Ratchaburi

(Photos courtesy of Peter)


The final section of our journey in Southeast Asia is quickly coming to an end, but instead of dwelling on all that we will miss, I know that our SEAS group will look towards the future with confidence about who we are and what we have learned. Last weekend’s excursions around Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi were a contrast to the comfort we have become accustomed to at Mahidol. On Monday the 13th, we visited the floating market not far from Ratchaburi. Naturally, everyone was thrilled to put to use our developing bargaining and basic Thai language skills, so we spent time around the market talking to people and buying souvenirs for family and friends. Of course, it wouldn’t be a floating market without some boats involved, so some of us took a boat ride and marveled at all the fruits and goods that were sold on the canal. But what was most important about that visit was not what we saw there, but the difference we noticed in ourselves. Admittedly, the market was a tourist area, and it was clear that the people there expected little from us in terms of knowledge about Thai culture. However, our growth over this trip made us more than tourists and allowed us to experience more. For example, something as simple as saying “No Thank you” in Thai or properly doing a Wai elicited a smile and an acknowledgment that we were not your typical traveler.



Later that afternoon, the final group presentation summarized and elaborated on what they learned about refugees and asylum-seekers in Thailand. Our academic activity was complemented with a cultural one; we traveled to a museum and school to see a shadow puppet presentation. The amazing thing about the show was not the spectacle or the fact that it was students who were performing, but the narration. Even though it was completely in Thai, I felt I could understand the story because of the expression and raw emotion. Even though we have focused so much on the differences of being here in Thailand, I feel that, in the end, it is acknowledging our similarities that helps us to understand ourselves and how we fit into society.

-Lionel