Programs in Thailand

Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that was not colonized by a European power. Consequently, the language, food, and culture are still very unique. Through study, service, and scheduled activities, your students will be able to take away an authentic view of the country.

Upon arrival, students will immediately begin to study Thai history, culture and language. Some lessons will be taught in a classroom setting while others will occur through local field trips. The basic foundation of understanding that these lessons provide will help your students enjoy and understand the culture around them in addition to building basic communication skills.

One of the first things that students are exposed to and quickly fall in love with on their trip is the food. Thai cuisine incorporates sweet, salty, sour, spicy and bitter flavors to create colorful, healthy and delicious meals that are almost always served with fragrant bowls of jasmine rice. A few common ingredients that are often used in the recipes are lemon grass, lime juice, galangal root, chili peppers, coconut milk, cumin, garlic, fish sauce and a medley of vegetables. Freshness is a paramount concern in Thai cooking which is reflected in the prevalence of daily street markets.

During day-to-day contact, service projects, and host-family stays, students will also develop a love for the Thai people. Friendships form quickly in Thailand because the people are very generous, hospitable and friendly. Their happy manner and bright laughter is just one reason that the country has been nicknamed the "Land of Smiles."

The geography in Thailand differs greatly from one region to another. For example, the southern part of the country is famous for its tropical islands while the northern landscape is covered with lush green hills and mountains that are often shrouded in clouds. Our high school groups will spend most of their time in the north, discovering the beauty of the jungle during guided treks, river rafting excursions, and a visit to the Maesa Elephant Camp.

With almost 95% of the population prescribing to the Buddhist faith, religion is a large part of Thai culture. Our groups will visit beautiful Buddhist temples and often see orange-robed monks walking bare-foot along the street with their rice bowl in the morning. Muslims constitute the second largest religious group in the area and are more heavily concentrated in the South along the Malaysian border.

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