An Eye-Opening Trip Past Review
By eden.cope (Brigham Young University) - abroad from 05/03/2012 to 08/01/2012 with
Study Abroad Programs in Thailand
Yes. I learned how to be completely comfortable in a country that was very foreign to me. I also learned different ways of thinking about and doing things. I made many friends and am a much more experienced and open-minded traveler. I learned how to tolerate inconveniences and uncomfortable situations with lots of patience.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
In addition to working with organizations, we participated in many cultural events and were immersed in the local culture. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Things weren't very clear all the time. Group meetups, requirements, and other things were told to us at the last minute. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
It was easily accessible. My host family took me to a government healthcare clinic and I was helped for a good price. The antibiotic that I was given helped a lot, but it did not fix the problem. The local healthcare system is a bit lower in quality than I'm used to in the States, but overall I was taken care of really well and I have no complaints. My program had no need to assist me because the total cost was about three dollars. A prevalent health issue in my host country was dengue fever, which has no vaccine (but is not fatal if treated). Also, I needed a typhoid vaccine before visiting this country. |
| * Safety: |
Chiang Mai is a lot safer than you would think. As a white girl, you attract attention to yourself so still be careful. But I never dealt with pickpockets, never felt like someone was trying to steal my money or trick me. I felt safer than when I was at home. But I was still cautious. Being out after dark is a little sketchy because not a lot of people are out, and a lot of people get drunk at night. When I was there, someone got stolen from and everyone was talking about it. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
Very easy. Almost everything in Thailand is really inexpensive. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $1-2 on needed expenses, another $5-10 on expenses for fun |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | On the weekends when you go to the market with friends, there will be lots of cool things you'll want to buy. Don't feel a rush or need to buy anything. Anything you can see, you can find at markets all the time, everywhere in Thailand. Go slowly. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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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? | I wish I understood some of the details of Thai culture, which would have made things a lot easier. I wish I had planned my lessons out better (I taught English). |
