Best experience of my life! Past Review

By (University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh) - abroad from 06/09/2012 to 07/21/2012 with

Payap University: Chiang Mai - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
IT WAS AMAZING. I learned that cultural diversity and awareness is very important in future careers. Being able to respect other countries and their cultures is a way for us to accept others equally. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and I respect that. I am very thankful for what I have, because not every country has clean running water, safe housing conditions, and equal rights or democracy. I need to be appreciative and help others who are less fortunate.

Review Photos

Direct Enrollment: Chiang Mai - Payap University Photo Direct Enrollment: Chiang Mai - Payap University Photo Direct Enrollment: Chiang Mai - Payap University Photo Direct Enrollment: Chiang Mai - Payap University Photo Direct Enrollment: Chiang Mai - Payap University Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I really enjoyed my TEAN experience in Chiang Mai, Thailand. For my first study abroad experience, I decided to go a collectivist developing country that is very different from America's individualist culture. It has allowed me to become more open minded to different cultures. I received hands on experience interacting with different ethno-minorities, living in a home stay, farming with the natives and visiting different Nongovernmental organizations. It was an amazing way to understand their history and traditions from their less developed areas. But I also learned how to communicate with Thais through my stay at Payap University where I lived with a Thai student in a dorm room. This gave me the inside scoop to Thais' beliefs, values and customs. I would go back in a heartbeat! I will always be known as Kwan Jai (sweetheart), which was my Thai nickname, in my second home in Chiang Mai.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I had amazing administrators in Thailand. They all spoke English but about half of them were Thai. They made sure that we had the best experience in Thailand and that we had the opportunity to partake in any activities that interest us.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a dorm room with one another Thai student that was great. She was learning English and I was trying to learn some Thai. So we helped each other!

* Food:

The food was amazing. There was a cafeteria in my Residence Hall that was free from Monday to Fridays to provide breakfast and dinner. Lunch you had to pay for along with meals that were over the weekend. It was very convenient.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Our Resident Director and Assistants did a great job with trying to help us get integrated into Thai culture. There were even Thai students that befriended us to help develop our own interpretation of Thailand. I had a great time!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

It was easily accessible to travel by buses provided by the school or to take a taxi. Usually, our Resident Director would stop whatever he is doing to drive students to the hospital and stay with them to help them translate information from the doctors. I didn't have a personal experience with health care, but many people went there while I was there. The prices were affordable and the duration of stay was acceptable.

* Safety:

The city is very safe! We were in a very safe area were walking in small groups at night was acceptable. I wouldn't go alone, because communicating in Thai could be difficult. I have no sense of direction so I made sure that I took a taxi everywhere or drove with Thai students that I knew. Everything isn't in walking distance, so be prepared to spend money on transportation.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

It was very easy to live on a student's budget. If you like to shop, it may be slightly challenging, but the exchange rate is amazing. $1 is 30 baht in Thailand, so it's very affordable.

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? Yes
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Well, even though housing is included in cost, you have to pay for electricity and water (at most $40 for 6 weeks). For food, the meals for lunch are about 20-30 baht per day so its about $10 per week. It may be more if you go out to restaurants.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Have a plan of what you want to do while being in Thailand and create a budget for yourself. I spent a lot of money the first week because I rode an elephant, went white water rafting and pet tigers. Be aware of how much you want to spend on recreational activities.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

A language class was offered, but was not mandatory. They wanted you to use as much Thai as you could, but it is difficult to use a language that you are not practicing or learning without taking the course.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? no experience
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Communicate with your roommate in Thai. Practice makes perfect! Use the words that you have learned when out at restaurants and shopping malls.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Host Family
  • Hotel
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Excursions
  • The people
  • The culture
* What could be improved?
  • prior notice of additional cost to host institution
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew all the volunteer services offered in my area. I wish I had a instructor that I could communicate with that pertained to my career interest.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Struggle for Human Rights in Southeast Asia

Course Department:
Instructor: Paul Chambers
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was AMAZING. It was not challenging at all. The class consisted of articles that we had to read for homework and then we would have discussions and lectures during class. Our American teacher had a lot of knowledge about the Southeast Asia. He has many writings that were published and is incorporated with many Asian services. I participated more in this class than I would have in a history class, because usually I don't like history and I won't answer any questions in class. This class was very interesting and allowed us to question many concepts of what we were taught. We had a 20-page paper that was due at the end of three weeks and we had a final exam that we had to take. The paper wasn't challenging, but it was time consuming so our professor gave us five weeks (2 weeks after the class ended) to work on it. It was on a topic that we decided and I loved writing the paper. The final exam was based on discussions from class and primarily from our excursions in Mae Sot, Thailand. We went to the border of Burma and Thailand and met with important figures (VP of Karen National Union, principal of a school at a refugee camp for Burmans, Mae Tao Clinic that is free for Burmans if they can cross the border without being caught and NGOs that helped Burman civilians fight for their human rights.
Credit Transfer Issues: I didn't have any problems transferring the credit to my university. I received a history credit and sociology credit for the course.
Course Name/Rating:

Cultural Foundation of Thai Society

Course Department:
Instructor: Chris Carpenter
Instruction Language: English
Comments: We had a one night home-stay in Northern Thailand with a Lua hill tribe. We went in the fields with our home families to plant corn and rice. Other excursions were visiting caves, Buddhist temples, the National Park, and organic farms where we received private tours and helpful tools to create our own. The class was not difficult, we had great discussions and the articles we had to read for homework were great papers to prepare us for the excursions we took. Our professor was very informal and wanted us to learn as much as we could in 3 weeks. I participated about the same as I would in my home institution. We had take-home quizzes and one final exam that was not take home. But our professor gave us a great review to prepare us for the exam.
Credit Transfer Issues: I did not have any trouble transferring the credit. It different fulfill any requirement because I didn't need it to. But passing the class was not difficult.