The Best Summer Ever! Past Review
By Monea Kerr (Western Washington University) - abroad from 06/27/2016 to 07/15/2016 with
The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Thailand - Summer in Bangkok
My study abroad experience was more than worthwhile! I gained a better insight into the global landscape and was able to spend time in a culture that is very different than my own. Through this, I believe that I am a more well rounded person and can tackle any issue that comes my way with a global perspective in mind.
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. |
The educational experience provided by TEAN allowed for both inside and outside the classroom applications to be employed. I enjoyed the material that I learned in a normal classroom setting with a passionate and knowledgable professor and also the extraordinary academic excursion we went on with our class. I felt as though this provided a holistic academic experience! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff onsite at Chiang Mai University were enthusiastic and helpful. They made learning the rules of the program fun and were always there to answer questions if I had them. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
When I spent my summer in Thailand, I had the opportunity to live with a Thai roommate. This was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life! I not only had the opportunity to be immersed in the culture of Thailand by simply living in the country, but I also was able to learn the customs first hand from a roommate who was my age! |
| * Food: |
TEAN gives their students a stipend to spend however they like, so I never felt restricted to a certain place or type of food but I also had the means to feed myself throughout the program! Thailand is known for their street vendors and markets and every one that I went to receives 5 stars in my opinion! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt extremely integrated with the local culture because I was able to learn important aspects of Thai society both inside and outside of the classroom. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I never had to utilize health care, but I had a couple friends who did. Each of them were able to get reimbursed for their medical issues because of the amazing insurance TEAN provides their students. |
| * Safety: |
I never ran into any safety-related incidents while in Chiang Mai. I believe that it is a safe city and one that students should feel at ease in! |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
If I could, I would choose this program again because it included all of the components that I need in study abroad: cultural immersion, local roommates. meal stipend, academic excursions, amazing class offerings, and knowledgable and supportive staff. |
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) |
Chiang Mai is one of the cheapest places to live on a student's budget. You can get quality food for a low price and still have spending money to buy gifts at the many markets around the city! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $30 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | My best advice to future study abroad participants is: save, save, save! Once you get to your study abroad destination, you don't want to worry about running out of money. The more you save, the more wiggle room you'll have to do the things you want to do! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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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| 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 how awesome Thailand was so that I could have incorporated more independent travel before and after the program! |
