They provided much insight for the issue at hand, and showed passion in reshaping their country.

There was a strong sense of identity, coupled with an almost palpable sense of resignation owed to the current state of events in the country. As they said, it was as if the entire population had bought into a lie weaved by the military, who had claimed that their reign would be temporal. The students agreed that the education system needed to pave way for progress. To them, education should not focus merely on rote learning (which currently is the case) but on skills to critically evaluate information and policies. There was little use of arguing and stating opinions on the internet as most were opinionated without critically evaluating their sources. During the Red Shirts VS Yellow Shirts saga, many people “unfriended” each other on Facebook simply due to different opinions. Opinions are usually defined by social class, and handed down from one’s parents without further questioning, if not one would risk feeling like an outsider in one’s own home. It was a lamentable situation. Logic does not hold through in social phenomena.

Reflecting on my education, I was thankful that my secondary school teacher had always championed logic and critical evaluation of the world around us. Education did have a large part to play in shaping thinkers. Just compare the unquestioning CMU pharmacy student we interviewed two days before against the vocal CMU political science students. Not all majors are equal. (haha). Some majors are more open to questioning than others.

I was satisfied with the interview and our findings. We went to the lake behind the university, and watched the sunset. The lake was clear with fishes swimming freely, and many people were taking photographs to preserve their memories of such a scenery. I lay on the road already warmed by the afternoon sun, and watched the clouds pass by serenely.

After the group had their share of photographs and selfies while I was spacing out, we went to have a meal at the Chiang Mai complex, which was a short walk away. It was then that I realised I lost my Pikachu pencil case and was slightly downcast, walking around the night market searching for a replicate.

We went to Maya mall after that. Being on the rooftop at night was radically different, and one could see the dazzling lights of the street contrasted under the black cloak of night. There was a bright light at where the mountains were, and Fye said that was Doi Suthep. It was interesting that anyone in the distant could identify the light of the temple. Metaphorically speaking, it was as if beliefs could serve as a guiding light even in the darkest of hours.

I wondered, albeit with a tinge of sorrow, if there was anything meaningful to look forward to in Singapore’s night sky. The rows of streetlights prove to be tough competitors.