Practicing Sustainability & Service

We begin our travels in Ayutthaya, where students are introduced to Thai language and group bonding activities during explorations of the historical remains of one of South East Asia’s most fabled cities. After a few days of orientation, we continue north by train to Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second largest city, where we learn about the essential qualities of life in northern Thailand. We hike to the temple atop Doi Suthep and meet with monks in the cave temple near the base of the mountain. We sample street cuisine, study the living history of the city, discuss the shifting political realities after the King’s passing and learn about mindfulness through meditation.

Feeling oriented and adjusted to Thailand, we travel farther south through misty mountain passes to a Karen village near the largest mountain in Thailand, Doi Inthanon. Here at the Indigenous Dialogue Center we are introduced to more than simply artisanal craftwork; we find ourselves drawn into the profoundly beautiful and intricate ways in which indigenous peoples exhibit the world through their art and mythology. We trek into the misty valleys where waterfalls stream off the limestone cliff sides and the rice paddies are submerged in their pools.

In the village, students learn about cultural preservation by youth leadership initiatives, alternative models of development, and human-nature relationships by working closely with medicinal and food plants. Daily activities may include hikes with local experts into the forest, working and learning in the fields about rice cultivation and other tropical food crops, learning from Buddhist leaders, and discussions on development.

A long bus ride toward the Laos border takes us to Isan province, the agricultural heartland of Thailand and source of the majority of its rice. We are welcomed into a village on the Pak Mun river where we spend time with Thai musicians, fishermen, land rights activists, shamans and chiefs.

Students immerse themselves in the life of the village, rising each morning to give alms to the monks, and helping cook meals with their homestay families. On the final night, we hold a gratitude ceremony for our host families.

Upon leaving we make our way to Bangkok, where we visit Thailand’s elegant temples and engage in activities meant to solidify the experience and offer tools to empower students to transmute the lessons learned into their daily lives.