The Bane of My Chiang Mai Existence – Day 4

I soon found the bane of my existence in Chiang Mai: The camera battery. I never seem to be able to keep the battery alive for the whole day. Watching the battery bars diminish bit by bit on the screen was a harrowing experience, as I never knew how long the battery would last.

My worst fears were realized when my camera battery died in the middle of an interview on the 4^th day. Day 4 was a flurry of interviews, with interviews from morning to night.

Needless to say, my camera battery could not last the onslaught of interviews, and I panicked when I discovered that I could not continue to record the interview. Luckily, our group had saviors in the form of our senior, Yi Jin, who had kindly used his camera to film from another angle. Furthermore, Professor Natalie offered her video camera almost immediately afterwards, and I was honestly touched by their gestures.

It was pretty much work from the very beginning, and we scrambled to get our interview questions. We had to wake up at an ungodly hour of 6am again, in order to catch an interview with the doctors at the Faculty of Medicine. All in all, we conducted interviews with a wide spectrum of experts, from doctors, nurses to even the Dean of Nursing.

It was really informative though, and we heard of the plans for a smoke free Chiang Mai by 2020, from the Dean of Nursing, who was the head of the commission. We could all tell that she was a busy person, and she head to leave halfway throughout the interview. Fortunately for us, her associates explained in depth of how their campaign was going to work, and we finally received specifics of how the government was going to reduce smoking levels in Chiang Mai.

But what really surprised me was their willingness to help us, providing us with campaign posters and anti-smoking signs which could be used as hats! It was a pretty hilarious moment when we posed for pictures with the staff and students while carrying the signs.

We were really caught off-guard by how hospitable they were, and I was especially thankful of their gifts, since we had now real, physical items to display how their anti-smoking campaigns work. One poster even showed a celebrity monk explaining how he quit smoking, and now he encourages others to do the same. I thought that the strategy of using monks to act as spokesperson for the campaign was unique and riveting, something that would not be seen in Singapore.

We ended off the day with a focus group discussion with the university students, which I felt it was honest and revealing of how the youth viewed smoking in today’s context. I was certainly impressed by their excellent command of the English language

At night, we visited the Chiang Mai University Market to cool off and take a break. However, I was feeling a bit down from our travels and decided to take time off for this night. Exhaustion, fatigue and insecurity came crashing down in waves, and the lack of sleep probably contributed more to the feeling of doom and desperation.

In a chaotic world filled with uncertainties, the feeling of being lost and hopelessness crept into my mind, and sometimes I wonder whether I am heading in any direction at all. I felt old, at age 21, where I am legally an adult, yet sometimes I just felt like holding onto the threads of childhood. In a place where worries seem so insignificant and the innocence of it all – It really made things seem so attractive at times.

To be honest, I was really touched by the concerns of my fellow group mates. They all were genuinely worried for me, and repeatedly asking me whether I was doing ok.

But I didn’t want to bring the mood of the group down. And I didn’t want to be selfish – After all it was a trip that we should all enjoy before the start of the school semester.

I told myself I just need to pick up the pieces, to try my best in making every day worthwhile, and not to wallow in self-pity. It’s really difficult for me to put it into words, but I realized that I can only try and try more again. I am in control of my own destiny, and I really to stay focused in navigating and charting a path out of this chaos.

As long as I try my best in helping others and contribute to the world in my own part, a part of me would feel comforted at least.