By We have been in Chiang Mai, Thailand, for over a week, but it seems much longer than that. Currently we are embracing yet another culture, distinct in many ways from that of the Philippines and Malaysia. There are new people to met, new foods to savour, new ideas to ponder, a new city to explore, a new language to learn and new living arrangements to sort out. All in all, this term abroad in Southeast Asia confronts our students with diverse and demanding cross-cultural experiences — heightened living and heightened learning. For more on Chiang Mai visit http://www.roughguides.com/website/travel/destination/content/?titleid=72&xid=idh272227328_0334
Home-stay adventures
As in the Philippines and Malaysia, here in Thailand our students are with local families for part of their time here. The home-stays are arranged through CMU and are designed to give students a rare opportunity to learn about the customs of Thai family life and the nuances of society and culture in northern Thailand. They learn by living out the down-to-earth realities of daily life. The families are responsible for providing students with breakfast and supper as well as transportation between the Thai family residence and CMU. Not surprisingly, SSU students report a wide range of experiences living with their Thai families. In some cases this means trying to communicate with people who understand little English. Some students stay with well-to-do families in large and luxurious houses. Other students are placed with families in more modest surroundings. Read more detail from the words of the students themselves on the SSU SEAsia Blog http://www.ssu.ca/traveltheworld/
SSU and CMU working together
SSU has been in partnership with CMU for the last five Asia study-abroad programs. With 40,000 students, CMU is — shall we say — a little larger than SSU. We have arranged a program of classes anchored by the Humanities Faculty at CMU. A typical day sees SSU students arrive from their home-stays for class before 9:00 a.m. They are required to dress as most Thai university students dress–white shirts or blouses, dark pants or skirts and proper shoes, (i.e. no sandals or flip flops). Fortunately our classroom is air conditioned, because the outside temperature often reaches close to 35C. SSU has full access to much of CMU’s sprawling campus, including a computer lab for internet, as well as various libraries and cafeterias, etc. Most days see morning and afternoon lectures (two hours/lecture) usually with lots of questions posed to the Thai professors by the students. We hear lectures on Thai history, literature, politics, Buddhism and its impact on Thai culture, the Thai language, etc. As well, the program at CMU includes tours to local historic sites, e.g. Buddhist temples, museums and archaeological sites.
Prayer requests:
So the journey continues. Today as we gathered for Sunday worship, one of the readings was from Colossians 3,
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts … and be thankful. …And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus…”
-may the students’ personal devotions and our group worship be filled with the peace of Christ, with thankfulness and with God’s favour. In all things, may we be faithful to the wisdom of Jesus;
-may students’ experiences with their home-stay families be rewarding with rich learning that is consistent with the aims of the SSU curriculum;
-may we continue to travel and study in good health, safety, unity, and as we near the final weeks of this (ad)venture, may we maintain good health and finish well.
(Gregg Finley, for the leaders team)