Living in the Land of Smiles Past Review
By Alegra D (International Affairs, University of Maine at Orono) - abroad from 06/01/2013 to 06/22/2013 with
USAC Thailand: Chiang Mai - Southeast Asia Culture, Politics, and Business
I learned about what's important in life through admiring the lifestyle of the Thai people and their Buddhist philosophy.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The USAC staff in Thailand was extremely friendly, upbeat, and helpful with everything. I will miss Ajarn Jah:Jaah, Tanyapoon, and Malissa! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The place we stayed was very clean and nice. It was a combination of a hotel and dorm room. I was happy with everything, but the ongoing construction was sometimes bothersome. |
| * Food: |
If you like rice and noodles, you'll love Thai food! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I suggest hanging out with the Thai buddies that USAC offers to get away from all your American peers. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
In Chiang Mai, access to healthcare was very easy. There were two large hospitals that were clean and for the most part could communicate in english. In other parts of the country, and especially when I travelled through Laos, hospitals and pharmacies were sometimes hard to come by. |
| * Safety: |
Be prepared for a very different idea of safety concerns. However, for an adventure-seeker like myself, it didn't bother me at all. |
| 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) |
If I was very conscious of my spending, I had no problem with money. Food is extremely low-cost in Thailand, especially if you buy food from street vendors. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
I really wish there was more emphasis on learning Thai. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? |
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? | Pack less! |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Thai Society and Culture |
| Course Department: | Anthropology |
| Instructor: | Sura Intamoon |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This class was excellent. It gave me a wonderful overview of the culture of Thailand from the perspective of a native anthropologist. Our class size was small, which added a more personal experience with our professor and the opportunity to ask more questions and have individualized discussions. We took field trips to temples that I wouldn't have visited otherwise. The information that we learned in class was practical and completely applicable to everyday life in Chiang Mai. The coursework wasn't overwhelming and Ajarn Sura was a very fair grader. Looking back on my experience in Thailand, this class was definitely a highlight. I will never forget it. |
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