Flashing city lights, sparkly temple roof tops and beaming sunshine – within my first hour in the city, I was drawn to my new and shiny life in Bangkok. Through the Beedie Exchange program, I was offered a semester aboard at the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. Within Thailand, it is very well-known for academics, as well as for its relationship with the royal family. The school was named after the late king and was attended by the Thai princes and princesses.
Chulalongkorn is located in the downtown of Bangkok beside shopping malls and business towers. International students live in a condo by the university and are in the center of the action. In the morning, I can hear cars honking, motorbikes speeding and tuk-tuk (three-wheeled vehicle used as taxi) drivers calling for tourists.
The Thai culture and traditions still remain present in everyday life, school and business. To explain, here is a day in my life as a local student:
7AM
Thai students enjoy a typical Thai breakfast, which consists of a fried egg omelette and rice with sweet ketchup. A personal favourite of mine is the noodle soup. While it is typical to eat toast at home, bread is considered a sweet snack in Asian cultures.
9AM
It is mandatory to attend classes in proper uniforms. This means a white shirt, pleated skirts (for girls), trousers (for guys) and proper buttons and pins with the Chulalongkorn emblem. The uniform represents community and honor, and it is strictly enforced by the school. When we enter classes, we greet our professors with “Sawatdee kar/krup” and bow with our palms together. This is the formal greeting for seniors to show respect.
Chulalongkorn has many connections in the community. In my business program, my professors invited executive guest speakers to classes, organized field trips to companies and spoke about their industry experience. The teaching is very hands-on and interactive, and it has given me many insights into management and international business.
12PM
Cafeteria food never tasted so good. The school has many dining halls and hosts local food vendors to cook up delicious Thai food. In fact, the school subsidizes their costs so the food is very affordable for students. Fun fact, the locals come to enjoy the food too!
4PM
The favorite past-time for Thai’s is shopping. Since the school is centrally located, taking a walk means going to the malls and alleyways that are lined with Bangkok’s latest fashions.
6PM
No matter where you are, the speakers will turn on this hour to sing the King’s anthem. People everywhere simply stop moving. I experienced this at the skytrain and was completely shocked when hundreds of people around me stood still. Although Thailand has a government, the King is still very respected and admired for his work with local charities.
Dinner is always an exciting event with my fellow exchange students. We often exchange new Thai words or share funny stories about some cultural misunderstanding. Being on exchange, I have also had opportunities to learn about the cultures of my friends in addition to Thai culture.
At the end of the day, I feel very grateful to be able to spend 4 months in Bangkok. As a student here I had opportunities to meet locals, to learn the language, and to participate in the culture. This experience has expanded my understanding of Asia, business and the global community. This is one day in Bangkok, but the city is constantly in motion. The next day is a new adventure.
Becky is in her final year studying Accounting and will be pursuing her Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation after graduation. Early on, Becky developed a keen interest in community building. At Beedie, she was able to find opportunities to grow her passion for social enterprises and community programs through student organizations like Enactus, previously known as SIFE. She was the founder of Count on Me (COM), a financial literary program for at-risk youth in Lower Mainland. She also helped coordinate Beedie Protégé, a skill development program for undergraduates. As well, she is a case competitor for JDC West. Becky values making relationships in her community and she is excited to start a career that connects her to people, businesses and the world.