Unforgettable Experience! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I was hesitant about studying while abroad because I felt as though being in a class room the whole time would take away from my experience. Especially since for this program it was M-F for 3 hours. However, if anything, taking courses enhanced my experience abroad. Firstly, although some time is spent within a classroom, a lot of class time is spent field learning meaning that we visited museums, temples and even other cities during class time to learn which is an awesome alternative to traditional classroom learning. I learned WAY more that way and enjoyed all the field trips. Secondly, studying while abroad allowed for me to learn about Thailand, but also about business (which is what I studied) on a much larger and real scale. The things I learned in my business class in Thailand will take me a million times further than anything I've learned in my business classes here in the states. There is some rigor, because there are actual papers, projects, and tests involved (varies depending on which courses you take) but it's nothing anyone can't handle.

On-site administration of your program

Our on-site staff member's name was Pkai and he was our guardian angel. Anything we needed he was able to provide, and any issues we had he was able to resolve. He is Thai, so he was able to inform us how to go about experiencing the real Thailand, not just touristy Thailand. He was a huge reason why my experience was awesome.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Myself and all of the other students in the program were able to stay in off campus apartment style housing, which was cool because we were around other Chiang Mai University students (both Thai and foreign) but we were not on campus so it didn't feel like we were trapped at CMU (though CMU was in walking distance from where we lived). It was in an awesome location, just a quick ride to the Old City and surrounded by 7/11's (where everyone buys everything from) and awesome places to eat. Also, as mentioned above our rooms were apartment style so I had my own space from my roommate which was nice. The apartment lacked a kitchen, but you really don't need it. There's places where you can get cheap delicious food everywhere.

Thai food is amazing. A lot of people on my program were hesitant to try it because they were afraid it would be too hot but milder options are always available, and most Thai restaurant workers will ask you if you would like a milder version beforehand. Plus, you almost always have an option to get a dish with chicken, pork, or tofu which was awesome for me because I don't eat red meat. The food is really healthy and organic too, my skin cleared up within a week of me being there. The program gives you an 1500 baht food stipend every module which is super helpful, and allowed me to try different Thai dishes.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I was really happy with how integrated I felt. When you're in Thailand, you'll see a lot of backpackers and foreign visitors on vacation and sometimes I would find myself getting jealous because they didn't have homework or any other obligations to worry about but trust me, we definitely had the advantage: our Thai roommates. At the beginning of the program everyone is assigned a Thai roommate that you live with for the course of the program. The roommates taught us Thai, cooked us traditional dishes, and showed us places/restaurants that the locals go to... not just touristy places that foreign travelers confine themselves too. They also shared a lot about their culture with us and what life in Thailand is like on a day to day basis, something you can never get from reading about Thailand or just taking a vacation there.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

At the beginning of the program what to do if we had a health emergency was addressed by the program directors. Also, we were all given insurance that covered us for our entire stay.

Before I left for Chiang Mai, Thailand I was absolutely terrified. I heard a lot of stories about theft and trafficking that had me ready to opt out of the program. However, I NEVER felt unsafe there. Although I would advise always traveling in groups just because the country is foreign to us, there were times that I walked somewhere on my own... even at night. I don't even do that where I live.

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

The dollar converts really well in Thailand so it wasn't hard at all to live on a student budget. Plus TEAN provides you with a 1500 baht stipend for food which definitely eased any financial strain I may have had.

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

The program offered a Thai language course, and we had Thai roommates to facilitate learning the language and culture.

Select all that apply

• Dorm

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

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• Americans

• The Thai roommates
• My business professor
• The diverse group

• Nothing!

The Academic or Linguist