Eye Opening Experience in Thailand Past Review
By Bao T (Human Biology, University of California - Merced) for
Thammasat University: Bangkok - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
It was the best experience that I've had. Going to a developing country and learning about their development ideas, we were able to see how these development ideas need to be implemented.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
One of the professor there did not believe in grades, which was really different to us because in the States the students are mostly focusing on their grades. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They did not really plan the excursions to accommodate our exam dates. We had a trip the weekend before the Tuesday that our paper was due. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Where we stayed it was arranged by the UCEAP. They provided sheets for us. It was about a 10-15 minute walk away from school as well as the nightlife. |
| * Food: |
On the trips that the program had planned for us, they asked us for any food allergies or if there were any vegetarians. During the trips they did provide food that accommodated whatever we needed. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We were able to ride elephants and go into the cages with the tigers on our trip to Chiang Mai. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I was advised to take the typhoid fever vaccine before I participated in this program. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | For food I spent approximately $250 for the whole time that we were in Thailand. Food isn't that expensive there. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't eat out at fancy restaurants a lot. Don't spend a lot of souvenirs. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
We practice the language with our TAs. There are some people who spoke English, but speaking the native language would've been easier. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Be very open minded to new things. Don't over pack because a lot of the things that you need can easily be found there. Make sure to not buy too much stuff. It'll either be over the weight limit or won't fit in the allowed amount of luggage. |
