I've Had the Time of My Life and I Owe it All to You, Chiang Mai Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

We took classes through Chiang Mai University, but they were classes offered solely for international students. Classes were slightly easier than courses at my home school, but not by much: weekly readings, a few short papers and a few debate/presentations. The professors are really interesting people with great contacts in Thailand, so there’s easy access to other awesome guest speakers. We also went on a lot of academic field trips, especially related to border issues with Burma and Laos. Those provided us a rich comparison of political issues and cultures, as well as some of my best meals in Thailand.

On-site administration of your program

I can’t complain about administration at all. Before arriving in Chiang Mai, I was in constant contact with TEAN’s Chicago staff, who patiently answered all of my one million questions. Upon arriving, I had a Thai Residential Advisor and an Australian ex-pat Program Coordinator who helped me get settled in. I stayed in contact with both of my advisors during my entire stay in Chiang Mai, and we’d have monthly meet-ups where they could give us more tips about the city or about Southeast Asian etiquette. On the academic side, the academic director was easily accessible and went overboard to provide us with information. Of all of the programs I saw in Chiang Mai, I felt like TEAN students got the best care.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We lived in student apartments really close to the school. Each of us had a Thai roommate, which provided a compelling view of Thai daily life and made me question my daily habits a lot. The apartments had single rooms and a bathroom you only shared with one other person, so it was pretty idyllic. 7-11 was a stones-throw away, so what else do you really need in life?

We were responsible for finding our own food, but were given a monthly meal stipend. For Thai students, it’s cheaper to buy food at tiny restaurants than to cook at home, so I never prepared my own meals. A dollar goes a long way in Thailand, so I often ate full meals for the equivalent of 90 cents and still had money for deliciously creamy Thai tea. My big advice is to hit up lots of local markets, as you’ll see some crazy fresh fruits.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The program definitely made an effort to show us the local culture. We started with a village homestay, where we saw the agricultural lifestyle that most Thais are still accustomed to. Our Thai roommates gave us a taste of more urban, modern Thai living. Honestly, I got the best taste of the culture from volunteering at the local school. It was cool to see how students interact with adults and how student teachers my age interact with each other. Everyone I met at the school was excited to talk to me. There were definitely opportunities to meet local people; it was just a matter of making the most of those opportunities.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Whenever I got sick, I dashed over to the local pharmacist. They speak English and can prescribe medicines for basic illnesses. Anything more serious involves a trip to the hospital (no one in Thailand really goes to doctors’ offices, all medical examinations are really through hospitals). Medical care is really cheap compared to the US, and the TEAN Residential Advisor accompanies you to the hospital to help you with any language barriers.

Chiang Mai was safer than my city at home. I walked around by myself after dark all the time, and never once felt concerned for my safety. I had friends who lost passports and wallets along the way, but they always got all of their belongings back without anything removed. Thais stick to a really high honor code, where stealing and harassment are not at all acceptable. You have to worry more about bumping into non-vaccinated dogs and dodging motorbikes than about the people.

TEAN staff provided so many people for me to contact so that I could get the most out of my time. From the moment I applied to the day I left Chiang Mai for the US, TEAN was there to answer my questions. They made sure to provide us with opportunities to interact with the local culture, as well as with other ex-pats.

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

Food is really cheap, as is most travel. I would feel bad if I spent $4 US dollars on a meal.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

We were taught the language in the classroom setting and encouraged to use it with the store-owners we met.

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• Apartment

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• Local Students

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• Americans
• International Students

• The volunteer experience
• The academic field trips
• The personal travel opportunities at low prices

• Everything I can think of has been modified since I left!

The Academic or Linguist