As born and raised in Buddhist family, I have always thought that I am truly knowledgeable and educated about my culture. However, this perspective has shifted my thought after I came to America, the great diversity country in the world. I was exposed to different cultures, believes, races, and norms that completely opposite from mine. I have learned and adapted to this diversity, which made me realize of “what is really my identity”. As far as my knowledge about Buddhist, I went to (Wat) temple for almost any occasion to celebrate traditional ceremony for the family. But I have never been aware and noticed of the reason why we have to do it. I never paid attention to any details of the ceremony nor the monk’ teaching about my own culture. Everything I’ve learned and absorbed about my culture is just passive.

            Therefore, going to the (Wat) Thai temple was a new experience for me in actually learning and challenging what I really know about the culture to find my self-identity. Surprisingly, as we went inside the temple and listen to monk telling story about the Buddhist, I actually learned new things that I have never been aware of before. For instance, why would the monks give blessing before they eat? I finally understand that reason behind this cultural practice. The monks have to give blessing before meal to send or deliver the merits to the cousins or family members who has passed away. The food that they are eating will be share to those who have passed way. Another thing that I have learned was that Wat or temple isn’t only opened up to Buddhist people, but we welcome to all the races and religious group. This is really reflected of how my parents raised me to be an open minded, acceptance, generous to other people no matter what where they come from.

            As business marketing major, I want to explore and learn about a complexity of diversity in the world. I want to used what I learn in helping me seek and understand the differences about people behavior/culture beliefs in order help me open my own business. So one thing that I hope to gain from the learning abroad seminar is to understand my own identify first in comparison to others. I want to be able to used what I learn from America and imply those learning to discovery and understand people in different 

I was nervous before we went to the Wat Temple last month. I remember I left over an hour early because I was scared I would get lost or be late and I wanted to make the best impression possible. I also didn’t know what was appropriate to wear and the last thing I wanted to do was offend anyone. Sometimes I forget that everyone else probably has the same thing going through their minds. To be honest I was a little uncomfortable when I got there. I didn’t really know how I should sit or how I needed to address the abbot monk at the front of the room. Thankfully Acharn Cathy showed us how to introduce ourselves by putting our hands together in front of our mouths and noses and bowing our heads slightly. We learned later from the abbot monk how the placement of the hands is very important. The lower the placement, the less formal the greeting. I found it fascinating that just the placement of my hands signals respect for a person. It’s something so simple and subtle, but its things like this that help me understand the Thai culture. I also learned how to properly sit in a temple. I remember after we were told to sit with both legs to one side staggered I immediately switched to that instead of being cross-legged. I also found it interesting that a woman can’t sit close to the abbot monk. I’m interested to see how gender might impact certain things in Thailand. I have a tendency to forget that not every culture treats genders the same way.

One goal I have for myself while abroad is to try everything at least once. I’m a picky eater and I have to say being in a culture with very different food than I’m used to makes me nervous. I really want to stick with the mantra “don’t knock it till you try it” because it would be a shame to miss out on any experience while I’m in Thailand. I think food is a big part of this. In my mind, food is an important part of any culture. I’ve had Thai food here in the U.S. but I’m smart enough to know that the Americanized version is probably very different than authentic Thai food in Thailand. I think this goal can go beyond food as well. We are going to be doing a lot of different activities that involve doing a lot of different things. I just want to go in with an open, positive state of mind. No one in my family has ever been to Asia and this is a learning opportunity that I can share with them.

Here are pictures of me with my dog Sydney and with my brother Jacob.

Before heading to Wat Thai Temple in Elk River, I had imagined a large temple adorn with beautiful architectural designs and glistening gold. To my surprise like everyone else, I assumed, there was no temple to be seen. Instead, in its place is a regular house that would pass as a family home if not for the signs at the gate reading “Wat Thai”. Despite my shock and confusion, I still proceeded to enter the temple with everyone else that I arrived with; my heart filled with anxiety and excitement.

Upon entering, I immediately felt out of place and awkward. Everyone was already seated on the floor with cushions facing the abbot monk who sat on a raised platform. There was little conversation in the room and I remember Acharn Cathy talking to some of the women present in the kitchen. I sat in the back of the room near the stairwells and waited for what was to come. I honestly did not know what to expect. This had been my very first time at a temple and I did not know very much about the Thai culture.

From the day, I would say that my favorite part was learning the different ways to greet people, especially when it comes to the hand placements. I always saw these actions done in the few Thai movies that I watched growing up, but I never knew that there were differences in the placement of the hands. It was nice to learn about it and finally know the difference, as it would play an essential part in Thailand. As a lover of learning, learning about the hand placements provided me with a small taste of Thai culture (in addition to the food, hospitality, and atmosphere of Wat Thai), a great and exciting beginning to the 3-weeks of cultural immersion in Thailand. 

From this seminar in Thailand, one of the many learning goal that I have for myself is to challenge myself to critically think and analyze the issues and interconnectedness surrounding the topics listed on the syllabus. I recognize that while I should allow myself to explore and absorb the Thai culture while in Thailand, it is also important to be an active thinker so that all the experiences I will be having will be meaningful and not just learned for the sake of learning. At the end of it, I want to be an active member in the global community and recognize that my world is bigger than what I know it to be.