What 'Miss Universe Pageant' tells us

I started my morning watching Miss Universe broadcast live ka. After so many years of totally forgetting about it, I was urged to make sure I did this year because it seemed Thailand could really go into the final round.

It's a pity ours wasn't selected as one of the three na ka. Yet, I learned quite a few things ka:

- We can't identify the 'Thai look' as precisely as before because of the more open world of mobility and marriage.

- The questions given to the contestants (from empowerment and terrorism to harassment and social media usage) showed very clearly what the world has been suffering from. We all need to be more aware and actively participating to lessen the seriousness as much as we can na ka.

- Like in all interviews, 30 seconds requires not only knowledge about the issues raised and passionate answers, but also the ability to think and link faster, and hit the point right away. 

I think of our own selves and kids ka. We need to give much more importance to learning how to respond fast and to the point....we tend to think far too slowly and have inadequate platforms and opportunities to share our thoughts and comments on key world issues both at home and in classroom settings ka.

Have to keep practicing lae ka.

simple training strategies

Swasdee ka!

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and even I'm not American, I like it a lot as a special day to feel thankful ka. I could feel so thankful to many people, for many touching moments. Yet, at the end of the day, I sure am so very grateful to Nailuang, King Rama IX for his unconditional love and selfless efforts. I also feel so blessed to be born to my family whose warmth and caring have allowed me to be me and do so many in my professional life with the least worries. You all la ka? Lots to feel thankful for too na ka.

This week, thanks to an invite of Ajarn Chaiwat, a Fulbright alum, I had an opportunity to give several sessions to train public health officers along the Thai border on partnership building, a bit about the use of English, cross culture, and self-reflection ka. So today, I'd like to share what I've learned from this training na ka.

- The use of 'bingo' to get started turned to be so influential to ignite further thinking ka. At first, I thought of an icebreaking and testing their English. Yet, after Ajarn Chaiwat and I discussed it, it showed a lot about the start of partnership from having some clear understanding, objectives, and one's own self how we behaved in a different environment ka. We saw a few who were quiet and waited to be approached while others were proactive to get to introduce themselves and get their objectives achieved.

After the activities, it was really clear that we tended to go for our goal without much thinking of how far we needed to know the other end and how each of us approached others.

- Our pre-test and post-test wasn't to assess the content learned but on the attitude and determination. It didn't go along with what the host actually wanted as they were required to report the use of funding in quantitative terms. We did try come up with some at the end of the sessions to satisfy the requirement. Yet, our qualitative measures to ask them to reflect and answer according to their specific self and office contexts would be so useful for each of them to move forward.

One thing I loved about it was a question about their happiness level from the three days ka. Most were very positive and to us both, it was the first step for them to have more favorable attitude to practice their English, to care more about their partners' needs and constraints, and to be more determined to enhance partnership with cross-cultural understanding.

We both were really happy to hear that it was the first time they didn't sit in the classroom style with more practices in most of the sessions, mine and Ajarn Chaiwat (public speaking and negotiation skills).

- I'd like to add that it was a rare picture to see the host (bureau director) sit through all the sessions....apparently with some work to do in between. Her presence and love of learning were meaningful as a great life-long learner mak mak ka.

- Besides self-reflective moments, we had one session for them to learn how to integrate what they learned so as to see that each skill isn't a stand alone one and they can't just sharpen one skill without thinking and linking with the other ka.

We hope they left the workshops with some learning and eagerness to learn and try more ka.

Miracles of Korea

It was a memorable trip to Korea as a get-together with my former Fulbright fellow directors. Two of us were graciously hosted in our Korean host's home and sure had more than enough food to eat, time to chat, and culture to learn.

Before I left, a Thai Fulbright alum sent me a book he translated on, 'Korea: The Impossible Country' or มหัศจรรย์เกาหลี จากเถ้าถ่านสู่มหาอำนาจทางเศรษฐกิจและวัฒนธรรม.

I read it on my way to Korea and finished it on my way back, making my trip even more meaningful with increased understanding about the country.

A few things I wish to highlight are:

1. The author, Daniel Tudor, may be a Brit who lives in Korea and works for The Economist. I can't help but think that after all these decades, we can still find stories about our country from foreign authors ka. Our people don't write enough or we don't know much about them or we don't like to read what Thais write....I still wonder why ka!

2. Our Fulbright translator, Mr. Thitipong Luangarunlert is an industrial design architect by educational background and he could do a great job working on this project ka, easy to read without 'smelling the butter' and I'm so proud of him ka!

3. The long history could make me bored and lose my interest but this wasn't the case ka. I think the author put it nicely with a few reminders along the way to remind us of the different dynasties. I also learn more deeply why Koreans, especially the older generation, dislike Japanese. Thanks to the current K-pop culture, two peoples get closer to feel much better about each other.

4. The culture of 'jeoung' the sense of gratitude and caring plus 'we-ness' (I don't think I can translate it nicely like how we can't really translate, 'grengjai' ka). The terms 'han' (inner grief) and 'heung' (joy) have enabled me to understand Korean lives reflected in its soap much much better. Please forgive me for the translation of the terms into my own words as I don't have the English version and gathered from my own understanding reading it na ka.

5. The collectiveness, protectionism, and propaganda which were put into use at the right time have driven the country to excel rapidly and become a developed country as an OECD member. The country still faces a lot of challenges both from its own cultural traditions, power-craze, and external factors. Yet, its efforts to build one nation to be this solid are truly admirable ka.

6. Naturally, while I was reading, I kept comparing with our own country and its culture. I thought to myself how little I know about our own country, how much more effort is needed to develop myself and our people, how much I've been shaped by the cultural traditions, how great to learn from reading, and how life-long learning and sharing need to go on ka!

My Fulbright nong wrote, 'ขอให้พี่ทิพย์อ่านอย่างเพลิดเพลินครับ'..... I sure enjoyed it thoroughly ka!

Happy Tuesday na ka.

Intercultural Communication

Hello all!

Yesterday, I gave a three-hour session on intercultural communication to a small group of graduate students and it was quite fun ka.

At the end of the class, my usual style was to ask them to reflect what they learned and what they wanted to do next and this is what I'd like to share ka.

On what they wanted to do after the class, here are some of the answers ka:

- explore the world

- see how to link what I've learned with my teaching

- think more of how to apply it

- get to know more about the ethnic cultures

- think of ways to share with my students

- practice herself to become a true global citizen

- learn more about our own culture

One started to doubt her own ability to survive in multicultural environments despite her English proficiency. Several felt they didn't know much about the Thai culture!

I also admired the professor teaching this class who turned herself into one student, following all workshops and participating without any attempt to teach...simply giving her own stories and how she learned from them.

The desire to learn and see more as well as the wish to know one's own culture and ethnic cultures far better, and the need to think of how to apply it for their students were what make me feel real happy and have the drive to share this little dimension to you this morning ka.

More often than not, quite a number overlook the importance of intercultural communication, thinking that after having mixed with people, they would get it. In a way, it could be so but learning about it more intensively will allow them to be aware of their own biases, both consciously and unconsciously. It's one good way to have a self assessment too. Once we get to be more sensitive interculturally, several feelings will arise, especially pride in our own culture, and gentler hearts with more love to give regardless differences.

Happy Loykratong Day to all ka.