Post-trip Reflections

As much as I was reluctant for it to end, the Chiangmai TOPS trip drew to a close after 7 days. This trip has indeed been an enriching one for me. During a short span of time, I have experienced different aspects of multi-disciplinary education. From the preparing our research materials before the trip up to the trip itself, I have learned many new ways of writing a humanities paper, new methods for conducting fieldwork and ground research. The experience has definitely opened my eyes to the world of academic research – an area I am interested in exploring further.

Although we were unable to achieve our target of obtaining a few street interviews with specific parties or conducted observations of the participants, I believe that the data and information gathered from the focus group discussions more than made up for it. Due to unforeseen changes in our plans, we had to exercise flexibility, adapt and respond to the changes. On a personal level, I have learnt through these last-minute changes in plans, to be more flexible and accommodating. I have also learnt the importance of contingency plans in any situations. Standby plans are necessary as unforeseen circumstances can occur any time. This learning will be very useful for my future personal travel plans as well as in my job due to the fact that I would be dealing with students.

While the trip was a good opportunity for me to bond with the USP students, I felt that the networking would have been enhanced if I was able to bond more with the sub group. On hindsight, it would have been possible if I had looked into scheduling more recreational time with the sub group.  While all of us were mindful of the tasks we had to complete, it was fortunate that visits to tourists attractions were included in the itinerary and we were also given some time for rest and relaxation. As the saying goes, “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy”.  Being a task-oriented person, I have learnt from the trip that spending time to get to know members of your team through recreational activities is invaluable. It does not only help the team develop better synergy amongst them, firm friendships can also be made. Collaboration is strengthened and that can bring about more effective outputs. It also would really have been lost opportunity if we had not taken some time off work to immerse ourselves in the culture and heritage of the Thais since we were already there. Another regret I had, though, was not having the courage to practice the Thai that I had learnt. I believed that I had picked up a decent repertoire of Thai vocabulary from our senior, Joash, who kindly conducted conversational Thai lessons for us prior to the trip and listening to the locals in conversations. If I had braved being misunderstood and probably being a laughing stock, I believed that I would likely have progressed in my spoken Thai and possibly encouraged the locals to be even more open in sharing their ideas and opinions.

When in a foreign land, people often discover their personal strengths and weaknesses. Our mental agility, personal control and leadership skills are put in the spotlight when we have to deal with unfamiliar situations encountered. Of course, such challenges are good platforms for us to better understand ourselves; our strengths and weaknesses and find ways to mitigate the areas for improvement.

Last but not least, this trip was also a humbling experience for me as I was initially quite sceptical about how much data we would be able to gain from interviews with the Thais. To Thailand, Singapore was a competitor for the tourist dollar so the locals had every right to be guarded in their interviews. Hence I was very surprised at the generosity of the Thais in sharing with us their opinions and certain processes so freely with us. In fact, the tourism chief was so candid and frank in offering his personal opinions that at some points I worried for him. I suppose my fears stemmed from a typical Singaporean’s restraint from making comments that can incriminate us. Hence my shock at the chief’s unabashed sharing.

This entire overseas trip has been an enriching and fulfilling one for me. It was indeed a great entrée to my second academic semester at NTU.