Greetings from Thailand! I am writing this post 3 days after our arrival and excited to share my activities and thought thus far. After a long plane ride and much needed rest at your accommodations, we were ready to immerse ourselves into Thailand. We woke up in the morning and walked over to the 7 eleven . All of us were shocked to see the number of 7/11 in one block , and thus began our late night snack runs.
The first day, we stepped into the beautiful and calming streets of Salaya to visit Mahidol University, where we would be attending lectures for the first week. As a group, we walked to the Salaya Market. Here we were able to observe the various practices regarding food safety and sustainability. We walked through the market and put are bargaining skills to the test. I had the chance to try new fruits like lychees, durian,mangosteen
and dragon fruit that I wouldn’t buy back home. While shopping around the market, we all came to realization that Thailand is very affordable. Later that evening we browsed the streets of Thailand’s and tried the mouth-watering dishes being served. Almost every street of Thailand is lively, communal , and surrounded by nice people. The menu was filled with an array of selections, and so we couldn’t resist to order many dishes. We seldom ordered fried omelets with the side of spicy vegetables when eating street food.
On our first official day of the semester, we visited the most famous city in Thailand-Bangkok! We visited the dazzling Grand Palace, home of the Thai King and administrative government. From the history, architecture, and intricate detail that pays tribute to the craftsmanship of Thai people, there was so much to take in. As an American Asian, I understood what religious and historical figures mean to people, so I was moved by the prayers and rituals being done around these figures. We also visited the Wat Pho, where we received a short, yet relaxing Thai massage. I think everyone must recieve a Thai massage once in their life! The next day, was an experience unlike any other. We visited a tuna processing company called Thai Union. I’m no food science major, but too see the work that goes into preparing a product for the consumer was incredible to witness. The staff presented us where they ship their product,(mostly in Europe) their sustainability practices like reduce overfishing, limiting food loss by creating value added products, and showing us their food safety and handling practices in the production floor. This was an unforgettable learning experience. It’s only been 3 days, and Thailand has given me memories and experiences that I can’t wait to share back home. The week isn’t over so stay tuned to hear more exciting stories.
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