Office of Study Abroad

Profile: Hannah Lustig '25

Major/minor: Anthropology Major and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies minor

Study abroad program: Development Studies and Internship in Chiang Mai (MSID), Spring 2024

Reason you chose this program: As an anthropology major, I wanted to spend a semester in a place where I could be completely out of my comfort zone. I wanted every experience to be new and to truly be immersed in a new culture. I had always wanted to travel to Thailand for the nature, culture, opportunity to learn about Buddhism, and the food-- I mean, who doesn't love Thai food? I chose the MSID program because I liked the community engagement aspect, chance to do an internship/research, opportunities for group visits to various sites/villages, language class, and for the experiential learning model. I did not want to do an exchange program, and I loved how close I was able to become with my peers. The MSID program model seemed to truly care about having a positive relationship with surrounding communities, and that was super important to me coming in as an outsider. Additionally, I was interested in the option to study Human Rights in a new place. Overall, the MSID program seemed to give me the greatest opportunity to experience life in a new context without being on my own.

Favorite classes: My favorite class was definitely Thai class! Coming to Thailand was definitely nerve-wracking, and my biggest concern was the language barrier. Thai is an infamously hard language to learn as a foreigner, but having three hours of Thai class every day really allowed me to feel like I was putting in the work to immerse myself in my host community. It was important for me to learn as much Thai as possible during the semester, as I did not want to make others feel as though they were catering to me as a foreigner. Thai class was fun and my Ajaan (teacher) was incredibly helpful. The classes were small to ensure optimal learning, and we learned vocabulary that was relevant to our daily lives in Chiang Mai. I would notice that saying just a few words in Thai would instantly help someone warm up to me. Being able to have conversations in Thai at markets, in taxis, and at 7/11 was super helpful and allowed me to feel closer to the culture.

How did you incorporate your Brandeis areas of study into your study abroad experience? As an Anthropology major, every aspect of study abroad is relevant. I used the lens of cultural relativism to ensure that I went in without judgement or false expectations, and had a completely open mind. I got to learn about many aspects of a completely new culture (including religion) and met many individuals whose stories were relevant to my studies. The program took us to more rural/Indigenous villages which helped me learn about the mosaic of cultures within Thailand, and I even got to present on my own independent research about Aging in Modern Thailand and Student Social Movements in Thailand. Additionally, I plan to pursue a career in the non-profit sector and I was able to learn a lot about human rights and social justice in Southeast Asia, sustainable international development, and working at an NGO abroad.

Housing situation: We lived in a hotel residence not far from the walled Old City. All of the students lived in the same building, each with our own rooms. This provided a chance to rest after long days and to have a break from social interactions. Having my own space was really beneficial, and living down the hall from my peers facilitated spending a lot of time together. We were right next to an incredible little market (Gat Boribun) where we went almost every day. The hotel was a short walk to the ISDSI campus where we had classes, and on this walk we would be greeted by the street vendors and community members along the way. Being outside of a touristy area truly allowed for us to get close to those around us and have a more genuine experience. Since Chiang Mai is not a walkable city, we became experts at negotiating with Rot Daeng drivers- Rot Daengs are the main mode of public transportation in the city. Since Chiang Mai is pretty small, we were able to explore the city pretty in depth and our friends at Maejo University helped to show us around.

What were some parts of your identity that you thought about while considering study abroad that other students may want to talk to you about? Some parts of my identity that I considered both before and during my time abroad were my religion (Jewish), racial identity (white in a non-white country), gender (cis woman), and dietary restrictions (picky vegetarian). I'd be happy to talk about my experiences with any of these identities while in Thailand or traveling Southeast Asia. I knew that I was going to a Buddhist country with hardly any Jews, and that opportunities for engaging with my Judaism would be limited at best. There was one instance in which I went with a Jewish peer to the Chabad in Chiang Mai, where we met some Jewish expats, yet the environment was not what I needed. It was fun to share aspects of my identity with people in Thailand who were largely unfamiliar. For Passover, my Jewish peer and I hosted a Seder and screening of the Prince of Egypt, it was a really heartwarming experience that reminded me my identity was able to travel with me. In the US, being a white woman provides privilege in many ways. In Southeast Asia, being a white woman (especially when alone) caused me to feel incredibly visible at all times, often being completely alert of my surroundings and making decisions regarding my safety. Prior to studying abroad, I decided to stop my vegetarian diet so that I would not be a difficult person to host in more rural villages, since I am already a picky eater who cannot eat spicy food. I also wanted to experience Thai cuisine to the fullest, and so I decided to eat chicken and pork while abroad. It is important to know that sometimes making sacrifices in order to make your life (and others') easier is the best thing you can do.

Favorite memory: If I had to pick just one, my favorite memory is celebrating Songkran (the Thai New Year) in the streets of Chiang Mai! The whole city participates and the roads are full of people with water guns, hoses, and buckets to dump on each other. It is such a fun cultural experience and a great way to see how lively the community in Chiang Mai is. There was music playing, clay to put on peoples' faces, street food (as always), and heartwarming intergenerational participation. Chiang Mai is notoriously hot and has poor air quality in April, so Songkran was a great way to beat the heat.

Greatest challenge: Aside from the language barrier, my greatest challenge was not being too overwhelmed by the sheer amount of things I wanted to do! I had always dreamed of studying abroad, and I had to be sure to balance rest with my constant desire to be exploring. I said yes to everything, and was always making plans with the group. Something that I also struggled with was the weather in Chiang Mai. I knew that I would be in Chiang Mai for the burning season, so luckily I came prepared with masks and modest yet light clothing. During the burning season, Chiang Mai had the worst air quality in the entire world. It meant that doing activities outside was virtually impossible, and the temperatures were often unbearable. I am grateful that my friends and I completed our hikes and nearby national parks visits before the burning season, as it definitely limited what we were able to do. The heat also caused a lot of exhaustion, and I was definitely not able to do as much in a day as I could've if the weather was cooler. A final challenge was trying to learn about Thailand's history and politics within the context of strong Lese-Majeste Laws and censorship.

Did you apply for any scholarships? If so, which ones and how did they impact your time abroad? I was a recipient of the non-UMN student scholarship, which helped cover non-Brandeis tuition included costs for the semester. This allowed me to travel for the entire summer following the semester with less financial stress. In Southeast Asia, the cost of living is much lower, so even a smaller scholarship can make a big difference.

What you know now that you didn't know before: I learned a lot about myself and the world during my semester! One of my favorite topics to learn about was Indigenous groups within Thailand. I also was interested in learning about how colonialism impacted Thailand despite the country never being officially colonized by an outside power. Every day was a learning experience, and I am eternally grateful for that.

Fact about Thailand that you think people would be surprised to learn: People might not know that the official name for Bangkok (the capital) is the longest name for a place in the world!