harassment and LGBTQI

Happy Thursday kaaa!

Last week, Fulbright Thailand and Bureau of International Cooperation Strategy/Office of the Higher Education Commission organized a one-day seminar entitled, 'Breaking Cultural Taboos', discussing issues on LGBTQI and harassment.

It was the very first platform for those in the international relations offices to learn and share on the topics of LGBTQI, and harassment. 

On LGBTQI, several shared their views openly about their sexual orientation. It included a transgender, a lesbian, and a gay.

The transgender speaker pointed out a few things I'd like to share as follows ka:

- I now know one more term: Cisgender which means sex assigned from birth and the person's sense of personal identity and gender corresponds it.

- Transgender could be turned away by doctors who don't have enough understanding about the group or could have some negative attitude/phobia.

- Things have been changing fast in higher education communities in many states, especially policies and laws.

- If we interact with transgender persons, particularly those in the west, ask for their preferred pronouns.

Our Thai lesbian and gay speakers were quite fortunate to have understanding and supportive families. That has made their lives much easier and several key points are: 

- Both have proved to their parents that they're highly capable of leading their lives professionally with fine recognition of their competence.

- Both know clearly their preferred 'gender' and have decided to follow it with very secure feelings about 'who they are'!

- One stressed that no matter what he (he has no preference about pronouns!) does, he thinks of 'appropriateness of time and place' -- กาละเทศะ As he's an ajarn, he has made sure of proper distance with his students as well.

About harassment, these are what I drew from the platform ka:

- Harassment happens more often than we know and quite a few of us have been harassed one way or another.

- Whatever makes us feel uncomfortable could possibly be some form of 'harassment'.

- Policies and protocol must be in place to increase our awareness in the education settings and for us to know what we can do to protect ourselves and others.

- Turn to peers and advisors when help is needed. Academic advisors need to be trained too ka!

- To say 'no' in uncomfortable situations, stress to ourselves that we don't make any mistake and there's no need to avoid it. Be polite and assertive while looking into the other person's eyes. Yet, before taking any action, look around to see if it's safe for us not to be cornered!

It was another session I think should be organized more often to a wider community of higher education. It allows us to understand more deeply the meaning of 'diversity', 'gender equality', and 'respect and inclusion' ka.

Flightradar24

When I wrote last time, I failed to include one story that amazed me when I went to Mae Fah Luang University ka.

Upon arrival, I was as always met by a witait team member, Noi. To start my small talk, I asked her if she had been waiting long. She said only a short while.....then, I learned something new and amazing ka.

Noi told me that the driver checked his app, called 'Flightradar24' to see my flight. When it was close to Payao area, he told Noi it was time to go to the airport.

I was really amazed and proud of the driver ka. In any job or responsibility, if we're up to the quality theme in the digital world, we can always be very up-to-date in a very efficient and productive way na ka. When it was from a driver, I felt even more impressed, knowing that we can spend time working on some other thing. More importantly, it's about the magic of learning to bring us new ways to improve our own work with quality and with fun.

This could be an aspect for good sharing and recognition, agree mai ka?

Noi went further to check how the app worked and this is a good one that includes even 3D for us to look at ka! 

Endless learning from people around happens easily and helpfully ka.

Huh! Iwate! Why?

Dear all, I just came back from my fun trip to Japan ka. It was another great learning experiences in many ways ka.

First, funny expressions came from a few Japanese we met especially a Customs officer at Narita airport ka.

There, after this Customs officer knew we'd be going to Iwate (north of Japan), he sort of found it surprising and asked us why we wanted to go there. I only answered, it's peaceful!' We learned afterwards that not so many Japanese have been there so you can well guess that there were very few Thais and foreigners ka!

Second, it turned out that the Iwate Prefecture was indeed quiet, beautiful, and with fresh air. We met most who were friendly and helpful everywhere we went. One time we asked two young ones where our hotel was. They didn't just point to the place but walked us to the place. When we told them it should be fine for us, they led us to the spot we could cross the streets ka! So touched!

It was a long ride from one place to another but because we had some good time to spare, we didn't feel the urge to rush that much at all. It also gave us a chance to observe and learn more about the culture and people. Met quite a few senior people who seemed to be very kind and when our eyes met theirs, we got their smiles in return!

Third, we got together several times with our ship friends...Japanese (from the Ship for the Southeast Asian Youth Program I attended over 32 years ago!) 

As one of us really wanted to go strawberry picking, our Japanese friend managed to talk the owner to open the place just for our group even when it was supposed to be closed for the season. The owner was really kind and allowed us to stay longer than 30 minutes to enjoy having more strawberries. There were a lot left for us and all of us enjoyed the 3 types of strawberries for the entrance fee of only 1,100 yen ka....best deal for fresh, big, and sweet strawberries! YUM!

And.....our ship friends are friends for life ka!

Lastly, this was my second time to go explore on our own and it was much easier than expected because there're more English signs than even 3 years ago when I visited the country. We now know how to travel lighter by using lockers that are all around at the stations, how to catch loop buses and plan on its schedules. The JR pass was excellent and our Japanese friends were impressed with the deal we got too.

As my friend was the lead, I didn't have to stay too alert as much but I believe my brain was reactivated and re-energized kaaa!