Study Abroad in Thailand

I get jittery just thinking about my experience with TEAN in Thailand and would give ANYTHING to go back. If you want cultural immersion, life long friends or to become a better person, TEAN Thailand should be at the top of your list. My favorite thing to hear from my friends back home when we talk about my semester is "Wow, you did abroad right." Everyday is better than the next during this study abroad program and I learned more about myself and the country than I knew existed. I loved the community feel Chiang Mai had. The city is filled with kindness and culture. If you want "something different" and don't know what that even means, you'll find exactly what it is in Thailand.
Because I studied abroad in Thailand I:
- care more about the world and pay attention to what is going on
- am open-minded
- experienced cultural immersion
- made my best friends
- matured as a whole
- have more to talk about with job recruiters
- want to live in another country
- smile (or cry) when I look back on photos
Because I studied abroad in Thailand, I wish I was you looking at abroad reviews because I want to do it all again the same exact way.

After a lot of careful research, I chose to study abroad in Chiang Mai with The Education Abroad Network (TEAN) because they were quick and informative in responding to my questions. I was so glad I did. TEAN coordinators stayed in contact with me throughout my stay in the second largest city in Thailand, providing tips about where to travel to and how to make the most of my time in Southeast Asia. Through TEAN, I had the opportunity to volunteer in a Thai elementary school with adorable little kids. I also took classes at Chiang Mai University, where I got to learn about Southeast Asian politics and religion from a mix of Thai and American professors. We took numerous field trips, including a four-day homestay in a rural Thai village and an exploration of the refugee crisis on the Thai-Burmese border. Analyzing the foreign influences, politics and cultural values of Thailand and other Southeast Asian nations helped me critically examine my own country. Throw in some amazing tropical fruits and a visit to an elephant sanctuary, and I would say TEAN is the best Thailand experience out there.

Studying abroad in Chiang Mai was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. Honestly, it was scary at first because all of my friends were studying abroad in Europe or Australia, and I had chosen a location a bit more unconventional. As soon as I arrived, I wasn't nearly as nervous anymore after meeting the staff and the other students. The TEAN orientation is a great introduction to the country. You're given advice, given tons of new food to try, and introduced to your roommate! I have completely fallen in love with Thailand and South East Asia in general. Every time I think about my time in Chiang Mai I miss it so much! So I love looking at old Thailand photos or texting the friends I made to remind myself of the most amazing five months of my life. I also traveled to Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, while in Asia. This traveling gave me so much confidence in my skills to navigate, communicate, and to be a bad-ass traveler. If you go on this program you will not regret it, I PROMISE!

My study abroad experience with TEAN in Thailand was unlike anything I could have ever imagined! I woke up every day feeling as though I was still dreaming. I couldn't believe that a place like Thailand even exists! The people are happy and friendly, the food is to die for, the educational experience that TEAN provided was conducive to student learning while also emphasizing the importance of out of the classroom excursions, and the setting of Chiang Mai is perfect for adventurers and city lovers alike! Because of this experience, I now know so much more about myself and the world around me. I know I will be visiting this wonderful city again soon!

Studying abroad in Thailand was by far one of the greatest semesters of my life. Through my classes and traveling I was able to learn so much about the Thai culture and about myself. One story in particular that is my favorite was our trip to a waterfall in Mae Sot. I just remember climbing up this beautiful waterfall with my classmates some American and others were Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Philipino along with our Thai and American teachers. We all were laughing and getting soaked by the waterfall but didn't care because we were having so much fun. No matter the differences in our cultures and home countries we were all together in this moment just enjoying the beauty of life. I am so thankful for the TEAN program for giving me the opportunity to experience such a beautiful moment and many others like it.

Going to Thailand for my study abroad was the best decision I ever made. And on top of that, choosing TEAN as my program made my experience that much better. After about a month of getting comfortable in Chiang Mai, TEAN took us on an excursion to the southern islands of Thailand. It was an all-inclusive trip that included the airfare, lodging, food, and activities we did there. They lodged us in the most amazing resort I have ever stayed in, overlooking Railey Beach in Krabi. Every morning, we got to look over the water while eating a deluxe breakfast. For one day, we went island hopping to many different islands and we were able to go snorkeling through huge schools of fish. That was the most incredible thing, being surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of colorful little fish. Because of TEAN, I was able to experience a whole different side of Thailand that I wouldn't have been able to experience in Chiang Mai.

Before this summer, I didn't think that I would be able to study abroad due to an extremely heavy class schedule. However, researching differet programs, I was able to find that TEAN's Public Health in Southeast Asia course corresponded to both my schedule and interests. TEAN was extremely helpful with all sorts of pre-trip planning (e.g. flights, Visas, and credit transfer). Once we arrived in Thailand, we were greeted by three TEAN representatives, who lived in Chiang Mai. All logistical items were handled before we even got there, so our transition was very smooth. The TEAN orientation took us all around the city and taught us key phrases and mannerisms to help integrate into the culture. Our housing was spectacular, probably better than at my home university. We lived at Uniloft, which is a hybrid dorm/apartment student-living complex that is only a 5 minute walk from the university's back gate. The complex has a great location and awesome amenities; there's 2 swimming pools, study rooms, multiple ATMs, gym, laundry service, and a 7-11. There's so many bars, restaurants, and cafes nearby (even a cat cafe!). I was really happy with how the program encouraged us to get a more authentic experience. By rooming with Thai students, we were able to learn about their favorite places to eat, local nightlife, resources on campus, how to stay polite in social interactions, and fun places to hangout. I had a great time touring the country with my roommate and was honored when he took me to his hometown to meet his family. The program really shows you the breadth of Thai society and culture. In class, we studied topics ranging from history to Buddhism, which were able to apply by visiting local temples, landmarks, and NGOs. By far, my favorite part was the Thai village home-stay. By living in a village for several days, we saw a totally different side of Thailand, the hardworking life of the rural populations.

I am so happy I chose to step out of my comfort zone and study abroad in Thailand with TEAN. The day I started my application the TEAN staff got a notification and a staff member called me right away to see if I had any questions. From then on they were so helpful answering all of my phone calls and emails and made me feel prepared for my 5 months abroad. TEAN makes sure that students get a genuine feel for the culture of Thailand, so that includes living with a Thai roommate and doing a village home-stay for a week. Living in the village was one of the highlights of my time abroad. The Thai people made us all feel so welcome and although the language barrier was tough it was amazing how we could communicate in other ways and learn about each other. Living with a Thai roomie was also really cool, they would show us the good places to get Thai food and they organized activities for us to do every month. TEAN sets up a dinner every month to check in on the students and see how we're adjusting, as well as monthly excursions and a weekend trip to Krabi which was another highlight of my time abroad. My 5 months in Southeast Asia were the happiest months of my life, I made lifelong friends with other TEAN students and have memories that I will truly cherish forever.