10th Feb - Journal entry

Write about an experience of conflict with an authority figure if possible and or across cultural context

One experience that stands out to me as a moment of conflict with an authority figure happened while I was traveling in Thailand. What made this situation especially difficult was that it took place across a cultural context where I didn’t fully understand the norms, language, or expectations, and I was in a vulnerable physical state.

During my trip, I became violently ill after eating food that clearly did not agree with me. I was experiencing severe symptoms of food poisoning—persistent vomiting, dizziness, and an inability to keep anything down. Eventually, I went to a local hospital to seek medical help, trusting that doctors, as authority figures, would take my concerns seriously. Instead, I felt immediately dismissed.

The doctors assumed that my symptoms were the result of excessive alcohol consumption. Despite repeatedly explaining that I hadn’t been drinking and that the illness began after eating a meal, they continued to frame my condition as self-inflicted. Their tone felt judgmental rather than curious, and because of the language barrier and cultural differences, I struggled to advocate for myself in a way that felt effective. The doctors held all the authority in the situation: they controlled the diagnosis, the treatment, and ultimately whether I would receive care at all.

This created a deep sense of frustration and helplessness. I knew what was happening in my own body, yet my lived experience was being overridden by assumptions and stereotypes about tourists. The conflict was subtle—there was no yelling or overt confrontation—but it was real. It existed in the gap between what I was saying and what the doctors were willing to hear.

Eventually, I did receive treatment, but the experience left a lasting impression on me. It made me realize how power dynamics can be intensified when cultural differences are involved, especially in healthcare settings. It also showed me how easily authority figures can misinterpret or dismiss someone’s voice when that person is seen as an outsider.

This experience taught me the importance of empathy, listening, and withholding judgment—especially when someone is vulnerable. It also made me more aware of how privilege, culture, and authority intersect, and how difficult it can be to advocate for yourself when you don’t fit neatly into someone else’s assumptions.