Alumni Interview with Samantha T-H

What inspired you to go abroad?

My passion and dream of working with animals and my curiosity of traveling to a foreign country.

Why did you choose LoopAbroad?

I chose LoopAbroad because they had a number of specialized programs and I was interested in their college veterinary service program. Their program looked well educational as well as fun.

What was your favorite part about Thailand?

I loved working with the elephants at the Elephant Nature Park and learning about Thailand’s culture and exploring their temples.

What made your experience abroad unique?

I believe what made my experience unique was the fact we got to not only be educated in vet medicine and animal science, but also about Thailand's culture and religion.

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

They went above and beyond to make sure me and anyone else was confident in our abilities to work with the animals and to make sure we felt safe and were not homesick. They were patient with picky eating habits and help reassure me and gave me an alternative of my own adventure day when I was too sick to do the two adventure activities suggested.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

I wish I hadn't gotten sick so soon so I could have gone ziplining.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

We wake up, have a nice breakfast, get dressed and head over to our leaders for lecture on what we will be learning.  After lecture we would do hands on activities, then lunch, then back to more hands-on activities and then we have free time to nap, watch tv, or go out exploring Thailand.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

I enjoyed going to the bazaar nights and looking at what goodies the vendors had.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

I liked that we know what we were having for lunch and dinner before hand, and that our guides told us what was in the food so I knew what to avoid.

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

Make sure you understand that when you are given instructions like drinking lots of water, it is for your own good and you should follow the rules and not assume that it is just an unnecessary rule.

What was the hardest part about doing a service learning program abroad?

For me, I would say the hardest part about the service learning program was keeping up with my groupmates. Most of them were already working in vet hospitals and in vet school, so I felt a little behind when they were talking about certain stuff.

What surprised you most about Thailand?

What surprised me most about Thailand was how green everything was. Thailand was so green and beautiful.

How difficult was it to communicate with locals?

Because of my learning disability (Central Auditory Processing Disorder) it is difficult to comprehend certain sounds.  So trying to learn the language was difficult but luckily we had our guides to help with translations.

What is one thing you wish you would have known before doing a service learning program abroad in Thailand?

I wish I would have known what type of insects they had in Thailand.

If you could go abroad again, where would you go?

I would love to go to Italy.

What do you feel the biggest benefit of doing a service learning program abroad is?

The biggest benefit is not just studying abroad but also learning about the country your studying in.

Do you have any packing tips for individuals headed to Thailand?

Roll your clothes so you will have more room in your bag, make sure to bring clothes that have long sleeves and pants. No tank tops or short shorts. Easy shoes to take on and off.

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

I still dream about it and I miss it so much. Any chance I get about talking about it I go full into story mode and won't shut up.

Would you recommend LoopAbroad to others? Why?

Yes I would. LoopAbroad was more than a volunteer program, it was a life experience that should definitely be a must in life. It was an adventure you never knew you wanted.