1 In the Field (Reflection during fieldwork)

Before embarking on the trip to Vietnam, I thought of fieldwork as the mere collection of data outside the classroom, just like the definition we discussed in class. Yet, it seems a little unsettling now to refer to fieldwork in such a technical manner – the term has transformed into an entirely different, more emotional one for me as the days went past. In my pre-trip projection, my thoughts on the trip were only brushing the periphery of what was yet to come.

The trekking day was the day when we conducted the majority of the fieldwork – interviewing homestay owners, our tour guide, and locals that ran souvenir shops along the way – and this was the very day that completely transformed my perception of fieldwork. Child peddlers as young as nine years old leapt nimbly from rock to rock, always ready to offer an outstretched hand whenever I clumsily wobbled on one leg. All this was in exchange for just a small purchase from one of us, before they returned up the mountains to offer their help to another stumbling tourist. As I grasped the intricately woven scarf in my hand, I thought of how a small sum of $20 meant vastly different things to us – while I might spend $20 without hesitation on a meal, this contribution from me might allow them to live more comfortably.

Later that night, as we gathered around a table filled with warm, homely dishes with a glass of rice wine (or better known as ‘happy water’) in our hands, we shared our thoughts about the day. All of us agreed that it had been a meaningful and eye-opening day; it had redefined the meaning of ‘tourists’ for us, as we took on a more active role towards finding out about the culture and lifestyle of the locals in the village. The need to gather data opened my eyes to my surroundings, and made me more observant towards even the littlest of details. It was through the process of observing that I learnt that there is so much more to being a tourist – it encompasses more than taking photos and checking a particular location off your bucket list. Truly travelling would consist of interacting with locals, understanding their culture and leaving an impact on their lives. The one sentence our tour guide, Zer, said would always be etched in my memory: “I really want to thank all of you for taking the time to understand us and our culture, and to talk to us – I just want to say that all of you are really different from the usual tourists that come to the village.”

In a different cultural setting, it’s important to always remember to be respectful and sensitive towards the customs and practices the culture encompasses. During our time in the homestay, Zer and the homestay owner were extremely welcoming and taught us patiently about their culture, from how rice was pounded in the past, to the simplest things like how spring rolls are made. The reason why I say the word ‘fieldwork’ has taken on a much more emotional meaning to me is because of the friendships I earned and the multitude of feelings I experienced, in addition to the knowledge I gained.
Post-trip Reflection

Looking back on my pre-trip reflection, I can safely say that what I expected of Vietnam was not entirely met, but it is definitely for the better.

Before embarking on the trip to Vietnam, I expected the people living amongst the mountains in Sa Pa to not be very well-to-do, and lead a less privileged life than that of Singaporeans – without the Internet, without mobile phones, and without enough money. Yet, after the day of trekking, I realized that privilege is all but a social construct, a concept that humans create, with differing meanings to people with different lifestyles. I thought of Singaporeans as more privileged (and therefore happier) than the villagers – with cutting-edge technology, the latest iPhones in our pockets and a world-class education system, we would definitely be at the winning end, right? However, as I reflected on the day’s events at the dinner table, I realized that the villagers are equally privileged in their own way, with nature by their side – privilege is just a matter of perception. Who was I to judge their lives and think that they were less privileged, and therefore less happy than us? Sure, their lives might be tougher than us – without proper shoes to walk in, children jump from rock to rock in slippers, offering support to tourists for arduous hour-long journeys just in return for a purchase. Yet, they were able to find joy in the simplest of things, like skipping stones by the river, making musical instruments out of leaves, and making bottles of rice wine to have a joyous meal over. In fact, the ‘privilege’ I thought we had sometimes backfired on us, be it in the form of addictions to our phones or never being satisfied with what we have. This was one instance where my expectations were not met which actually lead to a better outcome, where I came to the realization that privilege is nothing but a matter of perception; and even if we were more privileged, we were taking all we had for granted.

Another event that had a huge impact on me was the Amazing Race around Hanoi with a HanoiKids student. Amidst all the hustle to win the games and the bustle of the city, I felt that the dynamics of my group was strengthened immensely. It was heartwarming to see different members of my group stepping up and flaunting their own strengths like navigating the city, or remembering statistics off the back of their hand (which is simply amazing!!). Also, I realized that not having our phones with us forced us to have more meaningful interactions, especially since we always turn to our phones during mealtimes or awkward silences. After a long day of running around the city, I certainly felt that this leadership activity strengthened the bond my group had as each member had the chance to flaunt their skills, and also provided us with a much-needed break from our phones.

The 7 days indeed flew by way too quickly – from sleeping in bumpy trains, sipping on hot chocolate to interviewing local minority groups about their culture and listening to professors share about their lives. Thank you USP for this amazing opportunity, and I will always hold this experience close to my heart!