The most amazing, bizarre, important experience I have ever had. Past Review

By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/15/2016 to 12/16/2016 with

CIEE: Khon Kaen - Development and Globalization in Thailand

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I gained a lot of insight about myself, independence, a sense of calm, what I care about and what is not worth caring about, my role as an American citizen in the global world, the pros and cons of development; I expanded my view of the world and what is important to its continued success; what success means and is is so dependent on the individual. It was worthwhile.

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.
* 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?
* 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 My program had a lot of flaws but it was exactly right for me and what I wanted from my experience. I loved being in Thailand and the opportunities that I was able to take advantage of while being there.

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)	Thaialnd is a very inexpensive country, and the area where I was studying had really good, inexpensive food options.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language? 0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language
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?	Never taken Thai
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm Host Family
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans Host Family
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans
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?	Homestays
* What could be improved?	Lectures
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Khon Kaen is the ugliest, most boring place probably in the world.

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 Avid Adventurer The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Human Perspective on Development and the Environment
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	It was challenging in a different way because it was a lot of hands-on work. I did not always feel prepared before embarking on a new project, but definitely figured things out as I went. I participated in class a very minimal amount. It was a lot of boring lectures. I participated a lot, though, in the hands-on aspect of the class. We were assessed with bi-weekly projects
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Social Research Methods
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	It was boring and the lectures were not well done. The teachers were knowledgeable but the language barrier was hard. They did not speak very good English. We were assessed with papers.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Directed Research
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments:	This course was not what I imagined it to be. I thought we would come up with our own projects, but, instead, they were given to us. This made the class easier but I was less motivated because I didn't feel like my ideas were wanted. It did not facilitate an environment where one should push themselves to come up with a great project idea.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Introduction to Thai
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	Thai
Comments:	Really good class. The teaching was effective and necessary. We were assessed with quizzes, oral presentations, videos, and exams.
Credit Transfer Issues: