Submitted by Matthew Geist on the 2017 winter session program in Australia and Thailand sponsored by the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics…
The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, arguably the most beautiful structure I’ve ever witnessed, provided a great first impression of Thailand. With the recent passing of the Thai King, the Temple was buzzing with monks and other Thai people wanting to pray. These immaculate structures were built over 200 years ago. Looking at how beautifully crafted they were and the precision that went into them, one would never have been able to tell. When inside the temples, visitors must take off their shoes and remain silent as a sign of respect to Buddha. Most visitors wore dark clothing, specifically black, as a tribute to the beloved King that died a few months ago.
However, not all of Thailand is as beautiful as the temples. Driving around Bangkok has exposed our group to unfathomable living conditions. Many Thai people live in shacks on the river or not in homes at all. Despite these undesirable living spaces, the Thai people make the best of what they have and always seem to be happy and upbeat. According to their Buddhist culture, Thai people believe there’s a reason for why they are where they are due to what’s occurred in their past lives. By being kind and generating good karma in their current life, Thai people believe they will be better off in their future lives.