Fieldwork and overseas exchange/CIP programs have always been an integral part of education in Singapore; it not only broadens the limited horizons of students living amidst people of the same culture and living standards but also equips students with a sense of compassion and wisdom- to use our knowledge for a greater good for humanity. Personally, I have never been to Vietnam before. I believe that this trip would allow me to immerse myself into a whole new culture and to really open my eyes and see the lives of those who grow up differently (perhaps, less fortunately) than us.

As the world grows more interconnected, knowledge of our surroundings becomes more and more priceless (for we no longer stand as one independent nation but exist collectively as an inter-dependent network of trade and technological connections), and the best way to discern a country is to observe the fundamental building blocks of every nation: its people. Ethnography is a significant part of my group’s fieldwork process and through this journey we will be able to look through the eyes of the locals and walk in their footsteps to truly understand their hardships and joy. Although projected to the future, perhaps, one day, after I graduate from NTU and enter the working world, I would be able to contribute to benefitting the lives of others in my own field of occupation.

Studying in NTU USP, I expect to not only learn and excel in academics but also to learn about things greater and beyond the books. As a student in Psychology, I have great interest in people and their history and beyond reading textbook materials, there is no better way to understand the world than to explore it on your own. This trip will no doubt enhance my college education by painting the colours to the words and by putting theories into life.

At a personal level, I would hope to not only enjoy the trip as a bonding experience with my USP friends but also, to gain insights on the medical framework of both Hanoi and Sapa, using this opportunity to analyse a topic that I wouldn’t have otherwise researched on. At the same time, by travelling to a foreign country I would hope to experience a new culture, by interacting with the tribal members and during the homestay, to live under the same roof as a Vietnamese. And perhaps, on a greater and more enlightening scale, to slow down my footsteps from our rushed society to take a good look at the different horizon in Vietnam and find out that it isn’t only material well-being that can bring happiness to everyone.