10th Nairong International Students' Conference

Our first stop was Veneto Suanphueng, where we were greeted by perhaps the most popular hosts of the day: rabbits, birds and an assortment of other animals.

The rabbits were an immediate favourite. Some of us appeared to transform into rabbit whisperers as we sat patiently feeding and interacting with them.

Others had a rather more surprising encounter when tiny birds happily landed on our hands, arms and even our heads. Despite their size, we were surprised by how heavy the birds actually felt! It was one of those small observations that we would probably never have thought about until experiencing it ourselves.

Tiny in size, but surprisingly heavy!

The visit was not simply about interacting with animals. Instead of moving around with our own schoolmates, we were placed in groups with delegates from different schools and countries. Each group was given a series of quests to complete around the attraction, including finding different locations and capturing photographs together.

Quest completed!

Away from the familiarity of our own schoolmates, we had to communicate, cooperate and complete the challenges with our new friends.

Listening, collaborating and completing our quests together

Our next destination was NaSatta Park, where we had the opportunity to learn more about the diverse cultures and communities of the region.

One of the presentations introduced us to the different ethnic communities found in Ratchaburi. We learnt that the province is home to people from diverse cultural backgrounds, with some communities tracing their roots and cultural connections to places such as Laos, Myanmar and Xishuangbanna in southern China. Through their stories, we learnt about where some of these communities came from, how they settled in the province, and how they contributed to the development of the local community through their cultures and livelihoods.

Learning about the diverse communities that have shaped Ratchaburi

Coming from multicultural Singapore, this gave us something interesting to think about. We are accustomed to living among people of different cultures, religions and backgrounds, but what does diversity look like elsewhere? How do different communities retain their own traditions while also developing a shared identity?

Another memorable part of our visit was an immersive presentation introducing us to Buddhism and the symbolism found in the representation of the Buddha. Through the projections and displays, we learnt that the appearance of a Buddha image is far from arbitrary. Details such as facial expressions, posture, body proportions and hand gestures can carry particular meanings. A hand reaching towards the ground, for example, represents the moment the Buddha called upon the earth to bear witness as he attained enlightenment. It was fascinating to realise how an entire story could be represented through a single gesture.

It made us realise how much thought and symbolism can be contained within something we might otherwise simply walk past and admire.

Learning about the symbolism and stories represented in Buddhism

For some of us, these beliefs and traditions were familiar. For others, they were completely new. Regardless of our own backgrounds, the experience reminded us of the importance of approaching another culture and religion with curiosity, openness and respect.

From NaSatta Park, we travelled back towards Nakhon Pathom to see the magnificent Phra Pathom Chedi, a towering Buddhist stupa and one of the city's most recognisable landmarks.

Phra Pathom Chedim, Thailand's largest stupa.

Even though we viewed it only from the outside, its sheer scale and striking golden appearance made an impression on us.

Just beside the temple complex was our final destination for the evening: the night market.

Naturally, food quickly became the centre of attention.

Exploring the flavours of Thailand at the night market

Pad Thai was among the many local favourites waiting for us at the night market

As our Thai friends enthusiastically recommended different dishes for us to try, we began spotting some surprisingly familiar ones.

Chicken rice? Oyster omelette?

These were dishes that would hardly look out of place in a Singapore hawker centre.

Seeing familiar dishes in a different setting made us curious about the similarities and differences between the food cultures of Thailand and Singapore. One of our Thai friends excitedly shared that she had heard about Singapore's famous chicken rice and that trying it in Singapore was on her bucket list. She had also heard that Singapore's version tastes different from the Thai khao man gai she was familiar with.

We later learnt that while the two dishes share similar roots, they have developed their own distinct flavours. One noticeable difference lies in the sauces: Thai khao man gai is commonly served with a dipping sauce made with fermented soybean paste, ginger, chilli and vinegar, while Singapore chicken rice is typically accompanied by separate chilli, ginger and dark soy sauces.

Her excitement made us see something so familiar to us from a different perspective. Having grown up surrounded by chicken rice, we rarely give it a second thought. Yet what seemed ordinary to us was something she was looking forward to experiencing. It was a small reminder that even the everyday parts of our culture can be interesting when seen through someone else's eyes.

Then came another discovery.

One of us became very curious about a drink that a Thai friend was holding. What mysterious local beverage could it possibly be?

It turned out to be Milo.

Some things, apparently, transcend borders.

There were plenty of new flavours to try too, and our Thai friends became our guides as we navigated the different stalls. Despite all the choices available, there was one thing many of us seemed to agree on very quickly: sweet treats. Before long, crepes appeared in almost everyone's hands!

One stall proved particularly popular with all delegates: crepes!

Our outdoor learning journey eventually concluded at perhaps the most familiar stop of the day, 7-Eleven, where we happily stocked up on snacks before returning to the hotel.

Beyond the food, animals and photographs, Day 3 gave us an opportunity to learn in a very different way.

We learnt through observing, asking questions, trying unfamiliar things and talking to people whose experiences were different from our own. At the same time, we also discovered unexpected similarities through shared foods, common interests and the ease with which young people from different countries could laugh together.

Day 3 reminded us that learning about another culture does not always mean encountering something completely unfamiliar. Sometimes, it is seeing something familiar in a new setting, becoming curious about the differences, and even seeing our own culture through someone else's eyes.

For some of us, excitement was beginning to give way to nerves as the evening drew to a close. Our project pitch team returned to their preparations, rehearsing and refining their presentation late into the night.

Putting in the final preparations for the big day ahead

There were certainly some nervous faces.

But perhaps that is part of the experience too. Growth does not always happen when we feel completely ready. Sometimes, we simply prepare as best as we can, step forward and give it a go.

After a day of outdoor learning, we reflected on the connections we made, the skills we practised and the values we put into action. Across our reflections, a few common themes emerged.