Field Studies in Geography – Southeast Asia: A Journey of Transformative Adventures
August 16, 2023
After a 3-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Field Studies in Geography: Southeast Asia (SEA) has finally made a comeback over the summer break of 2023. For a few, the experience proved to be a transformative and eye-opening adventure. In this article, we follow the journey of Year 3 Geography undergraduates Hong Xu Liang Nicholas and Nur Husna Faqihah, as well as student assistant Adib Amali (NUS Geography, '23), as they share their insights and memorable experiences from the 2023 field studies module.
The Joys of Taking Things Slow
There's something about the village lifestyle that inevitably draws city folks in. It is unsurprising that the most memorable experience for many students was the 7-day village homestay in Chiang Rai Province. "Life in the village was extremely peaceful, and the villagers we encountered met us with such hospitality, even going out of their way to accommodate our needs," Nicholas said.
Husna (right) and her teammates taking things slow in the village.
This sentiment was also shared by Husna, who found joy even in the minor inconveniences of village life. "Even though my project group was split into two villages and we had no internet, we used this opportunity to explore the forests and rivers – embracing the quiet and humble village lifestyle where the pace of life is much slower,” said Husna, who also remarked that waking up to fresh air and the sounds of animals was something unfamiliar yet comforting.
For both of them, the village homestay was an immersive experience that remains etched in their memory long after returning home.
Bridging Theory and Practice
Field Studies in Geography present a rare opportunity for students to apply theoretical concepts learned in class. Nicholas, for one, was thrilled to find out that the theory he learned in his introductory Geography courses proved highly valuable in understanding various case studies he came across. "Lessons from cross-border relations at the border towns and ports, economic flows, and the rights of indigenous communities are all things we can trace back to our geography classes," he told us.
Nicholas (left) with his teammates and buddies working on their village project
There was even an opportunity for Nicholas to give back to the villagers from whom he had received so much hospitality. By gathering data on healthcare access in the village, his group devised numerous measures to improve this access – making posters on healthcare guidelines and conducting hygiene and fitness lessons for village children. "This research task was meaningful to me as we were able to transform academic research into concrete solutions for our hosts,” he said.
Husna too found many applications for her academic knowledge, even applying concepts from her second major in Southeast Asian Studies. "Unlike Singapore, other Southeast Asian countries possess vast terrains, such as mountains and rivers," she said. "These landscapes carve out unique spaces that shape the diverse cultural expressions of different communities I met – an encounter completely foreign in Singapore to me as our conceptualisation of people and space is limited by our small land area."
Husna and teammates navigating the streets of Chiang Mai in a wheelchair to experience the lived realities of those with mobility challenges.
She was also responsible for conducting a study on the mobilities and disabilities prevalent in Chiang Mai City. Committed to learning through practice, the group members even navigated the streets of Chiang Mai in a wheelchair to experience firsthand the challenges faced by the mobility impaired. Through interviews with staff and beneficiaries from the Northern Region School for the Blind, Husna and her groupmates were able to gain greater insight into the daily struggles faced by the physically and visually disadvantaged in the city.
Adversity, Growth, and Chosen Bonds
All three students related similar accounts of how field studies enabled them to grow in knowledge, friendships and character. For Adib, the weight of being a student assistant was constantly on his mind prior to the trip. Questions about his responsibilities, how he can most effectively establish the right level of rapport with the local community and his teammates, and how he can best be of help to all — these were running through his mind as he prepared for his journey.
Adib told us that during the first week of field studies, he was extremely stressed from the pressures of being a student assistant compounded by the ever-changing circumstances happening on the ground. He acknowledged that this was inevitable for any overseas field module. So instead of desperately scrambling for a solution , Adib resolved to surrender completely to the chaos – to go with the flow and enjoy the present. This new mindset enabled Adib to adapt well to any situation he faced during the remaining 3 weeks of field studies. "We can plan for the future, but this experience taught me that we should be grateful and content with whatever life throws at us – sometimes, it's good to surrender to the flow of things and let nature take its course,” said Adib.
Without a doubt, the greatest takeaway for everyone were the many friendships made not only with group mates from Singapore but also with the Thai staff and new Thai friends. Saying goodbye was difficult, but Dr. Carl Grundy-Warr, Field Studies coordinator, advised his students to look at life as a continuum, always – so instead of seeing their moment of departure as the end, they should be looking at how it is just the beginning of friendships that could last a lifetime.
Adib (center, maroon top) and the team from Singapore getting ready to travel in Songteows.
When asked why students should consider taking field studies, Adib pointed out that the beauty and learning opportunities from field studies cannot be encapsulated in just a series of imagery, video, or words. "Imagery is beautiful, and words even more so, but field studies are such a novel, unique, and special experience that we could never do justice to the value, intensity, and variety of experiences that it has to offer," Adib said. "It is our role to work hard and create this opportunity; students will have to take the first step and trust us that it will be a wonderful and fulfilling journey."
Field Studies in Geography: SEA - Sites and Sights
Image credits: Nicholas Wong, Nur Husna Faqihah, Adib Amali and Shenn Tan