Southeast Asia Program 2008 Schedule

 
 
 

February 10, Tuesday

Depart for Bangkok. Transfer from Bangkok Airport via chartered bus to Asia Hotel. D

February 11, Wednesday

Visit some of Bangkok’s most revered sites, including the Royal Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha. After lunch: a briefing by UNICEF staff on their efforts to protect children from the dangers of HIV-AIDS, trafficking and other abuse. B, L

February 12, Thursday

Lecture on Thailand’s current political and economic situation by Prof. Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Institute for Security and International Studies, Chulalongkorn University. Informal meeting, lunch and campus tour with Chulalongkorn students. Rest of day free. B

February 13, Friday

Exploration of the NGO community in Thailand. We look at the “underside” of Bangkok life through the work of the Duang Prateep Foundation in the Klong Toey slum. The staff of Ashoka explain how they find, encourage and support “social entrepreneurs” in the region. B, L

February 14, Saturday

Depart Bangkok for Ta Kha village in Samut Songkram province. We’ll observe life in the floating market and meet our village hosts, with whom we’ll stay overnight. B, L, D

February 15, Sunday

In the early morning, we join the village custom of offering food to monks in order to make Buddhist merit. After breakfast, we learn the process of producing coconut sugar—the main local industry. This is a day to appreciate the pace of life in rural Thailand. B, L, D

February 16, Monday

We say goodbye to our village hosts and travel to Bangkok Airport. A late- afternoon flight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Transfer to Corus Hotel. B, D

February 17, Tuesday

Morning meeting with Ivy Josiah, founder of the Women’s Aid Organisation, an NGO which protects the rights of women and foreign workers. Afternoon lecture on Malaysia’s place in the world by Prof. Stephen Leong, Director of the Centre for Japan Studies at the Institute for Strategic and International Studies. B

February 18, Wednesday

Our group meets students of Sunway University College and explores their campus. Lunch with students in cafeteria; mid-afternoon return to hotel. B, D

February 19, Thursday

We travel to a nature preserve to trek in Malaysia’s rainforest—an opportunity to understand firsthand this important Southeast Asia feature and resource. Lunch during jungle hike. Late afternoon return to Kuala Lumpur. B, L

February 20, Friday

A day to explore new media. In the morning, we meet with the staff of al Jazeera’s Asia Broadcast Center to learn how they bring a new, non-Western approach to news through their TV satellite channel. In the afternoon, the founders of malaysiakini explain how they have tapped the power of the internet to create an alternative newspaper. Rest of day free. B

February 21, Saturday.

The group travels by chartered bus to Malacca (Melaka) and explore the historical importance of this centuries-old trading port. In the evening, we join students of Melaka Manipal Medical College for dinner and casual talk. Overnight in City Bayview Hotel. B, L, D

February 22, Sunday

After breakfast, the group continues through the Malaysian countryside by chartered bus to Peninsula Hotel, Singapore. Informal exploration of Orchard Road area. B

February 23, Monday

Briefing on Singapore’s role in international trade and economics by Mr. Phillip Overmyer, Executive Director of Singapore International Chamber of Commerce. Afternoon: informal campus tour and conversation with students of Singapore Management University. B

February 24, Tuesday

Cherian George, one of the foremost commentators on contemporary Singapore and professor, School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, explores with us what makes Singapore “different”. Afternoon free. Evening reception (in a local home) with a diverse international group of people working in Singapore. B

February 25, Wednesday

Final group reflection session. Free afternoon for final exploration of Singapore. Group farewell dinner. B, D

February 26 , Thursday

Early-morning transfer to airport for flight to Japan. B, L

This schedule is tentative and thus may change.

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Applications are found at www.learning-across-borders.org. Application deadline: December 3, 2008. Early applications are strongly encouraged.

Travel agency:

Nissin Travel Service Co. Ltd., Kyodo Building, Kudan 1 Go-Kan, 1-5-5 Kudan-minami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0074.

Phone: 03-5210-5772. Fax: 03-5210-5768.

General Travel Agency license no. 463. Agent in charge of program: Mr. Kazumi Hamamoto.

Contact Info learningacrossborders@earthlink.net
Photos by Kentaro Suzuki, Shugo Yanaka, Moe Kogure, Ryoh Miyashita