Senior communications major and marketing minor Ella Lucas reflects on her transformative study abroad experience.
Last semester, I lived in Bangkok, Thailand, while studying at Thammasat University on a study-abroad scholarship. This was the first time I got to travel outside of the United States, not to mention my third time ever being on an airplane. I have always wanted to travel and learn about different cultures and religions, but I have never had the money nor been presented with a chance. I knew I had to apply when I saw a flier advertising a study-abroad opportunity in Thailand (along with a very large scholarship). After many applications and anticipation, I discovered I had received the scholarship! I got all of my documents in order, and I was off.
I will never forget my first day in Thailand. After over 24 hours of being on a plane, I was exhausted, to say the least. I hadn’t eaten or showered and had yet to get a Thai SIM card; without a working phone, I had to navigate the way to my apartment on foot. A very nice lady got me checked in, went to the store and bought my bedding, took me out for a hot meal, and showed me around the area. I will never forget the kindness she showed me that day when I felt so scared and alone in a new environment; I would soon find out that this level of caring is a common standard for people of Thai culture.
The country of Thailand is one of the most beautiful places in the world. I took advantage of the breaks from my school and traveled to different parts of the country as often as possible. Some of my favorite places were Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Ayutthaya. Chaing Mai is in northern Thailand. It is known for its beautiful mountains and slightly cooler weather. While visiting, I got to hike with and bathe wild elephants. It is a memory I will never forget. Phuket was very different. Surrounded by beaches and extraordinary landmarks, you will never fall short of things to do. The coolest landmark I saw was the Big Buddha, the biggest landmark in the country. Although it is very popular among tourists, many locals come to pay their respects and pray. Lastly, Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam, now an ancient and abandoned city. I learned so much about the history and culture; it was unreal to walk around the ruins and see firsthand what happened there. I loved learning about Buddhism and am still intrigued to learn even more.
I squeezed in all the learning and cultural immersion I could in six months, but I still desperately want to go back for more. I got to experience college-level learning in Bangkok, which was very educational but so much fun. I made so many friendships with local Thai students that will last a lifetime. I truly have never felt so fulfilled, and I will be chasing that feeling forever. I highly encourage Bellarmine students to apply; I know the idea of studying abroad can be daunting (especially the financial aspect of it), but this scholarship allowed me to experience everything I dreamed of and more.
You can learn more about study abroad and international programs by visiting this website, or contacting internationalstudies@bellarmine.edu.