From Classrooms to Tuk Tuks: Bradley Students Navigate Adventure in Southeast Asia
Last spring, Bradley students embarked on a life-changing 14-day journey across Thailand and Singapore, led by Tony Hermann, Psychology Department chair and Jim Ryan, Global Scholars Program coordinator in the Foster College of Business. They taught a course called “Cross-Cultural Effectiveness in Business and Life in Thailand and Singapore” to open doors for students eager to explore and engage with the world.
“In our globalized society, confidence in different cultures is essential to success, particularly in business. Our goal was to develop strategies and skills to help students effectively navigate cross-cultural issues at home and abroad,” Ryan explained. “The students then put those skills to the test in the streets of Thailand and Singapore, as we explored the food, customs, religions and business environments of two of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic countries.”
Ryan lived in Singapore for years and has done business in Thailand, and he’s always surprised when he returns. “Every visit, I’m shocked by how quickly things change. There’s the rapid adaptation of the latest and greatest technology and trends, but at the same time you can wander down a side street and feel like you’ve stepped back in time. The word is overused, but it is magical.”
Junior psychology and English major Madison Huling always wanted to explore Asia and learn more about the culture, so she was excited to have the opportunity to experience it with teachers familiar with the region. “The most useful takeaway was how to interact with cultures that prefer more subtle nuances of communication,” she said, adding that the food was pretty spectacular, too!
“The vast majority of our students had not been to Asia before and were deeply immersed in the rich diversity of Southeast Asian cultures,” Hermann noted. “I was so impressed with how brave and effective they were navigating their way around foreign cities and customs.”
Ryan said the students made the most out of the trip and he was surprised at how adept they were to different cultures and situations. “It didn’t matter if they were getting baked in the sun, drenched in a downpour or lost in a tuk tuk. They were always like, ‘That was awesome. Let’s do it again!’”
“I was reminded once again of how important and rewarding foreign travel is when you approach it with an open mind and genuine curiosity,” Hermann concluded.
Learn more about study abroad opportunities here.
—Emily Potts
