Thailand: Speech, Occupational & AAC Adventure

I loved being at the Aauja site. Everyone was so welcoming and I felt so appreciated and felt like they were open to the information and therapy we could offer. All the cultural experiences were awesome. The elephant sanctuary was amazing and I loved seeing a temple first hand.

This was such a great experience, filled with memorable moments and unique opportunities for learning. Once we arrived, there were so many opportunities to explore the community and experience Thai culture beyond the classroom and clinic. One of my favorite activities was the cooking class, which was amazing. Preparing food offered a hands-on way to learn about the culture while enjoying the experience with our group. I also appreciated how our guides responded to our interests. When we expressed interest in visiting temples, they planned an opportunity for us to go into the community and explore them. Seeing the temples in person was beautiful and gave us a greater appreciation for the traditions and cultural significance of these spaces. Visiting an ethical elephant sanctuary was another unforgettable experience and truly a highlight of a lifetime. Being there was something I will always remember and felt incredibly special. Overall, this trip offered much more than I could have learned through coursework alone. The combination of cultural experiences, community exploration, and shared learning made it meaningful. I am grateful for the thought and planning that went into these opportunities and for the memories and perspectives I will carry with me moving forward.

I enjoyed each activity that was planned for us! I appreciated how our group leaders listened to our needs and were flexible with our schedule so that we could participate in all of things that we wanted to do. Each guide was kind and cared about what we were doing. Translations were timely and accurate!

This was a great trip! I really appreciated Pooi, Pan, and Amber's planning and adaptability. It was very well organized and I couldn't believe they managed all 25 of us. They were great at answering our questions and helping us around the city. It went very smoothly and I had the best time ever.

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Getting to see multiple parts of Thailand was incredible, from the clinical site to the elephant sanctuary to the adaptive rock climbing. I loved getting to see more of the country than just the square.

Truly wish experience was so amazing and it wouldn't have been without the help from the TherapyAbroad team they truly became like family to us and we all cried leaving them and saying goodbye at the airport. I cannot describe in words how meaningful this trip went to me, I will remember it forever.

I had an incredible time with this experience. I learned so much about therapy in another part of the world and about the Thai culture. It helped me to see from another perspective that will contribute to how I am as a future OT practitioner. The foundations we were at were very supportive of our learning, allowing us to think outside the box and feel like real OTs. I also think the cultural experiences (especially the elephant encounter) were extremely meaningful to being fully immersed in the culture and created memories that I will never forget.

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I was unsure about traveling to Thailand at first. By the end of our first day, I was sure that this was going to be an amazing trip. By the end of the trip, I was overwhelmed with excitement by the amount of memories made and experiences had.

I cannot be more thankful for Pann, Pui, and Amber and their guidance throughout our trip. They really made this experience for me. The entire program program was flexible and adaptable to changes, very kind and welcoming, provided plenty of cultural experiences, and also very helpful as far as translation and providing cultural insight. I'll cherish it forever. Thank you!

They were excellent hosts that provided a great balance of education, cultural experiences, and fun! They were very open to any questions. The activities planned were great to do as a group, and meals were great for exploring culture.

I had an amazing experience with Therapy Abroad. Amber was a huge help when communicating with my client, and with her support, I was able to develop a really positive relationship with her. All of the activities were meaningful and gave me the opportunity to apply what I have learned in occupational therapy school in a completely different cultural setting. I also loved getting to experience Thailand outside of the clinical setting. The elephant experience was one of my favorite parts of the entire trip, and the food was so good. Before coming, I honestly did not know very much about Thailand, so it was really exciting to learn more about the culture, the people, and the environment while actually being there. Overall, the trip was such a positive experience, and I am very grateful for everything I learned and the relationships I made. I would absolutely love to come back to Thailand someday.

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Overall, the trip with TherapyAbroad was lovely. Everything was so organized and it really strengthened our ability to be fully immersed in the culture and experience as a whole. I would recommend anyone travel with this program in the future.

My experience in Chiang Mai, Thailand, was one of the most eye-opening and special experiences I have ever been a part of. It was such a privilege to be able to work with the community and individuals there.

This experience was so incredible! I learned and experienced so much. I already want to go back and also this experience lit a fire in me to continue doing international experiences related to OT. The therapy abroad/progression facilitators were AMAZING and made the trip so smooth so that we could just fully immerse ourselves into the culture and fieldwork experience.

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This week was well orchestrated and I was able to learn and see so much. It was a great experience immersing into Thai culture. The week’s activities were very fun and great learning experiences, especially the cooking class. Everyone was so friendly and I loved the work I got to do at Au Jaá.

This trip has made and will continue to make a lasting impact on me! I built such a great connection with my partner as well as all the staff I had the pleasure of working with. I did not think I could make such a difference or have such a profound experience within the 3 clinic days we had. But I truly was able to realize how much knowledge I have and also how much can be done with so little. Everyone I met was extremely kind and generous, and all of the activities we completed (in and out of the clinic) were fun and insightful. I highly recommend Xavier going to Thailand again, and I can't wait to see more updates in the future!

This was an incredibly rewarding experience that I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to do. I was amazed to see how much these communities can do with such limited resources. I loved immersing myself in another culture, especially one that is completely different than my own. It was so beneficial for my learning as a future healthcare provider to consider all upbringings and cultures, and how each one values differ.

I would recommend this trip to anyone considering growth in so many different ways. I am so thankful for everyone who made this entire experience possible and so enriching. Such an incredible trip and learning opportunity!

This experience was so well put together and fully enriching. From the food, the people, and the all-around culture, it was one of the greatest experiences I have had. Therapy abroad ensured every part of this program went smoothly, and every person was well accounted for.

The Therapy Abroad team made this trip as wonderful as it was. Pan, Pui, and Amber were so involved and always willing to help. They were so so organized and had everything so thoughtfully planned out. It made everything else we were doing so much easier and more enjoyable.