Beautiful, Life-Changing, Crazy, Never Forgettable Experience Past Review

By (Marketing., The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 08/14/2012 to 12/22/2012 with

Thammasat University: Bangkok - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was definitely worthwhile! I gained many international friends and learned a lot about the European cultures as well as the Asian cultures that I was able to travel too.

Review Photos

Thammasat University: Bangkok - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo Thammasat University: Bangkok - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo Thammasat University: Bangkok - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo Thammasat University: Bangkok - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo Thammasat University: Bangkok - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Classes are 3 hours once a week so they are not too difficult and allow time for other activities. The marketing and management classes tend to be easier than the finance classes.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

There are 2 main apartment complexes that the students live at. It was a nice apartment, 5 minutes from campus, and it was great living with 80 other students.

* Food:

Once you find the Thai food you like, the food is great. It definitely takes awhile to get used to though.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We lived in a local area and had class with the Thai students so we were immersed in the culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Once you get the hang of the city, you definitely feel safe and don't get ripped off as much from cab drivers. It just takes some time to learn the do's and don'ts.

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)

You can live on $5 a day if you want. My apartment was only $200 and food can be only $1. Public transportation is also very cheap. Budget was not an issue!

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I spent $200 a week because I travelled every weekend and purchased flights around Asia.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Decide which trips you want to go on and save your money for those trips. You can also save money by just eating the street food and sharing cabs.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

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

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • People
  • Travel
  • Nature
* What could be improved?
  • Scheduling from the school
  • Not getting ripped off because we are tourists
  • Some lectures are boring
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I was a little more laid back before I went. Nothing really works out the way you plan it especially with "Thai Time". So just go withe the flow.