Post-trip Reflection

“I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.”
– Mary Anne Radmacher

I embarked on this trip with many preconceived notions, goals and expectations. Some were met and some were not, but regardless of this I gained invaluable lessons from all of them.

In my pre-trip reflections I mentioned the want to better my interpersonal skills, learn more about Chiang Mai and be more proactive. I feel like I have achieved all of these in some way, although admittedly there is still room for improvement. In addition to these mini goals, many unexpected things occurred during the trip that taught me a lot more than I could have bargained for. For instance, when the information we gathered on Day 1 turned out to be incompatible with what we initially wanted to find out. My group met with several minor setbacks like these throughout the trip, and even after the trip (when we lost all of our footage!), but I am thankful for the encouragement and support from each of my group members. It really makes a difference, how a situation would turn out following different ways of how it was dealt with. I am really glad and proud that my group is full of headstrong people with the most positive attitudes I have ever come across. Putting hard knowledge aside, I think this is one of the most valuable things I have learned in this trip –gaining the ability to be flexible, optimistic and to never let an obstacle shut you down, no matter how big or imposing it may be.

The things we learn from TOPS ought to sustain even after the whole mod is completed, and I will without fail always remind myself to project the traits that I have gleaned from my experiences, and also through learning from my group mates.

Everyone on this trip gave me much to learn, and all are indispensable to the outcome of our experiences. I did not expect to bond so deeply with my group mates, and neither did I imagine that one day the awkward barrier between seniors and freshies would be broken (but is has been!). However, the people that really gained my utmost respect for, and from whom I learned the most, are our two profs, Andrea Nanetti and Michael Walsh.

When we first met and interacted with them over dinner on the first night, I formed the impression that they were really friendly and outgoing, and being “ang mor”, would most likely allow us to do whatever we want. Because we hardly saw them for the first few days, I thought they were distant and to be honest, thought they were not actually that interested in our project. But after talking to them during the group reflection session at night, they gave a lot of meaningful insights that I will carry with me for life. What added so much value to their questions and advice were the fact that they could be applied to anywhere else, and are not relevant exclusively to TOPS or USP.

They have taught me to be a more critical and independent thinker. It is only natural and there is nothing wrong with being different from the majority –if we dislike a particular site or monument, or if we disagree on things, there is nothing to be ashamed or afraid of. What we need to learn is balancing the right amount of confidence, open mindedness and humility when voicing our opinions, and we would not have to be so cautious and wary of offending others. After all, we are each entitled to our own viewpoints and thoughts.

Perhaps it is because their cultures are so different to the one I grew up in, but they have since changed my perception of how teaching and learning can be. All my life I have been brought up to respect those older than me, including my teachers. Even if a teacher makes a slight mistake in class, be it spelling or calculations, I would not dare to correct him/her, having been taught that he/she holds the most power in class, and that I should not challenge this presupposed structure and dynamics of the class. Prof. Nanetti and Prof. Walsh, however, taught me to be braver in my learning. I should be benefitting, not shortchanging myself. Of course, this does not mean that I will start questioning whatever my lecturers teach me. I will just simply be a more aware learner.

One thing that hugely surpassed my expectation (in a very good way!) was the city of Chiang Mai itself. Before the trip, I had always imagined Chiang Mai as a rural area, the complete opposite of Bangkok. I didn’t think there would be much to do there, except for the expected eating and going for massages. Chiang Mai proved to surprise me with its amazing culture and people. I was constantly surrounded by night markets, bazaars, good food and interesting attractions, and not once did I feel the slightest bit of boredom. Even getting around in their local taxis was such a thrill for me!

Maybe it is because my aunt is Thai, and I have been to Thailand numerous times before, but this trip did not hold so many “firsts” for me as it did for my cohort mates. Mango sticky rice and Thai milk tea were not a novelty to me and neither were the traditional tuk-tuks. However, I wouldn’t say that the lack of these first experiences made the trip any less enjoyable for me. I was content with soaking up their way of life, engaging in constant people watching and just simply observing things around me. Sometimes when we are thrown into a new and exotic environment for a fixed time, we get instantly preoccupied with rushing about, cramming our itineraries with the thousand and one things that TripAdvisor recommends. I find that real pleasure, true appreciation and the most genuine form of travelling, however, is to engage in the simplest of activities –chat with the locals, stroll down undiscovered streets, have hour long meals. I believe these are the truest ways that one can really witness the beauty and charm of a place.

The second thing that surpassed my expectations was the deep affinity and interest I had cultivated in the topic of heritage conservation. I never thought that I would become so interested in the topic, but even till today I have been reading articles about preservation in various countries, including Singapore. I don’t know if others feel the same way I do, but I find that the TOPS trip surprisingly has more impact and influence on me than I thought it would!

Being immersed in specific key locations and local sites and having to think about the media deliverable and final essay puts things into perspectives and somehow draws you in automatically –I definitely gained more interest in heritage conservation that I thought I could from just those few days! I am not complaining, however, as these are all topics and themes that are very worth thinking about. What makes them even more valuable and relevant to me is the fact that these are ideas and topics not exclusive to Chiang Mai alone. Heritage, tourism, sustainability and so on, these are all broad subjects that can be explored in virtually anywhere in the world, even in tiny little Singapore. I like the fact that our takeaways and what we learned from exploring each of our own topics can be transferred back to home, for it makes us more critical thinkers not only just when overseas, but in Singapore as well.

TOPS was truly a wonderful experience, with the perfect mix of “work hard and play hard”. I met new people, made new friends, made closer friends, had eye opening experiences (how could I ever forget the cabaret show!) and gained knowledge of not just Chiang Mai, but of myself too. I was genuinely happy in the land of smiles, and am so thankful to everyone who made this trip so enjoyable!