SHANNON WATSON
Staff Writer
Southeast Asian study abroad options are expanding.
International Programs now hopes to appeal to more students by offering a new semester program in Thailand. Scheduled for potential launch in Spring 2007, the program will be open to students of all majors. The Thailand program is not set in stone. Whether the program launches will depend on the amount of student responses, according to the I.P. office.
By working with an organization called Spring Semester in Thailand, Pepperdine will allow students to experience Thailand firsthand through an established and reputable program.
I.P. Dean Charles Hall has led four student trips to Thailand, and he hopes many students will take advantage of this new program, if implemented. International Programs intends to gauge students’ level of interest before officially putting it into place.
“If you’re going to study in another culture, you ought to choose a place that’s very, very different from your own,” Hall said. “Asia is very unfamiliar to most Americans, and the enchantment of a place like Thailand is a wonderful secret.”
Traveling overseas can provide new perspectives.
“The world is like a book,” Hall said. “If you only know your own culture, it’s as if you have read only one page. I’m excited to be able to give Pepperdine students the opportunity to experience something that will absolutely change their lives both intellectually and spiritually.”
The first three months of this 16-week program offer students the opportunity to live with a Thai family and take courses at Chiang Mai University located in northern Thailand.
Courses offered are Thai language, Thai culture and society and a study/service internship. Twelve semester units may be earned during this time.
The program also includes a 10-day educational field trip and a one-week spring break at the end of March.
During the month of April, students will relocate to the Hilltribe Resources and Development Center, which is a Christian hostel for children 120 miles from Chiang Mai.
Students will interview village leaders and attend cultural events and ceremonies. There are planned field trips to Karen, Hmong, and Lisu tribal villages.
Brief home stays with village families and various service projects mark the program’s final month. This experience allows students to earn four additional semester units through a course called “The Karen of Northern Thailand”, which includes ethnographic field research.
Hall said he never thought he would fall in love with a place like Thailand.
“Once you go and meet the people, taste the food, ride elephants through the jungle, drive a tuk-tuk, learn about Buddhism, experience a two hour Thai massage for $10, live in a Christian tribal village and work with orphans,” he said, “you will not want to leave. It is unbelievable.”
Kristin Lemmick, International Program’s marketing and recruiting coordinator, said that after the first session of info days last week quite a few people were interested in the program. She said that through this program, she hopes students find a completely different cultural and learning experience.
Many students were surprised to hear about the program.
Senior Andrew Shedlock said he wasn’t aware of the program but is glad to hear that Pepperdine is expanding the reach of its international programs.
“It sounds like an awesome place to have a program,” he said. “I think it’s cool it’s a home stay, so that you can feel immersed in the culture.”
Costs to attend include Pepperdine’s flat-rate tuition for 12 to 18 units and an International Program fee that covers room and board, airfare and educational field trips.
The 10-day educational field trip in March includes visits to cities Lampang, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Ayutthaya, Bangkok and Pattaya in Thailand.
During the home stay, students will have their own bedroom.
Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand and is located in the northern region of the country.
Applications are due by Oct. 1, 2006.
SST’s Web site www.AmazingSEAsia.com offers information specific to the program.
Dr. Michael R. Leming, a professor of sociology and Asian studies, serves as the program director. He may be contacted at springsemesterinthailand@gmail.com or by calling (506)645-6237.
09-15-2005