Thailand for 4 Weeks!!

Thailand : Study Abroad!!

Yesterday, November 13th, 2007 at 5pm SPT, I settled into my chair in room 210 of the BMU Chico State Campus. I was extremely excited to learn all that I needed to know about next summer's study abroad program for my Cross Cultural Theme.

Dr. Altier was the main presenter of this information night. He has traveled to Thailand for the last six years and has helped organize a study abroad program since last summer. The program will be able to take 15 to 20 students to Thailand this summer and offer three courses that fit into the Cross Cultural Theme. The number of spaces are limited because we will be completing our courses along with 10 to 20 Thai students already in Thailand.

I was able to view a slide show with pictures of the terrain, Thai foods, and Bangkok, (the city where students will land). Most of the pictures of the landscape were of green rice fields that are hand-plowed by the farmers. Some of the rice fields grow so tall, they reach over the heads of the students! The landscape is amazing. The royal family there has requested that Parliament create laws protecting the forest in Thailand and Parliament has done so. Even though this is true, a lot of the forests have been destroyed. I must say, I did see some interested and not appetizing (to my American taste buds) foods in Dr.Altier's slides. That is not to say that I am adventurous and try them anyway.

So, the journey will start out in Bangkok and the students will travel to Chang Mai where they will spend most of their time at the University. On weekends, they will take field trips around Thailand to farms, see tigers and elephants (all of which are in captivity), and also participate in a home-stay in a remote village in Thailand.

The location of Chang Mai may sound controversial to you, as I was the largest areas of Opium production and some people still refer to it as the "Golden Triangle." However, Opium production has stopped in this area, so drug lords and that sort of business shouldn't alarm you!

There will be two courses offered in Thailand as well as one course offered next Spring to teach you about the customs and what-not-to-do while in Thailand.

If you're as excited as I am about this experience, you can pick up an application from the Study Abroad office on Chico State Campus the week after Thanksgiving to get things started for next summer. The cost will be less than 4,000 dollars, which is a deal since this covers your flight, accommodations while in Thailand, but does not cover food. Food is extremely cheap there (less than 2 $ a meal) and sometimes, the locals will even feed you!