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Preface

Here comes the 10th issue of Knitting the Fulbright Network and the pilot project for Fulbright Thailands e-publication as we decided to explore ways to catch up with the advance technology, safe the environment and, at the same time, be more budget-wise! There are a lot of thing happened in a year. Some might be vaguely remembered but some are still vivid whenever recalled. This issue of Knitting the Fulbright Network collects our highlights of the year including annual activities, memorable experiences, as well as a reflection on Thai education. From the second Fulbright Talk Show, we gathered some feedbacks from high school students who found the show useful in different aspects. It is interesting to see how students think further. In more advance level, the culture of thinking was reemphasized in the second Fulbright Internationalization Forum as we encourage university staffs to draw links across all things and integrate the knowledge gained into their daily life. Such lintegration will make their endeavor more innovative with greater impacts. Specially, the last badge of ESP (Educational Seminars Program) was completed this year and we marked the occasion by jointly organizing a seminar on Teachers are Key to Quality Education with Teacher College, Columbia University, who also

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celebrated her 125th Anniversary. Sharing the same of objective in human development, we both have lots to share! In addition, we have five cute stories on Fulbright Thailand memories through different eyes on different occasions. You may follow khun Cheewarat, our former Junior Program Officer, on her inward journey during Knowing Our Own Roots and get some pictures of our busy days during the 5th Annual Mid-year Enrichment Workshop for U.S. Scholars and Students in Southeast Asia through khun Kulkanlaya, our Temporary Junior Program Officer. On more personal aspects, grantees from different grant programs share their experiences and impressions which could bring back to you your own Fulbright days. The issue ends with a reflection on Thai way of learning, which has not been changed much despite series of education reforms. Years of experiences through Fulbright Thailand confirm me that the change is possible and is better achieved at personal levelfirst. Enjoy the stories kha! Porntip Kanjananiyot Executive Director

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10 e-book 2556 Fulbright Talk Show Fulbright Internationalization Forum lintegration link integration ESP (Educational Seminars Program) Teachers are Key to Quality Education Teacher College, Columbia University 125

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5 the 5th Annual Mid-year Enrichment Workshop for U.S. Scholars and Students in Southeast Asia !

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Table of Content Fulbright Activities : Brain Gain The Power of Thinking

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When TC Meets FB Parinda Viranuvat 2011 Teachers College (TC)s alumna

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Fulbright Internationalization Forum Education Exchange Excellence with Lintegration Jakrapop Wongwiwat 2014 Candidate under Open Competition Scholarship Program

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Fulbright Memories The Simple Happiness Cheewarat Kaewsangkwan Junior Program Officer, Fulbright Thailand

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The Fulbright Experience Kamkaeo Maneerot 2011 Fulbright Fellow under Open Competition Scholarship Program

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Living the Thai life Arron Johson 2012 Public Policy Fellowship Program

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My First Month in the USA Reconnecting with my Thai roots in a multicultural society Wanlapa Khiao-ui 2013 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program

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Stories behind the Story Kulkanlaya Kritnoi A Temporary Junior Program Officer, Fulbright Thailand

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Fulbright Reflection Rethinking the Thai Way of Learning Porntip Kanjananiyot Executive Director, Fulbright Thailand

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Brain Gain The Power of Thinking While still focusing on the culture of learning, Fulbright

Thailand organized the 3rd Fulbright Talk Show in Khon Kaen to further discuss ways to better benefit from reading the highlight of the 1st and the 2nd events. The information, ready knowledge, and instant experiences from reading are inputs for our learning and development. These inputs need to be analyzed and synthesized appropriately through thinking processes for proper applications. Thinking skill is very significant for personal and professional development and is thus the theme of the 3rd Fulbright Talk Show.

A week after the Talk Show, Ajarn Sa-nguansak Kosinan,

2010 Educational Seminars Program, sent Fulbright Thailand a compilation of short essays by his students, reflecting what they had learned. It was interesting to share their views on how they tried to think further, asked themselves questions, had more courage to share their ideas, etc. It was also impressive to learn that many of them thought more of their own happiness when considering their future choices. Thanks to Ajarn Sa-nguansak!

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Teachers College Educational Seminars Program 125 Teachers College 180 - Teachers College

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When TC Meets FB

Parinda Viranuvat2 When I heard that the Teachers College of Columbia

University would be holding its 125th anniversary celebration in Bangkok, I was curious and wondered whether it would be just another alumni's cocktail party in which I had to bring a stack of name cards. But no! At least one of my Teachers College (TC) folks was panicking about his academic presentation. I used the term academic because the fact that I was asked to study prior to the event reminded me of those old days at school!

The event was indeed a full-day workshop with a mix of people from several groups: Fulbright Thailand, TC alumni, and American teachers who came to Thailand under the Education Seminar Program (ESP). Since the TC alumni group was not a majority, I was trying to find some familiar faces to calm my nerves. (Well, I didn't know then that I could use the strategy proposed by Fulbright Thailand's Executive Director and also a TC alumna Khun Porntip Kanjananiyot, who said we could remain in our comfort zone, but still welcome others. She also gave us a few tips on how to deal with diversity in this land of smile and elephants. And then I found myself back in the familiar TC culture: decent snacks, 2 Consultant, Organization Development and Personal Development Teachers College, Social-Organizational Psychology, class 2011

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collaborative mood, and discussions as a way of learning (i.e. you can't get away without uttering a word!). Here I am, writing a reflective paper! The opening talk was made grand by Khun Porntip, who introduced a new perspective of old issues like face-saving culture, seniority vs. equality, and eating DNA, just to name a few. It wasn't beneficial only to our American guests who visited Thailand for a short period of time, but also to expatriates and Thai citizens like myself. It was soothing to see that these issues were addressed early so we could avoid an awkward situation, and opened the door for discussions to get to know each other in an honest way. And instead of smiling as a way to escape, I was given a new passwordASEAN. I trust, with this password, a number of doors will be open and the comfort zone will soon be forgotten. The following sessions were not less important at all. Participants exchanged ideas on education cultures Thai and Americanwith digital media that are gaining an increasingly significant role in teaching methods. But does our learning mentality change? It's the process of making digital media a tool to quickly access broader learning resources, while outcomes still depend on how one would want to see future adults, shaped by today's teaching methods, lead the world. (Now I'm very much into Fulbright's motto, Inspiring Caring Leaders across Cultures. They really care!) With this kind of workshop that cherished flipchart papers and sticky notes, we had generated an in-depth

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discussion of plagiarisma heartache issue for teachers. What we care deeply was, in my own words, a child's individuation process. I still remember the pain when I had to paraphrase and cite the author's quote when I was studying abroad, for my education of 20 years earlier was all about multiple choices (if not multiple guesses) and memorizing exact words from texts. My warning to a new generation is that, from now on, you can't only just quote correctly, but you also have to limit the number of quotes. In other words, you can build on ideas that have been thought out before, but be yourself. While the Thai education system focuses on a high-level strategy in developing critical thinkers, the American system makes an enormous amount of effort in translating philosophical ideas into something that is more related to individuals. Ultimately, it is a blessing that I have experienced both systems, to be aware of what has been missing and have an opportunity to fill in the void. I am grateful to be a part of this workshop in which opinions could be honestly expressed. Human relations are nevertheless the greatest means of teaching and learning, although I couldn't help downloading a new phone application at the end of the day.!

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Fulbright Internationalization Forum (FIF) (generation gap) / (connection) integration link integration 2557

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Fulbright Internationalization Forum Education Exchange Excellence with Lintegration

Jakrapop Wongwiwat3

On September 9, 2013, the Thailand-United States Educational Foundation (TUSEF/Fulbright Thailand) organized Fulbright Internationalization Forum on Education Exchange Excellence with Lintegration4 at the meeting room 101, Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University. The speakers in this forum were Ms. Porntip Kanjananiyot, TUSEF Executive Director, and six guests from both Fulbright family and network who shared their experiences on how to make linkage across all things and integrate relevant knowledge into their lives and work. The forum gathered more than 50 executives, teachers and foreign affair officers from schools and universities around the country. The first part of the forum explained a general concept of lintegration - the link and integration of different knowledge into ones work and daily life. It cuts across disciplines, professionals, generations, languages, and cultures for the most effectiveness as well as greater impact of our function. The focus of the session was,

3 2014 Candidate under Open Competition Scholarship Program 4 Newly invented word by Khun Porntip Kanjananiyot, Fulbright Thailand Executive Director, combining the words link and integration

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however, made on student exchanges as a case study for integration. In the second session, Mr. Michael Honnold and Mrs. Onsri Balenciaga, facilitated by Ajarn Pawin Malaiwong, discussed lintegration at family level, in which they turn cross cultures (races, generations, professionals, etc.) and personal experiences into exceptional resource for their children upbringing. The concept of lintegration was elaborated further at working level by three Fulbright alumni, Asst. Prof. Benjawan Ubonsri, Ms.Krittiya Wongtavavimarn and Mr.Jakkree Tejawaree. All of them agreed that connecting the dots across peoples, projects, and ideas make them resourceful and creative. At the same time, integration of knowledge as well as the ability to link different things together into ones working habit would not only maximizing the resources but also open up ones horizon. In brief, the forum urged us to consider applying integration to our work and life with open minded, acquisitive learning spirit, and creativity.

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Simple Happiness

Inspired by a visit to the Royal Project Extension Area in Pang Dang under the Highland Research and Development Institute as part of the annual tradition entitled, Knowing Our Own Roots, Cheewarat Kaewsangkwan retold a story and her impression on the way Palong hill tribe villagers, who live in a very remote and not-so-comfortable area, found their happiness in life.

Forced to exile far away from home in Myanmar (or the then

Burma), Palong villagers have resettled in Pang Dang, Chiang Mai, under the Royal Project since 1968. Although they live the harsh life by our standard, they are content with what they have and feel grateful for this country and the monarch to grant them their land and occupation for a living. Brutal and suffering history passed through generations makes them realize that human happiness is indeed very simple being together with their love ones, free from life threatening causes, having a safe shelter and food, or just watching TV!

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The Fulbright Experience

Kamkaeo Maneerot7

My life was tinged by the Abroad Exchange Programs. The best kind of life I could have imagined. Someone used to say that traveling could turn you into a storyteller, and I can assure you that nothing is truer than that. So many stories are being stored in you bit by bit every time you make a journey. You picked up the worlds horizon, the grazing grasslands, the changing colors of sunrise, an empty bus stops by a lit lamp on the coldest street, the smell of pumpkins being cooked, the huge ocean-scenes where promises were made, the thousand stars over-hanging above you the night you were up on the rooftop, or even how the newspaper-man used to offer you free coffee and a single rose in the morning. My stories will not impress you as much as your own stories. The moments you have collected will not be the same with mine. We chose to land in different continents, we bought books from different bookstores, and you might spend your summer swimming in a private lagoon, drinking cheap beers from some tropical beach-stands, while I had to catch up with a breathless walk and winding subway routes in New York City.

7 2011 Fulbright Fellow under Open Competition Scholarship Program at Washington State University

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Despite all that, the only thing I have that can somehow impress you or make you wish you had been me on my journey is the fact that I have been ensured my warm, happy, and safe life-journey by a Fulbright Family. I have learned through my two-year experience abroad that you can never collect the best kind of stories without chances, support, encouragement, friendship, heart-warming moments, and endless surprises of people network from the Fulbright. I am going to refer to Fulbright Thailand, like I did the first time I was introduced to it and like I have been doing from that moment on, as a miracle. I am one of the Fulbright Thailands Open Competition Scholarship grantees in 2011. The other grantees have become my best friends, and everyone at Thailand-United States Educational Foundation (TUSEF/Fulbright Thailand) has been an important part of my success. They opened the world full of spaces to act and speak for what I believe in. Fulbright is an amazing circle of people around the world. During my years in the United States, I came across so many Fulbright fellows from different countries. It made me realized, for the first time, what mutual understanding was really about. Regardless of regions, nationalities, religions, languages, or skin colors, Fulbrighters spent time together and shared feelings with one another with a smiling face and a sincere heart. My most impressed stories during the Fulbright years were the stories I had with a bunch of amazing Fulbright fellows at a three-week Fulbright English Refinement Program at Monterey

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Institute of International Studies, Monterey, CA. I counted myself the luckiest person the day I had a chance to collect the cheerful piece of memory from African Fulbrighters and friends. On my first morning in Monterey, I saw a girl from Mauritius smiled her biggest smile and it actually stayed with me the whole day. I had never seen a more cheerful or happier smile in my life. Girls from Africa often impressed me with their sweet personality and their amazing bond with one another. I found it to be a perfect circle of empowerment. Each day, they would help one another recharging hopes and strength for the next day. I often saw them singing songs or braiding one anothers hair by the stair up to my hotel room. My most amazing woman and friend was a beautiful Zimbabwean. She had the amazing sense of humor, a perfect skin color, and a strong body. I admired her optimism towards things around her. She showed me how to braid a special kind of braid, and cooked me an exotic African meal with Sadza and boiled cow intestines. I remembered feeling so bad when I could not make myself eat her food, but she smiled and laughed at me without a slightest hint of anger. Understanding the differences was what she had, and that had made me love her so much. Another thing I admire about her is her love of adventure and discovery of new things. When I was with her, I found myself chasing the orange mountain at dusk, walking through a creepy lane just to find an Ethiopian restaurant, or watching an indie movie about romantic love and salmon fishing in the smallest cinema in town.

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During my first few weeks in the U.S., I also met with a few good friends from South America. They were the first group of people who taught me how to enjoy life as it should be enjoyed. If you have ever spent time with Latino girls, you would know what I am talking about. They danced the sexiest dance, laughed the biggest laugh, and hugged with all their might. Every morning, I would walk from the hotel to the institute with my Argentine roommate. I would follow her sophisticated walk to her sophisticated coffee place for a morning tea and a bagel, and, most of the time, follow her sophisticated lead when it came to grammatical practice in our writing class. At the end of the day, I loved wasting my evening hours with my favorite Dominican. Whether it was the free time when we could find a place to sit and listen to the seals singing, or the rushing hours when we had to run for the last bus to the laundry place, she was the best girl to be with. In our evening rush back to the hotel when there were hailstones from the sky, we used to run, and laugh so much that we cried. On my very last days in Monterey, she wrote me a poem about all the dresses I had worn, and I still keep it in my diary by my bed. In Monterey, people loved walking towards the wharf in the late afternoon when the sun was almost down and the air got cooler. I crossed the street with an Italian girl during the walk one evening. And I am thankful for that chance, because she has become my best friend since. She spoke flawless English with a special tint of Italian accent. Every time we crossed the street, she

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would shout Attraversiamo! which means Lets cross over in Italian because she knew I love hearing it. She was addicted to Nutella chocolate spread and allergic to Gluten. There were times when we had to search for hours for a bottle of Nutella, or a Gluten-free sign in front of a restaurant. She was really the first sign of European long-lasting friendship. I cannot leave out the fact that I shared the hotel room wall with another European girl from Turkey who sang beautifully and has the kindest heart. She is mature and that was the best thing a person should have in a foreign country. She would be the one taking me photos whenever I forgot my camera, hold on to my dress when the wind blew its fierce blow, and arranged my necklace when she found it twisted awkwardly on my neck. I feel grateful for her caring mind. A careless person like me was so lucky to have met her. During our hard-working English lessons, we had a special day off to the nearby San Francisco. We spent two hours on a bus before reaching the city. These days whenever I think of San Francisco, one lovely face always crosses my mind. We have discovered the most skillful English user that day from Bangladesh. The first time I met him, we talked about our mutual interest in literature. And when he found out I had also come to the U.S. to pursue a degree in literature just like him, he exclaimed Lovely! The way he said it was different from how it was normally said by anybody else. He has a special way of saying it. Our trip to San Francisco was full of his Lovely enthusiasm and utterances of words. He began the trip by asking a guy at a tea place, while

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holding a paper cup of hot water and a tea bag, if he could have water for his tea instead of sugar, and ended the trip by telling tired people on a bus to go rest in a restroom. After I had left Monterey, my long-lasting Fulbright friendship was proved to stay on. Most days I found myself struggling with my academic career during my graduate studies. Most of the time I felt discouraged and depressed by the fact that my English was not good enough. Despite this, I never gave it up and looked down on myself for long. A Fulbrighter I had met in Monterey proved to me again and again that it did not really matter whether you were a native English speaker or not or whether your English was perfect, what mattered is how you looked at yourself. He is a simple Korean and is not a perfect English speaker, but he had the wonderful sense of how to deal with English grammars. The best thing about him was actually the fact that he knew how to appreciate himself amidst the crucial eyes of his American classmates. I was impressed by his encouragement when I needed someone to look up to, and by the fact that he had let me call him oppa for the rest of my life. When you learn to be flexible and open-minded, you could actually enjoy life the way it should be enjoyed. Ever since Fulbright had offered me the opportunity to be so, I have never regarded people from different backgrounds as anything else but brothers and sisters under the same over-arching sky. I have learned to try dipping my finger in an unfamiliar food, listening to songs in

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different languages, crossing the street with a different person, or letting my hair be braided into a seven wonder of the braids. The Fulbright Program was established because the bridge of understanding between different cultures is needed. It happened because people needed peace in the world. I believe that the reason it is here these days echoes the very same reason it was here those days. Fulbrighters hold the secret of being best friends with people from different parts of the world. Fulbrighters know that if we could share the same sky, we could definitely share the same world. Ps. I want to thank my family & friends, Fulbright Thailand (TUSEF) & Foreign Fulbright Organization, my fellow OC 2011 grantees, my beautiful cohorts and faculties at English Department, Washington State University, people of Pullman that I have come across, Fulbrighters that I have met in Pullman, WA and Baltimore, MD, old & new friends across the American continent, Monterey Institute of International Languages (MIIS), and all Fulbrighters at a Fulbright English Refinement Program (July 2011) in Monterey, CA (whom I have mentioned and whom I have not).

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Public Policy Fellowship Program

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Living the Thai life

Arron Johson8

Growing up in a small town in Virginia, if you would have told me that I would be living in Bangkok as a Fulbright Public Policy Fellow working at the Ministry of Justice, I would have immediately laughed in your face and then responded that I dont even like neckties. Im glad that I was wrong. Working at the Ministry of Justice these past ten months has truly been an amazing experience that has no parallels. Nonetheless, before I started there was a litany of unanswered questions. Would my colleagues be willing to work with me? Would they be accepting or would they view me as the worst covert CIA agent of all time who just wanted to spy on the Thai government? Would I make friends or spend my lunch talking to an old volleyball like Tom Hanks in Castaway (I wouldve at least gotten a newer ball)? Not immediately realizing it, when I arrived for my first day of work, my colleagues and I, although from different countries and cultures both shared a feeling of uncertainty as to exactly how my appointment would unfold. To my delight however, we also shared, two languages: Thai and love----both of which provided an immediate alleviation of concerns and ensured that this experience

8 2012 Public Policy Fellowship Program at Thai Ministry of Justice

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would be as fruitful as possible. My immediate supervisor delegated me with the responsibility to research Thailands capacity to provide the minimum standard of treatment for prisoners as well quality probation services, which further provided me with a feeling of trust and the sense that I would be expected to make a meaningful contribution. Throughout the ten months, I was also asked to serve as an official Ministry of Justice representative on issues on the conflict in Southern Thailand, helped write a speech for Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha as well as participated in several meetings on violence against women and children co-hosted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). I also participated in the Ministrys Sports Day and helped present gifts on behalf of the International Affairs Division. Lunchtime served as cultural exchange sites as I was able to discuss a variety of topics like American foreign policy, sports, religion, African-American history and culture as well as the lyrics to several hip-hop and rap songs (thats right). I also learned about the perceptions of Thai bureaucrats towards a range of topics like politics, economics as well as the fascination with Thai soap operas and, my favorite, Thai slang. In sum, my rapport with not only my immediate colleagues but also the maintenance and cafeteria staff has been positive and truly enlightening. Everyone in the building knows the farang and, true to form, the farang knows everybody. Im glad Ive been wrong about many things in my life and I look forward to being wrong in the future.

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Global Undergraduate Exchange Program 1 1 ( )

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My First Month in the USA Reconnecting with my Thai roots in a multicultural

society

Wanlapa Khiao-ui

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The 2013 2014 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program Scholarship has given me an invaluable opportunity to explore the new world that is the United States of America the most powerful country in the world. I was so excited when I first learned that I got this scholarship and I prepared myself a lot for fear of not adjusting well to the new environment and the locals.

9 2013 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program at the East Tennessee State University, Tennessee

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When I first arrived here at the East Tennessee State University in Johnson, Tennessee, my thoughts changed. I was no longer worried about everything because people here were really friendly. Although no one picked me up at the Tri-Cities Airport because of my delayed arrival, an elderly lady kindly advised me to talk to a taxi-service agent. A few minutes later, a staff from the East Tennessee State University came. I was really impressed with how they handled things.

I had been studying English at ELS Language Centre of ETSU since the 21st of July. On my first day at ELS, I was quite nervous because I did not know anyone there. Most of my classmates came from Saudi Arabia. Their accent was quite difficult to understand (or my listening was probably not good enough!). However, after some time, I could talk to them easily. My ears became accustomed to their accent.

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After finishing the English summer course at ELS, I moved to the ETS dormitory. The reception staff was very kind and took good care of us. There are also some staffs who lived here with us at all times (I mean all day and all night) so we could ask for help anytime. Other things that I really liked here were red brick buildings and big trees. Both kept the university cool and beautiful.

What really impressed me (again) was that all my friends and teachers here already knew so much about Thailand. They said

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that Thai people were kind and friendly and they really love Thai food. There is a Thai restaurant in front of my university where my friends always asked me to accompany them to help order the dishes. Some of my teachers used to live in Thailand and they said that they really missed Thai food especially the hot and spicy dishes. Also, one of my teachers always greeted me in Thai with SA-WAD DEE KRUB, a bow and a wai. I was very proud of my country.

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Midyear Enrichment Workshop 5

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Stories behind the Story For the memory of Pi Nink, Chatchai

The lovely beloved and lovable colleague

Kulkanlaya Kritnoi10 Like a tiny vessel on an open big blue, our work came across those big waves and heavy showers. However, we have sailed through the odds and faced with the calmness and sweet remedy of the aftermath. Keep it in mind that we have done it before, does not become that helpful when we were going through several meetings over and over again. Like Christmas presents, there are always some surprises hidden in the box, same as this years preparation for the 5th Midyear Enrichment Workshop. 65 is the number of days we have spent in making an intensive preparation. 12 is the total number of leading staffs who joined hands, with finger crossed, for this amazing ride, and 1 is the number of our lost. We have been planning this since in 2012. There, we have received such heartbreaking news about our colleague, who had passed away unexpected. We miss him dearly, his efforts and team spirits kept us going, and for that, we dedicate this to him.

10 A Temporary Junior Program Officer at the Thailand-United States Educational Foundation (TUSEF/Fulbright Thailand)

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All those Twists and Lists Managing people from various backgrounds and host countries was not all about fun, a bit of a fuzzy perhaps. It surely kept us occupied and alerted with all the changes that might have occurred at any time of the day. Countless interesting abstracts were received and we couldnt be anymore intrigued to hear them at the real workshop. Many names were listed along with specific preferences, followed by countless brainstorming sessions that have developed from the list created. However, we thank all grantees who gave us prompt updates so that we could manage in time. Coordinating with a large group of people was challenging, but it was clear that it was a great group of people to work with, said Gracie Raver, 2012 Temporary Program Coordinator. A crowded office After long hours of meetings, discussions and daily updates, we were constantly moving in different directions as the moment of truth, and terrors, was getting closer. The sound of printer activating, phone ringing and things got lifting or moving around had become our ringtones. These sounds continued to the very last day of the workshop. I felt like the office was getting smaller than ever, and weve bumped into each other from time to time, while packing the stuffs and compiling them together

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From Foresight Frustration to an Enchanted Evening Our farewell cultural reception was undeniably one of the highlight of them all. TUSEF team has received many kind words and constructive compliments from grantees and other stakeholders. However, this fairytale-like gala did not receive any help from a fairy god mother, and it surely could not be transformed overnight like Cinderella. There were no disagreements when it comes to Phayathai Palace. Its grace and regality have long appealed to every Thais, and because of this, we choose the palace for our grand finale. On our way to make grantees feel the magic and the exclusiveness the venue is promised to offer, we have been re-scheduling, rehearsing and re-organizing on daily basis. One complication led to another limitation, one limitation led to handful of frustrations, and in the end an adaptation. Luckily, like every Disneys story, our tenacious will and hours of industrious tryouts, we have come across a happy ever-after outcome. Our hearts grew even bigger when we saw many faces of our party guests painted with excitement and sheer delight. Everyone has been trying hard. We really want grantees to be amazed by this night, it was exhausted but once they walked to us with such sweet praises, it was all WORTH it! TUSEF staffs! You really outdone it ! Bravo !

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This Closer People-to-People Tie us together The purpose of this workshop is not only reserved for the participants. Strange it might sounds, it has reflected our ways of organizing the event as well. We have felt as we were brought together to become a better and brighter teamwork. The closer interactions between grantees, Fulbright Thailand staffs and other special guests have flourished across the engaging activities. We could only expect that these prosperous ties would continue to grow bigger and stronger, as we move toward for future relations between U.S-ASEAN and other countries across the globe. Educational exchange can turn nations into people, contributing as no other form of communication can to the humanizing of international relations, Senator J. William Fulbright

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Rethinking the Thai Way of Learning

While Thai education system has been under harsh criticism, Thais themselves are accused of not being good learners. One of the weaknesses hindering many Thais from learning new things is their fun-loving nature that decreases their attention in the not-so-fun situations. Khun Porntip Kanjananiyot, Fulbright Thailand Executive Director, then urged Thais to reset their learning concept in order to gain utmost benefits from any learning opportunities, both fun and serious ones.

On one hand, they have to adjust themselves a little bit towards international practices and etiquettes. For example, cell phones must be turned off or switched to a silent mode, and talking whether in soft voice must be stopped. On the other hand, some of Thai characters such as kreng-jai, caring and gentleness could be enhanced in a favorable way that support learning. Kreng-jainess will prevent offensive behaviors against speakers and other audience while caring and gentleness will make the exchange of ideas between speakers and audiences happen in a friendly and constructive way.

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PrefaceTable of ContentBrain Gain The Power of ThinkingSimple Happiness Rethinking the Thai Way of Learning