I participated in the OCA exchange program for the first time when I was a freshman in the Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University. Let me call it “Econ Chula” for short. I was a host family receiving a Japanese student from Nagoya University of Commerce. We communicated through a dictionary “book” he and I held each throughout the trip. Those who have grown up with Google Translate may not be able to imagine how a dictionary book really matters in the past. When I got a chance to participate in the OCA program in Japan, what a surprise! He became a host family for me when I visited Nagoya. He took me to many places in and outside Nagoya city. These were some of the best memories in my life.

After that, every year I took part in the OCA program even when I continued my study in a master’s program at the same place. Not only as a student, I also participated in the OCA program as staff when I worked as an international affairs officer of the faculty. My tie with the OCA continued even after I got a chance to study in a Ph.D. program in Keio University and lasted long until I graduated. After graduation and getting married kept me away from OCA activities. I had not participated in the OCA program for 10 years until I visited Hokkaido together with some other Thai OCA alumni to attend the OCA 50th Anniversary Trip in Japan. One year later I was asked to help as a staff member in the 2024 OCA program (Northern Thailand Tour) in Chiang Rai.

The program brings Thai students from Econ Chula and Mae Fah Luang University as well as Japanese students from Japan to spend 5 days together in Chiang Rai where Mae Fah Luang University is located. Thai and Japanese students talk, exchange ideas, and get to know each other through various activities, for example, visiting cultural places, learning about local development and doing some social activities. These recalled my memories of the old days!!

 

We first visited Wat Rong Khun, widely known among tourists as the White Temple and famous for its beautiful appearance. The temple is designed by master Chalermchai Kositpipat, Thailand’s national artist.

 

Then, we went to the Golden Triangle and learned about how the area has been developed from past to present.

 

On the next day, we visited Doi Tung Development Project and got a special lecture learning how the project put lots of effort for almost 40 years to develop the area from where used to grow opium for living and performed shifting cultivation to where planting alternative high-value-added vegetables, fruits, flowers and nuts.  

We also visited Mae Fah Luang Garden and Doi Tung Royal Villa, tourist attractions in the same vicinity. Mae Fah Luang Garden is famous for beautiful flowers planted all year round. The flowers are supplied by the farmers under the Doi Tung Development Project. Doi Tung Royal Villa is where Princess Mother of King Rama IX stayed when she visited Doi Tung to work for the Project.

 

For the first three nights, we stayed at Mae Kok Foundation’s homestay facility. Mae Kok Foundation is home for children whose parents are engaged with drugs and cannot raise their children properly. Staying here does not only support the foundation in terms of revenue but also gives OCA students a chance to get to know less privileged people. They played games and sang a song together every night.

 

On the last day we visited Mae Fah Luang University. The university was established in 1998 to commemorate the contributions of Princess Mother, who is lovingly known as “Mae Fah Luang”, and to meet the educational needs of people in the north of Thailand.

 

Then, we got to know the university with a campus tour. Mae Fah Luang University is one among the number of universities in Thailand and other countries where China has spread its culture through donations building a Chinese language and culture center.  

 

We also learned about Thai northern art and culture by visiting the Mekong Basin Civilization Museum and making Thai northern-style flags.

 

 

Moreover, we also visited Black House Museum or “Baan Dam Museum” displaying traditional northern Thai buildings designed by Thawan Duchanee, a prominent Thai artist.

 

Before ending the tour, we got a chance to help prepare relief bags for flood victims in Chiang Rai. Mae Fah Luang University was one of the centers where flood relief supplies were collected to make relief bags.

On the next day, we returned back to Bangkok. In the evening, we had a party gathering of Econ Chula professors, some OCA alumni and current OCA students at a restaurant by the Chao Phraya River. This was a pre party before the OCA 50th anniversary party, which would be held by the end of this year.