Literatures of Southeast Asia Field Trip

As part of the Literatures in Southeast Asia module, students and faculty took part in a cultural exchange trip to Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. Hosted by Universiti Brunei Darussalam, the Singapore team met their Bruneian counterparts in-person for the first time from 30 September to 3 October 2024, after attending synchronous virtual seminars together for the first seven weeks of Semster 1, AY2024-2025. Besides visiting historical landmarks that informed the study of Bruneian literature, such as Kampong Ayer (the Water Village), the group met publishers and independent booksellers to learn about literary ecosystems in Southeast Asia. Students also collected data from Bruneian bookstores. The team, led by Asst/P Ann Ang, was very glad to host their Bruneian peers during the Singapore segment of the exchange from 4-5 October 2024, where they also visited Singapore bookstores and interacted with publishers. This inaugural run of the module was generously made possible with funding from the NTU COIL grant.

A Student's Perspective 

"It was a wonderful experience going to Brunei to learn about the literary scene there, and the challenges that bookstores and publishers face. Furthermore, having the opportunity to engage in dialogue with book publishers and bookstore owners was an incredibly eye-opening and unique experience" — Ching Rong, second year student, NIE.