My journey to Thailand from 13 to 24 July 2026 under the theme “Cultural Diversity in Health Care for Interprofessional Education,” felt instantly different from my previous exchange at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) in Taiwan. Where Taiwan had introduced me to the rigid, traditional methodologies of Chinese medicine amidst a humid, scorching summer, Thailand wrapped me in a familiar, comforting Southeast Asian embrace. The air felt like home, and so did the people. This warmth was personified the moment we landed, as our student buddies: Thip, MK, and Nord welcomed us at the airport with bright smiles. Their fluent English quickly bridged any initial awkwardness, turning a simple car ride into an endless stream of stories. To push us out of our comfort zones, we UGM delegates were deliberately separated into different groups. I found myself in Group 4, which we proudly named “Fourward”, a team that beautifully blended Chinese, Thai, and Indonesian vibes into a single, high-spirited family that will move forward towards our bright future.
Our visit to the Islamic Center of Bangkok under the “Religion Influence on Health Care” module delivered a profound spiritual revelation. The local Imam reminded us: “As a nurse, you are perhaps closer to God… Every time you tend a wound or comfort a patient, you step closer to Him, because God is always with the sick”. Far from home, these words reframed nursing from a series of clinical tasks into a sacred duty, instilling the resilience to endure any academic or physical hardship. It was all worth it if it meant giving my patients the best possible care and a second chance at life.
Fueled by this spiritual grounding, my passion deepened during our clinical exposures at Mahidol University and Samut Sakhon Hospital, where I witnessed a masterclass in Interprofessional Education (IPE) in action. The organic, patient-centered chemistry between doctors, nurses, nutritionists, physiotherapists, and Prosthetics & Orthotics specialists was evident as they delivered care for diverse multi-ethnic populations, including Sikh, Burmese, Hindu, Muslim, and blue-collar immigrant workers. These exposures ultimately build up my professional vision into what I call my “perfect ratio”: synthesizing the biomedical and traditional Chinese medicine foundations from my NCKU exchange in Taiwan with Thailand’s cultural competence and structured IPE framework to build culturally responsive disaster nursing protocols for remote elderly care across rural Indonesian villages.
Navigating this multicultural environment proved that warm smiles, expressive gestures, and lighthearted humor easily transcend language barriers, turning potential obstacles into authentic human connections with patients and international peers alike. Between marveling at Wat Arun, strolling through campus, and sharing traditional Thai cultural exchanges, these two weeks flew by while deeply touching my heart and anchoring my core purpose. I return to Indonesia humbled by my faith and re-energised with a burning motivation, realizing that nursing is fundamentally a global language of empathy. To future mobility participants, I urge you to step beyond your comfort zones and embrace global healthcare, remembering that the most healing gift you can bring to a patient’s bedside is a respectful heart that sees the divine in compassionate care.
Thailand, July 13th-24th, 2026
Muhammad Reza Fahlevy