2012 Program Schedule
February 14, Tuesday. Depart for Bangkok. Transfer from Bangkok Airport to Asia Hotel.
February 15, Wednesday 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. Afternoon session with staff of Human Rights Watch on their work in the region. B
February 16, Thursday 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 17, 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 Foundation explains how they find, encourage and support “social entrepreneurs” in the region. B
February 18, 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 19, 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 20, 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 21, Tuesday Morning meeting with staff of the Women’s Aid Organisation, an NGO which protects the rights of women and foreign workers. Afternoon briefing by UNHCR staff on situation of refugees in Malaysia. B
February 22, Wednesday On the campus of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, we meet with Prof. Stephen Leong, who surveys Malaysia’s recent history and its place in the world. We meet with students and join them for lunch. Rest of afternoon free. Evening activity. B, L, D
February 23, 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 24, Friday We explore new media by meeting with the founders of malaysiakini who explain how they have tapped the power of the internet to create an alternative newspaper. B
February 25, 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 26, 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 27, 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. Lecture on ASEAN by Prof. Bridget Welsh, Singapore Management University. B
February 28, Tuesday Morning: an exploration of Japan’s “soft power” through meeting with staff of Japan Creative Centre. Afternoon: structured independent discovery of Singapore with choice of several sites at one’s own pace. Evening reception (in a local home) with a diverse international group of people working in Singapore. B, D
February 29, Wednesday Morning: Last group reflection session. Free afternoon for final exploration of Singapore. Final group dinner. Late-night departure from Singapore Airport. B, D
March 1, Thursday Mid-day arrival at Narita Airport.
This schedule is tentative and thus may change slightly.
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
For application and further information: The program application is available at www.learning-across-borders.org/se-asia/application Application deadline: December 1, 2011; early applications are strongly encouraged. For further information, contact Dwight Clark at learningacrossborders@gmail.com.
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. General Travel Agency license no. 463. Agent in charge of program: Mr. Kazumi Hamamoto.