Occupational Awareness Abroad
January 29, 2026
by Makayla
Diversity International School/Life Balance
Over the course of my winter break, I had the pleasure of traveling to 3 different countries in Asia—Bangkok, Thailand; Saigon, Vietnam; and Hong Kong, China. While traveling with my family, I couldn’t wait to get some much-needed relaxation from a busy fall semester and enrich myself in the new cultural landscapes that each country had to offer. However, stepping into new cultural environments in each country heightened my awareness about how meaningful daily activities are deeply embodied and shaped through access, space, and societal values. Viewing these cities through an occupational lens transformed what would have been ordinary or overlooked travel moments into thoughtful reflections of how occupational awareness and accessibility are embedded in every aspect of life. Here, I want to share some instances of my trip where I noticed small moments of occupational awareness and justice in action.
My Trip to Asia! (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)
Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok’s Chinatown
1. Massages
One of the biggest things I noticed in Bangkok, Thailand, was the prevalence of many massage services all across where I stayed. Even before coming to Thailand, many people recommended that I try their massages. To me, the act of getting a massage is a luxury, a paid service towards one’s own self-care, or part of a therapeutic practice, at least in the United States. However, in Thailand, the emphasis on massages as a therapeutic intervention is not just a tourist must-do; it is an essential, culturally embedded, health-maintenance occupation. Massages are more than a service but rather a routine, vital practice integrated into daily life that supports the occupational performance of all individuals across the lifespan. They are a part of one’s daily body maintenance rather than an intervention used after experiencing pain, injury, or ongoing discomfort. In doing so, massages support individuals’ occupational performance by improving mobility, reducing pain, and most importantly, supporting an individual’s ability to meaningfully participate in everyday activities with greater independence and ease.
2. Transportation
While riding the BTS Skytrain, I watched as people used these means of transportation for commuting to work, travelling to schools, and participating in social and leisure activities. What stuck out to me was the priority seating readily available to those who needed it, including disabled passengers, elderly passengers, pregnant passengers, women with infants, and monks. What surprised me was not only the inclusion of monks, reflecting a deep-seated and high respect for their spiritual, social, and cultural significance in Buddhist society, but also the fact that people respected these directions and offered these seats for passengers with these special needs. While priority seating is nothing new in the United States, I became especially aware of this inclusive signage because it is often overlooked or not completely followed in the United States.
BTS Skytrain Priority Seating
BTS Skytrain Priority Seating Signage
3. Chair Lifts
Accessible Chair Lift
In densely packed cities such as Bangkok, it can make for a lot of tall buildings with multiple floors. While I found that elevators and escalators were readily accessible in transit spaces, malls, or official city buildings, areas dense with local street vendors, like Bangkok’s Chinatown, often required navigating uneven surfaces or stairs. As a result, mobility limitations can shift even just from one block to another, which can be largely inaccessible for vulnerable populations, including older adults. One place that caught my eye was a restaurant where I went for dinner with my family. Here, there was a chair lift on the stairs that led to the restaurant’s entrance. While I overlooked this feature at first glance, it wasn’t until I was leaving the restaurant that I noticed this and snapped a quick picture. This moment underscored how these essential accessibility features can go unnoticed to those who do not need them, yet are critical for mobility for individuals whose participation in daily activities requires them for support.
4. Tactile Paving
Thailand’s Tactile Paving
At airports and train stations, tactile paving is everywhere, whether it be in front of an elevator, an escalator, for caution, or to locate the nearest exit. They are often designed with contrasting colors to improve visibility while also serving as indicators for upcoming direction changes, hazards, or raised surfaces.
Saigon, Vietnam
Saigon, Vietnam
1. Vespa, Motorcycle, and Biking Culture
One of the main means of transportation in Vietnam were Vespas, motorcycles, and bikes that tightly packed the streets and closely zipped by each other. As an essential occupation for daily life, all walks of life used these as a means of transportation and for different purposes. Some people were commuting to work or making delivery runs, while others were transporting their families, with up to 4 people riding on a Vespa. I even got to ride on the back of a Vespa using Grab, a transportation and delivery service app similar to Uber in the United States. What I found interesting was that even older populations used Vespas as their main means of transportation, many times while juggling cargo, suitcases, or bags. Riding motorized or wheeled transportation requires a combination of strong postural stability, core strength, motor control, and quick reflexes to ensure one’s safety and mobility. As people age, their physical and cognitive health declines, which can increase the risk of injuries and accidents. It is amazing to see how older populations can remain physically active and alert in navigating demanding forms of transportation, highlighting how necessity, rather than age alone, shapes continued occupational participation and independence.
Busy Streets of Vietnam
The incredible cargo people can carry on their bikes
2. Sidewalks as Multifunctional Occupational Spaces
Sidewalks in Saigon host a range of occupations, including selling, socializing, eating, cosmetic services, repairs, and the list goes on. Street vendors that line the sidewalks sell quick eats, fruits, vegetables, household goods, and souvenirs. Seeing how people embrace public spaces and their different functions reinforces how essential these spaces are in maintaining their vibrant city life by uplifting small businesses while fostering social cohesion and economic activity.
Eating on a low plastic stool and table
Eating bò né
Fruit Stand- with a small visitor ≽^•⩊•^≼
Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong: Avenue of Stars
1. Braille and Tactile Floor Plan
I noticed while visiting Stanley Island and the Hong Kong Museum of Art that Braille signage and tactile paving are often designed into maps with audio descriptions. On a systems level, ensuring accessibility through universal designs, such as bilingual signage and international symbols (such as for “No Smoking,” toileting, exit/enter, etc.) to seamlessly blend into the environment, highlights how accessibility is intentionally embedded into public space.
Braille and Tactile Floor Plan of Hong Kong Museum of Art
Braille on railing
Braille and Tactile Floor Plan of Stanley Island
2. Pedestrian crossings
Aids for Visually Impaired Persons
Another Aid for Visually Impaired Person
While crossing the busy streets of Hong Kong, I noticed yellow aids for visually impaired persons. I tried this out for myself by waving my hand underneath the button and found that they serve two functions. The button vibrates underneath to indicate when it is safe to cross while also emitting a beeping/clicking sound on both sides of the street to help individuals navigate across the street.
3. Tactile Paving and Signage
Tactile Paving and Signage
Here is another example of tactical paving with different surface indicators, as well as indicators for priority seating and elevators.
It was such a privilege to visit Asia, and the act of noticing can go such a long way. I hope I can visit again in the future!
Mural in Macau, China
⋯
Next by tag Diversity ⟩ International ⟩ School/Life Balance ⟩
⋯
