The best 4.5 months Past Review
By Sara Chester (Temple University) - abroad from 01/09/2019 to 05/17/2019 with
The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Thailand - Semester in Chiang Mai
I gained so much knowledge about what life is like in another country. I learned different perspectives on issues I didn't even know existed. My experience in Thailand was beyond worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes we took through ISEAA were some of the most rewarding classes I have ever taken. I especially enjoyed the rights and activism: LGBTQ & sex trafficking in Southeast Asia course with Ajan Adam. I was able to take 5 courses and got by just fine. I found the courses to be rigorous but also interesting and rewarding. Overall, I took some of my favorite classes ever through ISEAA. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Nala was always a call away if anything went wrong. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved Uniloft and my roommate. The only downside was that guests had to be signed in, no male guests were allowed, and no overnight guests as well. |
| * Food: |
I miss the food on my street in Chiang Mai every day. Thai food is so delicious and there is so much to try at school canteens and on the street. If you're in Chiang Mai you have to try the Khao Soi! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I feel TEAN did a great job of helping to inegrate us into the local culture by introducing us to Thai students and teaching us cultural norms. I only give 4.5 stars because I personally was shy at times and didn't use my Thai language skills when I could have. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I couldn't say enough good about TEAN. They did so much to make the transition easy, they were an affordable option, they're an ethically conscious company, I could go on, but basically, TEAN is the best and I would recommend this program to everyone. |
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? | $30-$50 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| 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? | 0 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew a bit of Thai, just so that I could've communicated with my host family. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
