The Best Decision I've Ever Made!

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.