Thailand: Chiang Mai - Culture, Politics, Business

Getting to travel to Thailand was a dream come true for me as someone who had always wanted to travel abroad. I had such a wonderful experience with all of the USAC staff who made sure I was taken care of and ready to succeed at every step of the way. The USAC staff also organized so many informative, cultural, and fun activities for us such as traditional rickshaw rides through the historic part of the city, hikes through beautiful cloud forests and to mountain villages. We also had opportunities to volunteer such as with the National Park rangers to make firebreak to protect the forests from fire. Not to mention the countless beautiful temples we were able to visit. The diverse range of foods to be found also meant that we could try a delicious new meal every day, and it was so affordable! I highly recommend participating in a USAC study abroad program for anyone looking for an accessible and well-supported way to visit and experience life in another country. And please go visit Chiang Mai, Thailand if you have the chance!

I studied abroad in Chiang Mai, Thailand for the Chinese Studies program. I was originally planning on participating in USAC's program in China, but since that program ended up being canceled this year, USAC suggested this program to me instead. This program was the perfect alternative. Not only was I able to continue studying Mandarin, I also learned a lot about Thai culture, which I previously knew little about, and made several lasting friendships. I had an incredible time there and am so thankful for this experience. I would return in a heartbeat.

Some things I think you should know about the USAC Chiang Mai program:
- Thailand is a beautiful country
- Chiang Mai is a very safe city (even for solo women)
- the food here is AMAZING and there is a wide variety so even picky eaters can find something
- English is way more common than you would think
- Its a very affordable place. Food is typically $1-$10 a meal and nice hostels can be as low as $3 a night
- There’s very little homework and lots of free time to explore
- Great dorm location

There were different kids of foods from different Asian countries and it ranged from Indian food to Korean food! If you get bored of Chiang Mai you can book a flight for less than $80 and fly to other known areas like Phuket or Krabi! The humidity is no joke but you will get used to it. There are also a lot of Chinese and Japanese study abroad students and it’s awesome! CMU is a big campus but students can point you to the right place you need to go to. ATM machines are everywhere in Chiang Mai so you can withdraw money whenever.

Studying in Chiang Mai for the first summer session was my first study abroad eperience ever. I absolutely adored the scenery and the community near the dorms we stayed. My favotire part of our little neighborhood was Mommy Thailand's smoothie shop. Her smoothies were the size of my head, and only cost 60 baht(less than a dollar)!! She also gave me a really good haircut and helped me practice my Thai speaking. At school, it was amazing to just be stdents and go aorund campus in our uniforms just like the thai students. I do wish we had more interaction with the local students though, because we lived and did activites mostly with the American students. All of the field trips were exciting and eye opening. I took the maximum amount of credits I could, with Buddhism, Thai Language, Thai Cooking, and the hill Tribe Field Study course. In the field study one, we got to lvie in villages with the local tribes and get immersed into their culture. I absolutley lovd being out in nature and hiking as wekk, even though I did not go on the hiking excursion "class". I got super lucky with my roommate, and she and I are best friends now. All the people I studied with were exceptionally nice and we all were open to new things and it was great to be thrown into new circumstances with them all. I learned so much about myself as an independant person, and about how I want to be globally involved. In my school at home, we focus on global community, but it was a whole different world when I got to interact with a culture so different form mine. For anyone worried about going somewhere so different from western society, I would sayembrace it! It's not very often you get a chance to completely change your perspective and become more aware. Plus, thai people still like the same things we do and there is lenty of modern culture that everyone can relate to. The main difference is that standards for sanitationt here are not as high as in the US, but i never got sick or had any issues because of that! I definitely have started saving up money to go back to Thailand as soon as possible. I hope you have fun there too!!

Every day of my trip I was excited to wake up early and try something new! Whether it was a new food, a new temple, or a new experience in the classroom. Everyone in the program was incredibly welcoming and helped me transition and acclimate to my new surroundings. The field trips and field studies I participated in also taught me more about Thai culture that I had never considered before arriving in Thailand. These topics ranged from Hmong villages, to politics, to even the treatment of elephants. Many of these ideas were incredibly interesting and it was important for me to learn about them so that I could more thoroughly understand the culture and society I lived in during my study abroad. The most memorable parts of the trips for me was eating delicious and new foods with my friends. I would highly recommend trying mango sticky rice while abroad as it was my favorite snack/meal!

I loved my time abroad in Chiang Mai and feel that it has shaped who I am and what I want to do in life. Chiang Mai is a beautiful city with a rich culture and this program really gave me the opportunity to explore and appreciate it for what it is. There are plenty of opportunities to mingle with locals and students, speak and learn the language, and travel to other parts of Thailand and Southeast Asia! Some of the classes were really informational and fun, and there are definitely plenty of learning opportunities outside of the classroom setting as well. My love for Thailand lies in Chiang Mai and Southeast Asia and the experiences I had during my time studying there last year, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is considering studying abroad!

USAC has a way of making students feel welcomed, safe, and excited all simultaneously. I was so anxious to find my way from the Chiang Mai airport to my dorm building at the University. 1. Because I did not know the language. 2. Because it was a new country and I was what Thai's call a "farang," a foreigner, who could be easily manipulated by "taxi! tuk-tuk! where you going mam?" Luckily, USAC arranged transportation for students who wish to take it in situations like this and I am so happy that we have this option!

USAC also arranged a ton of activities to immerse ourselves in the culture! Some of the activities included:
- Cultural Art Crafts: Students were able to create ceramic cups, paper crafts, and tie-dye fabric
- Trekking Tours: We were guided through the forest by a local family who owned a tour company. We saw beautiful sights, learned about the nature around us, and stayed at a local home stay.

In addition as someone who is pursuing a career as a humanitarian, I was very interested in volunteering/interning. I worked at a Blind School teaching English and it was one of the most remarkable experiences to date. If you have the opportunity to volunteer or intern at a local organization, do it! They are always looking for help and you won't regret it!

I am so happy I chose USAC as my program of choice. I had a great time and would not choose to have it any other way!