Jamestar Matani Ruwisi

My name is Jamestar Matani Ruwisi, l am from Zimbabwe on exchange from the Monash South Africa campus. I must acknowledge that l feel highly privileged and honored to be part of the team and l’m looking forward to the trip. I Like football, and it’s an amazing honor that South Africa is successfully hosting the soccer World Cup 2010.

I’m doing a B.A degree majoring in Global Studies and Management, the experience of the program is amazing, l love it. I enjoy travelling and l have a passion to learn about how different people live together and what possible strategies can be adopted to engender peaceful co-existence across the global village and given the fact that Chiang Mai is characterized by massive diversity l look forward to an exhilarating exploration of the different cultures.

Profile: Kitikhun Suja

Kitikhun Suja, known to friends as Joe, is a third year student from Chiang Mai University. He does photography, dotes upon his dogs, and rides his bike ever so stylishly. Quiet and kind, Joe makes homemade postcards out of the photos he takes with his ever present Canon.

Profile: Jutha Srivatananukulkit

My name is Jutha Srivatananukulkit but you can call me P or Ju. I am a Masters student from the Faculty of Economics, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. I plan to study abroad by the end of the year. I hope to improve my english from being a student guide, but more so I hope that this study trip will give me a precious experience.

Profile: Penkwun Chumpukum

I’m Penkwun from Chiangmai, Thailand. Last year I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Thammasat University where I also gained a variety of experiences. I joined a club which supported disabled student for 3 years, participated in a rural development camp and Pre-University camps during the holidays.
After graduating, I worked in Morooms Hotel, Chiangmai as a receptionist for 6 months after which I joined my family business (textile industry) and I am also preparing myself for studying aboard.

Profile: Jamjuree Janjorn

My name is Jamjuree Janjorn, 21 year-old Thai girl. I'm a senior at Chiang Mai University, from the Faculty of Humanities. In my free time, I enjoy improving my English by talking with my foreign friends, I love to travel and learn new things, I like playing the guitar and drawing. I'm interested in French and the Japanese language; I work part time as a freelance guide to improve on these languages. I am friendly and easy-going. I am a good person for this position because I am very energetic, and most of all, I enjoy a good challenge.

Profile: Eunice Phang

Eunice - Lives on the motto “Why not?”. Hence, thick skin enough to act young and join a bunch of Monashian kiddos as alumni for the SECOND time!

Got hooked after the first excursion in Philippines, this series of “In Search of ……” had me at Mabuhay (Greetings in Tagalog).

The PR Queen of L’oreal Luxury Division and nominated Ms Cultural team leader 2007, I’m nothing short of Kimora Lee minus the plastic surgery (I don’t need any coz I am Fabulosity!). Born with the flair for all things beautiful plus an acute sensitivity to culture, language and the performing arts, the silver screens are ready for me. Because I’m worth it!

Ok, not a very good idea to paint a nasty picture, especially half of the other pathfinders barely know me. Take away the alter-ego, I’m just a fun-loving backpacker who likes to roam the world with equally fun peeps. Cheerios!

Profile: Janice Bagawi (Maya)

Hi! I'm Maya from Baguio City, Philippines. Baguio is a northern city in the Philippines, just like Chiang Mai. It's supposed to be colder than most places in the country, just like Chiang Mai. And it is home to ethnic minority groups, just like Chiang Mai. I hope that gives you an idea of one of the reasons I'm excited about this trip. I was a student guide for the travelers In Search of Baguio and Sagada 2007, but this time I'll be a traveler myself, about to meet other student guides. Although I'm shy and make lame jokes, I'm looking forward to meeting lots and lots of fellow South East Asians and fellow Earthlings.

Profile: Maureen Macaraeg

A graduate of BA Social Sciences (Social Anthropology-History), now an Instructor of History in the University of the Phipplines, Baguio City.
A first time explorer/searcher from the Philippines. I was a student guide for the In Search of Baguio & Sagada study trip in 2007.

Profile: Aaron Raj

Being one of the alumni travellers to Chiang Mai, Aaron has been on 3 previous study trips. Known for his weird yet amazing video techniques, the videojournalist from The Star enjoys checking out people from different cultures as well as trying local drinks. Aaron has produced 2 documentaries from his previous field trips to the Philippines and Cambodia. Not a big fan of writing, he prefers telling a story via visual and audio.

Profile: Yeoh Seng Guan

Dr Yeoh Seng Guan has been a pathfinder for five study trips in the past five years. He finds these annual jaunts quite invigorating especially when his fellow travelers learn more about themselves, each other and the diverse Southeast Asian worlds around them. When not travelling, he teaches media and cultural studies during semester and researches on subaltern cosmopolitanism during his limited spare time.

Profile: Marsella Agatha

I'm Marsella Agatha or Sella, currently pursuing my bachelor's degree majoring in Communication, with International Studies as my minor. Originally from Jakarta and as a third-year student in Monash University Sunway Campus, I am thirsty for new experiences. Diversity of cultures excites me; therefore I am eager to explore more about it. I can give up milk and cheese but not spicy food! And… I dig this old wisdom “Life is a divine chaos. Embrace it. Forgive yourself. Breathe and enjoy the ride.”

Profile: Paulista Bunga Surjadi

Paulista was named after a city in Brazil, though she was born in Jakarta and has yet to step foot in South America. She is currently working on her Honours thesis on Indonesian-Chinese identity. During her free time, she continues to put on way too much garlic and salt in her cooking. Chiangmai would be her second experience of the 'in search of..' trip series and she is in for more positive feelings she'll get from encounters with new people. Her lifetime goals include getting rid of her perpetual eye bags.

Profile: Jillian Ng Nyin Nyin

Currently pursuing double degree majoring in economics and communications in Monash University Sunway campus; year 2 semester 2. I missed my orientation because of flood and traffic congestion. This seemed to be a common occurrence as I had consistently missed orientation for my high school, college and university study. My pre-U study was at Sunway University College where I did my Cambridge A-level Science. Not keen on sweets. Recently produced my first video while taking journalism unit. Like reading what Calvin says in the Calvin and Hobbes comic strips. I have basic horse riding skills. After taking the lessons, this changed my whole perception of horse riding; I had always thought it was easy; omg, it was hard work indeed. Just cut my hair; I have never had my hair so short before. My younger self would have strongly protested this desecration.

Profile: Nadiah Ahmad

Hello I’m Nadiah. I graduated last year with a BA in political studies from Otago University in New Zealand, and now I’m in Monash doing my honours; so unlike my fellow travellers, I’m relatively new to the university. I’ve been given the highly unattractive task of heading the editorial team for this trip, but I’m looking forward to the late nights, and amping up my annoying traits to get the pieces edited and posted on time. I don’t like cheese, but I like Cheddar – smoked cheddar. Oh yeah.

Profile: Wei Jia Xi

A typical vivacious CHINA girl, who just wants to be a typical world citizen and travel the world, HA!

Profile: Batul Mohsinali

My name is Bats (like the nocturnal creature that hangs upside down). I'm currently completing the last stages of my major in Communications and minor in Psychology, so fingers crossed, I shall be graduating in November 2010! Even though I appear Indian, I was born and raised in Indonesia but I hold a Sri Lankan passport. Confused? So am I! Apart from breaking the record for being able to sleep the longest, I enjoy producing and creating cool videos. So I hope you enjoy the many posts from the video team that document our time Chiang Mai!

Cheers!

(Written by Anthea Haryoko, for Bats Mohsinali :D)

Profile: Anthea Haryoko

My name is Anthea, also referred to as Putri at times. I am currently finishing up the last semester of my degree in communication and international studies and Chiang Mai will be my second study trip. Although I currently live in Indonesia my past homes have rendered me an international citizen. My love for potatoes knows no bounds so consider this fair warning that if you leave your fries unattended you may come back, only to find them gone. My affinity for tea has me hoping that I will one day be crowned the queen of England but until that day, I will simply continue to take awesome pictures as a part of the photography team in Chiang Mai.

Written by Nadhiya Najab for Anthea Haryoko.

Profile: Cheah Wui Jia

My name is Wui Jia and I am in my final year, completing a major in Writing. I look forward to learning about the lives of the Buddhist monks who I'll be featuring in one of my articles during the Chiang Mai trip. Understanding people is one of my passions in life and I hope to be able to accomplish that as I strengthen bonds with current friends and make new ones with the people I meet in Chiang Mai.

Profile: Abeer Yusuf Sayed

Abeer Yusuf, 20.

Abeer Yusuf is the name of a self-proclaimed individual who believes there is no word in the dictionary apart from ‘ineffable’ that can appropriately describe her.

Her thing in life is being happy.

She doesn’t understand postmodernists and loves the DailyMail with a passion.

She loves messing with minds, being witty and pranking people (specially with a running joke that she is allergic to chicken bones and therefore can only eat boneless chicken).

She is currently pursuing an Arts degree in Journalism and International Studies and

one half of the Photography team on the Chiang Mai trip.

She is not every woman.

Profile: Shafira Sahara

Aloha, fellow human beings!

FIRA here. My name can mean lots and lots of things, such as Figuratively Rastafarian or Fictional Rabbi. Whatever you want to call me is okay, as long as you stay away from spelling my name with a V (as in Vira, not Fira).

So... about me. I hate being a student majoring in the bizarre world of International Studies and Writing. I don't sleep much. I am on a strict diet. I love to party all night long... yes, people I am a party animal. I spend three hours every morning looking at a reflection of myself. I never skip class, and I have never pulled a one-nighter for my assignments. And I am not at all excited to spend time in Chiang Mai. Boooriiiinggg.

Yeah... I guess that's it.

Oh, and one more thing: the description above are what I am not. So do the math.

Cheers and free beers!