Alice M NAH

National University of Singapore, Singapore
Exchange to Monash University, Australia.

Nothing can take the place of face-to-face interaction. This type of richness and depth cannot be replicated with emails and Skype conversations. Talking to someone in person allows us to get a fuller sense of them, their interests and motivations, things that are hard to achieve through two-dimensional exchanges. Being in a place where you can speak directly to people, rather than reaching across the seas, is also rewarding in unexpected ways. Some of the most creative and productive ideas emerge spontaneously, through impromptu conversations over coffee or in leisurely discussions on the way to find something to eat.

The Endeavour Cheung Kong Research Fellowship enabled me to spend four months in Australia in 2009. This opportunity gave me a chance to meet people, deepen my relationships with acquaintances, and share research ideas with scholars and members of civil society in Melbourne and Sydney. I was given access to the library resources at Monash University. I was also provided with valuable opportunities to present my work on migration and asylum in Asia through a departmental seminar and a guest lecture at a postgraduate course. During this time, I also worked with Australian scholars to organize a regional panel at an international conference on forced migration. At public events, I was particularly intrigued by the efforts made by the Australians in formal speeches to remember and thank the Aboriginal people who once walked the land they now inhabited.

I really enjoyed living in Fitzroy, a suburb in downtown Melbourne. I enjoyed the transition of pace and movement, as workers streamed into their offices in the morning, tourists walked the streets during the day, and people returned home in the evening. There is a different rhythm of life in every city and it is a privilege when the locals share their favourite nooks and corners with you – the special restaurants, hidden clubs, small galleries and quiet parks that they enjoy. An architect showed me the parts of Federation Square she designed and a lawyer gave me a tour of the buildings and the art collection that were the legacy of his distinguished forefathers. Childhood friends and relatives illustrated different aspects of life in Melbourne – visits to beaches, fairs, and the Dandenong Ranges broke up the mundane routine of suburban life set around malls, schools and houses. You see what Melbourne has meant for them and what it means now; the city comes alive through their memories.

I am thankful to the Australian Government for providing me with the resources and support services for this valuable time in Australia. I enjoyed the intellectual engagement and learned even more through the experience of living amongst the Australians. I am particularly appreciative of my host organization, the Law Faculty of Monash University, and my supervisor, Professor Susan Kneebone, for the warm hospitality I received. I look forward to a time when I can return to Australia, to strengthen relationships and renew connections again.

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