Cultural preservation and program review?

Yesterday we met somebody returning from Issan who was working on Thai Studies and Cultural Preservation. I want to learn more. Again I get a strong echo of rural Alaska experience and priorities. I will keep my ears open to learn more about what STOU does in this area and how it relates to rural Alaska.

This morning one of the ladies who makes candy came over. She had some pills and wanted to know what they did, there was no information except the name of the medicine. We got out the computer and used Google to get the information. The pills were for muscle relaxation and would help the sore muscles resulting from doing all the stirring in the candy making. I did not try the Thai language version of Google, but I should have.

On the way to the dock, beside the road, there are three broken spirit houses, they look like they were just dumped there. Richard explained a little about how that might happen, but I want to learn more. Out of the corner of my eye so many things make me curious.

We tried a new way to STOU, taxi, sky train, looking for white mini-van, gave up and took the taxi. Ended up costing about the same, and not really saving time. Will try other ways soon. Next time we will try Victory monument. We tried to get the film developed and scanned near STOU, but I could not understand at what resolution. I think I will try at MBK or something like that.

We had a great meeting at STOU. I met with Sirirat and Dr Kunchon. (I murder the spelling of Thai names. I need to see things written down.) Another person joined us who also asked good questions. I do not remember her name, but she is also 60 and getting ready to retire. The conversation lasted for about two hours, it was deep and thoughtful. We talked about the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the UAF processes of program review, program assessment, faculty promotion and tenure procedures and annual reports, We also talked about the university accreditation process, No Child Left Behind, and audio conferences, among other things. The questions were great and I felt I could be of some value. I hope to follow up with more conversations. I had previously shared the relevant UAF documents from the Provosts web site. Underlying the conversation was the realization that the academic processes are very different in Thailand. Having very different, but similar, institutions is a valuable way to generate new ideas.

We also dropped by a very good book store across the street from STOU, most of the books were in Thai, but the atmosphere was great. I love bookstores that are near universities.

As always it was great to cross the river and to get home. I will post photographs later tonight or tomorrow.