Critical Connections: Forum on Cultural Studies in Asia and Beyond
16 March 2012, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

CONFERENCE KEYNOTE SCHOLAR AND GUEST SPEAKER

Ms. Porntip KANJANANIYOT                 (Thailand–U.S. Educational Foundation)
email: <ptk@fulbrightthai.org>

"Cultural Traditions: Balancing the Beauty and Barriers"

In today’s world with increased mobility within and across regions, exchange students represent their countries through their own learning acquisition and personalities. Like many other countries, quite a number of Thai people believe that the younger generations need to represent Thailand well through its fine and sophisticated culture as it is the national pride.

Nevertheless, cultural traditions play a considerable part in exchange students’ behavioral patterns. Due to the speedy changes surrounding Thai younger generations and the use of technology, this one world sees a combination of “digital and generation divide’’. Some earlier expectations of the more seniors and new sets of expectations of the young may need to be balanced, lessening the barriers while maximizing the beauty of cultural dimensions.

Attempts to make the typical unbridgeable gaps closer should allow families and education institutions to learn to appreciate diversity offered by those around them for further adjustment. By so doing, both generations will find it easier to become joint actors in exchange programs, where all involved benefit from learning within and across cultures.
The presentation aims to draw from some Fulbright experiences working with different generations and circles. Examples of several Thai cultural traditions will be raised for discussion of how differing levels of balance could be made, depending on contexts and situations.