Finding a different perspective on Vietnam…
In high school, Lalitpat Kerdkrung majored in English and French. All knowledge was learned from a European perspective. Knowledge about neighboring Southeast Asian countries was very limited. And Vietnam was only known through the brutal wars that lasted for many years. “Is Vietnam exactly what I have always imagined?”
That curiosity became the driving force that prompted Lalitpat Kerdkrung to decide to choose Vietnam as his destination when he won a scholarship to study abroad organized by the Royal Thai Government, to gain a new perspective on the neighboring country.
Overcoming her own fears and her parents' objections, in August 2014, Lalitpat Kerdkrung set foot in Vietnam, starting a year of studying Vietnamese. This was the preparation step for the journey to conquer a bachelor's degree at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Then, 4 years later, we met a valedictorian named Lalitpat Kerdkrung - a Thai international student with a gentle love for the beloved S-shaped land of Vietnam.
Luckily got help from teachers
Even though she studied Vietnamese for 3 months in Thailand and another 3 months in Vietnam, the language barrier was still the most difficult thing for Lalitpat Kerdkrung. She still remembers that in the first semester, there was a subject called Vietnamese Cultural Foundations. Every time she read a textbook, Lalitpat Kerdkrung had to carry a dictionary with her. While reading, she looked up the dictionary because there were too many specialized words. In the first year, you cannot keep up with what the speaker says because it feels too fast. Sometimes you understand what you are saying, but you can't remember what words or sentences to use to answer. There were times when Lalitpat thought about giving up. But luckily, the teachers in the department were always there to help.
“Luckily, I have teachers who always care and encourage me. She also told me that if I don’t understand, I should introduce myself as a foreigner and ask people to speak more slowly. Following her instructions, I realized that people immediately changed the way they spoke to me. Because my appearance looks very similar to Vietnamese people, many people were surprised: Oh, so you are a foreigner? Oh, you speak Vietnamese so well! Then they spoke more slowly and asked me if I understood.”
It has been 5 years since then, the girl who used to be afraid and worried about Vietnamese can now comfortably chat, laugh and give Vietnamese her love. I asked Lalitpat what she missed most when she left Vietnam. After a moment, she gently answered me: 'It is Vietnamese. After leaving Vietnam, I will not be able to use Vietnamese as often. I will miss it a lot!'.
The appeal of multicultural classrooms
The Vietnamese Studies and Language Department organizes separate classes for international students from many countries: Thailand, Korea, China, Laos, etc. Every time we study a certain topic, we will have very interesting discussions. Because each of you was born and raised in a different country. The knowledge and ideas you receive are different, so you will have very different opinions and arguments. I listen and get to expand many different ways of looking at problems. Or with the subject of culture, each country has its own characteristics. Learning about the traditional Vietnamese New Year culture, we are also told about the New Year culture of our country, and listen to the New Year culture of other countries. Sometimes, I even "pick up" a few simple sentences in another language. Once, I heard a classmate ask "mwoya?" (what is it?), I unconsciously explained it, and after hearing it so much, I got used to it without realizing it.
As an ambassador to promote the culture of Vietnam and Thailand
After language, food was Lalitpat's second difficulty when she first came to Vietnam. Thai people eat salty and spicy food. Rice is often served with fish sauce or soy sauce. When she first ate Vietnamese food, she felt that the dishes did not seem to reach her taste buds, they were all bland.
Now Lalitpat is used to the taste of Vietnamese dishes and even advises everyone in the family to eat less salty food to protect their health. She excitedly told me about bun cha, bun ca, pho Thin and especially bun dau mam tom which she “fell in love with at first sight”. The fried tofu pieces have a golden, crispy outer layer, inside is white, soft, fatty tofu that made her so passionate that she only ate vermicelli and tofu until she was full.
During her summer vacation in Thailand, Lalitpat brought back the recipe and ingredients for the “super delicious spring rolls with dipping sauce” to introduce to her family. The first time Lalitpat made the dipping sauce, she forgot to add sugar, so her mother had to “step in” and make a bowl of “standard” dipping sauce.
The fanpage introducing Vietnam created and managed by Lalitpat is proof of the efforts you are making to bring the image of Vietnam closer to Thai friends.
There are loves that come at first sight, strong and noisy; there are loves that come slowly, gently, and when realized, they have been deeply ingrained for a long time. That is Lalipat's love for the people and culture of Vietnam. You share the desire to become a cultural bridge, promoting mutual understanding between the people of Vietnam and Thailand.
The journey continues to conquer dreams…
Having successfully completed her journey to earn a bachelor's degree at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Lalitpat is continuing to work hard and diligently to realize her dream of becoming an embassy staff member. This September, she will begin her master's degree in International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in London. On this study abroad journey, Lalitpat will not only bring with her affection from Thailand but also receive much love and support from her Vietnamese teachers and friends.
Author:Nguyen Nga
