I’ve been lucky enough to be living in
Chiang Mai, Thailand these past five weeks doing an internship with
USAC. Chiang Mai is a vibrant city full of backpackers, adventure
seekers, and digital nomads. Strangely this city reminds me of
Fayetteville, Arkansas, surrounded by mountains and hidden natural
wonders to be discovered. I’m sure there are many more reasons to be
found but here are six ways my month here reminds me of my time as a
Razorback.
1) Coffee, Coffee, Coffee
Arsagas, Puritan, Mama Carmens, every
college kid in Fayetteville is looking for the ideal spot to set up camp
for the day to dig deep into studying. Chiang Mai seems to be the
coffee capital of Thailand and due to the large amounts of college
students and digital nomads, everyone is looking for their Central Perk,
friend hang out, office space with comfy chairs, good ambiance, copious
amounts of caffeine and free wifi. Bloggers have all been trying to
nail down the perfect list of Top 10, 7, 5 coffee shops but there are too many to visit them all and new ones keep popping up.
2) Scooters > Cars
Just like Fayetteville, in Chiang Mai
scooters rule the road. Scooter parking lots out number car parks and
keep your gas expenses dirt cheap. However, unlike Fayetteville scooters
filter to the front of every traffic jam, making that morning commute
ten times faster. I got some advice from a very wise man once, he said,
“Chiang Mai traffic is like water, fill the holes.”
3) Hiking, Caving, Climbing oh my!
Tucked in between mountain ranges, this
city and the province itself have places to be explored, both on the
beaten path and off. Famous hikes such as Doi Inthanon and Doi Suthep
are close to the city center and offer beautiful views, and a break from
busy city streets. Caving and climbing are also popular and I’ve had
the opportunity to explore caves in Muang On and try my hand at
bouldering at a gym in the Old City. Plussss what’s summer all year
round without your favorite swimming hole? Chiang Mai has got that too.
The Grand Canyon is the perfect place to cliff jump, meet new friends or
just kick it in an inner tube.
4) College Vibes
Not only is Chiang Mai University located
right by the artsy Nimmanhaemin Road but the whole community is
somewhat of a college community. People move here from all over the
world and are looking for their niche group to join. Among the numerous
groups here are a few: scrabble club, laughter yoga, writers club,
hashing, karate club, etc. There is really something and somewhere for
everyone. Along with climbing mentioned above I’ve also tried ultimate
frisbee and even kicked some butt at Muay Thai (Thai boxing). Whether
you’re wanting to try something new or polish an old hobby, this city is
the place to do it.
5) Fresh Markets
Fayetteville Farmers market- it’s not
dash in, grab what you need, dash out kind of place. No, it’s an
experience! Same with markets here. They’re a lifestyle. Chiang Mai has
some of the best markets I’ve experienced thus far in Thailand. The
Sunday walking street market has art, homemade sweets, handcrafted
dresses, bags, etc. The Night bazaar has all of your touristy things
with traditional thai dancers and live music. The Wednesday morning
market at the University has great produce and salads. Every market has
something different to offer and an experience to go along with it. So
grab some coconut water in a bamboo cup and find yourself some
traditional Thai souvenirs and maybe a few fried insects on a stick.
6) Roommates and Communal Living
Back to college life and dorm livin’-
well kind of. During my time in Chiang Mai I’ve been living with fellow
Fulbrighter, Danielle, and Christine and Edie aren’t too far down the
road. Daniele and I are renting a cute room above a jewelry shop in
Nimmanhaemin. Six other people live there as well coming from 5
countries and 4 continents. This has been one of my favorite parts of
internship month. Not only am I living in Chiang Mai but I have
wonderful, adventurous friends who want to explore this city together.
So maybe I’m just looking for reasons to
relive my time in Arkansas but regardless, this place and these 5 weeks
have made me feel like I have a home and a community. Can’t believe it
went by so fast!
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Interested in this experience?
Check out this blog from Amy, a recent U of A grad and Fulbright teaching assistant in Thailand, at: https://sameamebutdifferent.wordpress.com/
For more information about the Fulbright Grant Opportunities and how to apply, visit http://eca.state.gov/fulbright/fulbright-programs
