Thailand: Chiang Mai - Culture, Politics, Business

I feel like some people in western societies view Southeast Asia as incredibly rural and 3rd world with dirt streets and massive poverty. The most surprising thing to me was how far from the truth this was. Outside the city there are parts where this still rings true, but globalization has hugely impacted Thailand. If I was craving Greek yogurt and muesli, a European grocery store right down the road had it. I never wanted for anything and I really appreciated how Chiang Mai has retained its' Thai culture amidst a surge in globalization.

An average week for me included: Monday-Wednesday class and Thursday-Sunday travel time. I took four classes and was able to stack them on consecutive days, which I highly recommend. Broken down it was about 3-5 hours of class M-W and about a 2 hours dedicated to homework. On Thursday morning my roommate and I would fly to Bangkok to catch a flight to one of the surrounding countries, take a bus north to explore northern Thailand, or stay in Chiang Mai. By the end of our 4.5 months we knew the city like the back of our hand.

My biggest fear was that I would return to the U.S. the exact same person I was when I left and my time there wouldn't be profitable. To truly initiate a change in myself I did more than just the touristy things like play with elephants and go to the night markets. I challenged myself and explored places off the beaten path. I made Thailand my home. I learned that some of the happiest people are those who have just enough, but to a westerner, it looks like so little. Don't be afraid to be uncomfortable and confront that uneasiness you have, it'll lead you to the most incredible experiences.

Not at all! Many Thais know basic English and love to practice their English skills with you. Through USAC, I took Thai Communication, which I highly recommend. About 4 weeks into the program I was able to order food in Thai and barter with a red truck driver (Chiang Mai's taxis).

Yep, I would have stayed for two semesters instead of one. I felt like 4.5 months was too short and I was just starting to get the hang of things and then I had to leave. If I had known that through USAC a 1 year study abroad option was available I would have chosen that.

For our Scotland programs, we offer an overnight trip to Loch Ness and the Scottish Highlands every semester. One of the destinations is the Glenfinnan Viaduct, where the Hogwarts Express runs along in the Harry Potter movies.

A return student told me that she was so ecstatic to have seen the viaduct in real life. It was the highlight of the field trip for her. Being a Harry Potter fan myself, I completely understand her excitement.

I would choose to go to the Santiago, Chile program. Santiago seems like a great city to live in. It’s surrounded by mountains which means I don’t have to travel far to enjoy nature. In the city center, there are a lot of museums and neoclassical architectures to check out.

The program offers interesting courses such as Chile’s Native Cultures and Latin American Technology & Globalization. Also, I would love to learn more about Pablo Neruda.

Teamwork. Whether it is between departments or within a department, everyone at USAC is always collaborating to improve the way we assist our students.