Submitted by Erin Malley on the 2020 winter session program in Australia and Thailand sponsored by the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics…
I’ve been in Thailand for one week now and feel like I’m finally adjusting to their everyday life. I didn’t know what to expect of life here in Thailand, but I was very excited to start learning about and experiencing the culture. The first full day here, we jumped right into it. Our group visited the Grand Palace in Bangkok, an area filled with beautiful temples and statues. On this tour, we learned about the history of the Grand Palace and got to see a more in-depth look at the Buddhist religion. It was so interesting to see the impact the country’s history has on the culture and the significance it still holds today. Another excursion our group took was to the floating markets about an hour outside of Bangkok. This was an experience I’ll never forget, being able to see unique, handcrafted goods being sold by boat on the rivers of Thailand. I’ve noticed that the way of life here is a lot different than in the United States. Thais are much more connected with their culture and strive to maintain traditions. Everyone I’ve encountered, from tour guides to market vendors, truly values kindness and positivity. I can understand now why it’s called the country of smiles!
