Going to Thailand: land of smiles, heavenly food, and buddha love Past Review
By Kelly R (Communication and Media Studies., Western Washington University) for
USAC Thailand: Chiang Mai - Southeast Asia Culture, Politics, and Business
The experience did a lot to shape my future plans. I came out of it with the conviction to work in a field that lets me help to deliver educational opportunities to needy communities. What I gained from the experience was an understanding of my identity with humanity, and through that identity I have found myself wanting to work toward creating equality and equal opportunities for those less fortunate. We are all sharing a single spinning planet in this universe and it's not as big as people tend to make it out to be. We are interconnected more than we can initially imagine and realizing this shared community was something I started to see while living with the Thai people.
Review Photos
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. |
Relaxed university environment. The workload mainly only accumulated around midterms and finals. Awesome if you want long weekends to travel. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
|
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
|
| * Food: |
|
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Staying with a hill-tribe community was a special experience while on a jungle trek in Chiang Mai. The locals there were welcoming and warm, just wanting to spend time near me and learn about differences in each other. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
|
| 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) |
|
Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | My program at Rangsit University in Bangkok is no longer offered. The USAC program is now sending usac students to Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand. I spent a lot of time here as well and know that it would be equally amazing as a place to live and study. Much less chaotic than Bangkok, and still only a flight or bus ride away from all the Thailand has to offer. I know a lot of people who have studied abroad, in europe, africa, south america and asia, and one of the main things friends had to tell me after seeing my photos and hearing about my trip, was that my experience trumped all others! This country is one of the most incredible places to be able to live, with jungles, cities, and islands that are incomparable to anywhere else on earth. Thailand is incredibly internationalized and great for foreign travelers. Getting around is easily done, food is cheap, living is cheap... go see it for yourself. Thailand is the life. |
