Category: Tufts Civic Semester

by Yeili & Flora

Hi everyone, It’s Yeili and Flora!

It’s been about 4 days since we first stepped foot on the damp, welcoming earth of Chiang Mai. It’s been 100 hours since our first taste of Pad Thai and Thai tea in the quiet little restaurant right by Doodle Lodge. And yet, if you asked me what I’ve learned in this time, I’d likely pause, searching for ways to put my memories into words. Because no words could hold all we’ve felt in just half a week beneath these skies.

On my first morning in Thailand, I found myself wandering through the Ming Muang Market at 7:30 am with a friend, an hour unfamiliar to me, especially after a summer of slow, sleepy afternoons. Jet-lagged, hungry, and excited, I didn’t hesitate when I spotted the freshest-looking durian at a fruit stand. The moment I took a bite, I felt like I was ascending– the sweet aroma, the soft-custard texture, and the rich flavor exploded in my mouth, stimulating all my senses. As I enjoyed the sweet fruit, I learned that the durians here are considered some of the best in the world because of Thailand’s ideal climate and the government’s careful regulation of durian agriculture. Turning to my friend, who was tasting durian for the first time in her life, I caught the same gleam of surprise and joy in her eyes. When we thanked the fruit stand owner with our newly learned Thai (khop khun ka), we were met with a warm smile and a gentle wai, the traditional Thai gesture of respect. We finished the durian just outside our lodge to not bring its lingering smell indoors. In the simple act of trying out new things, whether it’s tasting a new fruit, speaking a new language, or honoring an unfamiliar local custom, we learned.

Through food, we began to see daily life in Thailand more clearly. Each meal showed us something new: the way lemongrass adds freshness, how coconut milk balances spice, or how basil and pork come together in flavorful dishes. We learned that many of the ingredients we were tasting, like durian or coconut grow easily here because of the warm climate and rich soil.

Eating in Thailand isn’t just about the food, it’s also about the people. In small restaurants on quiet streets, we were welcomed with kindness and care. Many of the places we visited were family-run. We saw mothers cooking, kids helping with tables, and grandparents nearby, watching it all. The food wasn’t fancy, but it was thoughtful and made with pride.

We slowly started learning the names of dishes in Thai—khao soi, moo ping, som tam—and tried our best to say them. Each word we learned made us feel more connected to the place. Through meals shared and tastes explored, we were learning about people, place, and presence. The table became a classroom. Every bite is a lesson.

Here in Chiang Mai, most of our learning doesn’t take place in a classroom with desks and whiteboards. Instead, it is through bowls of steaming Khao Soi or the steps leading up to a temple. We’re realizing that a big part of learning here comes from our senses, our questions, and our openness.

Food has been our first teacher. Each meal is layered with flavors we’ve never experienced together before: sweet, sour, spicy, salty. Tasting them invites us to learn about history, trade, and culture all at once. Something as simple as Pad Thai becomes a lesson in seasonality, hospitality, and the rhythm of daily life.

Temples, on the other hand, have been spaces of both quiet and discovery. Walking barefoot across cool stone floors, we’re reminded of respect and how to carry ourselves with humility, how to listen even when silence fills the space. The temples don’t just hold spiritual meaning; they hold stories of resilience, art, and values that have shaped Chiang Mai for centuries.

Together, food and temples are teaching us to see learning as a lived experience. They ask us to slow down, to notice small details. It’s not the type of classroom we’re used to, but maybe that’s the point, knowledge here isn’t abstract. It’s tasted, touched, and felt.

Bye!!!

by Syd & Kaliyah

Syd:

I have always been someone who needed a strict routine and appreciated structure. For so long, I always had a routine made for me, but here in Chiang Mai, I have begun to make my own.

Before I left, I was worried I was going to be jet-lagged for days on end, but when we landed in Chiang Mai, I could only think about the warm air on my skin, all of the green surrounding me, and, of course, what delicious food I was going to try. Maybe I didn’t feel tired because I slept eleven hours from Boston to Hong Kong, but I would like to think my excitement for a new environment and routine diminished my feeling of sleepiness.

The cohort has a pretty good routine: we eat breakfast, then do some orientation or have class, then lunch, then some free time (which I have been using to walk around and do some work), dinner, and then some more free time to walk around. However, our routines all look a little different. We all do different things during our free time, especially after dinner, but I think that is the beauty of having a routine you create. For the past two days, I have been going to the gym in the morning, which I have really enjoyed. Walking at 6:50 a.m. and watching the busy road, which for some reason I thought would not be as busy at 7 in the morning, has allowed me to observe so much of the city during my ten-minute walks to the gym. For me, it is those small things in my routine that keep me grounded.

I grew up in a city, so I am very much used to the hustle and bustle; however, there is a difference in the hustle and bustle here. It is a busy city, but it has so much green surrounding it, with parts of the ancient wall scattered throughout. Yet, there are so many side streets that serve as a quiet retreat from the busy main road, where there are coffee shops, smoothie places, restaurants, and, of course, many massage spots.

Adjusting to a new routine in Chiang Mai seemed daunting before I arrived, but I could not feel more differently about it now. Chiang Mai has welcomed me with open arms, and that makes all the difference when experiencing a new routine in a new place. There is something truly special about Chiang Mai, and I cannot wait to see what else it offers!

Kaliyah:

Traveling to a new continent doesn’t seem real yet, surely not one 9,000 miles away from home.

Yet it isn’t scary.

My sleep schedule over the summer was, however. But virtual class with my cohort and in-person orientation prepared me well for starting the day earlier than usual.

But this time, it’s not waking up in a restless yet still-sleepy excitement to see my friends of years, or months, on the first day back- for the 4th, 5th, 12th time.

It’s not the same singing in the shower (well, maybe it is), grabbing my already-packed backpack in a slightly-unsuccessful measure to save time the morning after.

It’s not grabbing snack-size cereals saved from summer camp or filling up my water bottle halfway out the door as I hear the rickety yellow-bus screech down my street, even though I know my bus driver will wait just a few extra milliseconds courtesy of sharing a home country.

It’s not arriving at school and being surprised by my own elation early in the morning at the sight of my curly-haired, incredible best friend who I know can’t see me clearly till I’m 4 feet away at full spring and bear hug awaiting.

This being different, is an understatement. And it’s a pretty cool start to my first week of college.

It’s been more than waking up to sit in another classroom; rather, it’s more like waking up to ride in a bright red tuk-tuk with the life-halting view of the earth stacked upon each other to form the most incredible view of mountains- simultaneously on the way to hike, or take an exciting, lengthy walk upon one to see the city.

It’s more like stepping foot – and I mean foot, not shoe – into a temple or three, where numerous people find guidance and wisdom for their lives all across the country, and doing so, they find unity within community.

It’s more like being fulfilled and equally exhausted after a long day, yet being re-energized at the sound of a lovely walk to acquire my favorite drink- no, not Thai tea, but iced cocoa mint with 50% sugar. YUM.

Yeah. Different doesn’t even begin to describe it.

by Lucy & Axelle

Lucy:

Here, warm rain falls on quiet paths steadily throughout the days. At home in Northern California, we’re lucky if we get one rainy day a month. Here, cars, motorbikes, and pedestrians intermingle across the streets freely. At home, everyone follows orderly traffic rules, red lights, stop signs, crosswalks. Here, I feel the hours of my day blend into a whole, not rushing to complete the next task, settling into the flow of just existing where my feet lie.

Here, we’re always eating out–but not in the way we go to eat out at home. We’re going out to eat because that’s where you go to eat. It’s as simple as that. At home, eating out involves driving to the city or Telegraph Ave in Oakland or Berkeley, and spending $20 USD on a plate of salad and $10 on a mocktail. Here, we step outside Doodle and turn left to the road that borders the moat encircling Old City and are immediately sitting down at a restaurant. Food is consistently $3 USD for a plate of crispy pork and holy basil with a generous mound of white rice and a drink from the red cooler. The food tastes like the pan has been seasoned with the souls of past meals, rich and hearty, leaving our bellies aching from the blessing of being stuffed with good food.

At the same time, I love home for its diversity in food. On one street, I can find Burmese, Indian, Mexican, Chinese, Nepalese, and Ethiopian restaurants. Before coming to Thailand, I had to actively avoid Thai restaurants (there are so many…) to save my taste buds for when I got to the country. In this way, home has taught me the comfort in appreciating variety, difference, and delicious flavors. Maybe Chiang Mai is the same, with its plethora of vegan restaurants, smoothies and juices galore, massage places every other storefront, cafés, and the Grazie restaurant which actually serves Thai, not Italian food.

I think being here will deepen my appreciation for home in separating me from what I may have sometimes gotten too used to, like the temperate 65F days 365 days a year in the Bay Area. While the sticky humidity may leave my forehead dripping and hair constantly uncomfortably moist, it feels more and more like a comforting blanket, nourishing me in this new land.

Axelle:

I left Kigali for Boston, and it felt like going to an entirely new place with a different frequency. In Boston, life seemed to run on schedules and high precision; subway timetables, calendar reminders, and even coffee orders rushed. Being late by one minute felt like breaking a social contract. People move quickly, focused, often with headphones in. It is a place of structure, where social interactions feel more planned than spontaneous.

Then came Chiang Mai. What surprised me was not how it was very different from Boston, but how much it reminded me of home. In Kigali, everything is about community, conversations with moto drivers, greetings are so natural, and meals bring everyone together. I found this in Chiang Mai: the easy smiles of strangers, the warmth and messy markets, and the sense of closeness in every place.

Chiang Mai’s night market food reminds me of Kigali’s brochettes and endless Fanta varieties. Both are inexpensive, flavorful, and just give you the joy of eating. Even the streets in Chiang Mai, with its unpredictable sidewalks, remind me of Kigali’s late-night walks.

There is a lot of order in Boston; transactions are handled by machines, sometimes leaving little space for surprise. Kigali and Chiang Mai, on the other hand, make space for small human moments, bargaining in a market, and sharing a smile with a stranger.

Though I am far from Home (Rwanda), being in Chiang Mai, I find myself closer to its spirit than I ever expected.

by Nelson

Dear Mae Wan Deeh (Host Mom),

Can you believe it has been a month and a half already? It feels like just yesterday I was nervously wheeling my suitcase from Mar Tim’s house into your house, unsure and nervous of what to expect in the next month, and now, I’m writing this letter imagining what life will feel like without you and Pho Wan Lip.

I know you might never get a chance to fully understand what I wrote in this letter, but I hope you can feel the heart behind these words, even if a phone translator doesn’t get everything quite right. After all, some feelings go beyond language, don’t they? That’s something you’ve taught me every single day, living in the Huai Lan community.

I’ve learned so much from you, Mae Wan Deeh, not just about Thailand’s rich culture and delicious food but also about the small, everyday ways we care for each other despite our language barrier. You have shown me that language barriers should not be a wall but an opportunity to build a bridge––something that connects us through patience, kindness, and shared moments.

You reminded me that social change doesn’t start through wordy conversations. It starts with connection. It starts with understanding one another through shared experiences and goals, even when words fall short. Your generosity, patience, and openness have inspired me to approach my own social change journey with the same attitude––focusing on the simple ways we can connect and build relationships with those around us.

Because of you, I’ve learned that social change isn’t about imposing ideas and trying to solve a big problem at once. It’s about creating a space for mutual respect and collaboration. It’s about valuing the unique strengths and perspectives that everyone brings to the table and finding ways to work together toward a shared purpose.

Your quiet leadership and everyday acts of care have shown me that social change doesn’t need to be loud or grand––after all, actions speak louder volumes than words can ever do. I hope to carry these lessons with me as I continue my journey, striving to build connections that foster understanding and inspire growth.

I’ll miss both you and Pho Wan Lip than words on this paper can ever say. But I promise I will carry everything I’ve learned here with me back to the Tufts Campus. I hope that one day I can come back to visit––maybe this time, my Thai will be a lot better. Until then, please take care of yourself, and know you and Pho will always have a special place in my heart.

With so much love and kindness, your host son,
Nelson Chen

During Transference, we asked everyone to reflect on the greatest lessons they learned over the past 90 days…and what they want to carry forth with them after leaving Thailand. While no words can capture fully the emotions, the lessons, the meaningful connections, we are so grateful to everyone who’s been a teacher (whether they know it or not!) along our way.

Nelson:

• Appreciate the slow pace of life — you never know when you’ll get an opportunity to be here again.
• Home isn’t a physical setting — it’s the people in the community that gives home a meaning.
• Learn about the less — the marginalized communities, the conflicts that aren’t on the news, the untouched history of many.
• Be comfortable with being uncomfortable — it’s a humbling experience.
• Be unsatisfied — it pushes you to seek opportunities.

Vorleak:

• Love can be found even in the farthest and darkest place.
• Never take anything for granted; no matter how small or insignificant it may seem.
• Do not give up when faced with an obstacle because that challenge will be a memory you’ll look back at and see that it serves as proof of how far you’ve come/grown.
• Always expect to be surprised!
• Home isn’t just a place, it is something you create.

Amos:

• Humility, love, kindness, and compassion.
• Thai language.
• Invaluable family connections.
• Taking care of oneself/self love.
• Love is beyond words!

Dani:

The lessons I have learnt from this experience are immeasurable. In fact, I don’t even think I fully understand everything I’ve learnt up to this point. What I do know is that I’ve learnt so much about myself, and how I interact with others. Anyone who knew me from before this experience, would have said I was a confident person. What I have come to realize is that it was a charade of confidence, delusional confidence, one might say. So yeah, I’ve learnt a hell of a lot about myself. I am truly confident in who I am, the decisions I make, the way I hold myself, the company I keep, and the way I can continue to improve.

Karlita:

• Stay being real.
• Don’t settle for anything.
• You are valued.
• If you want it, go get it.
• After completing point B, look forward to Point C.
• Stay true to yourself.
• Have an open mind.

Jake:

Leaving Thailand (hurts to write this), I know I’m taking with me some meaningful relationships. The conversations I had may be stuck in a time and place I am no longer occupying, yet the memories and emotions will remain.

The souvenirs I am taking back have importance; they’ll be from the walking streets of the Old City where I spent hours looking for the wildest pair of Muay Thai shorts, which happened to be bright pink with a giant Red Bull logo front and center. Or maybe it’ll  be from the White Temple, where I got lost in the details of the architecture, and got an art print to memorialize that moment.

I may not be in the country anymore but the country will always be with me.

Belén:

• Kind people are everywhere.
• Patience.
• Change in environment causes change in thinking, which causes change in behavior, so with change in environment, expect and allow for yourself to change as a person.

Alonso:

I would say always addressing problems with respect, empathy, tolerance, cultural relativism, and willingness to find a solution that will mutually benefit all parts involved.

Michela:

I’m taking the feeling of the village with me — the one I know now is an un-lonely place, somebody always calling you over: here, try this som dtam I’m making, is it too spicy? Or hey, let’s go bike to the reservoir. Or look what I’m making, how I’m dancing. People ask where you’ve been and where you’re going here so much that it’s like the strings of your lives get all tied up together — like the white strings on my wrists promising sweet dreams and good luck. I want to take this tied-up togetherness with me when I go; to be the kind of person who knows sharing food leaves you fuller after.

Originally posted here.

As we spend our last couple of days here in Chiang Mai, we sit in gratitude for this beautiful country that has been our home the last 3 months. While words might not be enough to thank this beautiful country,  its generosity, its people, and all the lessons it has provided all of us, students wanted to thank Chiang Mai and Thailand. Below are their thank you notes.

Michela:
Thank you, Huai Lan. I cannot begin to express how much gratitude I hold for Huai Lan and my family there. They say it takes a village to raise a child- I felt that there. Here I was curious and new and lacking all the language I wanted at my fingertips; and Huai Lan was the village that took me in wholeheartedly. Mae Tim, before I left told me not to forget my boots or my heart and I definitely left both behind. I am beyond lucky to have been taken care of on opposite sides of the globe. Thank you for mountain mornings and peeled fruits and dancing and big breakfasts and everything else. I will miss this pretty country immensely and its people even more so.

Nelson:

Thank you, Chiang Mai for the home you have given me in the past three months. Thank you for showing me your beauty – both nature and the people. Thank you for bustling night markets. Thank you for the cheap drinks I get the opportunity to buy every day. Thank you Huai Lan- words can’t begin to describe how thankful I am for my experiences. Thank you doodle- I’ve made so much memories with you. Thank you old city – our time was short but cherished every moment. Thank you for the people in Huai Lan, CVS cohort, Dragons instructor, list goes on….

Belen:

Thank you Thailand for the food, for the connections you allowed me to form with people from completely different culture and background, for the experience of living in a city, for the experience of seeing the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen, for allowing me to see elephants, for allowing me to learn a beautiful and unique language. Thank you for showing me that genuine kindness is found everywhere even 13,000 miles away from home. Thank you for the support that I have found from friends and instructors. Thank you for giving me the most challenging conflicts in order to learn and grow from them. Thank you for everything.

Vorleak:

Thank you Thailand for showing me that love can be given from anywhere in the world regardless of how different we are. Thank you for giving me one of the greatest food journeys  I’ve had in so long. My belly is sizing up pretty fast. Thank you Thailand for giving me the most amazing and most loving host mom and host community I could ever ask for. Thank you Thailand for taking great care of me these past three months. Thank you Thailand for letting me walk on your street and create memories along the way. I will come back.

Alonso.

-Thank you Thailand for teaching me about the struggles of the indigenous people.

-Helping me to understand the value of traveling.

-Reinforcing the idea of listening to multiple perspectives.

-Showing me the importance of speaking out for myself and people in vulnerable positions.

-Helping me to deepen my understanding of empathy.

-Allowing me to meet and share time with some people I consider friends .

Jake

Thank you Thailand for the lovely people; the patience and kindness. Thank you for the beauty; the stunning landscapes topped with gorgeous buildings and temples. Thank you for the action; wild tuk-tuk rides and soccer games. Thank you for the memories.

Karlita

Thank you Chiang Mai!

-For the fun tuk-tuks  that make your hair go all over the place.

– For the amazing cafés (shout out to nes Café) that serve delicious lattes.

-For allowing me to meet my wonderful mom that I love so much.

-Endless soccer matches with new thai friends.

-For allowing me to grow as a person .

Amos

Thank you Thailand!

Through Thailand experience, I have learned to appreciate everyone, practice kindness, and embrace one another. I have seen the beautiful heart people have here, and I am inspired. Walking in the markets, the warm embrace by the people, the beautiful weather and environment, makes Thailand, one of the most beautiful destinations!

Dani

Thank you Thailand!

Today on one of our final excursions to the blue Temple, I found myself asking Michela what they thought was the meaning of time? It came from how I was thinking that in a couple of days time we would be flying back to the respective lives that we all had before in places all around the world, but not Thailand. I found myself thinking of how three months ago we arrived and were driving in our LED lit vans not knowing the adventure that this amazing, kind country held for us. Not knowing the struggles we would face and how we would change as a result. Three months ago seems like not long ago, but we have lived so much, grown so much you would think we had been here 10 years, which begs the question: why does time pass?

Originally posted here.