Tufts Blogs

I was not sure what to expect when I landed in Thailand. I knew my instructors would be there to welcome me, but the rest was unclear. I knew no Thai, and that was what stressed me out the most. However, all of my worries and fears melted away as I adjusted during my first week. Part of the Civic Semester program is having an in-country orientation where your instructors help you adjust to living in a new country and balancing classes. During that first week, we learned about cultural norms and some cultural shocks we might experience. Our instructor showed us around the area where we would be for the first six weeks.

The hardest part for the first couple of weeks was trying to absorb as much of the language as possible because I just wanted to be able to speak Thai. Getting used to driving on the other side of the road was tricky, and we were warned that people did not stop when you tried to cross the street (it's actually terrifying). I also had to get used to drinking only from water bottles because the tap water in Thailand was not drinkable. However, there were many things that were easy to get used to. Eating healthy and fresh food, even at restaurants, was incredible, and having a fresh fruit market about a five-minute walk away from where we were living was dangerous. It was also amazing to be able to take a twenty-minute taxi ride and be at the foot of a mountain that you could hike. It didn't take long to get used to being in a city surrounded by mountains and temples. In Chiang Mai alone, there were over one hundred temples, which meant that it was very likely you would pass one while going for a walk.

The most important thing when adjusting to a new environment is to go in with an open mind and curiosity because that is how I was able to fully immerse myself in the culture and traditions. Not being scared to try things you would normally not do and allowing yourself to step out of your comfort zone is not only how you learn about the traditions but also how you grow as a person.