Learning Journey to Sarawak

What can a school trip teach you what textbooks can’t? My experience in Sarawak showed me quite a lot.

Sarawak is home to 40 ethnic groups, such as the Iban, Orang Ulu, Melenau and others. Visiting the Sarawak Cultural Village and seeing full scale replicas of traditional longhouses made me understand the importance of harmony in diversity. What stood out to me most was how these different cultures respect each others’ traditions and live together peacefully while still sharing a strong Sarawakian identity.

The highlight of the trip was visiting a local school in Kuching. The students were just like us — curious and eager to learn. I even found students with the same likes and interests as me! We joined them for a few lessons and we even learnt how to play congkak. During the assembly programme, my group had to present about Crescent’s CCAs to the entire secondary cohort. Initially, we felt nervous, but the students’ enthusiasm gave us the encouragement we needed to present confidently.

What made this trip so meaningful was not just what we saw, but what we felt: Sarawakian hospitality, pride in tradition, and a sense of belonging. I left Sarawak not just with pictures, but with a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity.

This trip also taught me that culture is not history. Culture is something to be preserved and celebrated. Coming back to Singapore, I had a deeper sense of respect for other cultures and I made a promise to explore my own as well.

Witten by Cheryl Koh 2C2

Photos

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