I picked my program because 1. Thailand is beautiful, 2. I could fulfill my gen ed requirements easily, 3. because it was cheap. I was hoping to adventure hard for 6 months, because without "studying," I would only be allowed in Thailand for 30 days on my passport.
I was not expecting to learn about the world in so many ways. On the first day of our orientation, we learned about how to be ethical tourists, and how to react to things that surprise us. We went to a cafe that supports Shan refugees, and heard one girl's personal story. We went to an ethical elephant park and learned about the abuse many elephants go to. In class and on field trips, we learned about the complications of US intervention.
I received the adventure I was looking for, and unexpectedly learned so much about the the world.
What would you improve about this program?
Although we did have time designated to meeting local people, and had the option to live with a Thai person, I think it would be beneficial for the program if they facilitated more time getting to know local students.