Culture Ecology and Community semester in Thailand

I think the ISDSI program is unique among study abroad programs in that you get the opportunity to explore all over the country. At the beginning of the semester, you are based in Chiang Mai, which is a really cool city with lots to do. You get to be truly immersed in Thai culture by staying with a host family and spending a significant portion of every school day learning Thai. But for the other courses in the semester you get to travel to northern Thailand to hike in the mountains and southern Thailand to stay on the coast and kayak to islands. During my semester we also got to go to Laos as part of the rivers course.
I would highly recommend this semester to anyone that is interested in how people interact with their environment. We got to learn hands on by speaking to local people about the different ways they relied on the forests, rivers, or coasts. This semester does not really focus on sciences like biology (although you will learn identification of some plants and animals from the host families you stay with) but rather on cultural anthropology.
I definitely made lasting friends that I still keep in touch with, years later and I hope to be able to go back and visit Thailand and my host family! I would recommend this program to anyone that loves outdoor activities and has the itch to travel. Thailand is one of the most beautiful countries I have been to.

ISDSI's program offered an abundance of opportunities to immerse oneself in the language, culture, and environment. The people we worked with left a lasting impact on the ways I perceived my surroundings, and strengthened and shaped my overall worldview. Perhaps my favorite part was getting to learn Thai as a way of asking to be let into a different world in which we did not "belong".

I hope to go back to visit some of the people I met in this program, and hope to have lasting relationship with them for life.

This program is like none other. It immerses you into Thai culture so you actually learn and live like local people.

Field courses are challenging and basically you will learn quickly to accept things you can't change, eat what you don't want, and appreciate what you have.

There are no nicer people than Thais. I wouldn't change my experience at all.

If you have the chance to come here, do it. It will challenge you in many ways constantly, but you will grow immensely from this experience. It is humbling and amazing to be in this culture and get to maneuver around Thailand as a local. This program is the only one that makes sure you are treated as a local and not a tourist in Thai culture.

ISDSI is a really great program for those who are interested in learning about complex issues of both environment and culture in an entirely experiential way. It is a very immersive experience which allows students to experience Thai culture in a unique way by emphasizing language skills and integration with you host family and others that you meet. This hands-on approach allows students to take charge of their own education and explore personal interests within the realm of sustainable development. Well trained and staff are welcoming and make everything run smoothly.

This program is incredible. It was challenging; it pushed me beyond what I thought I was capable of doing...and I came out with a better understanding of who I am, what I believe, and what I want to do with my life. The teachers and instructors really care about the students and really work hard to provide you with the best possible learning environment. And I felt like I was part of a family, which was especially important during those days that I longed to be back in the states. I am not going to say that it was an easy semester, but I will tell you that this program was pivotal in my life. I would not be where I am today and doing the things I am doing if I hadn't been apart of ISDSI. Thank you!!

ISDSI's well-organized program is designed for a student from any discipline. In fact, one of its greatest strengths is that it brings together scientists, writers, and political scientists, among others, to learn together as a cohort. The common bond is that they care about sustainability. Undoubtedly, most of what I learned in Thailand was enhanced by the group I learned it with.

The best part of the program for me was the significant time we spent outdoors and its focus on outdoor leadership. ISDSI does not require you to be an advanced hiker, camper, kayaker, or mountain climber. The program meets you where you are and helps you challenge yourself.

My second favorite aspect was the well-planned academic programming. From the history of Thailand to Thai culture to the many ethnic minorities to the changing economic climate among the ASEAN countries, I left with a life-long fascination with the history of southeast Asia, and a much better understanding of the regional politics.

When I selected this program, I was studying Spanish. I worried that choosing a non-Spanish speaking country would inhibit my long-term goal of going to the U.S. Peace Corps in a Spanish-speaking country (which I did--Guatemala). In the end, the choice was actually empowering. Learning a completely different language in a short period of time (4-6 months) was very empowering. I found I was able to quickly return to my Spanish and, at times, tried to learn the two languages side-by-side. So, if you're focused on improving your language skills by studying abroad, considering a new language like Thai.

Since leaving the program, I've gone on to be a Peace Corps volunteer, a community organizer, a policy analyst, and now an attorney. Not a week goes by that I don't discuss Thailand with someone. To study abroad through ISDSI was the best choice I made in college. Consider it.

ISDSI has an amazing program for students interested in development, social issues, environmental issues, biology, anthropology/sociology, outdoor ed/recreation, sustainable agriculture, and more! Each course looks at a different environmental and social issue in Thailand, giving you hands on experience. This is not a study abroad program where you just take classes at another university. You take "classes" from nationals in a remote village, or from a government official in a National Park or district office, or from a NGO worker at their project. Regardless of your background/major, ISDSI prepares you to excel not only in field courses, but also in Thai culture. While unconventional teaching methods can be difficult to adjust to, what you learn is much more valuable and is (in my opinion) much more than if you were to just take classes at a university.

This program is a phenomenal way to experience local community life in a foreign country. They has done an exceptional job forming partnerships with both urban organizations and rural villages that are a part of the program. My experience was beyond what I expected, and post-graduation I am back visiting friends and family all around northern Thailand whom I know I will be close to for the rest of my life. Learning Thai language allows students to engage with people freely and form self-directed relationships. This program is also great for people who want experience with team building and expedition skills in the outdoors (day hikes and overnights, sea kayaking and snorkeling etc.) ISDSI uses models of experiential education and other National outdoor leadership school principles. Thailand is a very tidy and conservative culture... I felt safe at all times wearing the clothes I was told to wear. All aspects of Thai culture were explained to us, and we had many resources to ask questions of Thai instructors and other Thai staff at the school. The school is a wondErful mix of "p's" (or older brother/sister- somewhat like a trip leader) who are both Thai and from the USA, fostering a wonderful supportive community of understanding of the ways student might be feeling during transitions and "culture shock", and also a wonderful network of Thai mentors who are willing to help and answer questions. All become great friends. Other highlights included cross fit workouts while living in the city at crossfit chiang mai, these were a part of the program. The housing was a perfect balance with 5 weeks in host families in the city, and the rest of the time was mixed with village housing and apartments in the city for some time to feel what it is like to live on our own in chiang mai. My favorite part was my internship as a part of the integrative Cultural Research Project during which I worked with a social enterprise Akha Ama coffee. I know I will be working with this organization on and off for the rest of my life. I am so grateful for this experience! Choose ISDSI!