Thailand – Emma Bruns (2024)
I received an email during my freshman year about a study-abroad trip to Thailand scheduled for the summer. I had received many emails with information on other study-abroad trips. However, the trip to Thailand caught my eye. This trip was an opportunity for students to work with the elephants. This was right up my alley, but the only problem was that I was already planning to take summer classes. I was very interested in this trip; therefore, I flagged the email to be able to find it again one day.
Two years later, I was available to do a study-abroad trip, so I found the email from earlier for the Thailand trip in May and immediately started filling out the application and paperwork. Three months later, I received an email informing me that I was accepted. I was excited but shocked at the thought of traveling 8,000 miles from home and staying for one month. May quickly approached, and before I knew it, I was boarding a plane for Thailand, a 15-hour flight with 13 other students I did not know.
The trip was four weeks, each week in a different location. Our group was scheduled for the first week at the Elephant Nature Park (ENP). This was the week that I was most excited about because it was an opportunity to work with the elephants. ENP is a rescue and rehabilitation center for elephants and is home to many other types of animals. ENP is the first sanctuary of its kind in Asia and houses elephants rescued from many past abusive situations, such as street begging, trekking, circuses, and more. During our time at ENP, we learned about the elephant’s role in Thailand’s history, helping to understand why places like ENP are essential. Throughout the property, we saw elephants who had just arrived and were struggling. Some elephants were still finding their spirit, and many others realized they were free from their abusive past. It was truly touching and a beautiful sight to see these elephants in a safe and caring environment. It also opened my eyes to the culture surrounding animals outside America. We were even fortunate to have the opportunity to meet the founder, Lek Chailert, and talk with her about the beginnings of this project and the many plans she has for the future.
To allow their environment to be as close to their natural habitat as possible, the park does not allow hands-on interaction with the elephants. Instead, they have a separate project that emphasizes this called ‘The Hands-Off Project”. Our group was very fortunate to experience this project, and it ended up being my favorite part of the week. One of the highlights of this project is observing the herd from the skywalk, allowing the elephants to roam freely without disturbance from people. The skywalk not only allowed us the opportunity to observe the elephants but also gave us the most beautiful view I have ever experienced. Everything from the mountains surrounding us, the nearby village, and the river as far as we could see. These elephants have unique personalities and are very playful, making watching them fun. Some of the elephants approached us with their trunks, searching to see if we had food to offer. This was the day that I was excited and looking forward to meeting the elephant named Pookie. When I was younger, my parents called me Pookie, so when I found out they had an elephant with the same name, I just had to meet her. She did not disappoint either! She came right up to our group and stood directly before me, lifting her trunk to say hello and see what we were up to. It was the coolest thing I have ever experienced and is one of my favorite stories from this trip.
The second week was spent in Chiang Mai. Our focus was on clinical skills while still experiencing the city’s cultural experiences. During the day, we would attend class and apply what we learned through practice with the veterinarians throughout our time at the clinic. We also got to scrub in and attend the spay and neuter surgeries. I enjoyed observing and learning the similarities and differences between the practices in Thailand and the practices in the US. We also enjoyed spending time in the city of Chiang Mai, walking around, and visiting temples and other areas while experiencing the culture. Touring around as a group gave us time to get to know each other more personally. When visiting the golden temple, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, which overlooks Chiang Mai, I felt our group come together as we collectively realized how fortunate and unreal our experience was. After that day, our group grew closer and closer as the weeks went on.
The third week was the craziest week of the trip. We were entering the conservation part of the experience, and many activities were packed into the five days. We spent two days in a mountain tribe village that overlooked Chiang Mai. We learned about the mountain conservation efforts and the villagers’ farming. This was a very challenging week, as the place we stayed in differed from anything I have ever experienced in America. I felt personally challenged by the many unknowns in a strange new place. I realized just how fortunate we are in America and that we take a lot of things for granted. What is minimal for us is luxury for these people, such as hot showers and air conditioning. Despite our challenges, we were surrounded by gorgeous scenery and explored by hiking around the village.
The last week we spent on the island of Koh Tao. We explored the ocean around us via scuba diving, which was exciting and somewhat scary. We all attended a scuba diving class and became certified. I struggled during this experience with some fears that I had. However, the instructors with us understood my fears and showed me so much kindness and encouragement to overcome my fears. It is hard to know how awkward it feels to breathe underwater until you are in the situation, which can be stressful for those who have never experienced it. I had to learn patience with myself and admit that I needed help. My instructor helped me find the self-confidence I needed and didn’t let me give up on myself. I ended up learning the skills, performing the skills, and passing my test for my scuba diving certification. I hope to use this new accomplishment in the future and have already started planning to go on other diving trips with my family.
Throughout the month in Thailand, I learned so much about the people and their culture, formed new friendships, and gained memories I will forever be thankful for. They call Thailand the “Land of Smiles” because of the kindness shown in Thai culture. The citizens were very friendly and welcoming. They are the nicest and most grateful people I have ever met. They smile and interact with you like they have known you forever. It was easy to make friends with the entire staff at ENP, the ziplining crew, the veterinarians at the clinic, and many other places we stayed. They were just as eager to learn about America as we were about Thailand. I still keep in contact with some of these people through social media, and I love it when they post about the exciting things happening in the place I got to visit and experience. Unfortunately, since we visited Thailand, it was hit with a tsunami that greatly impacted ENP to the point where everyone and all the hundreds of animals had to evacuate the area. This was devastating, as I couldn’t understand how an area that brought so much joy and positivity could be destroyed. It was at this moment that I realized how fortunate I am to travel to other countries and volunteer my time to help them. But, I wish I could help in person right now. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to travel to Thailand, learn about the Thai people and their culture, and experience their hospitality and many smiles. Though it was hard work, I truly enjoyed volunteering my time and efforts to help the people and animals there. I hope to revisit Thailand someday, as this amazing place and its amazing people inspired me and positively impacted my life.
