Week 4 and 5: Mediation and Field Study in Mae Sot

Week 4 was filled with a lot of anxiety, tension, (we had to submit our first paper on Wednesday, March 7th) and for some, the week's instruction provided a very worthwhile overview of what it takes to be a good facilitator, mediator, and negotiator.  Our instructors this week included Jan Sunoo and  Pat Dunn from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), which is an  US agency that is directly under the President, created several years ago through the Labor Relations Act.  The purpose is to provide mediation services to companies that have collective bargaining agreements and need mediation to resolve union and management issues.

The week was filled with a number of new and not so new concepts, but also with lots of practice in facilitation, mediation, and negotiation.  However, the highlight was what both Jan and Pat brought to us with respect to their other talents—ukulele, harmonica, singing, voice imitation, and embroidery. What a talented pair.  Members of the class that wanted to learn the ukulele also had a chance for daily lessons at the end of our lunch breaks. 

On Friday night a group of us accompanied Jan to a Korean restaurant—another great experience.  Jan is of Korean heritage, so he selected all the food and introduced us to their rice wine (very smooth going down) and the Korean custom for pouring drinks.  The requirement is to use two hands to hold your glass, while another holds the bottle with two hands while pouring. 

Jake, Joyce, and Anne at the Korean Restaurant

           



Jan at the Korean restaurant



During week 5 we were off to Mae Sot for our first field study.  This was an exciting experience for many of us.  I had to start my malaria pills for this trip, but surprisingly, there were not as many mosquitoes as I anticipated.  The weather was hot—close to 100⁰ most of the days, although not as humid as Bangkok. 

When we departed for our field study in Mae Sot on March 11^th, I don’t think any of us understood what we would see and experience once we reached our destination.  Although we were briefed on the issues that we would focus on during the week and had readings to complete prior to our departure, there is nothing like “seeing” with our own eyes the circumstances surrounding the Burmese displaced population living along the Burma-Thai border.  

 For me, I saw the good, the bad, and the ugly—all rolled into one ball. Basic human rights are missing, poor living and working conditions exist, and they are harassed by the Thai authorities.  And, for many, prior to leaving their country of Burma, they were subjected to violence and atrocities from the Burmese military rulers. I could go on and on with respect to the harsh conditions and discrimination that the Burmese in Thailand experience, but here is not the place for a lengthy account of what we saw on our field study. 

The good part of what I saw on our field study has more to do with that which is not tangible.  I saw resilience and innate ability to maintain hope in what has, otherwise, been a sea of despair.  This is particularly evident in the school, the health clinic, and the various CBOs that have been established by the Burmese to help themselves.  These were examples of how people still need a sense of social order, and even in chaos, they will strive to establish that order. 

Below I’ve included a number of photos taken on this field study, including the very warm welcome we received from the Rotary Club in Mae Sot. 


Burmese School--Children's Concert



Zuleika and Jayanta with Thai performers at Rotary Welcome Dinner

Mae La Refugee Camp

2nd Week of Class and Adventures in Thailand

While we have only completed 3 of the 12 weeks that we will be here in Thailand as as Rotary Peace Fellows, I find it incredible as to the amount of learning that has occurred.  The areas we addressed this past week included several topics. First, we had an indepth presentation of a formal model for conducting conflict analysis (presented by Bjorn Holmberg, the Director of Swedepeace).  Since the use of this model is required in our first paper due next week, we had plenty of discussion about its relevance to our particular conflict situations.

On Thursday we had a briefing on issues we will face during our field study in Mae Sot--refugees from Burma, human trafficking, and migrant labor.  The overview by both Jenn Weidman and Dr. Pitch Pongsswat from Chulalongkorn University left no doubt in our mind that it would be both an eye-opening experience, as well as grueling.  But, you'll just have to wait for my blog when we return from the field study on March 18th, so stay tuned for future reports. 

Finally, we were exposed to theories of nonviolence by Dr. Chaiwat Satha Anand from Thammasat University.  He was an engaging instructor, taking us through a workshop where we discussed a series of questions, starting with a very controversial one, "How do you train killers?"  Indeed, this created a some tense moments in our class when the fellows from the military and police force were upset at the generalized perception of the other fellows that killers are people who have been brainwashed into thinking that their victims are non-human and desensitized to violence so that it becomes normative for them.

But, enough for the academic side of my adventure.  I must admit, though, that I had no idea how much work we would have to do, without much respite.  That being said, the discussions among us have been quite stimulating and none of us are afraid to speak our mind.  At least no fist fights have broken out…yet.

The social side of the week started with a football (i.e., soccer) match between Chulalongkorn University and Thammasat University.  While I'm not much into sports, there was no way to avoid it on Saturday.  We all had to wear the required Chula vs. Thammasat pink shirt, and engage in the day-long activities that I equate to tailgate events—turbo charged.  I've embedded some pictures and link with some video I took for one of the events going on outside the gates before the match started.  I'm sure you'll be asking yourself, "What exactly am I seeing dressed in those costumes--male, female, shemale?"

Chula-Thammasat Football Match--the Pink Shirts

Another costume at the Chula-Thammasat Event

A video at the Chula-Thammasat Match

On Sunday we all took off for a City Tour.  What a day.  It was oppressively hot and humid, with so many thousands of people at all the sites, it really was difficult to enjoy.  But, then, I never have been one to like squeezing through crowds and being herded around like cattle. Regardless, the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald (really jade) Buddha, and Wat Pho, home of the Giant Reclining Buddha (and I do mean giant), are like nothing else I've ever seen.  That, along with a boat ride on the Chao Phraya River, meant a long day that exhausted many of us.  Pictures below show some of the highlights of this city tour. 

Grand Palace Statue

    

Grand Palace Buddhas



The Reclining Buddha

Houses along the river

I love my Buddha



In closing, I have been asked:  How's the food? How's the landscape?  What about the people and their language?  Have you been to the shore yet for a swim? 


Quick answers to these questions are:  I love the food, even some that is so spicy hot that your eyes water and nose runs.  Haven’t seen much of the landscape yet, except the urban jungle of Bangkok, which is navigable via the great overhead train system, Tuk Tuks and cabs. 


The people are all very friendly, with a language that is impossible to read— กรุณาแจ้งปัญหาใดๆ—and difficult to pronounce.  But, two mornings a week we have the opportunity to take Thai lessons offered through the Chula Rotaract group, so I have been doing that.  So far, I’ve mastered the basic greeting—Sawatdee, Ka—and thank-you—Khob Kun Ka.  What can I say, I never have had an ear for languages. 


Finally, I haven’t been to the shore yet, but it’s on my list of things to do in upcoming weekends.  As a group, we’re planning a number of day and week-end trips. No doubt, I’m going to squeeze in everything that I can while here. As they say, carpe diem.


Enough for this week.