(https://www.mappr.co/counties/thailand-provinces-map/)
In my recent blog posts, I have discussed the different aspects of traveling in relation to being a college student, specifically studying abroad and inexpensive vacations. Now, I want to look at one of the most critical aspects of a college student’s life: internships. Whether you have an internship to learn more about a specific field or gain skills within your intended field of work, an internship is essential in building your professional life and your career. However, I want to look beyond that: an internship is impressive, but what about internships abroad? That is what I will be discussing today, and specifically in Thailand.
Thailand, home to more than 67 million people, is a country that places emphasis on nature and agriculture. Life in Thailand revolves around the monarchy through royal functions, state ceremonies, and popular festivals that preserve heritage. Beyond that, Buddhism is an important aspect of Thai culture, and that is shown through national events held in honor of Buddha. I went to Thailand myself a few years back and was completely astonished- they have done an amazing job of preserving the nature and culture of Thailand while becoming modernized at the same time. I tried local Thai cuisine (definitely better than takeout), tried authentic Thai outfits, and learned more about their culture by visiting local temples. Quite often, we lose touch with our roots through modernization, but Thailand combines them for a wonderful and enriching experience.
Interning in Thailand provides you with the opportunity to expand your knowledge both academically and culturally. You will be gaining experience in a respective field but your time in the country will allow you to gain a new perspective because of your new exposure. Thailand provides several opportunities for internships- if you are going into medicine, you may be interested in a medical internship. Doctors without Borders, a nonprofit organization focused on providing healthcare in underserved areas, has a branch in Thailand and has internship opportunities. If you are going into social justice, you might be interested in a volunteer-based internship. If you are going into business, there are opportunities for entrepreneurship internships. If you are interested in education, there are opportunities to teach English in different regions. You will become more open-minded towards your field, because academic fields vary from country to country, allowing you to become equipped to handle all kinds of tasks.
There is one important aspect to take into consideration: when will you get another chance? The world is constantly moving around us, and sometimes we forget that we don’t need to move as fast. It is important to take advantage of the time we have now: college is about exploration and learning about yourself, and that aspect of internships is always overlooked. When you are working post-college, your priorities are different- taxes, deadlines, running a house- and that chance for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slips away. Take advantage of your time now and use it to create beautiful memories, ones that you will always want to look back on.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/place/Thailand/Housing#ref52668
This is so interesting. Most people just study abroad in Europe or Spain, but an internship in a different country sounds amazing. You would get so much information on that specific culture, and have an amazing experience. It also sounds like there are so many possible internships you identified in Thailand. Definitely, this would be a great idea if you were hoping to do international work. in your career. Also, a great reminder that we have to seize new opportunities, especially if we can build a great resume out of it!
I was really captivated by this post – specifically your introduction and conclusion paragraphs. Flair was extremely present and it left me hooked and interested. I really love the way that you describe the places you visit along with the variety of things you immersed yourself in. I personally have Thailand at the top of my travelling bucket list, so this post was really relevant for me. I definitely finished this post thinking of the questions and points you posed at the end, as it’s a good reminder for me. I’d love to see some pictures of you or the things you tried in future posts – it sounds amazing! Great job!