Southeast Asia: A World Away From the Life You Are Living Now. Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

During the 5 months studying abroad, we took a variety of classes, from Buddhism and Sex & Gender, to Thai and Khmer language classes. I really enjoyed all the classes I took and found the language quite easy to pick up on. It was really fun being able to interact with the Thai and Cambodian students, who could also speak a bit of English. This program was great, as we got to experience 2 completely different cultures, even though they are right next door to each other- and there are blatant differences, too. We learned a lot not only inside the classroom, but outside of it, as well. The teaching system in Thailand was very similar to that in the US. The only difference was that we had to wear uniforms, which wasn't too bad because they're really nice and you can make them unique with different accessories. In Cambodia I found the teaching system to be stricter in format, although the professors were all really nice and would joke around with us.

On-site administration of your program

The administration in Thailand and Cambodia was actually very well put together. The Cambodian portion of the program is younger than the Thailand part, but our resident directors and professors did so much for us, and I am so greatful to have had them to guide us through our stay. TEAN could not have chosen a better administration. Since the study abroad program in Thailand has been around longer, the administration was already well put together. Everyone knew what they were doing, knew what students would be interested in, and everyone was extremely nice, funny, and helpful. It was easier to get to know the administration in Cambodia, as we were only a group of 5 students there, as opposed to the 27 in Thailand, but we all still had a blast together.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Both in Thailand and Cambodia, expect to have a little issues with the food as your body adjusts to it. Both cuisines are extremely delicious (although I have to admit I looooved Thai food, as I am big with spicy things) and very different from each other (Khmer food is not spicy).

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The social life in Thailand was so much fun- there was always something to do. The restaurants and bars in Thae Pae gate were a lot of fun, and although they are more touristy, it's a great place to meet all types of people from all over the world. There are a bunch of markets, where you can find anything you can dream of, and more. Chiang Mai is such a lively city, and not as overwhelming as Bangkok. While there, we also got to cuddle with baby tigers at the Tiger Kingdom (there are older tigers as well), ride an elephant at the Maesa Elephant Camp, and climb a limestone waterfall at Bua Tong. In Cambodia, the social life is a lot tamer, as going out is not as common among Cambodian students as it is in Thailand. However, we still had a lot of fun going out to eat and mingling with other foreigners (and some Cambodians who chose to go out) at the restaurants and bars on the Riverside, next to the Mekong River. As part of the program, we took a little tour around Cambodia to an island called Koh Pdao, where we stayed with village famillies who were so nice, and went to Siem Reap to see Angkor Wat. We stayed in Siem Reap for a few days, and got to go out there and experience how different it was from Phnom Penh. During Khmer New Year we had a week off, so we decided to go to Vietnam, separate from the program. While in Mui Ne, a touristy beach town, we got to sled down sand dunes, went into the town of Phan Thiet (which I guess many foreigners don't do, as we got a lot of people looking at us and stopping to say hello), and a few other things that were so fun. We went to Saigon after that for a few days, wandering around, and had the chance to go to the War Remnants Museum, which was sad but really, really interesting (highly recommend it).

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

In regards to safety, I never had an issue where I felt unsafe, except for my purse being stolen in Vietnam, but that just made me realize I needed to be more aware of my belongings, because I was becoming a little too comfortable. It's common knowledge that one must constantly be on edge when in a foreign city, but I had been having such a great time that I started to let my guard down on that front. I never had any health problems, but some of the girls I was staying with did. Our resident directors went out of their way to make sure they were all comfortable and feeling okay. It is expected that you will get diarrhea and/or vomit when adjusting to the food, so don't be alarmed, unless it's continuing for longer than it should (you should see a doctor when it starts, just to be sure). Before I left, I was also given medicine for traveler's diarrhea, which was a good thing to have on hand, although I didn't really need it afterall.

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

In Thailand we were able to practice our language skills with our friends, who happened to be good at speaking English, so they could help us, as well as when we went out to restaurants and markets and wanted to order food or buy something. Sometimes the sellers would be able to speak English, but I liked to try to speak Thai with them anyway. In Cambodia it is a lot more common for the people to speak English, so we didn't actually have to use our Khmer as much as we did Thai, but we would anyway. In both places, but especially Cambodia (it's less common for foreigners to know any Khmer there since it's easier to pass by with English), people would be so thrilled that you can speak some of their language and thank you for learning it.

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• Dorm
• Apartment

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• Local Students
• Americans