At the Bangkok Airport, there is a convenient taxi station with dozens of taxis waiting to take you anywhere in Thailand. The fare for the taxi to the residence was very cheap, about 300 baht or 10 dollars US. I arrived late at night and checked in with security because the front desk was closed.  In the  morning I filled out the paperwork and paid the deposit and first month’s rent. The staff gave me a quick tour of the premises. The amenities such as the pool and fitness center were very convenient; they excel well beyond what I expected for the amount of rent I am paying.

I went shopping for necessities such as kitchen ware and food. I got a new SIM card for my International phone of which I acquired on a previous vacation to Australia in 2008.

Everything is so cheap! I am looking forward to tomorrow very much!

This first week in Thailand has been exciting and interesting. I have had the opportunity to travel amidst Bangkok via the well-designed public transportation routes easily and quickly.

I have completed my first week of studies. The classes I will be attending this semester are as follows:

1. Business Strategy
2. Man and the Environment
3. International Business Management
4. Politics of the Government of Thailand

Also, I have made many friends from many countries. The other exchange students and I are eager to learn and travel during our time here in Thailand. This weekend I have a trip planned with three other Finnish students to travel to northeast Thailand to visit Khao Yai National Park, Ratchasima, Phimai and Phanom Rung.

Wish me luck.

This week I went to Khoa Yai National Park (World Heritage Site) and Phimai Historical Park. Three gentlemen and myself rented a vehicle from the airport and I drove about 600 miles roundtrip to the National Park and then to the ruins in Phimai Historical Park. It is recommended that before traveling to Thailand that an international drivers license is acquired from AAA ($15 US). The rental car cost 1100 Thai Baht per day ($35 US) and total of 1600 Thai Baht ($50 US) for fuel . Divided by four people this was very cheap means of transportation.  Khoa Yai National Park cost 400 Thai Baht ($13 US) and the Historical Park cost 100 Thai Baht ($3 US).  It took three days to complete this trip.

The first day we rented the vehicle and then drove to the National Park. The park was full of monkeys, deer and elephants. The park also has tigers and snakes but these creatures are more elusive and we did not see any of these.  The park is full of hiking trails and magnificent waterfalls, many of which are easily accessible. That night we stayed in Korat at a hotel suggested by the guide book Lonely Planet “Discover Thailand”. The rented two rooms for 700 Baht each room divided by two people per room for an individual price of 350 Thai Baht ($9 US).

The second day we kept the room and drove to Phimai Historical Park. Phimai had a historical park with ruins dating back to the 12^th century. These ruins were built almost a thousand years ago and are still standing (impressive). The Cambodians conquered this area in the 12th century and destroyed parts of this site. The historical importance of this area is quite obvious due to the age alone and the care of which it is preserved. Khao Yai National Park was very wild as there were wild gibbons, tigers, deer and elephants. The park is full of hiking trails and magnificent waterfalls, many of which are easily accessible. The park is often visited by travelers from Bangkok. We returned to the hotel in Korat to sleep that night.

The third day we woke early and drove back to the airport and returned the vehicle.

I have visited the Grand Palace of Thailand. This was a free trip provided by the business department at Chulalongkorn University for international students. The Grand Palace is a complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. The palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam since 1782. The Grand Palace is nowadays used only for occasional ceremonial purposes and is no longer the royal residence. Admission to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Central Court of the Grand Palace is 400 Baht (13.00 USD).

I visited the island of Koh Larn located near Pattaya. This Island was very tourist oriented and was overcrowded by holiday vacationers from Bangkok. Not really the best Thailand has to offer. My trip to Pattaya and the island of Koh Larn was interesting as it was my first trip out of Bangkok. Pattaya is a beach resort area popular with tourists and expatriates. I observed that there were many Russians in this area. It is located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km southeast of Bangkok. A bus trip to this area from Bangkok cost 200 baht or about 7 US Dollars. Koh Larn is not far from Pattaya City, only approximately 7.5 kilometers out to sea, as visitors can see the island from Pattaya Beach. Koh Larn’s Beaches are very beautiful with white sand and clear waters, a nice relief from Bangkok.

I took a trip to the islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Samui. Ko Phangan is an island in the Gulf of Thailand in South East Thailand, and located in Surat Thani Province. It is famous for its full moon party at Haad Rin Beach. I especially enjoyed snorkeling off the coast of a small peninsula off the northeast quadrant of Koh Phangan. The area was Koh Ma. The islands of Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Samui were quite relaxing and the islands reminded me of the San Juan Islands in Washington State. Koh Pha Ngan is an island in the Gulf of Thailand in Southeast Thailand, and located in the Surat Thani Province. It is famous for its full moon party at Haad Rin Beach and as a backpacker’s destination. Koh Samui is a resort area and has abundant white sandy beaches, coral reefs and coconut trees. My travel to this area included a plane ride to Surat Thani then a bus ride to Don Sak and a ferry to Koh Pha Ngan. The total cost incurred for transportation was approximately 2400 baht or 80 US Dollars for a one way trip. Ko Samui island was more of a relaxation place for me and I stayed at a very nice resort using my parents timeshare.

I have played golf several times at local courses in Bangkok. Golf here is very interesting as you are required to attain a course caddy. The fees are similar from course to course. I usually play on Mondays which is generally a discount day. The green fee is usually 1000 baht (33.33USD) and the caddy is generally 300 baht (10USD). The courses are usually well maintained.

First week, I endured Midterms which were pretty standard except that they were mostly essay questions as opposed to the traditional multiple choice questions I have come to become very familiar with. The classes that I am taking this semester are half business and the other half electives since I need electives to fulfill my degree plan. I have only received a grade for my class in international business management and I received a grade of B. I studied for this exam but still had some trouble with the essays due to the fact that I am used to multiple choice. My other exams have not been graded yet. The school has a uniform policy and an attendance policy. Both policies are enforced but seem to be quite flexible as far as strictness goes. Thai culture is very easy going.

The following week I visited the area of Krabi. I really enjoyed my trip to Krabi and Phuket as there were many amazing limestone karsts in the Andaman Sea. Krabi is a town on the west coast of southern Thailand at the mouth of the Krabi River where it empties in Phangnga Bay. Phuket is one of Thailand's premier tourist destinations. It is most popular due to the tropical beaches and unreal scenic islands surrounding.This was a wonderful experience. I intend to travel there again before I leave. The flights to Krabi cost 3777 baht (125 USD). I enjoyed a full week here and the scenery was amazing in Ton Sai Railay and Koh Phi Phi. Ton Sai is a very cheap area with rock climbing the beach was quite rocky for swimming but the rock formations were absolutely beautifully carved from the erosion of the limestone over millions of years. Railay was very nice, they had some more pricey accommodations but in the off season they were quite affordable. The best way to travel is with a few friends to split the cost of accommodations. In Ton Sai accommodations were rugged but they only cost about 300 baht (10 USD) for a cottage with two single beds.  In Railay we got a much nicer cottage with a king size bed and a removable cot for 2700 baht (90 USD) per night but it was a beautiful cottage with all the amenities, keep in mind this was split between three people. Koh Phi Phi was nice as it is an island as opposed to a peninsula like Ton Sai and Railay but I think the atmosphere was more fun on the peninsula. Koh Phi Phi is very popular for the movie “The Beach” with Leonardo Dicaprio. In this area we did a boat charter which brought us snorkeling, hiking and to the area where “The Beach” was filmed. This long-tail boat charter cost 250 baht (9 USD) per person but we had a group of 8 people so we got a little discount. All of these areas had monkeys galore as well as amazing sunsets. Basic English is widely spoken, especially in the beach areas. Phuket is a melting pot of Buddhists, Thai-Chinese, Muslims and even sea gypsies. Airfare to Phuket cost 3360 baht or 112 US Dollars.

The third week I enjoyed a bit of golf with another fellow exchange student from Finland. The best courses I have played here are called “Thana City” and “Krungthep Kreeta”. I have played mostly cheaper courses and these are the best by far. I always look at a website called ThaiGolfer for all of my course information prior to deciding where to play. If you play golf here it is suggested that you always visit the courses official website and choose a day of the week that they are offering a promotion.

Myself and a friend from Germany made a trip to Kanchanaburi for one week. Kanchanaburi National Park was a short trip from Bangkok and was a nice retreat vacation area from the hectic Bangkok City.  Travel to Kanchanaburi was most practical by bus and departed from the North Station. The bus cost 400 baht or 13 US Dollars for a one way fare. You can acquire a bus directly to the National Park. In Kanchanaburi I visited a tiger temple and participated in elephant bathing. Kanchanaburi, which is located where the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai rivers converge into the Mae Klong river. Its location at the edge of a mountain range keeps it much cooler than the other provinces of central Thailand. There was also the Erawan Waterfalls National Park with astonishing waterfalls and hiking trails.

I met a friend from Hawaii who is doing missionary work in Indonesia. Visiting Indonesia was great as I arrived in Bali and took a small trip to Komodo National Park to see the Komodo Dragons and do some snorkeling in the most amazing coral habitat I have ever witnessed. Bali is the largest tourist destination in Indonesia and is renowned for its highly developed arts, including traditional and modern dance, sculpture, painting, leather, metalworking, and music.

On the way to indonesia I visited Singapore. My trip to Singapore was a return to a truly developed country as it was very organized and modern. The country is highly urbanized with very little primary rainforest remaining. Singapore is a very diverse and young country. It has many languages, cultures and religions for a country its size. While in Singapore I visited multiple botanical gardens, took a boat cruise, saw china town and visited one of the casinos. Airfare to Singapore cost 4500 baht or 150 US dollars. I then took a plane from Singapore directly to Bali costing 2100 baht or 70 US Dollars.

I have finished all of my exams. As I stated earlier about the midterms, the exams are much more based on essay format as opposed to multiple choice. One of my classes did not have any other grades except the final exam and the final was all essay questions. The exams are 3 hours long, similar to the normal class periods at Chulalongkorn. I believe I did well on the exams. I have an advantage, this is that I am a native English speaker and writer which improves my ability to write essays in an English based class. The final grades are scheduled to be posted on December 19th.

My trip to Bangkok, Thailand was full of exciting new adventures. When I decided to study abroad I wanted to expand my knowledge of the world by actually being there, seeing it, touching it, and experiencing it. This is how a person can understand the world in a direct and comprehensive way. Studying and living in a different culture has helped me see the world from a completely different perspective. It was an amazing experience that will certainly change my life. Traveling outside the country has shown me how America affects and fits into all of humanity. From the vantage point of someone else’s culture I have truly seen my own cultural identity. My newly acquired skills will strengthen my resume in an increasingly ethnically and culturally diverse workforce. During my stay in Thailand there were many highlights as I visited Pattaya, Koh Larn, Koh Pha Ngan, Koh Samui, Krabi, Phuket, Kanchanaburi, Khao Yai National Park, and Phimai. I also travelled outside of Thailand to Singapore and Indonesia. There were many exchange students travelling extensively and it was easy to find travel companions. I have had the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures. This study abroad has given me the opportunity to meet others with which I expected to have no common ground, and then I discovered that, despite being from different parts of the globe, we had much in common and much to learn from one another. These relationships, insights, and outlooks were a critical part of my study abroad experience.

My parents came to Thailand for vacation for 3 weeks after my final exams.

We visited Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya was the second capital of Thailand and had a large quantity of temples and Buddha Statues. Ayutthaya became the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai. Ayutthaya is just an hour and half drive from the center of Bangkok. It remains characterized by the temple towers and gigantic monasteries which gave me an idea of this areas past splendors. To travel to Ayutthaya I would recommend a small shuttle bus that departs from Victory Monument and cost about 90 baht or 3 US dollars.

We also visited Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai was very cultural and relaxing as it was located in the far north of Thailand. I discerned that Chiang Mai is the largest and most culturally significant city in Northern Thailand. Chiang Mai is also a city within the large province of Chiang Mai. In recent years, Chiang Mai has become an increasingly modern city and has been attracting over 5 million visitors each year. During this trip I visited for a second time a tiger temple and an elephant preserve. I also visited an amazing temple called Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. Travel to Chiang Mai was relatively cheap at 1800 baht or 60 US Dollars.

This is some information to help with the travel plans to Thailand for future students.

After you get accepted to the school of your choice in Thailand, the university will normally assign you a Thai buddy. This buddy is assigned with the task of assisting you in your initial period of transitioning. They should help orient you with the university and help you acquire the uniforms and get your phone online.

When picking your residence in Thailand, I would recommend Nonsi Residence. But this is just a preference. My opinion is based on the ability to live without sharing a bedroom and the social areas are quite convenient for meeting and relaxing afterhours. In comparison, the Evergreen residence appears to be much newer and nicer but you must share rooms with other students and there really are no common areas for socializing. If you decide to live outside the provided residences, you could find a great place with a great location but this is difficult prior to arriving. Also the relationships I have formed with the other students in my housing are invaluable as my international networking has increased significantly.

When I first arrived, I got a SIM card to enable my international phone to work in Thailand.  This cost me 100 Baht and I had to pick it up at MBK (A great cheap shopping center very close to Chulalongkorn) because they configured my phone for Thailand. If you have a phone that works overseas (GSM format) then you can buy your SIM card at any 7-11 Minimart. Data is very cheap here so bring your smartphone if it is GSM enabled. Phone calls to the USA are best made on Skype but are still affordable on your phone using prepaid minutes.

At school, we wear a uniform which is uncommon for me but it becomes very nice because you don’t have to pick out an outfit before leaving the house. I purchased my uniform at MBK shopping center near Chulalongkorn University. The uniform may seem awkward at first but it is perfectly normal after one week of attending school. If you can bring some black dress shoes with you because nice shoes here are not very cheap.

Studies are pretty laid back for exchange students because the faculty understands the nature of travelling abroad and being curious by exploring the area and trying new things. The cost of textbooks here are very cheap. Many times the author is your professor. The books usually cost around 1000 baht (33.33 USD). The classes run one day a week and are 3 hours long. Usually the professor gives a long break at about the halfway point. Every class usually has a group project where the students are half exchange students half Thai students. This promotes cultural integration in the classroom. There are several school holidays throughout the semester for Buddhism and for the Royal Thai Family. For instance we have off from school for the king’s birthday.

Don’t worry about transportation. Once in Thailand the best way to get around is by taxi, motorbike taxi, metro and plane. Travelling within Bangkok is cheapest generally by normal taxi. Be sure the  taxi driver knows where you are going before you enter. Also make sure they use the taxi meter to calculate the cost. These taxis should be very cheap, about 100 baht (3.33 USD) anywhere you want to go in Bangkok. Many taxi drivers here ask for a set amount, this is not a good thing to allow, just leave and find another taxi. Travelling outside of Bangkok is good by bus or plane. I would take a plane if travelling to Chiang Mai or Southern Thailand as the bus and train can take a very long time and can be uncomfortable. If travelling to Pattaya, or Khao Yai or Kanchanaburi National Parks then a bus would be appropriate.

There are many opportunities to travel, especially after you make some friends also studying abroad. Many students from Europe attend school here as well as from Singapore and Japan. Most students I have met travel intensively throughout the semester. You may have to juggle traveling with your classes a few times to accommodate your priorities. Traveling is made quite easy with AirAsia. You should become familiar with their website before leaving your home school. There are many promotions and they usually run a couple of months before the travel period. Airfare is generally like the Hawaiian Airlines Island Hopper rates except you travel further at the same price. You can generally travel anywhere in Southeast Asia for about 100 USD roundtrip. I would recommend Halong Bay in Vietnam or Komodo National Park for snorkeling and diving in Indonesia (as well as seeing Komodo Dragons).

Food is much cheaper than the food in Hawaii. I like to eat at reputable places because some of the really cheap street food here in Thailand can get you really sick. Budgets for food can range from 3000 baht/month to 15000 baht/month depending on your budget and preferences. I generally spend more on food because I have gotten sick twice eating unreliable food from street vendors.

By participating in this study in Thailand, I have gained a global perspective and feel ready to meet the challenges of the future, as a person and as a leader. This is something that can be a real boost for my resume, and for my personal learning experience. This has enabled many global career opportunities. I feel I have really built a bridge between myself and Southeast Asia, and I now have friends all over the world. This has been an opportunity to be an individual, as well as a representative of my culture, and to encourage positive understanding of global diversity. After studying abroad, I am confident that my travels will have a profound influence on my career or personal goals.