Developed values in life, set for a realistic goals for the future. Past Review
By A student (Brandeis University) - abroad from 08/14/2018 to 12/13/2018 with
CIEE: Khon Kaen - Development and Globalization in Thailand
I immersed myself to develop strong leadership abilities and learned to work successfully in a project group throughout many community settings in Thailand. I gained a broad range of applied skills from interviewing, researching, and learning how to write for a variety of media. The program also provides public forums to showcase our works.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
During my study abroad in Thailand, I had a much deeper understanding of the common problems and issues that confront all human being around the world. For instance, I have a much greater awareness of politics, economics, and social events happening worldwide. This helps me to understand more fully my strengths and weaknesses. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
IEE program, at Khon Kaen office, has wonderful staffs. They are very kind and welcoming. I thanks them for giving me the opportunity to study abroad in Thailand |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
In exception of homestay or community visits which had happened every other week, I have to pay for my own meals. i.e. the foods made at any restaurant by the local community. In general Thai food is very delicious and a little cheaper compared to America. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I am more knowledgeable about other cultures and their ways of life. Through this study abroad I see my own cultural values and understand how others differ. I appreciate my culture and other cultures even more |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I never got sick. |
| * Safety: |
I feel safer in Thailand than even back home. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I felt a certain but significant sense of solidarity with whatever community/groups I was working within Northeastern Thailand. Also, throughout the semester, I and my group/fellow American students were able to carry out projects that were in line with the needs of the community, community organizations, NGOs, or that may be of benefit to a particular network of interest (i.e. young people like student activist groups). I became aware of issues not often talked about in traditional academia in America. Through lectures, reading, and homestay visits, I was able to see some connections between the issues that we are studying at the grassroots level in Thailand and back in the United States. In fact, the lectures covered in Thailand gave me more awareness about government policies that impact community: food, security, water, land, mining, in Thailand and Laos, a neighbor country in comparison. |
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? | About $150 to $200 a week for my meal and other personal incidentals. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Independent travel cost a lot because everything outside the university area is expensive. Most independent travel often happen in a tourist area or a big city and living standard there is higher. And that come with greater cost for a student budget. If you plan to travel independently, plan out our yourself. Book the flights or bus tickets ahead of time because it is cheaper. Also, most prices of food clothing in the area ate negotiable so take adventures of those in when you go out in order to save more money. |
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 |
The program always pushes us to learned and communicate with local language but it’s very hard to only focus on language. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 0 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | When communicating with community try not to realize on the textbook, or even vocabulary you learn in class. Instead just to speak with even broken language with local people and learns from everyday language from them, especially when you go out into. They appreciate your effort trying. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | 10+ |
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? | This learning approach of letting us students interact with villagers directly was very effective. We were able to grow our understanding by meeting with those most affected by globalization. Working with the local people and being part of participants of the event happening. This program has opened a space for us to know how to share values, share common goals and how to be active citizens. We have done this through putting our vision and output into practice. I saw that we had strong solidarity was meeting in exchanges with the local villagers and writing about what we had learned from their experiences. An example of this is when we were in a courtroom with villagers for two hours when they were fighting for justice for their land. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
