Day 7: David Haig
Good afternoon from Thailand! My name is David Haig, and I am a sophomore at Mass Maritime, currently on an incredible journey in Thailand as part of our Experiential Learning Program. Before coming to Mass Maritime, I graduated from New Bedford High School.
The first week of the EL is finally over, and so far it has been an unbelievable experience with many life-lasting memories made.
Today was our first day back from Pattaya, and it began at 10:00 a.m. with a Zoom presentation about the issues that come with climate change and how it impacts the maritime industry by Prof. Dr. Joyshree Roy. Professor Roy’s presentation was eye-opening, highlighting how rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and shifting trade routes are reshaping the industry. She also shared interesting details about alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar power, and their potential to reduce emissions. She spoke about little lifestyle changes that we can do as citizens of the world that would go a long way. It was a great reminder of how interconnected our world really is.
After the Zoom presentation, we went to lunch, where many of us got to try Pad Thai for the first time. Pad Thai is a traditional Thai stir-fried noodle dish made with rice noodles, egg, tofu, or shrimp and a fabulous tamarind-based sauce. Garnish the combination of textures and flavors with crushed peanuts and a squeeze of lime. It was a very flavorful dish with really a lot going on. I was almost overwhelmed with the amount of different types of ingredients mixed together into a single dish.
Later in the evening, we went to watch a Muay Thai fight hosted by ONE Championship. ONE Championship is a global organization that serves as a stepping stone for fighters aspiring to make it to the UFC. The energy in the arena was crazy, with fans cheering passionately for their favorite fighters, but funnily enough, it seemed like every fighter that was found on the card that night was equally loved by the crowd. Right as we arrived at the stadium, we saw a famous American UFC referee, Herb Dean, showing up to the event, who was there to actually referee a few of the Mixed Martial Arts fights, which made the experience way too surreal. It was fascinating to watch the amount of respect the fighters showed towards each other and to the audience. A truly memorable experience.
Today was a very laid-back but exciting day, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow when we will be heading to the Khao Yai National Park for another wonderful adventure.
