Study Abroad in Thailand

I went on TEAN's Summer in Thailand program and had the time of my life. I did the 7-week option. I took Buddhism in Southeast Asia the first session and Human Rights in Southeast Asia the second, and in between I went on TEAN's Souhtern Island excursion. I wanted to go to Thailand, specifically Chiang Mai, because of its unique blend of relaxed city life and natural landscape and its heavily Buddhist-influenced culture. Taking a Buddhism class in Thailand was a dream. I still can't believe I actually got to stay the night in a Thai Forest Tradition temple and follow the monk on his morning alms through a village. This is something I never could have dreamed of experiencing, and something that an average tourist just passing through would not be able to do. This is what I think is the greatest value of studying instead of just visiting Thailand: you get integrated into the culture, and you learn quickly to adapt.
Everyone I came across in Thailand was nothing less than welcoming and kind. If you follow TEAN's rules, especially the one prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle (the streets are crazy but the red truck/ tuk tuk/ grab drivers know what they're doing), you should be very safe. I never truly felt reason to fear for my safety in Chiang Mai.
The education was top-notch and the professors are very understanding of the fact that we are only there for a short period of time and desire time away from the actual studying part. I went to class for three hours Monday-Friday, giving ample time to visit places in the morning, afternoons, and weekends. The local TEAN staff members, Nala and Lauren, were extremely kind and always eager to help with anything.
If you're a nature lover, a culture/ religion enthusiast, or an adventure seeker, Thailand is the perfect place to study. There are beautiful nearby hiking trails, waterfalls, tons of museums and temples, active nightlife, amazing food everywhere, many types of markets, and so much more. I am incredibly happy that I did this program, it has truly been the greatest experience of my life so far. I met beautiful friends both from TEAN and local Thai students. If you have any desire to do this, do it!

There is so much to tell about my experience! But I'll keep it to the major things.
Overall, Chiang Mai and Chiang Mai University were amazing and if I had the chance to go back tomorrow, I 100% would.
The Thai people we met along the way were so helpful and kind and happy to have us around.
I took the Buddhism in Thailand course, and it was the most eye opening and informational course. I learned so much about Thai religion, and subsequently culture, tried meditation for the first time, visited numerous temples, had chats with multiple monks and nuns, and got to experience an overnight stay in a forest temple in the Li district.
I think having the opportunity to meditate in a forest temple was a truly once in a lifetime experience. I had a moment of solitude, sitting in front of this 50 foot Buddha statue, attempting a meditation, where I realized that this is probably the only time in my life I will get to do anything close to this. It was humbling and I feel lucky to have experienced it.

The experiences outside of class were amazing too, especially the elephant nature park and our trip to Krabi, Thailand. Seeing the elephants in their natural habitat was breath taking and seeing the enormous cliffs in the southern islands rising out of this beautiful bright aqua water was absolutely mesmerizing.

Overall, I cannot recommend this trip enough. If you have the chance to do it, do it.

Before studying abroad, I knew almost nothing about Thailand. Now I feel like I am (almost) an expert! This country is amazing. From is history, to it's people, to the amazing scenery, I loved everything about this trip. I had the opportunity to participate in a village home-stay, spend a day in the Elephant Nature Park and even climb up waterfalls! I can't wait to go back someday, and hopefully bring my family along.

My experience with The Education Abroad Network (TEAN) was incredible. From trying new street foods on the daily, to discovering hidden garden cafes, exploring temples, shopping in different markets each night, hiking in the mountains, and finding waterfalls to swim in, the city of Chiang Mai always had something new and exciting to offer. For me, it was the perfect combination of urban and outdoor adventures. The city is surrounded by mountains that are within walking distance from the student apartments, so it is easy to get away from the city and go for a hike. It is also a foodie's paradise. I was surprised to find diverse foods from all over the world in Chiang Mai. The cost of a meal is generally 1-3 dollars, so trying new things is incredibly affordable.

I studied Southeast Asian Art, Cultural Foundations of Thai Society, and Thai language, which totaled up to 9 credits during my 7 week summer study abroad. The courses were challenging, yet engaging, and combined off-campus excursions with classroom discussions for a well-rounded learning experience.

In Thailand, I learned to go out and do things on my own. By the end of the trip, I was not only more confident in being a solo traveler, and had a new-found sense of self confidence.

The TEAN staff answered all of my questions, and helped me to fulfill all of my goals that I had for my study abroad experience. They were helpful throughout my entire study abroad experience, and continued to support my study abroad interests even after the program ended.

Overall, I highly recommend studying abroad with The Education Abroad Network!

TEAN has a fantastic program, and Thailand is an amazing country, so it's pretty hard to go wrong. The academics were challenging, but incredibly interesting and engaging. TEAN organized really great excursions, from day trips to a weekend at the beach, and that's one of the things that makes their program so great. Chiang Mai is an incredible city to live in, with good food and cool cafes and a fun but chill bar scene, and it's a really cool place to be a student. The travel opportunities are also abundant, and I had the opportunity to visit Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia throughout the semester, as well as Bangkok and the southern islands. I went camping on an island in the south, and went hiking on the tallest peak in Thailand. I am so much more adventurous and open to new things now, and I plan on returning as soon as I possibly can. The experience changed me for the better, and I had an amazing time and made amazing friends. It is so worthwhile to study abroad anywhere, but going to Asia gets you off the beaten path (study abroad-wise) and opens you up to a lot of new things that you might never experience in the same way without the immersion of going to school in a country. The village homestay throws you right in, and it's a perfect way to start the semester. Everything is so inexpensive in Chiang Mai, as well, so it's possible to do so much when your money goes as far as it does! My number one advise would be to trust your gut! If you're thinking about going to Thailand, go with TEAN, and don't be afraid even if no one you know has ever been anywhere near Asia. You have everything to gain from this experience, and it's incredible.

Choosing The Education Abroad Network was one of the best decisions I ever made. With TEAN I never felt lost during the application process because they helped me every step of the way. From organizing my visa, flight plans, school credit transfers, and even packing advice they were just a quick email or phone call away. Through TEAN I also got to experience a homestay where I lived with a Thai family and truly immersed myself in Thai culture. We also had Thai buddies throughout the semester that took us around Chiang Mai and taught us about their traditions. There is never a dull moment in Chiang Mai since there is so much to explore! What I loved the most about Chiang Mai was that it had both scenic and cultural beauty. On the weekends, you can travel or hang out in the city and visit various museums, temples, markets, local restaurants, and hiking and outdoor activities. Our first few days in Thailand were spent at the Elephant Nature Park and the beautiful temple Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Everyone in the program was so friendly and welcoming. The professors at Chiang Mai University were also very involved in making sure we got the most out of our time in Chiang Mai in and out of the classroom. They took us on a lot of field trips to different temples and art museums. TEAN also took us to the Golden Triangle as a school trip where we visited tea plantations and opium museums. They also took us to Krabi on our Spring Break where we got to go snorkeling and have dinner on the beach. Through TEAN I was able to make a lot of friends and have many once in a lifetime experiences which I could not imagine getting in any other program. I hope to go back someday to create more lasting memories!

This past summer I went to Chiang Mai, Thailand with The Education Abroad Network as one of their summer interns. They connected me with the organization Arts Relief International. I was one of their teaching artists as well as an office assistant. Getting to work abroad was one of the most amazing, challenging, and life changing experiences I have ever had. The TEAN staff did a great job facilitating the internship and connecting me with the group that was the best fit for me. The internship taught me a lot about myself, what I value in a working environment and as a human being. I got to work with a diverse group of people both in the Arts Relief International office and during our arts based workshops. One of my favorite moments from this summer is that I got to lead a physical theater workshop with the Healing Family Foundation, which is a group of mentally disabled adults. We did exercises related to movement and decorated animal masks and moved as our animals that we created. It was so much fun and I was thrilled to do something relevant to my future career. I will be forever grateful I had this opportunity and I won't soon forget it!

Studying abroad in Thailand was one of the best decisions I've ever made! I went to Chiang Mai for three weeks over the summer with TEAN and wish I could have stayed longer! I had such a blast and was able to because of TEAN. I was helped every step of the way with this program from applying to packing and heading across the world. I traveled alone to the destination but quickly made through friends because of my TEAN group. Everyone was so kind and always happy to go out and do things together. I became really close with my group and look forward to keeping in touch with these fellow American students in the future! Chiang Mai was the perfect destination for me. It provides a fun and lively city along with plenty of outdoor adventure. My favorite experience was getting to spend time with elephants at a sanctuary near Chiang Mai. After experiencing these wonderful three weeks I feel more confident in my own abilities and skills and also much more informed of Thai culture and art thanks to the Art History class I took. Tips that I would give to future study abroad applicants, no matter the destination, is to fully embrace where you are and don't be afraid to put yourself out there. I was nervous to be so far from home but quickly adapted when I remembered just how lucky I was to be there and how comfortable I felt thanks to the support of TEAN.