Travelling and Learning

I had a fast two long days with my high school friends. This is our third day in Bangkok. It is also the first time for our two companions to go out of the country. We already had a lot of sightseeing and some shopping, and a close encounter with some authentic street food, chili food, very nice hot noodles with basil and others.

Each of my opportunity to travel is a blessing for me. It meant a lot in many ways. It is a personal time as well. Best of all, it is a learning time.

I believe travelling should also be part of teacher training development. It should be part of the government agenda to enhance our teachers. Travelling has so many lessons to teach that you don't learn inside the confines of the campus. The greatest thing, for me, about travelling is not to see other places but to get to know other people, through their dishes, through their practices and traditions, partly through the changes in their lives exhibited by the infrastructure and developments, and of course interacting with them. Here are some things that are so real, it is experience that can only teach these things.

Knowing the people through the cuisine. By tasting, enjoying the local dishes, you get to understand many things--how they prepare or cook the food, what spices and local greens and meat are preferred, types of fruits present in the place, what time they usually eat and how they eat and what desserts interest them.

Historical and modern infrastructure. While some of these could be read in books or magazines, visiting historical palaces, temples or even the modern museums tell much of how a nation value its long history and how they impart these to the new generation.

Respect for others' culture and traditions. It is also important that more than the chance to shop and get souvenirs, any opportunity to observe and immerse with a cultural tradition should be embraced (even in the short time of stay). One example yesterday, I had the beautiful chance of observing local folks making offering to the monks in a very big plaza. The people offered small pockets of rice, noodles, flowers and other stuff. As the monks moved around, the people also extended great reverence to them. It was a beautiful sight. The people are giving something, supporting the monks with great faith, and are also in communion, in prayer with them. I actually joined the offering. I respectfully asked a Thai woman if I could also give my donation. She acknowledged it and was grateful. She also handed to me more pockets of rice to give to the monks. I was glad to be part of it. It also gave me a chance to pray and be thankful of this chance.

Interaction with the local folks. Having a good chat with the local folks may be of limited occasion for the travelling teacher. But the teacher should take initiative to converse and know the people, not by name, but by what they are. Talk to the taxi driver, the hotel receptionist, the concierge, the cashier in the local store, the policeman, the tour guide, or even to a student. These are brief moments. But if you sum up these brief moments, these also tell about the people in the local neighborhood. These are things you don't just readily pick up from the book.

The local Thais commonly speak their local language, very spiritual and will always try to help and give directions to a lost tourist.

And so I reiterate, that travelling should be part of the teacher training program of our government. It opens up the horizon of how we view things. And the items I mentioned are just on the soft skills. The training on planning and organization are separate items to be discusses as results too, of travelling.