Incoming Exchange Students
Rachmasari
Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Indonesia
Exchange at International School of Engineering,
Chulalongkorn University
As the most leading university in Thailand, Chulalongkorn University offers wide opportunities
for international students from all around the world to have experience of studying in Bangkok through
scholarship and non scholarship exchange programs. One of the scholarship programs offered is in
engineering field which managed under International School of Engineering (ISE). It has been a great
opportunity for me to be one of those successful scholars to study for one semester as exchange
students in ISE and to discover the wondrous Kingdom of Thailand.
Life in Thailand
It does not take too much time for me to adapt with new surrounding and new life in Bangkok,
Thailand. As the neighbor country of Indonesia, I found some similarities which not cause so much
cultural shock. However Thailand has always successfully impressed me with its unique and simple
things I find along my journey there.
Thai food is more acquainted with its spicy and sour taste, which I think well represented in Tom
Yum and Som Tam. Tom yum is characterized by its distinct hot and sour flavors, with fragrant herbs
generously used in the broth. While som tam (green papaya salad) is made from the slightly tart flavor
of the green papaya combines wonderfully with the spice of red chili and the saltiness of fish sauce and
the sweetness of honey, thus make this food low-calorie and very nutritious. Other Thai food that
becomes my most favorite dish is Pad Thai that also becomes the number 5 on World`s 50 most
delicious foods readers` poll compiled by CNN Go in 2011. Pad Thai is a stir-fried rice noodle dish
commonly served as a street food and at casual local eateries in Thailand. Never miss this food when
you have a chance to visit Thailand, since I find out that it`s almost impossible to find this food
somewhere else.
The weather in Thailand is divided into three seasons, hot, rainy, and cool. During my semester
there, the weather mostly was hot and easily making you sweat the minutes you walk outside.
Therefore I notice that Thai people like to bring umbrella wherever they go, during hot or rainy season.
Since this equipment is very useful for both season. But my favorite is cool season; the weather in
Bangkok itself can reach down to 20oC, usually happen from December to February. During this season,
the weather can be very nice, the sun still shines but the weather is very chilled, perfect time to spend
most of the time outside.
Of the 7 million citizens who live in the capital city, Bangkok, there is a greater diversity of
ethnicities, including a large number of expatriate residents from across the globe. I have never seen
great number of tourist and expats visiting a country like in Thailand before, especially in Bangkok.
Therefore tourism has always become the focusing industry for the local people and foreign investors.
Plenty of places already provide information and facility which aim to attract tourists to come. Such as
shopping centre, café, bars, retail store 7-eleven, even the street vendors. Its always interesting to
bargain and make the best deal when you buy something from the street vendors. I cannot say whether
bargaining is easy or difficult, sometimes its really depend on the vendors, but in Thailand you can
always try to bargain. And don`t worry, language is not a great barrier for this activity. Almost all the
vendors are capable to communicate in English. What I mean in this case is only the important
conversation for buy and sells activity. Or even when they don’t speak English at all, they will always
have calculator in their hand. However it will be better to learn some important words in Thai language,
such as for greeting, asking direction, and try some numbers as well.
One thing that I really learn from Thailand is how this country excellently manages its tourist
management. It`s always been a great place to explore for the low budgeted backpacker to the luxurious
holiday package seeker. During weekend you can try to go for a trip to the west and east or northeast of
Thailand. Take the train excursion to pass the Death Railway in the west of Thailand or go further to the
sunken town, Sangkhlaburi, which located near the border with Burma. Go to Ubon Thani to learn Isan
culture in the northeast of Thailand. Northeast border always become the stop over for travelers who
plan to continue the journey to Laos or Cambodia, a challenging experience to explore more countries in
Southeast Asia. I advise to not be hurry to go back to your home country after finishing the final exam.
Take longer time to stay in Thailand and explore the north and south of Thailand. Many national parks
located in the north offer campers and mountain lovers a magnificent view from the high altitude. Take
a trip to Doi Inthanon, the highest peak in Thailand, to see the sea of clouds and camp for a night here to
see the sunrise. Amazing beaches mostly located in the south of Thailand. Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Krabi,
always become the most favorite beaches for all travelers around the world. From here you can also
continue further to the south to acknowledge yourself with the biggest Muslim community in Thailand,
and jump from the south border to Malaysia.
Life on Campus
It’s a very honor to me to get the opportunity to study in Chulalongkorn University, the best
university in Thailand. As the first university established in Thailand, the atmosphere of historical and
cultural is very strong in this university. It is a very large campus with frequent shuttle bus travel to take
you to another faculty, the library, the dormitory, the administration and academic office, and even the
closer Mall like Siam Square. They named their shuttle bus as CU Pop Bus, which also provided with the
application for android to track the buses. I do not stay in dormitory, I stay outside the campus. But its
never be difficult for me to get the campus from my place since the campus is located in the city centre
and various buses are passing CU.
In my first day of orientation in ISE, they introduce me to my buddy, Jackie. This guy has become
my first friend there and he always kind to me and being so helpful with many things. The other
students also are very friendly; they never hesitate to help when I find difficulty in the class. I also have a
great time being a student in ISE. The faculty provides us with trips, the first is cultural trip to Ayutthaya
and the second is the bicycle trip to Amphawa floating market. The trip enables us to get closer with our
buddy and other exchange students from another country. This activity outside the campus also enables
us to communicate with each other and share a lot of things about each culture. I also remember that
ISE invited us for a dinner in Somboon Restaurant, I enjoyed the dinner so much and the seafood was
very excellent.
During my semester there, I involved in several group projects which mostly come from ADME
Department. Its very nice to work together with the students in ISE and the others exchange students. It
helps me to learn how to work with people from different country who come with different culture and
thoughts. I felt great also to be surrounded with diverse culture there. In my home university, my major
is Industrial Engineering. But actually ISE does not have industrial engineering program, so what I did
was taking some similar courses from three departments there, ADME, ICE and Nano Engineering. Even
though I did not get too much practical works during my semester there, but I think the lectures in the
class already work effectively to deliver the knowledge to the students.
I really love studying in the central library, mostly to prepare for mid or final exams, or to work
on my assignments. The library is very convenient and comfortable for studying. Even though sometimes
I got freezing from the air conditioned after being there for a while. The lecturers were always helpful
and gave clear instructions for the exam so the students can prepare themselves effectively. This is a
very good thing to prevent students from failing the subjects.
So, that`s all about my semester experience of studying and living in Thailand for one semester. I
would really recommend pursuing the opportunity of studying in Chulalongkorn University, since the
opportunity is widely open for students all around the world. I wish I could have another chance to visit
Thailand and explore the rest of the country that I haven’t been before, especially the beaches in the
south of Thailand.