Theme of the Study Tour

The overall theme of the course is to give students a first-hand, experiential understanding of a Buddhist tradition that is renown for following the path and lifestyle laid out by the Buddha 2500 years ago. In particular, we will meet and learn from those who are called "Engaged Buddhists" and who seek to apply traditional Buddhist teachings to deal with modern problems throughout SE Asia and the world, including problems of rapid deforestation and its impact on local communities, the displacement of minority groups and indigenous populations due to regional and ethnic conflicts, economic disparities and poverty, and the status and treatment of women. Thailand exemplifies this unique combination of an ancient tradition grappling with modern problems, and is something we'll get to learn about directly. But the study tour is much more than this, and over the many years that Professors Schroeder and Park have taken students to Thailand (12 trips combined), the study tour has broadened into an immersion of many aspects of Thai culture. Along with the Buddhist monks and professors who will teach us about the connections between Buddhist spirituality and social activism, we'll travel throughout a large part of the country exploring the everyday life of Thai people--in the cities, the farming villages, and in the mountains. We'll have an opportunity to spend a day bathing and feeding elephants at an elephant sanctuary in Northern Thailand, explore the open-air night markets in Chiang Mai, and literally taste the differences in Thai food depending on the regions we visit. We will camp out in the mountains of Chiang Dao and learn about forestry and conservation from the locals, and take a boat trip up the Mekhong river to the point where Thailand intersects with Laos and Myanmar (the "Golden Triangle"). We'll also learn about Thailand's famous "sex industry" by visiting the red-light districts in Bangkok and Pattaya, and meet with different sex workers (women, men, and transgender) and learn about their lives and experiences. The trip ends with us taking a boat to the Island of Ko Samet--a small, undeveloped island with thatched huts on white sandy beaches, and with an outdoor nightspot called the "Naga" where we'll likely dance the night away and share stories about our adventures in Thailand. We're also firm believers that the best way to experience Thai culture and meet Thais is apart from the group, and so we make sure you have enough free time to explore on your own, take naps, or just hang out. 

Covid-19 and the Study Tour

Those interested should apply as soon as possible, for prior to the first payment being due (February 1) the College’s Office of International Education will make a determination of whether study tours for the summer can proceed, in light of the then-current information and advice of the CDC and the U.S. Department of State, and the college will not sponsor any international academic programs that the State Department considers unsafe or life-threatening (Levels 3 & 4). 

Most of our activities will be outdoors: our meals, our seminars, our visits to markets, monasteries and hill-tribe communities--and of course our time on the Island of Ko Samet. We expect that masks will be required for all indoor activities, and, needless to say, vaccinated.

Whether or not the study tour will go forth will depend on the U.S. State Department's travel advice and Thailand's own policy on admitting travelers from the U.S.

What if the study tour gets a green light in February (when the first payment is due) but has to be canceled later? Consult the refund policy on the “Program Costs” page.