Chai Chat highlights Myanmar’s culture, politics

Tea and traditional clothes helped tell Myanmar’s history and political instability through a Chai Chat on Tuesday in the Honors College and International Center. 

The second Chai Chat of the semester brought Myanmar to WKU, shedding light on the country’s traditions and current struggles. Attendants were presented information about the diversity within Myanmar while enjoying tea, snacks and trying on Myanmar’s traditional clothing. 

Niang Zo, a senior majoring in finance and international student from Myanmar, organized the Chai Chat. Zo, former Global Learning Ambassador for WKU Global, participated in previous Chats and wanted to participate in one before she graduated. 

Mariana Zegada, a senior business marketing major and the Global Learning Ambassador behind the Chai Chats, said the Chats are an opportunity for students to share experiences abroad and answer questions. 

“(A Chai Chat) is a window for students to basically open their horizons,” Zegada said. 

Zo said she also sees Chai Chats as a way to talk about what’s going on in her country. 

Since 2021, Myanmar has been undergoing a military coup, leading to citizens getting caught in the crosshairs of fights between the military and the People’s Defense Force. Alongside violence towards citizens, Myanmar has also experienced the silencing of civilian voices through restricted internet access. 

This has caused many of Myanmar’s citizens emigrating from the country, especially educated people due to the lack of opportunities, with many residing as refugees in Bowling Green. 

During her presentation, Zo shared a story about how near her hometown where her parents still reside, residents were experiencing displacement due to military air strikes. 

“They’ve been cutting off internet connection,” said Zo. “I wasn’t in contact with my family for a whole month, and it was just two days (ago) I got in contact.”

Zo also emphasized the diversity that exists within Myanmar, explaining the uniqueness of the many ethnic groups while uniting them through a national identity. 

“A lot of my friends here would know a lot about their own culture, but not really about Myanmar culture or Myanmar tradition in general,” Zo said . “So I guess it’s also just sharing about the culture that we share together.” 

After her presentation, Zo offered participants to try on one of Myanmar’s cultural clothing, a longyi that is worn differently based on gender. 

She provided Royal Myanmar tea and sesame brittle, common snacks in Myanmar. Zo said that due to tariffs and complications with shipping unexpired food from Myanmar, she was unable to get food she felt was more authentic. 

“I think it’s important that other people know…not just about the country itself, but the history about it,” said Martha Onda, a nursing major and Global Learning Ambassador attending the Chat. 

Zo said that she was pushed to spread awareness because western media doesn’t tend to cover issues in third world countries because they aren’t perceived as valuable and are often forgotten. 

“In my opinion, (this Chai Chat) could help (participants) know how privileged they are and how, even in a country with that kind of situation, they’re still persisting, and they’re still there is still hope and resilience going on,” Zo said.