Thailand & Cambodia: Underrated, Beautiful, and Illuminating Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload was pretty intense in Thailand. The amount of work was unevenly distributed throughout the semester. The teachers were all great and very similar that of MMC. Grading system was also similar and fair.

On-site administration of your program

The administration I'm assuming which was Adam Dedman was phenomenal. He remained involved in our experience in and outside of the classroom, and provided valuable information on the host country. The size of the program was just right, and my expectations were exceeded.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing was pre arranged which was convenient. In both Thailand and Cambodia the neighborhoods were safe, and I never felt in danger. Sheets, cookware, towels etc were provided in both places. In Thailand I only had to buy a towel. My host family was extremely welcoming and although there was a language barrier, it surprisingly helped us understand each other better.

Food was amazing! Probably one of my favorite parts about the trip. Local food is very cheap, and very good. I recommend eating street food, just because it's so convenient, cheap, and delicious. As for dietary restrictions, several students were vegetarians, couldn't eat seafood or pork, etc and could always find something to eat. Although it's important to know how to say your dietary needs in the language to avoid eating the wrong things.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

In Cambodia, my Gender and Development class took us on field trips to the ECCC: trials for the Khmer Rouge which was a once in a lifetime experience. It really helped bring things into perspective, and provided a better understanding of post conflict Cambodia.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Both cities were just as safe if not safer than any major American city. In Phnom Penh, we were warned of robbers on moto bikes, but no one in our program encountered them. I never needed serious healthcare assistance. When I got a sprained ankle, Payap University provided ointment free of charge. And when I came over with a cold, pharmacies were easily accessible, and had a variety of products that were useful for my ailments.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Use it! Appy what you learn in the classroom to the real world, that's the only way to really retain and sharpen what you've learned. I practiced the language shopping, ordering food, talking to my roommate, asking for directions, etc. In Thailand it was extremely useful, since not many people spoke in English. But in Cambodia it was the opposite, people didn't want to speak Khmer to me because they wanted to practice their English.

Select all that apply

• Hotel
• Dorm
• Apartment
• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Host Family
• Local Students
• Americans

• Staff
• Worth the money
• Organization

• Let us know dates ahead of time (Could've bought plane ticket earlier)
• Consistency with classes (Upon arrival, same classes were no longer available pre departure)