Submitted by Aderonke Solanke on the 2017 winter session program in Thailand and Myanmar sponsored by the Department of Leadership…
It’s amazing how much Thailand causes you to be naturally happy. The peace and tranquility all around Chiang Mai is not only beautiful, but consuming. Besides going to temples, doing nature walks, and hiking mountains, you can find joy within the culture and the people. Talking to the locals also bring a great insight into their life. One of them brought to my attention how they don’t honk their horns while driving. They said everyone is peacefully driving to their destinations; there’s no road rage. Compared to back home in the United States, everyone’s in a rush to get to their destination and you can’t help, but to have rage during the ride. During this week, some of us went trekking on a mountain for three hours and found a waterfall. It was a difficult challenge, but it was also a great team building/bonding experience. Each adventure we did this week allowed us to see the beautiful city, inside and out, and understand more of the culture and religion.