Loop Abroad

Studying abroad in Thailand on the veterinary science semester was one of the best decisions that I have made in my life and one that I would easily make over again if it was offered to me. From the moment I arrived in the country to the day the program ended, the staff on site were incredibly welcoming and supportive. Our first week was spent familiarizing ourselves with the home-base city, language, culture, and religion before we started on the veterinary medicine side of learning. We started with an intro level companion animal science course, which was beneficial to bring everyone up to the same level in terms of skills/knowledge before starting the more complex coursework with the other species. From there, we had quite the busy schedule over the remaining 10 weeks while working with elephants, sea turtles, zoo animals, reptiles, and scuba diving. Each course was held in a different part of the country so we would frequently have Saturday free with traveling on either Sunday afternoon or Monday morning. I enjoy staying busy so this schedule worked well for me, but I could see it being too much for someone that prefers more downtime. All in all, I feel like this program is an amazing option for pre-vet college students, but it really is what each individual student makes of it. The more you pay attention, demonstrate skills, and offer yourself as a volunteer, the more opportunities that will be offered to you and the more hands-on experience that you will receive!

The elephant nature park is unreal! It is by far the most magical place an animal lover can experience. Any time you sit anywhere there is always a four-legged companion at your side. I have never seen such happy animals, they are all in a constant state of play. Seeing elephants being elephants never gets old. They are spectacular animals with so much personality! Getting the opportunity to observe them in a setting where they can be themselves and be loved is indescribably beautiful.

The dog rescue clinic gave me so much confidence in my small animal clinic skills. They give you a non-judgemental space to practice vet skills and ask questions that can be very difficult to find in a hospital setting at home. The city days pass by so fast because you get to do so much every day!

The loop abroad team is there for you anytime. This team puts in so much effort and it shows - the program is really one of a kind! The guides and course instructors are some of the most compassionate people I have ever met. Most people you come across at the elephant nature park and dog rescue clinic are so courageous, wholesome, and humble. The people I got to work with changed my life for the better because they genuinely value each of their students as an individual.

It was very interesting to learn about elephants and how they are treated! The history was about some of the elephants was heartbreaking but essential information to help conserve the elephants and make educated actions. Learning about companion animals was also interesting and is useful for the future! At the dog rescue clinic we were able to be very hands on which I would not have been able to do at my local clinic. Being close to the elephants and meeting new people in a fun environment made this trip memorable.

Two weeks go by fast, especially when engaged in multiple activities; from scooping elephant poop, to observing their behavior, assist neutering dogs, cats and visiting the city of Chiangmai. Its amazing to do all these activities in a different country as you have the opportunity to experience other people's culture and day to day life. For me all the trip has been a memorable experience as every day was different and unique. I would highly recommend anyone interested in gaining animal experience to attend this trip.

Even the boring work is fun when you’re in a new country with new people. This trip just made me want to do so much more travel and I retained more information than I would in a classroom setting. The living environment can be rough but it was at no surprise and it just gave the experience a little more excitement. The amount of one on one time you get with the doctors also allows for so much learning opportunity. Overall this trip was definitely memorable and I would recommend it to anyone looking for animal science experience.