Bangkok to Phuket: An Immersion in Thai Culture

This past May, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Thailand. Our objective was to study the effects of natural hazards within a developing country. Our class partnered with Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand. Similar to Penn State, Kasetsart University (KU) is a land grant agricultural institution. We traveled through Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Phuket, and Sukhothai, Thailand. Professor Passakorn, our lead professor from KU, included several of his students to travel with us throughout our stay in Thailand. Having the opportunity to travel and make friends with the KU students was one of the highlights of the trip. They were instrumental in helping us navigate our way through Thailand. Their assistance included helping us order food, negotiating prices at the street markets, translating daily interactions, and serving as ambassadors for Thai culture. Our Thai colleagues really had our backs the entire trip and truly enriched our experience. I could not imagine this study abroad experience without them.

I am certain that I would not have had the same level of cultural immersion as a tourist visiting on vacation.During the trip, we met with members and rescuers involved in the cave rescue of the Thai boys soccer team. In the morning, our class met Dr. Chaipron Siripornpibul, a KU professor of geoscience who was instrumental in helping to pump the water out of the cave using his esoteric knowledge of caves. Later in the day we met with Vern, a British cave diver, and Josh, who is also a cave diver but fluent in both English and Thai. The opportunity to meet with and learn from these experts in their fields was an extraordinary opportunity. The advice they shared with us was so applicable to all aspects of life.

Again, I am convinced the experiences I had in Thailand and the friendships I’ve made would not have been possible on a family vacation. The study abroad experience is a uniquely structured and tailored program that is not duplicated anywhere outside of the academic setting.

Reflecting on the educational components of the trip, I learned so much about the science of natural disasters and its devastating effects on the country. We visited Patong Beach, where we explored the town investigating tsunami evacuation signs. We quickly discovered that signs were not as clear as they should be and more needed to be located throughout the town. Since Patong Beach is a young, lively beach town, my class thought of several ways to improve tsunami safety provisions. Ideas ranged from building tsunami safety towers closer to the shore, converting the rooftops of many of the hotels into safe zones, and incorporating pathways of flashing lights to help aid people in evacuating the area.

Throughout the trip I conducted an independent project on how the 2011 flood affected various animal populations including wildlife, livestock, and companion animals. After touring Kasetsart University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, I learned how the number of stray dogs exponentially increased after the flood. It is clear Thailand, a Buddhist country, is battling with how to ethically manage the overpopulation of stray dogs. The majority of Thai people are against euthanasia since Buddhist people have a deep sense of respect for all life, but they also understand the issues resulting in the overpopulation of strays.

Personally, touring KU Faculty of Veterinary Medicine was one of the most memorable experiences. As an aspiring veterinarian, I was thrilled to have seen firsthand how a southeast Asian country practices veterinary medicine and I was honored to have met with world renowned doctors at the KU Veterinary School. This experience has allowed me to witness a different perspective to veterinary medicine and has further validated my decision in applying to veterinary school and choosing this career path.

I was interested in taking a course that was specifically outside the realm of my major hoping to diversify my experiences and to learn something totally unfamiliar. One of the many benefits of attending a large university like Penn State is having the opportunity to learn from experts in almost every field of academia imagined. I would encourage other students to enroll in an embedded study abroad course outside their major to obtain a broad range of experiences.

I think there is a huge value to studying abroad and many experiences to be had, that are not possible within the confines of one’s college campus. My greatest takeaway from studying abroad is that I gained a deeper sense of cultural awareness and connection with the bigger universe that we all share. I now have a greater appreciation for different cultures and traditions, and a desire to learn more. I now see how massive the world is, but how connected we are as inhabitants of this great earth. Making friends with and learning about Thai culture through the lens of KU students brought this course to life. Not many people have this opportunity and I am overjoyed to have had this experience. If given the opportunity, I would do it all over again!