Between 2012 and 2013, I spent ten months in Thailand. I initially went to Thailand through the Summer Internship Program and fell in love with the country so much that I decided to pursue an International Community Development focus and return to Thailand to carry out my field practicum and thesis research during my second year of the Masters of Social Work Program. During my first trip to Thailand, I interned with the Thai Red Cross that was based within Chulalongkorn Hospital in the capital city of Bangkok. There, I was able to get involved in both Community Development and Medical Case Work as I was exposed to clients that were dealing with everything from HIV/AIDS to tuberculosis. I really enjoyed the hospital’s atmosphere and being able to work in a multi-cultural, multi-lingual environment. This experience solidified my desire to pursue international social work and kick started my love affair with Thailand. This past January, I returned to Thailand but this time I decided to set up roots in the beautiful and scenic city of Chiang Mai, in the Northwest of Thailand. Chiang Mai is in close proximity to Myanmar and is a major hub for International Non-governmental Organizations – my future career dream spot!
Upon arriving in Chiang Mai, I immediately had to figure out my own housing and transportation. I initially settled into a hostel but after two weeks, found a conveniently located apartment and bought a brand new bicycle for about $60 USD. I was set! During those early weeks, I was in a complete honeymoon phase with both Thailand and my organization and remained that way for several weeks before things grew tense at my organization. I initially worked with an organization that supports female sex workers and no matter what I did, did not click with all members of the community. After so much training in Community Development and having a background in Cultural Anthropology, I found it disheartening to be in such a position where I felt that my skills were not wanted. After making a serious attempt at joining the community for an additional two months, it became clear that a non-sex worker would never be fully accepted by the community and I decided to pursue my thesis research elsewhere. That is where HelpAge International comes in. HelpAge is an amazing international non-governmental organization that supports, trains, and advocates for local grassroots organizations around the world that represent older adults. The local group I would end up working with and become very personally close with was the Foundation for Older Persons’ Development (FOPDEV) that advocates for older adults in Chiang Mai Province. After spending some time getting to know both organizations and working with FOPDEV to determine what I could do to further their cause, it was agreed that I would conduct a cost-benefit analysis on their Volunteer Home Care Programme. Conducting a full scale cost-benefit analysis on an entire program was daunting but also exciting and I felt that I was instantly granted access to a lot of sensitive organizational information as FOPDEV immediately accepted my pursuit to apply Western evidence-based evaluation practice to their small office on Soi Nimmanheiman.
Throughout the process of conducting my cost-benefit analysis, I additionally learned a lot about Thai culture and language. I found myself instinctively using Thai words to express myself both inside and outside of the office and found that conversing in Pasa Thai would help me win over colleagues, cooks, and tuk tuk drivers alike. Although I was primarily in Chiang Mai to carry out a field practicum and my thesis research, I learned so much about myself and was extremely proud of my flexibility and adaptability. One day while driving along on my motorcycle to Huay Thung Thao, a local lake, I thought to myself, I am truly living life and cannot think of anywhere else I’d rather be. Thailand left a huge imprint on me and I was extremely emotional at the Air Asia terminal of Suvarmabari Airport when it was time to finally leave the place I had called home for ten months
If anyone reading this is considering the Thailand Internship or Semester Program – do it! You will found yourself in the midst of an extremely interesting Social Work profession where you have access to see and do much more than in the United States. You will find yourself falling in love with the country, having amazing Thai friends, and having plenty of sanuk sanuk along the way! In addition, putting yourself out there and conducting research in a foreign country is amazing experience professionally. Based on my work in Chiang Mai, I have recently been accepted into the University of Sydney’s (Sydney, Australia) Social Work PhD program and am currently in the process of writing my research proposal that will allow me to return to Thailand so that I can look at ways to positively influence policy that affects older adults in poverty.
I must lastly add that Dr. David Engstrom was an amazing mentor and I highly recommend him as a thesis chair. Dr. Engstrom, Dr. Jones, and Dr. Packard were extremely supportive and with their help, I was able to maximize my experience in Thailand.
Dervla O’Leary is a graduating MSW student.