Study Abroad and Domestic Study Away

Visiting Thailand had always been at the top of my bucket list; never did I imagine that I will have the opportunity to live and study here for 5 months. My campus is in Rangsit, a province 30 mins north of the capital Bangkok, allowing me to experience both Bangkok's thriving metropolitan vibe and being immersed in a more local culture without tourist influence.

A true highlight for me has been all the small interactions with the locals. I have learnt so much outside of the classroom from the people around me. While my classes are in English, most people in Rangsit do not speak it, though it was a struggle at first, I learnt that Thai people are always willing to help. For example, the couple who runs my favorite fruit stand are teaching me how to count and order fruit in Thai! Thanks to these interactions I have gone from being completely lost to picking up some contextual Thai.

I am also grateful to have had the opportunity to travel within Thailand, experiencing its wide variety of environments from the mountains in Chiang Mai to its beautiful white sand beaches and islands in Phuket and Krabi. I had heard about the impressive temples; however, seeing them in person was an eye-opening experience, as I was now exposed to a new culture and set of rituals that back home, I would have never seen.

Now I stand here with a little less than a month left, wondering how fast time has passed. Looking back, I realize how much I have grown as a person from experiencing homesickness for the first time to adapting to a completely different culture.

Studying abroad might be scary, but I would still recommend it to everyone, as it teaches you so many valuable lessons and is not a decision you will regret.

Long-tail boats at Phi Phi National Park: