This document discusses ways for learners to understand people from diverse backgrounds in Southeast Asia. It suggests physically visiting places to experience the scenery, cuisine, and culture firsthand. For those unable to visit, it recommends analyzing a place's literature to understand the culture, traditions, values, and experiences of the people and find connections to one's own. The document also mentions that poets are not just authors but also institutions of laws, founders of civil society, inventors of arts, and teachers who draw out dimensions of beauty and truth.

1. Introduction: Have you everthoughtof lookingintothe culture, traditions, valuesaswell as
experiencesof otherpeople,particularlythose belongingtoyour SouthEast Asia?Do yourobservations
give youa concrete understandingof youridentityas anAsian?If yes,what are
someoftheseinsightfulobservationshelpyoutounderstandpeoplewithdiversebackgrounds? Youmay
consideryourself asanadventurerwhoisready toexplore variousinformationaboutthingsthat
interestyou.Howare you goingto doit? For the LearnerThere are a lotof waysto be able to
understandotherpeople’s backgrounds.Forone isbyphysicallygoingtothe place,enjoyingthe
beautiful sceneryandhavingataste of itsfamouscuisine.If youcannotvisitaplace,you can still doitby
simplyanalyzingitsliterature tosee closelythe culture,traditions, valuesaswell asexperiencesof the
people andcheckforsome connectionsand similaritiestoyours.
Lessonproper: Poetsare notonlyauthorsof language andmusic,butthey are alsothe institutionsof
laws,the foundersof civil society,the inventorsof the artsof life,andthe teacherswhodraw into
certaindimensionsthe beautiful andthe truth