Kira McLaughlin - Experience Thailand

A chance to step into a new way of living, with amazing food, welcoming people and experiences you'll never forget!

Our experience in Thailand

We worked with three different social businesses over the month. It was great to go onsite at the start of each week and learn more about what they do and what they stand for. These visits allowed us to connect with the owners and develop a true interest in producing the highest quality action project that we possibly could. At times, we were tasked with projects in areas that we had no experience in, but with each team member having a different degree background, we worked together and contributed our diverse perspectives to come up with solutions. It was always very rewarding to present the finished project on a Friday, knowing that your team collaborated together and worked hard to create something which can have a lasting benefit for these social businesses.

Think Pacific ensured that we made the most of our time in Chiang Mai by creating an action pack schedule each week. There was a great balance between work and exploration, all with a focus on team-building. The first week was solely team-building and preparation for the action projects, which I think led to our group being so tight-knit for the duration of the trip. Several nights a week, our team leaders ran "socials", which were a chance for participants to bond together at the accommodation in a more relaxed setting after a busy day. These socials included movies, spa nights, quizzes and even some karaoke. After a busy few days of action projects, we always had "Wellness Wednesday", where we took a half day and did an activity, such as Baan Kang Wat artist village or taking a Muay Thai boxing class. Each Friday we had a team dinner, where we went out and had dinner in the city. Every Saturday was jam-packed. We often got on our buses early in the morning and didn't return until late evening, but the tired feeling was the good kind after you have had a great day.

We went to the Buatong Sticky Waterfalls which we climbed up in our bare feet, getting caught in a thunderstorm while doing so, but that made it more fun! Our visit to the Doi Pui Mong Hill Tribe Village was very immersive as we had locals teach us how to make coffee and their traditional tribal fabrics, with Khao Soi for lunch. We went to a Lanna Khantoke dinner for one of our team dinners, where we had a buffet selection of traditional Thai food while being entertained by Lanna Dancers.

A memorable day out was when we went bamboo rafting down a river in the mountains. We took in the scenery around us and even went past some elephants bathing in the water. After the rafting, we went up the mountain to a hill tribe village, who cooked us a meal and showed us how to weave. We then went on a hike downhill, which ended with a waterfall. Due to the humidity, we were glad to have the opportunity to cool down, and a handful of us went swimming in the waterfall which was so much fun. The hike back up the hill again was tough, but there were elephants, snakes and viewpoints along the way!

Outside of the Think Pacific schedule, we had Sundays and some evenings to ourselves. Explore the different markets in the area, such as the Night Bazaar and the University Market. A group of us went to King Kong ziplining and it was incredible- the tallest and longest zipline in Asia! Dantewada Land of Angels is so picturesque, but make sure you do it in nice weather. The Carp Cafe is a must do. Go to a spa and get a Thai massage, roughly £7 for an hour! Definitely go to a professional Muay Thai match, I recommend going to one at Chiang Mai Boxing Stadium.

A new culture

One of the biggest things that stood out to me in Thailand was how kind and genuine people were. The lady who owned the cafe across from our accommodation was always smiling and waving when we walked past, and she was so thankful whenever we ordered food from her. On the day we left, she actually cried, which really showed how much she cared. Our tour guides were the same, they didn't just tell us about Thailand, they were really interested in hearing about where we were from and comparing the differences. They made the day tours fun and entertaining.

Something I had to get used to was how extremely polite everyone is. Bowing as a greeting or thank you felt unusual at first, but after a while it just became normal (I had to stop myself from doing it when I came home!). Eating out is also a big part of daily life there. It's so affordable that most people don't cook at home, and the restaurants are always packed with families and friends hanging out. Instead of big grocery shops like we have at home, most people buy their fresh produce from the markets, which are always lively. And then there's 7-Eleven, there's one on every street, and we ended up going nearly every day for snacks or drinks.

Facing new challenges

The hardest thing for me was adjusting to the heat initially! I remember stepping out of the airport, feeling the humidity and thinking that I was never going to be able to handle it. Even my glasses steamed up every time I stepped outside. It took a week of buying handheld fans and taking breaks inside, but we soon figured out which clothes were the most breathable. Your body definitely adjusts to it, but the key is to stay well hydrated each day.

We all felt quite nervous to go on such a long travel journey of 30+ hours, as no one had done that before. It definitely helped that we travelled as a group, as we were able to keep each other on the right track, especially during short layovers.

Making new friends

Some of us Ulster students met at the Go Global event and we met the rest in Dublin airport. We all got to know each other in departures and by the time we were getting on our flight, we were all getting on well. Us 10 Ulster students had a few days in Chiang Mai by ourselves before the project actually started. We had a great time exploring the city and really bonded. These friendships made it easier when we started the project and met other participants, as we didn't have 27 new names to learn!

There were participants from the UK, Europe and Australia. I've never seen a group of people become so close in such a short period of time. From day one we were all friends and the friendships only got stronger as the days went on. We even made good friends with our team leaders, who were a similar age to us and have been Think Pacific participants themselves.

It was very sad to say goodbye to the friends that I made in Thailand, but the reunion flights were booked before we even left the country! I have met up with my friends since and we even have concerts lined up.

Advice to Others

I would 100% recommend you to apply for Experience Thailand. If you are selected, then make the most of your time there. A month may seem long, but it goes by in the blink of an eye. Put yourself forward for everything, whether it is trying Thai food, going on hikes or joining Lanna dancers on-stage. Don't overpack, there is so much selection at the markets and you will want to have plenty of room to take things home with you!

Bring  a reusable water bottle, suncream, plenty of t-shirts and comfortable walking shoes. There's no need to bring mosquito spray from home, just get their version at 7 eleven. Try to learn some basic Northern Thai phrases before you go, such as hello and thank you, it definitely helps when communicating with the locals!