Mary Lim on Starting JYAN in Thailand

Universal themes and concepts have always seemed so daunting to analyze and learn about for me. The differences in culture, as well as community, are always a sort of culture shock for anyone who chooses to live or study abroad. Studying abroad in Khon Kaen, Thailand has certainly opened my eyes to the universal themes and concepts of religion, culture and community. Other than the fact that Buddhism is an ever-present part of Thai life and society, the alternative education program I am a part of constantly requires us to analyze the interactions of so many more movements, developments and ideologies. I’ve been very fortunate to be able to learn about globalization from the perspective of a villager or about meditation in a Buddhist temple. Studying in a country with such a strong religious and cultural history has already enriched my experience and my interactions have left me with discoveries and questions that I’d love to share with others. Additionally, the emerging and changing political stage in Thailand also challenges my ideas of democracy, of human rights and the role of government in a way I never encountered in a classroom back home.